Dark Secrets

Suspects emerge

Chapter 11

(Suspects emerge)

Tori couldn’t help but feel nervous as she waited for Lucas to come and escort her to the ball. She knew it didn’t matter if every member of the royal court hated her. Nothing would prevent a marriage between Lucas and her now. She frowned at the knowledge that River had most likely been killed for the very reason of having her and Lucas wed.

She sighed as she looked out at the forest beyond the castle. The idea of being on full display with everyone watching her every move was unsettling to her. Knowing people that had known her and River as a couple didn’t make it any better. Silently she feared what they’d say behind her back as well as to her. The blonde woman was well aware there would be some that may very well be angry with her or even hate her now.

“Are you alright?”

“Hmm.” Tori turned around and was surprised to see Lucas standing there in a Black tuxedo with a Purple and Silver bowtie and matching vest.

“I did knock,” The prince said calmly. He smiled at her and stepping closer to the woman he loved he took the remains of what had once been a tissue she’d been holding in her hands and threw them in the trash.

Gently he took Tori’s hands into his. “Relax Tori. Everything is going to go just fine,” he assured her.

“Maybe,” she said quietly and then looked down at the floor between them.

Lucas calmly raised her chin to look at him. “What’s wrong? What are you so worried about?” Tori looked at him but remained silent. “Talk to me,” he said and gently brushed her cheek with his right hand.

“I noticed a few names of people who are supposed to be here,” She said finally.

Lucas immediately understood her concern. “No one can blame you for this, Tori. They can’t even blame me,” He assured her.

“Yes they can,” Tori countered. “Well not the marriage but…some are going to know this isn’t as forced as the Council has declared.”

The High Prince smiled at his bride. Tori didn’t need to say anything else for him to understand what she meant. “You look absolutely beautiful,” He said stepping back and holding out her arms to look at the strapless royal purple ball gown with silver brocade roses covering it.

“Lucas!”

“What? You do,” he insisted smiling at her.

“You look very handsome,” She told him. “But you’re getting off track!”

“No, I’m calming down a beautiful woman that shouldn’t be worrying her pretty head over things that we can’t change or do anything about. Yes there are feelings between us and others will know,” Lucas told her. “Even if there are people out there that aren’t happy about the circumstances I think they’ll at least be happy to have a future king and queen that love each other. Come on, it’s time the court met the future queen.”

Tori bit her lip. She saw the faith in he held in her in his eyes and couldn’t stop a smile from crossing her face. “Okay.” Lucas took her hand and putting it through his arm he began escorting her out of her room and to the ballroom.

**

Maylene stood proudly in her purple satin gown that gathered in places and had sporadic clusters of rhinestones covering it. She looked around the room and knew there were more than a few disappointed women in the room. Most had tried to comfort Lucas after losing Tori to River but all of them had failed.