Kerttu's Elite - A Sequel

On Top of the World - Chapter 1

Chapter 1

We were in the advisory meeting, time not going fast enough. The discussion was palace security, which was very important, but my mind was elsewhere. Ever since I announced the Elite, I had been more busy than ever. I had to focus on work and build relationships with six men who could possibly be my soulmate. Plus, my hair was refusing to lay right. It always did that in October.

But other than that, I adored the month. The falling leaves, tight male sweaters, I loved it all. I was thinking this when we heard a light yet brisk knock on the door.

My Mom, the illustrious Queen Eadlyn, peeked up from her papers. "It's probably Leger," she said quietly to the advisors seated at the table. "Come in!"

The door opened slowly to reveal one of my six suitors. Shaan. He was wearing one of those male sweaters I mentioned. He had gotten his long black hair cut last week which somehow made him more handsome. His thick eyebrows and defined cheekbones were accented as he entered the room. Is he okay?

"Hey, everybody," he broached confidently, smirking. "Do you mind if I borrow Your Highness for a minute?"

Confused, I got up gracefully in my chair so that Sir Wimble wouldn't send me to Victoria's etiquette training again and met Shaan outside. I closed the door behind me.

"Are you okay?" I asked. My worries had gotten the best of me.

"Yeah," he replied nonchalantly. He had his hands shoved into his pockets and was doing his typical Shaan lean while standing. It was physically impossible. "You just looked bored when I looked in."

"How could you-"

"That's what I wanted to tell you," he said, the smile overtaking his face. "I've been so boredand I've been searching the palace secrets since, you know." I nodded. He was referring to the first palace attack in over 40 years. "They are everywhere! Come on." He pulled on my hand.

"I have a meeting that you somehow snuck into. I can't go," I lamented reluctantly. Amberly and I used to get lost in the palace for hours. If it wasn't for General Leger, we probably would have died of starvation in there.

"Are you sure?" he questioned suggestively. He took hold of my other hand, leaning in and kissing my ear. He moved to my jaw, nibbling at its edges. This hot gesture was enough.

"Okay," I said, laughing. "I give in!"

"That was too easy!"

I shrugged and with my hand in his, we raced down the halls. Our ages were getting reduced to none, as we giggled our way into a secret passageway. With him, it always felt like this. Like children.

"The first entryway, madam," Shaan introduced. It was in one of the lounge rooms, behind a dresser. It was very dark inside, a long lengthy tunnel.

"Do you trust me?"

"Not around a sharp weapon but with my life, sure." He dashed forward and I followed blindly.

"Okay, now slow down." We creeped forward, the thinning wood clanging beneath our feet. "I think the floor got destroyed awhile ago. And made the best entertainment of all time. Look down."

I looked down to see a close up chandelier. No, the ballroom. It was the most amazing gaze in the world. The shiny, well designed floors, the bright lights. The perilous feet below only made it more beautiful.

"This is spectacular," I whispered, taking in the sights. I had never seen my home in this way. It really was spectacular. "Thank you."

"Don't get all emotional on me, Kerttu," he said, attemptiing to lighten the mode.

"Sorry. This is just...thank you."

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, no," I admitted with a breath. "With the Selection and work, it's just a lot right now. But you make it so much better."

"Come here." He scooched his way to the ledge of the opening so that his legs were hanging a couple of inches above the chandelier. I sat a great length behind him, the opening too small for the both of us.

"You still trust me?" Shaan asked. I of course nodded. He turned and wrapped his arms tight around my waist. Heart hammering, he lifted me so that I was sitting between his legs. Our bodys were flushed together, my head to his lean chest. Shaan kept his grip on me, moving his head so that it was lying on my left shoulder. He moved his head from side to side, inflaming the spot. It was the second time we had been this close.

"You're always trying to ramp things out. First time we were like this, we were in a bed, now in the air. What's next?" I spoke lovingly into his hair.

"Underwater," he murmured into my chest. I laughed, leaning us both backwards a bit. "I'll work out the details later."

"Are you afraid of death?"

"What kind of question is that?" he exclaimed, moving his head from my chest.

"The wooden plank beneath us could shatter right now. I figured we should talk about it before that happens."

Shaan chuckled. "Good point. I never really thought about that. Or cared. Death will get me and I will taunt it as much as possible. Because there is nothing better than that."

"You're crazy," I whispered.

"We both are," he hushed back, the warmth of him tickling my body.

After awhile, I spoke again. "So why are you bored in the palace?"

He whistled sharply. "Locked in one place for months is not my kind of vacation. Speaking of vacation, what was your best one?"

I felt a simper overwhelm my face as I recalled the story. "It was November. Dad gave Mom a surprise trip to Swendway and he was nice enough to bring us all. Calix wasn't born yet and Johan was three I think. We met our other set of grandparents and they tried to teach us to make this Swedish dish. But Mom burned it and me and Amberly dropped it on the floor. Not a successful day."

He didn't respond instead leaning my head so that he could kiss my forehead. "I love your stories."

Love. It was the first time I had heard him say that word. Especially about something pertaining to me. It made me feel nervous. "Tell me a good story."

"Fine, I got plenty. One time, me and my friend, Amber, jumped from rooftop to rooftop. Yep. I almost died," he recounted happily, letting me stare deep into his beautiful eyes.

"What does that feel like?"

"Crazy," he replied, eyes lit with a fire only dares could give him. "It was crazy."

I nuzzled my head into his shoulder for awhile before sighing. "I should get back to work."

"No." He sounded like a two year old.

"Yes. I'm sorry. I'll make it up to you." I kissed him full on the mouth, filling it with the passion I felt. It was growing. "Thank you for today. This was...everything."

He said something under his breath I couldn't catch and we made our way back to the ground.

I took the long way back and circled past my sister Amberly's room. I heard soft sobs. Oh, no.

**A little teaser. The first part of the book will drop December 26! Working on it**

**What do you think? Thank you for reading and have an amazing day**