Page 48 of The Prince and the Double Shot
Lionel's grandson was the one who declared war upon the valley, but he kept almost no record of his time as chieftain of the people. We didn’t have a king or a nation until after the accords. Montagne became its own country.
I have nothing to do with any of it. In fact, I ran away from it all because I didn’t like being treated as a pawn, as less than, because of my inability to use the magic.
Everything had changed, hadn’t it? One moment of fear, of losing Phil, and the magic exploded from within.
After he left, I tried moving some of the ground near the beach, and it shifted and obeyed my commands. I had no idea how to use it or what it could really do besides what I had seen others do. It scared me.
Phil had to marry a prince.
I wouldn’t rest until I was the only person that Phil could ever marry. I belonged to him as much as I knew he belonged to me. I sounded stalkerish, but it was the truth. Fate had given him a second chance, and I had been blessed to be his opportunity. He had been placed on my path for a reason, hadn’t he? A chance for forgiveness. A chance to forgive.
How much time had passed between my old life and my new? Five years? Time had become almost meaningless in my fear of being found. Now, there was a reason to go back.
I was just too scared to do it.
I was off today, but there was only one place I wanted to be. Where he was. I wanted a chance to find him and explain if hewould let me. He had to let me. I knew he felt the fire as much as I did.
I got in my car and drove to the hotel. I walked around the perimeter of the hotel and didn’t see him on any of the grounds. Others walked around or sat in the grass, but Phil was nowhere to be found.
“Looking for a handsome gardener?”
Layla. Of course. One of those witches always seemed to be in the right place at the right time, exactly when I needed them. How did they always seem to know?
“Layla.” I turned towards her. She stood there smiling at me in a pair of shorts and a polo with the hotel logo embroidered in it. “You always seem to just show up, don’t you?” I laughed, but there was no mirth in it.
“He’s not working today. But I saw him this morning. He looked as sad as you.”
“That weirdly makes me feel good.”
“Well, that’s a little weird, honey. I take it that the two of you had a fight.”
“He knows. I know.”
“Do you?” she grinned happily. “Took you both long enough. Jesus, you two couldn’t find Main Street with a map or GPS.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Tell you what? What was I supposed to know?”
“Alright,” I threw my hands up. “Touche.”
“Desperation breeds discontent, Zane. Your secret was something that you clung to. Who was I to tell you that we knew the truth? It was yours to tell, and ours to keep as far as I’m concerned. Same with Phil.”
“I guess I should be grateful.”
“Yes, you should.”
“Then why is the only thing I feel such fucking despair? What am I supposed to do?”
She chuckled and walked over to me. “Let’s go for a walk.”
“A walk?”
“Yes. I’ve always thought it cleared the mind and helps to find the answer right in front of you.”
“Alright.”
“So, what’s your plan?”
