The Guard

24

THE GUARD
• Serena's pov •

"Move it a little, please." Princess Lockwood orders my maids to move my chandelier that I was content with keeping in the position I had it.

Mother kissed my cheek, greeting me. "You look beautiful, dear."

"Thank you." I smile but it doesn't meet my ears.

"You look pale," she observes. "You have gotten rather skinny as well. Are you alright?"

"I am fine, mother." I avoid her sights, greeting Princess Lockwood when she nears us. "Princess Lockwood, thank you for coming."

"Arabella will be coming soon," mother shares, eyeing me.

I nod, and Princess Lockwood raises a brow. "Arabella will be joining us? Why?"

"Because she wishes to be with her sister." Mother shrugs.

The doors open wide, revealing my sister whom sheds light into the darkened palace. Her crown sits upon her head and I catch Princess Lockwood whom doesn't meet her eyes.

"Sister," Arabella calls for me, a completely dissing mother whom shows her a look of shock. "Mother, hello."

Arabella wraps her arm around me, and notices how off I seem to be. "Are you alright?" She whispers.

I nod, lying. "I am well."

Princess Lockwood coughs, earning everyone's attention. "Serena, it is time we discuss such terms. The council has had enough with your lack of finding a husband. You shall pick."

Lovely.

I nod in understanding and Arabella shares a look with me that has me pausing in my tracks. She cannot believe I'm willingly going to pick a husband now.

"Wait-" Arabella holds her hand up. Princess Lockwood sighs. "I will speak with the council on such a matter. We do not need to rush this."

"Your sister needs to find a husband, Arabella," mother says, encouraging Jaxson's mother's actions.

Arabella screws her eyebrows together. "Yes, to someone she loves."

"Love is a silly thing, security is another. How many times do I need to say this?" Mother explains, laughing with Princess Lockwood- a friend she has gotten since Arabella and Jaxson locked in their marriage.

Princess Lockwood sighs again, rolling her eyes when noticing Arabella was not going to let this conversation up. "Arabella, this is not a situation with you where you married a king. That was pure luck. Time to face reality, Serena shall marry someone with an upbringing title."

"I shall have a moment alone with my sister," Arabella announces, causing sighs to escape from mother now.

My sister and I escape into a room alone with Josephine behind us, and she closes the door.

"Serena, please. It is time to make your decision," Arabella pleads, shutting her eyes. When she finally opens them, she shares a look that she knows of something that I do not.

"I can fix this," Arabella promises and I begin to cry.

I shake my head. "You cannot."

"I can," she whispers.

"What do you wish for?"

"You do not look alright, Serena. Sit down if needed," Josephine says, coming to my side and sits beside me on a near bench.

My hands find my eyes, I silently sob. I can feel Arabella near and she pushes my hands away. She's kneeling in front of me, and she squeezes my hands.

"We speak with the council tomorrow," she announces and my heart rate picks up.

"I know, that is all I can think about these days." And my ex guard who won't speak to me and neither do I speak with him.

"What have I always told you?"

"That marriage is for love," I answer.

She nods. "Follow your heart instead of what people tell you to do."

• Bridger's pov •

Ugene nods in greeting, and I realize we haven't spoken since we bickered that night. I take a seat on a chair in Jaxson's office and he bites on his pen to keep himself from saying anything to me.

My leg bounces and I've grown bored and mad since Serena had hired another guard for herself. I can't believe she went through with it, and I let her.

"Who is Serena's new guard?" I jut my chin up at him in question.

Jaxson sets his papers down, defeated. He takes his pen out of his mouth, replying. "I shall not say a word."

"And why not?" I glare at him, tilting my head.

"Because I know you, I know you will track the gentleman down and beat him senseless until he quits," he explains with a bored expression.

Well.

Someone has to do it.

"Are you letting her go?" Ugene now questions, earning my attention now.

I rub my thumb over my top lip in thought. Was I? Shall I? Anyone in their right mind would let her go and never think of Serena Houstings again, but I was not anyone. I was Bridger Cunningham who was in love.

Jaxson rolls his eyes at my actions going quiet. He replies to his courtier. "They are both stubborn, they deserve each other."

Ugene nods, understanding and continues to stay silent.

"Serena goes to the council tomorrow," Jaxson announces.

I stand, nearing Jaxson's whiskey. Pouring myself a glass, I aim the glass at him. "Good for her, I hope she can find herself a nice gentleman that can keep up with her."

"Why? Because you couldn't?" Jaxson retorts, laughing at his own comment.

I squint my eyes. "She made it clear she does not wish for me. I cannot beg forever."

"Technically, you could." Jaxson shrugs.

My hands grip my hair, pulling at my roots. I ignore the King whom is having fun in taunting me. Turning my back on the two men, my mind running wild with thoughts.

What if she tells the council yes to someone they offer to her? What if I lose her forever?

"Sit, Bridger. Just breathe," Jaxson now orders. "Speak with me."

I do just that, because quite frankly, I do not have the energy to fuss.

Sitting down, I stare into the face of the King. His eyes hold power, his whole aura holds his power and he doesn't have to say a word.

"I feel like going to get my job back," I tell him, biting on my lower lip.

He nods. "Do it. Technically, you are still her guard because I put you in charge of her, and I am the King."

"Smart man." Smirking, I replied.