Children of Olympus: Selection.

Chapter 22*

I woke up, stretching out my arms. My maids bustled in carrying a long dress that I assumed I was supposed to wear for the report tonight. It was white and seemed to have little pink and orange flowers on it. It was sleeveless and fell all the way to the floor.

They quickly rushed to get me washed and dressed. It didn't take long for them to do my hair and makeup and send me out the door. I had wondered what the rush was. It was only Zagan in the tower until Sunday, and he never woke up early.

I found out my answer once I reached the dining hall. Frank and Hazel sat at the front of the dining hall and I caught Mrs. Holloway sending me a glare from her spot in the back corner of the room. I refrained from rolling my eyes and proceeded to sit down after bowing my head in the king and queens direction.

Zagan rushed in a few seconds later. His hair had obviously just been gelled back and his shirt seemed to be about halfway unbuttoned. I stifled a laugh as he lightly glared in my direction.

He took his seat next to his parents and Frank immediately stood. "Now that all of you are here," He started, looking pointedly towards Zagan and I, "I would like to announce the arrival of the newest royal in the alliance, King Jasper of France."

There was polite applause as we all stood as Jasper walked in. I kept my face a mask of all the emotions I was feeling. He couldn't be here. Not now. Not when Zagan and I had just started doing so good.

The thing was that Jasper had a crush on me. I knew it, his brother knew it, almost everyone knew it. He wasn't very good at hiding it. I didn't like him back obviously, but Jasper didn't take no for an answer. I knew him coming was only bad news. He had a knack for making my life a living terror, not to mention his persistence acts, of now, treason. Otherwise known as flirting.

As the selected sat, I zoned out of King Frank's speech. It may have been interesting, but I had so much other stuff in my mind that it wasn't a priority at the moment. I had to avoid him. I mean, not obviously. He was still a very needed ally and an even worse possible enemy. Illea couldn't afford an enemy right now. I just needed to lay low and still be polite. Not that hard, right?

Wrong.

"Do you want to come with me to meet him after breakfast? We're all supposed to go and I'm nervous to go alone," Layla asked me.

I tried to smile at her and nodded, "That sounds like a great idea."

We both stood and walked to the front where he sat. "Good morning ladies," He said, his eyes glancing over Layla and landing on me.

I shuffled my feet slightly before cutsying, Layla following suit. "Good morning to you too, your majesty."

I avoided eye contact, but I could tell he was looking me up and down, trying to figure out what was going on.

"It was nice meeting you," He said, nodding slightly in my direction. I took that as my cue to leave and moved as quickly as possible out of the dining hall.

I was going so fast that I didn't even notice when I ran straight into Zagan. He turned and caught me by the shoulders, holding me an arms distance away from him. "Are you okay, V?" He asked, moving us to a slightly more secluded area.

I debated telling him how I really felt. That I was super uncomfortable now that Jasper was here, and that he should probably leave now, but I knew I couldn't. As much as Illea couldn't afford another enemy, neither could New Asia. I had a feeling if I said anything, Zagan's reaction may end any alliance we could have made. "Nothing," I said numbly.

He noticed my hesitance but seemed to decide against pointing it out. "I have something for you," He said, reaching into his pocket.

He pulled out the shell that he had picked up off the beach the other day. He removed his arms from my shoulders and slipped his hands behind my neck, undoing my necklace and adding the shell to the miniature collection of beads.