Raven lay in bed as they tended to her bruises from being whooped. She had a high fever and passion nurtured her. Audrey and kyra and Kendrick came. Kyra was crying because raven was the strong one but she was falling apart.
"Raven?" Kyra whispered. "You'll be OK! You're a Wallace remember?" Kyra whispered.
"Exactly ! Now it's time to get better. " Audrey replied hugging her. "Even Kenny is crying you know it's bad if he's crying!"
"Aye! Thats not right. " Kendrick groaned sniffling. Audrey whispered a prayer to her and raven felt better all of a sudden . Kendrick made her go outside with her sore body. She carried his book of poetry with her everywhere. Peter arrived with Micheal and he sat with raven who wad relaxed with her friends.
"You guys have a second?"
"Sure we'll be back okay?!" Kyra told raven and she nodded. They left and the king sat with her.
"How are you ,"
"Terrible." She answered sounding like a female version of her father. "How about you guy's?"
"Grateful ."
"Grateful? Why?"
"Because you saved our kingdom . The sacrifice was not in vain. Besides we are still allies with the shirestone empire. Amd we are having a ball for our compromise they'd like you to arrive as an act of gratitude. " Micheal replied. "The King will be there. "
"He will???" Raven asked lighting up.
"Yes but....he's got a new .."
"I don't care. As long as I get to look at him I'm happy!" Raven replied and she limped to her friends and Kendrick sighed knowing this idea.
"Pleeeeeease???" The girls begged him.
"Alright but don't come crying to me when you see him kissing her and you get jealous. "
"Me? Jealous? Obsurd!" Raven answered as her mother listened with her arms crossed. Richard laughed at passions doubt.
"She's gonna be jealous ." Passion sighed.
"Like the time quindella.."
"Don't even say it!" She scolded.
"Aye it's because of her we had our first real heated moment." Richard reminded her and she blushed looking at him.
"That's true. "
.....
The ball began and everyone was wondering how the three brothers looked. A carriage arrived and three white haired men walked in and they brought in 3 women. Louise , Maryland, and cherish.
"THE SHIRESTONE EMPIRE! Prince Charleston, the first born, and his wife lady Louise, the second brother France, and his mistress Maryland, and lastly king Preston, the highness of shirestone with his mistress Cherish. " everyone clapped and bowed. Raven arrived lastly and her eyes locked with Preston and they slowly went to each other. They Bowed. As raven arose he sniffed her perfume shutting his eyes. She stood in front of him with her back turned to him talking with her cousin rumi. He sniffed her hair and Michelle nudged jades arm seeing him .
"Look at him."
"I hope that's all he does." Jade sighs not wanting drama. Hazel noticed it as well with Richard.
"He can't get enough of your daughter. " Hazel whispered to Richard.
"She's got her mom's beauty and my finesse what did you expect?" Richard whispered making her laugh . Charleston went to raven and he bowed. She bowed and Preston looked at her rear wanting to touch it . Charleston could see it and he escorted raven for a dance. She danced with him and the conversation began.
"I can tell you two are In love."
"That obvious. I don't want to offend his mistress."
"She's not offended trust me she's getting paid for publicity. That's a reason I'm no longer reigning. I'm simply of royal status. That is all with the love of my life . "
"You're brave."
"Not as brave as my little brother. And France cannot stand it. He knows the empire hates him so he is forcing him to take his place. I wish you both to marry one day. It's his dream to marry a black woman with guts and beauty and lots of wit. He'd say as a teenager if I can have a woman like queen Charlotte I'd never look at another woman. I see he has found his damsel of beauty. "
"Why didn't you fight for him?"
"I stopped fighting years ago. Maybe I should learn from you both. " the dance ended and he left to his wife. Raven walked outside to the balcony. She had her eyes closed and she felt arms around her.
"Don't look."
"Why?"
"I won't stop kissing you if you do." He whispered.
