The Silver Eyed Prince (Highest Royal Coven of Europe) (50 page)

“What are these?” He took the diaries and raised inquiring eyes at the Prince.

“My letters to my future wife and my future son.” Prince William showed him two journals. One monogrammed with the letter
E
and one with the figures
WLMXV
. “I wish for you to hold them in your safekeeping. I shall instruct you when the right time comes to bestow them.”

“What about the third one?” Colonel Gunther held up the last journal emblazoned with the Royal Army Coat of Arms, except for the two silver wings added on each side.

“It is for you.” The Prince touched the book and it began to glow. “Upon my son's conception, six months for now, you must begin to read and learn about his upbringing. You shall love him as your own son, as much as you loved his mother, Elizabeth.”

“I don't understand.” He looked searchingly at the Prince.

“You will—, in time.” The Prince turned to walk towards the door. “Fortify yourself, Alpha Deimon Alexus. I expect you to be strong enough to return to England in four months.”

Northern England

Seat of the Highest Royal Coven of Europe

Four months later

“Ta-dah!” Ben squealed as he applied the final touches on Elizabeth's make-up in the opulent suite of rooms assigned to the bride, overlooking the courtyard below where the wedding was to take place. “You look ultra-magnetically fabulicious!”

“Quit jumping around and hold this.” Lela pulled a pin from her mouth as Ben held Elizabeth's hair in place.

“Achoo!” Carlos sniffled from a nearby chair. “I don't get why you have to wear that damn ostrich feather jacket,” he pointed at Ben's bolero. “You need to get rid of that or I'll de-feather—Wekkchooo!” 

“Thank you guys, for coming,” Elizabeth said as she stood for Ben and Lela to fix the train of her dress.

“Well, we have to get ready,” Ben, said. “We'll see you downstairs. Yay, I'm so excited!” He piled out the door with Lela and Carlos, who let out another resounding sneeze.

Elizabeth stared at her image in the mirror. Her dress was the same e
xquisite dress that her mother had worn when she married her father, King Edmund Royce Somerset XII. “I love you, Mom. I wish you were here,” she whispered, trying her best not to cry as her gaze settled on the reflection of the gilt-framed painting of her mother in the mirror that was hanging over the fireplace.

Her eyes drifted to the silver chain on her neck that she refused to remove, no matter how convincing Ben was in insisting that it made no fas
hion sense. She fished out the twin silver tags nestled just inside her dress and her breath caught—, just as it always did, whenever she read the name that was prominently engraved on there. “I miss you, Chad,” she said softly against the metal plates in her clasp, holding back the tears that began to pool in her lids.

“I missed you too, Princess,” a low, familiar voice said.

She abruptly swung around, her heart pounding.

“You look beautiful tonight.” Chad emerged from behind the arched doorway leading to the balcony ove
rlooking the courtyard. He looked dashing in his formal evening attire, healthy and vital as before, as if he had never been ravaged in battle.

She covered her mouth in shock and with a stra
ngled sob, rushed into his arms. They hugged for a long time.

“Sshh, don't cry.” He lifted her chin and wiped off the wetness on her lashes. “Ben is going to kill me if you destroy your make-up. You don’t want me dead again, do you?” He smiled and the dimple on his chin dee
pened.

“Oh, Chad, how—?”

“One of the Generals smuggled me out of the battlefield and the Prince—, he's the one who truly saved me.”

“William? But how?”

“It's a long story that can wait for another day, but this is what I know—,” he looked at her with those intelligent scarlet eyes. “He saved me because
he loves you
.”

Elizabeth was at a loss for words. William had a
lways resented her fondness for Chad, but in the end, his love for her prevailed over his jealousy.

A knock sounded on the door.

“I'll see you at the ceremony.” Chad kissed her hand and disappeared onto the balcony.

Elizabeth opened the door to the handsome count
enance of her father, the former King Edmund Royce XII, who had come out of seclusion as soon as she arrived in England about ten months earlier. They spent each day in each other's company, talking about her mother and their lives apart.

“You remind me of your mother.” He kissed her forehead. “You are as beautiful as she was on our we
dding day.”

“Oh, Papa, thank you.” She e
mbraced him.

They made their way through the hallway, down the winding staircase, through another corridor, until they finally reached the courtyard. She waved at Sir Henry and Administrator Richard Stapleton who sat with her friends in one of the rows.

The violins began to play and her father led her to her waiting groom, the newly crowned King William Erik XIV, who looked devastatingly handsome in his tuxedo.

He claimed her hand from her f
ather and bestowed her with such a tender smile that reminded her of that first time they encountered each other at that dark creek in Combat class.

Her heart filled to overflowing with her love for him. She wanted to thank him for loving her—, in spite of her many faults. For saving Chad—, in spite of the animosity she had unwi
ttingly instigated between them. For everything—, and every little thing she could think of that showed how much he cared.

“William—,”

“I know.” He kissed her soundly in front of everyone.

The Royal Council Minister cleared his throat. “Your Majesty
, we're not at that part yet,” he muttered under his breath.

The Prince released her with a sheepish grin and they both faced the Minister who glared at his book in e
mbarrassment.

“Dearly
beloved,” the red-faced Minister began with a quick peek over the book at them.

William squeezed her hand and glanced sideways at her as they took their first step to a fascinating, adve
nture-filled life together.

Dear Readers,

Thank you for reading
The Silver Eyed Prince
, the first book in the
Highest Royal Coven of Europe
series. I hope you enjoyed the story and found the hidden life lessons in every chapter you have read. By now, you all know that
The Silver Eyed Prince
is more than just a tale. It is a chronicle of events that happen in our daily lives interpreted in fantasy form, so you can look through your own lives with a different set of eyes.

The Silver Eyed Prince
teaches you about friendship, trust, kindness, loyalty, and sacrifice for the better good. Most importantly, it shows you the power of faith, unconditional love, and the wisdom of forgiveness.

I hope I have been successful in imparting all these elements to you. May you keep this knowledge and share it with others.

My best to you always,

VJ Dunraven