Page 115 of The Promised Prince
Her mother was asking about her heart. Would her heart be okay since the man she loved was marrying someone else today?
Renna pretended her mother was referring to Wellenbreck.
“I’ll be fine. Mangum will be with me. He’ll keep me out of trouble. Won’t you, Mangum?”
Mangum stood outside the doors to the great hall. “Certainly, my lady.”
King Bryant took Renna by both hands. “Please know that you’re always welcome at the Government Center if you ever want to come back.”
“I know,” she said, not believing that she would ever want that.
“And if there is anything you need, anything at all, don’t hesitate to ask.”
“I won’t,” Renna said, wondering if her mother had told Bryant about her and Trev. If Bryant knew, would he still want his daughter to marry the prince? Or would he want Trev to marry her instead? She shook her head. None of that mattered because Renna knew her mother and knew that she would never tell Bryant about what had happened.
King Bryant stepped aside, so Renna’s mother had room to say goodbye. “I don’t think I’m strong enough for this. My nerves can’t handle it.” Her mother wrung her hands together.
“Your nerves will probably do better when I’m gone,” Renna teased.
Mariele pulled her into a hug, her heavy breathing rising and falling against Renna as she held her.
“I’m so sorry, Renna,” her mother whispered into her ear. “This is exactly like the day King Dayton sent me away to Wellenbreck Farm. I wish there was something I could do. I wish you could be with Ezra.”
Renna tightened her grip around her mother, refusing to let her see how much leaving this place, leaving Trev, was crushing her. “Nobody is sending me away. I’m choosing to go.”
Mariele took a deep breath and pulled away. “You’re right, and you’ll be better for it.”
They gave each other one last squeeze, and then Renna followed Mangum out to the waiting transporter.
“Are you ready, Miss Renna?” Mangum said, holding the door open for her.
She hesitated for just a moment, turning back for one last look. Her eyes swept over the grand palace, and the balcony she knew belonged to Trev.
There was no one there.
She took a deep breath, got inside the transporter, and didn’t look back again.
48
Joniss
Joniss watched his father put the finishing touches on to his formal wear. His father stepped in front of him, ready to go down to the waiting transporter. “This is a big day for us.”
“Very big, indeed.” Joniss felt giddy. The first part of his perfect plan had already been set in motion the day Adler had arrived. The man deserved an award for his acting skills. He almost had Joniss convinced about the assassination attempt.
Joniss gave a crooked smile as he thought out loud. “Carver and Ezra are still trying to figure out who attempted to kill King Adler.”
“I’m sure they’ll blame Commander Pryer for it.” Maxwell snickered. “He’ll be hanged for something that never even happened.”
Joniss looked at himself in the mirror one last time. “Yes, I suppose he will.” Satisfied with his appearance, they followed each other out the door.
* * *
Joniss whistled ashe walked into the great hall with his father.
His eyes scanned the lavish decorations. “They sure went all out on this wedding. Didn’t they?”
“What a waste of money,” Maxwell said bitterly.
