To Seduce An Assassin (The Omaja Series Book 2)(102)
They sent a courier ahead of them to Castle Villeleia to let Solange and Elio know they were traveling to Kingston, so when they arrived at the castle gates, they were greeted with a formal salute by a patrol of sharply dressed castle guards. Solange waited for them on the steps of the castle with Elio at her side. The guards opened the carriage door, and when Yavi stepped out, they bowed to him in reverence.
Graciella took his hand for support as she stepped down.
“Cousin!” Solange hurried toward her, arms outstretched. “Oh, it is so good to see you!”
Graciella hugged the queen, laughing. “You too, Your Highness.”
“Sister!” Elio came up from behind Solange to embrace Graciella. He bowed to Yavi, then shook his hand. “Emperor Yavi. It is good to see you alive and well after all these years.”
“And you, my brother,” Yavi returned. “Queen Solange, it is a pleasure to see you again.” He took her small hand in his and brought it up to his lips.
Solange’s dark brown eyes shone as she smiled up at him. “You are both welcome at Castle Villeleia for as long as you like. Congratulations on your marriage.”
“Thank you.” Graciella squeezed Yavi’s arm. “We are very happy about it.”
“Come inside,” Solange urged. “We have tea waiting, and Elio and I have something to tell the two of you.”
“Oh?” Graciella raised an eyebrow.
Solange laughed. “Come inside, and all will be revealed.”
§
Before tea, Graciella and Yavi were shown to their room to freshen up. It was a lavishly furnished and decorated suite in the west wing of the castle, away from noise and commotion. Graciella splashed her face in the washbasin, wishing she had a set of clean clothes. She was still wearing her borrowed work clothes from the fort at Anvitha.
“First order of business tomorrow, I have to ask Solange if her seamstress has any leftover fabric so I can sew us both some new clothes.” She looked at Yavi’s worn shirt and plain trousers.
“You sew?” He grinned and placed his arms around her waist.
“Yes, a little. I’m not very good at it, but I can make us something to get us through the two weeks here until we can get back to the palace. Hopefully the clothes we left there are still all right.”
“Yes, I would think so. The Vyrkune only had about twenty-four hours inside the palace, and they had mainly set up shop in the Great Hall from what I could tell. I’m not certain what other areas they contaminated with their filth.” He caressed her back. “In any case, I can purchase new clothes for you when we return.”
She stretched up on tiptoe to press a kiss to his firm, sexy lips. “Let’s go see what news Solange and Elio have for us.”
§
Graciella sat next to Yavi on a settee across from her brother and Solange in the queen’s parlor, waiting for her brother to speak.
“Sister.” Elio covered Solange’s hand with his own and took a deep breath. “Solange has accepted my offer of marriage.”
“Oh, Gods be praised!” Graciella rose from her seat to hug Solange. “We will truly be sisters, then!”
“Yes. I love your brother so much.” Solange beamed as she stood to wrap her arms around Graciella’s neck. “I was thrilled when he proposed.”
Graciella hugged Elio as well, and Yavi shook his hand before they sat back down.
“The Royal Council has been informed of our plans,” Solange continued, smiling at Elio. “They were more supportive than we could have dreamed.”
Elio slid an arm around her shoulders. “Yes. It helped that I’ve been lurking around the castle almost daily for the past six years. I think everyone’s realized they weren’t going to get rid of me.”
“By Villeleian law, Elio can’t be declared king,” Solange explained, “but our children will inherit the throne. Elio’s title will be Prince Consort.”
Graciella smiled at her brother. “Ooh, prince. Don’t get the big head, brother.”
He grinned sheepishly, his handsome blue eyes twinkling as he glanced down at Solange’s face. “I’m still just a farmer at heart.”
Solange kissed his cheek. “I love my farmer.”
Yavi caressed Graciella’s hand. “Congratulations to you both.”
“Thank you, Yavi,” Solange said. “You are both invited to the wedding in August, and I will send for Jiandra and Yajna as well. Do you suppose Rafe would be able to attend?”
Graciella exchanged a glance with Yavi. “Ah—I’m not sure. He’s…”
Elio sat up straighter, looking concerned. “Is Rafe all right?”
“Well, yes, mostly. I think.”
“You think? Has something happened?”
Graciella sighed. “He escaped the monastery a few days ago to help us win the battle against the Vyrkune.”
“We couldn’t have done it without him,” Yavi added.
“But…” Graciella paused, searching for a way to explain. “He used the power of the demon Ujagar to defeat our enemy. It’s obviously hard on him to—stir up or release that energy.”
“Where is he now?” Elio demanded. “Is he all right?”
“Yes, yes.” Graciella nodded. “He went back with the monks. Don’t worry, brother. I believe in Rafe. I believe he’ll master the thing…that lives in him.”