Chapter 28

Connie

Sitting with Billy and Bob on the bridge, I waited, my bag packed, lying next to me.

I had no idea what to expect, so I packed for every eventuality. A bathing suit, a nice evening dress, and hiking boots.

I didn’t know what time Raylon would come to fetch me, but as I had awoken before the sun came up, I had plenty of time to get ready.

The main screen flashed on the bridge for a moment. Billy touched a button on his control panel, and Raylon’s mask appeared.

“Good morning,” he said, and I bit my lip at the sight of him.

“Morning.”

“I wanted to let you know that Laylar and I are setting off from the palace so that you have time to get ready.”

“I’m all packed and ready to go,” I said, showing him the bag at my feet.

“Good. Then I will see you in a short while.” He vanished from the screen, and I smiled to myself.

“Do you plan to stay the night at Prince Raylon’s private home?” Bob asked, looking at my bag.

I blushed. “What? No!” I said, but the idea sounded so very tempting.

“Then why do you have a bag with you?”

~Jeez, these two are starting to sound like my mother.~

“You can’t be too prepared. I don’t know what he has planned, so I packed for every possibility.”

They didn’t say anything, just gave me those blank stares, then turned to their controls.

~What does he have planned for us, I wonder? Whatever it is, I really hope he takes his mask off. I mean, how bad can it be?~

I started pacing the bridge, my heart beating faster with every passing minute. When the door to the ship chimed, I checked my clothes one more time and smiled.

Bob opened the door, and Raylon stepped in with a man in a guard’s uniform next to him. He came onto the bridge and gave me a small nod.

“Are you ready?”

“Yes,” I said, reaching down for my bag. Before I could get to it, Raylon grabbed it and swung it over his shoulder.

“Then let’s go,” he said and waited. I nodded and turned back to Billy and Bob. They stood there like glowing lava lamps and about as talkative.

I gave them a smile and a quick wave before leaving the bridge.

I followed Raylon along the passage outside the ship, and when we got to another entrance, the guard opened the door and took my bag from him.

Raylon gestured for me to enter, and when I stepped into his luxurious ship, I saw a beautiful young woman sitting in one of the large, sofa-like chairs.

“Hello,” I said to her. “You must be Laylar.”

She stood and came over to me. Without warning, she wrapped her arms around me and gave me a hug.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Connie. I’ve never seen my uncle so happy. Thank you.”

I didn’t know what to say to her, so I just gave her a shy smile and went to one of the seats.

As I was about to sit down, Raylon said, “Connie, come sit up front with me, please?”

“Okay,” I said, and left Laylar with the guard in the back of the shuttle.

Sitting in one of the forward chairs, I looked at the complicated hologram in front of us.

“So, what do you have planned for today?” I asked, hoping to get a conversation going.

“Anything you wish. There are many things to do on Parna, but I don’t know what you would like. Once we get there, we can discuss the options.”

“Sounds good,” I said, and watched as he moved his hands around the hologram.

We rose into the air, and a short while later, we were out in the darkness of space.

He turned away from the planet and hit the thrusters.

The silence in the ship between us became too much and I had to say something.

“So,” I began, trying to think of what to say. “Not that I mind at all, but why did you bring Laylar?”

‘I’m sorry. I promised her I’d find a way for her and Rein to spend time together, and this was the best I could think of in such a short time.”

I turned my chair so I could see the back of the ship to find her sitting next to the guard, smiling and talking. “That’s Rein?”

“Yes. I had him reassigned to my personal guard so they could spend time together.”

“That’s so sweet of you, Raylon,” I said as I saw the man put his hand on Laylar’s knee.

“If my brother finds out, he’ll skin me alive.”

“He doesn’t need to know. I won’t tell.”

He gave me a sideways glance before I heard him chuckle.

It didn’t take us long to get to Raylon’s private planet.

~Who the hell owns a whole planet? I guess these royals do!~

“So, how big is your kingdom? You own your own planet, and there’s the one where the market is.”

‘There are seven planets ruled by my brother. The rest of them are ruled by the other families, but they are loyally allied to us.”

Thinking about the royals back home again, a thought sparked in my mind.

“Are you older than your brother?”

He turned to me. “Yes. By three years.”

“Oh,” I said, chewing the inside of my lip.

“Why do you ask?”

“I was just thinking about the royals back on Earth. Normally, the firstborn is the heir to the throne. I was just wondering why he’s the king and not you.”

He gave me that sideways look again. The one that made me feel as if I should have asked anything but that.

“Has anyone ever told you that you ask very personal questions?”

“Sorry,” I said, feeling like an idiot. “Forget it, it’s none of my business.”

He sighed, then said, “I was meant to be the king. I would have been if not for…”

“If not for what?”

“This,” he said, pointing to his mask.

“Raylon, I want you to be able to tell me what happened. To show me your face. I know I keep asking, and somehow my questions always end up leading there.

“But,” I continued, “I don’t want you to feel as if I’m pushing you into something you don’t want to do.”

“It’s too late. I’ve already decided to show you once we get to Parna.”

His words shut me up as I watched him approach a small planet. It looked a lot like Earth in a way, only with more green landmass on it.

He took us through the atmosphere, and as we descended, I spotted the ocean and a dense carpet of trees surrounding its shores in every direction.

Once we were low enough, a structure that looked like an impossible architectural marvel appeared. It seemed to be made of glass and mostly hanging off the edge of a cliff.

Raylon landed the ship on the roof of the glass building, turned it off, and stood, reaching his hand out to me.

I looked at it, then at him, before placing my hand in his. He helped me up and led me out of the shuttle with Laylar and Rein following.

As the fresh, clean air hit my lungs, I took in the deepest breath I could. It smelled of pine and wet greenery. The air felt cooler, but not cold. A perfect summer’s day.

Laylar and Rein left us on the landing bay as they made their way into the building through a glass door.

I followed Raylon to the same door, and as we got inside, I felt nervous again.

The house was stunning. Modern, clean, and bright. Light poured in from every angle and the views from the massive, double-story lounge windows stretched to the horizon.

I stood staring out at the view when Laylar called out, “We’re going for a walk,” from somewhere in the house.

I turned to find Raylon standing behind me, watching me.

“This is a beautiful home,” I said.

“Thank you. I don’t spend as much time as I would like here. But I like to think that one day I will retire from the palace to this house.”

I took one last look outside, then turned to him.

“What now?” I asked.

Raylon shifted in his spot for a moment, then he raised a trembling hand to his mask without a word.