Alexander & Rebecca (Royals of Valleria #1) by Marianne Knightly Page A
Authors: Marianne Knightly
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officially, her heart would still be tense.
As she walked to her car after her quick breakfast, her practical black heels clicked softly along the sidewalk. She waved greetings to the neighbors she knew and watched as her silk shirt swished softly in the breeze. She’d dressed particularly carefully, wearing competent black pants and a sleeveless white silk shirt. She had a jacket currently slung over her arm, black to match the competent pants, and she wore simple pearl jewelry. She’d wanted to project an air of authority and confidence, even if she didn’t feel it. If, for some reason, Alex’s magic didn’t work, she would be prepared to at least look like she shouldn’t lose her job.
Rebecca sighed as she slid into her car, and ran a quick hand through her hair. Time to get the day over with, one way or another.
***
Alex walked towards the council chamber with some trepidation. He wasn’t sure what to expect from the Royal Council, and his mind wasn’t altogether prepared for what may come.
He’d spent the short, summer night dreaming of Rebecca beside him, against him, and underneath him. He’d often dreamed of her but now that he knew her taste, her smell, the feel of her, he could think of nothing else.
After Alex entered the room, he saw council members scattered in clusters and speaking in low voices. Once the Sergeant at Arms announced his arrival, the murmured voices halted for a quick bow. The room was organized in one large circle with his and his father’s spots designated at the head of the room; his father’s chair sat empty.
Marcello left a small group of men to meet Alex across the room. In whispered voices, Marcello told Alex that the council had heard of a security breach in the palace and wanted to discuss it first thing.
“How the hell did they find out?” Alex asked, his face smooth but his voice tense.
“I have no idea, but you’d better believe that I’ll find out soon enough.”
“Have we got a leak somewhere?”
“I’m not sure. If it is, I’ll plug it soon enough.”
“Do it, and fast. I don’t need anything else leaking out right now.”
“This could actually work in our favor.”
“How do you figure?”
“Just follow my lead, and let Papa know to play along, too.”
“I hope you know what you’re doing.”
“So do I.”
A moment later the Sergeant at Arms announced that Gabriel had arrived. After the more formal pomp and circumstance of his arrival, Gabriel made his way into the room, shaking hands as he did. When he shook Alex’s hand for form, Alex whispered Marcello’s instructions to him. When Gabriel finally took his seat, so did everyone else.
“First order of business?” Gabriel asked swiftly as he settled in his chair.
“King Gabriel,” Marcello started as he stood, addressing him formally, as he always did while speaking from his post as Minister of Security and Defense on the Royal Council. “A security issue has come to light, and we humbly request the approval of the Council, as well as the royal family, for additional security.”
The other council members began to murmur with one another.
“Silence,” Gabriel said in a calm tone and everyone complied; Gabriel rarely ever needed to raise his voice for others to hear him. “To the Council before me, I have been made aware of the issues at hand and I do approve of the heightened security.”
“Your Highness,” asked the Minister of the People as he stood to address the king. “What of the citizens, sir? We have heard no details regarding this threat. If the public is at risk, we must also inform them.”
Murmured assents fluttered around the room. Gabriel held up a hand and the room fell quiet once more. “Let me assure you that my life’s work as reigning monarch is to protect and serve the citizens of our great nation.”
When no one responded, though Gabriel did not
As she walked to her car after her quick breakfast, her practical black heels clicked softly along the sidewalk. She waved greetings to the neighbors she knew and watched as her silk shirt swished softly in the breeze. She’d dressed particularly carefully, wearing competent black pants and a sleeveless white silk shirt. She had a jacket currently slung over her arm, black to match the competent pants, and she wore simple pearl jewelry. She’d wanted to project an air of authority and confidence, even if she didn’t feel it. If, for some reason, Alex’s magic didn’t work, she would be prepared to at least look like she shouldn’t lose her job.
Rebecca sighed as she slid into her car, and ran a quick hand through her hair. Time to get the day over with, one way or another.
***
Alex walked towards the council chamber with some trepidation. He wasn’t sure what to expect from the Royal Council, and his mind wasn’t altogether prepared for what may come.
He’d spent the short, summer night dreaming of Rebecca beside him, against him, and underneath him. He’d often dreamed of her but now that he knew her taste, her smell, the feel of her, he could think of nothing else.
After Alex entered the room, he saw council members scattered in clusters and speaking in low voices. Once the Sergeant at Arms announced his arrival, the murmured voices halted for a quick bow. The room was organized in one large circle with his and his father’s spots designated at the head of the room; his father’s chair sat empty.
Marcello left a small group of men to meet Alex across the room. In whispered voices, Marcello told Alex that the council had heard of a security breach in the palace and wanted to discuss it first thing.
“How the hell did they find out?” Alex asked, his face smooth but his voice tense.
“I have no idea, but you’d better believe that I’ll find out soon enough.”
“Have we got a leak somewhere?”
“I’m not sure. If it is, I’ll plug it soon enough.”
“Do it, and fast. I don’t need anything else leaking out right now.”
“This could actually work in our favor.”
“How do you figure?”
“Just follow my lead, and let Papa know to play along, too.”
“I hope you know what you’re doing.”
“So do I.”
A moment later the Sergeant at Arms announced that Gabriel had arrived. After the more formal pomp and circumstance of his arrival, Gabriel made his way into the room, shaking hands as he did. When he shook Alex’s hand for form, Alex whispered Marcello’s instructions to him. When Gabriel finally took his seat, so did everyone else.
“First order of business?” Gabriel asked swiftly as he settled in his chair.
“King Gabriel,” Marcello started as he stood, addressing him formally, as he always did while speaking from his post as Minister of Security and Defense on the Royal Council. “A security issue has come to light, and we humbly request the approval of the Council, as well as the royal family, for additional security.”
The other council members began to murmur with one another.
“Silence,” Gabriel said in a calm tone and everyone complied; Gabriel rarely ever needed to raise his voice for others to hear him. “To the Council before me, I have been made aware of the issues at hand and I do approve of the heightened security.”
“Your Highness,” asked the Minister of the People as he stood to address the king. “What of the citizens, sir? We have heard no details regarding this threat. If the public is at risk, we must also inform them.”
Murmured assents fluttered around the room. Gabriel held up a hand and the room fell quiet once more. “Let me assure you that my life’s work as reigning monarch is to protect and serve the citizens of our great nation.”
When no one responded, though Gabriel did not
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