With no Luke, there was no reason to stay, and she knew that he was in no position to defy his father any more than they already had. She shuddered as she contemplated what Luke's fate would be if they had found out that he was with someone banished from their homeland.
Sarah may have only been a baby when her family was thrown out of their home, but she was still unworthy of the crown prince's affection. It was going to be a long wait to hear from him again, and she feared that her impatience was going to make it impossible.
She tried to ignore the growing pit of despair in her stomach. She may not have told him goodbye in so many words, but the way her heart was shattering, she had a feeling that in some way, she had done just that.
And that was not what she wanted at all.
Chapter Two: Ultimatum from the King
Luke Ardec
Luke tried to spot Sarah as they left the hotel, but she was nowhere to be seen. Maybe it was better that way. He may not have been able to resist going to her, despite the guards. His anger at his father grew the entire flight back to the Sacred Gardens.
Sarah was his life, and his future. She was the only thing he wanted.
And she was the one thing that his father would never allow him to have.
When they landed in the palace gardens, one of the guards attempted to take his elbow to steer him to his father. Luke yanked his arm away.
"Touch me again, and I'll make you disappear like you never existed."
"King's orders, sir."
"I don't care whose orders they are. Just remember that I will be your king very soon."
The guard hesitated and stepped back. Luke almost felt sorry for the young guy. Almost, but not quite. His father had put the entire guard detail in a horrible position, but they needed to remember their place, or he would remember them when he ruled, and it wouldn't be pleasant.
He attempted to go straight to his quarters when they arrived back in the Sacred Gardens. Worry for Sarah's safety ran strong through his veins and seeing his father right now would be detrimental to them both. It would serve him well to calm his temper before he confronted the man.
One of the other guards sent to retrieve him tried to stop him but was careful not to touch him. "The King is waiting in his throne room for your presence."
"Then he can wait. I'm going to take a shower." He really didn't want to get clean. He could still smell Sarah on his skin where she had laid up against him, cuddled safe from the world.How quickly things go to shit.
"But, Sir..."
Luke whirled around and poked a finger right into the guard's chest. "I am sick and tired of this disrespect. I am the crown prince around here, not you.Myfather is the King, not yours. That means I do whatever the hell I want, and you do what you're told. Do I make myself clear?"
The guard winced but didn't speak again. It was obvious that being in between the king and prince was not where any of the guards wanted to be. Luke continued down the hallway, anxious to be away from all of them. The only person he wanted to be around was Sarah.
"Lucas! Quit harassing the guards."
A booming voice made him cringe, and his heart sank. Only his father used his full name.I was so close to making a clean escape to my room.
He turned to find his father standing in the doorway of his private office. "I thought you were waiting in the throne room."
"Which is in the other direction. You were headed to your chambers."
"I was. It's been a long... travel... day." He spit the words out through a clenched jaw.
Unaffected, King Ardec pointed into the room. "Come in here. We must speak."
Luke could feel the ball of anger gathering speed in his gut, and he really didn't want to have the conversation when he was already angry. Nothing good would come of it. "Can't it wait, Father, until tomorrow?"
"No. Inside." King Ardec pointed again into his office. "Now."
Luke let out a long sigh and pushed past his father. He sank into one of the over-cushioned chairs in front of the huge desk that enveloped the room. King Ardec took his seat behind the desk. "Explain yourself."
"Myself?" Luke's temper exploded. "Explain myself? How about you explain why in the hell you sent the guards to find me. Was I missing? Did something happen that I forgot about? Because if not, then you just totally violated my privacy. You had no right."
