Plethora Unraveled

Chapter 24: Thirty-Seven Whips

Liam

Today has been interesting, to say the least. After breakfast, I spent most of it preparing for my wedding. Well, not exactly preparing but following directions that were given to me beforehand. Michael, Drew, Preston, Harrison, Aiden, Edison, and I went in for our final tux fitting; I finalized our honeymoon arrangements, Adrienne should be pleased, and I chose my Best Man. Michael happily accepted. Drew was clearly disappointed he wasn't chosen but his joy soon returned when he became my Head Groomsmen; a made-up title he took a strong liking to; he kept the others in line all day. The simple tasks about wore me out. I can't image what Adrienne has to do.

As soon as we returned for the evening my armstation vibrated. Boy, I love this thing.

"Hello."

"Sweet Prince, please come see me," Lovely says.

"Sure thing."

She probably wants to spend one last evening with me before I get married. Her seductive voice says it all. I'll make it well worth it. It doesn't take long to reach her suite, knock on her door, and wait to be scanned. No longer can I stand at her door and be immediately scanned, an upgraded feature that was added to the Queen and all the Leader's doors. Took me some time to eventually figure that out, a secret they kept to themselves but shared only after the Young men of Waldemar constantly complained that Queen door was broken. Lovely immediately let me inside. She grabs my hand and walks me to her oversized couch that sits in her front living quarters. I take a seat and she follows my actions, curling up to me on the couch.

"Are you excited?"

"Yes."

"Excited indeed. That smile of yours would light up the night. When she was born and selected for you at birth, we knew that destiny put your paths together. Take care of her."

"I will, I promise."

"Good choice. We have narrowed down a location for the Athelstan diamond. After your honeymoon, we will go and search for it."

With a nod, I agree. Finding the Athelstan diamond would be great; supposedly it will give its owner powers beyond what we can imagine with the ability to grant true immortality. In our race to find it before the Chevalier family, we have been secretly searching for as long as I can remember and always returned empty-handed; always disappointing. I'll be darn if a Chevalier finds it before us.

"What's wrong Liam?"

"Nothing. Well, I don't want those Chevaliers to find it before us. Imagine what they'll do to us; kill us or turn us into eternal slaves."

Lovely doesn't seem at all bothered by the possibilities of them ruling Plethora."

"Lovely how can be so calm about this? What if they find it before us?"

"We will negotiate for it."

"There's no way negotiations would work. If I had the Athelstan diamond, I wouldn't give it up for anything in this world."

"You say so now, but let's see how you feel after seasons of being married."

Suddenly I understood her. I'll turn it over in a heartbeat to save Adrienne.

"Lovely we have to be on guard at all times."

"We are. You will make a fine husband. Come here and kiss me."

She leans in close to my ear, kisses it, and places a trail of soft kisses on my face until she reaches my lips. She then graces my lips with the softest kiss she has ever given me.

"I have a surprise for you."

"What is it?"

"Come with me."