It was as if Archer could feel her getting nervous. As if he saw the color in her face slowly drain out. He squeezed her hand a couple of times then whispered to her. “I will always be beside you.”
When she heard those words from him, Adalia stopped. She stared at his perfect face and felt reassured. ‘Everything is going to be fine’ she thought to herself. But before she could fully convince herself she heard her father’s voice. They turned towards the royals and immediately Adalia saw Xander.
Xander waked in excited about seeing his fiancé. The week away from her had been agonizing, worse than the year they had spent apart. He wanted to pull her into a corner and hold her, and kiss her. But when the crowd around them finally cleared and he had a clear view of Adalia, he froze.
Adalia and Archer were holding hands. She didn’t look coerced in fact she looked happy, or happier. He swallowed hard and took another step forward. He was now in middle of the small crowd of royals.
“Gabrielle, I have good news for you,” Lionell announced.
Adalia pulled her eyes away from Xander’s distraught one. She had caught his gaze once he saw her and Archer hold hands. Through his eyes she could see his heart shutter as the excited expression was replaced by confusion. She wanted to tell Xander about what had happened in the past couple of days, but she held her breath knowing very well that King Lionell would beat her to it.
“The rebels gave up,” Gabrielle put in.
“No, we aren’t that lucky. Our children have decided to take their vows.”
“I thought that was why we were here.”
“I mean, Archer and Adalia,” he pulled them forward before everyone as the room erupted with applauds.
Adalia felt herself being pulled in embraces. She was able to catch one glimpse of Xander and the look of betrayal in his face seared through her.
“I need to speak to him,” she whispered to Archer. She didn’t move until he gave her a nod of approval.
“This was where I was standing,” Xander pointed out.
Adalia rushed to the balcony. The same balcony she had her special moments with Archer, the same balcony that Xander had proposed. How could one spot hold so many beautiful moments and such great conflict? She almost didn’t step outside when the guilt crushed into her chest. “I’m sorry.”
“No, that wasn’t what you said,” he pointed at the ground. “You were standing right there and what you said was yes. You said yes.”
“But I have to say no now,” she moved towards him but kept a distance between them. “I am going to take my vows with Archer.”
“Why? Is he forcing you?” Xander’s mind could not register the rejection. “We could run away together.”
Adalia shook her head as she took a step behind with each step he took towards her.
“You need to understand Xander. This is how things should be.”
“No!” He grabbed her upper arms and began to shake her. “We’ll run away together.”
“But I love him,” she said it in an almost whisper trying her hardest not to cause him any more pain. But that was something she couldn’t avoid.
When Xander wouldn’t stop shaking her, Adalia drew his sword out of his scabbard and held it to him. “You need to calm down. Nothing you can do can change this.”
Xander was about to lurch at her when Archer walked in. He saw Adalia in a defensive position and immediately he reacted. He planted his body between the two of them.
“What is going on here?” His gaze didn’t leave Xander’s.
Adalia dropped the sword on the ground and grabbed Archer’s arm. “Let’s just go. Our parents must be wondering where we are.”
Archer let himself get pulled away. “I don’t understand what made him so angry?”
“I told him I am marrying someone else. I think that was enough to piss him off,” she swore and hurried away. Adalia needed time alone to lick her wounds. She also needed to figure out a way she could be in love with Archer with Xander around them.
Archer didn’t bother going after her. He could only assume what she was feeling. He went to the family room where everyone had been waiting for them. He was going to give her some time to herself, sure that she would come back to him.
Adalia went to her chambers and burst into a storm of tears. It was the only thing she could do apart from feeling guilty. After a while the walls began to close in on her. She straightened her dress fixed her face and walked out.
***
He rose to his feet when she returned a few minutes later. Her eyes searched the room for Xander. The guilt still burning fresh in her chest. Archer shook his head, his way of telling her that Xander wasn’t with them. Distraught she went beside him and took his hand. She was too busy feeling guilty to realize their mother’s giggling and pointing at the both of them.
“So when is the covenant taking place?” Liora asked.
“Maybe, a week from now,” Adalia answered. Her mind and her lips were in two different places. She was trying to figure out where Xander could have gone to and at the same time she was trying to keep up with the conversation.
She sat in silence with the ladies as the men left for the throne room. They were busy admiring Novia’s dress. Adalia snuck out at the first chance she got. She expected Xander to be with the other soldiers. She found Conan at the palace doors, his rock expression not accommodating.
“Conan,” she said in a firm tone. She did away with any emotion in her voice. “Where is Xander?”
“He went out your highness.”
“Where to?”
“No one knows.”
She went back to the palace, her curiosity peaked. She didn’t think Xander could go back to the South without notifying the commander. Adalia sat next to a window with a direct view to the palace gates, hoping to catch him when he walked in.
Archer waited at a distance and watched her as she waited. He was ready to stand there for a long as it took. He wasn’t going to impose on her, not since he had sacrificed her love for Xander for her love for him. But when midnight fell he went to her.
“No one knows where he is?”
“No,” she hooked her arm into his and leaned into him.
“You know you don’t have to feel guilty.”
“I do. I’m a bad person,” she mumbled.
“No, you are just following your heart,” he lifted her to her feet and led her to her chambers, against her mumbling protests.
“Our siblings are taking their vows in the morning. You need all the rest you can get,” he pushed her into the room and waited a couple of seconds, just in case she decided to come back out.