Epilogue
Ariella and I had to wait two very long weeks before we could get married because Queen Julietta was still in recovery after being woken up from her drug-induced coma. One of her first orders of business was to sign the decree abolishing the practice of arranged marriages, citing that “Love should never be forced. You can’t make a person fall in love simply by willing it so.” She glanced longingly at Aaron when she had said those words, and I felt a twang of pity for her.
Once Aaron had been informed of what his mother had done and her influence over Julietta, he looked almost relieved that she thought she was doing what she felt was right because of his mother’s influence. After having a long conversation with her brother, Ariella had told me that his distance from his wife had more to do with her nagging him about the opium trade than a lack of love. Maybe now, they can work things out and give their relationship another chance.
Our wedding was an extravagant affair, the complete opposite of our ceremony in the Bahamas. I’m happy to say that it did not involve being boiled alive or tattooing, but it did mean having to say our vows in front of thousands of people. I was allowed to wear a tuxedo instead of a loincloth, something for which I’ll forever be grateful.
Everyone who is anyone to me was in attendance. I got a little teary-eyed when I learned that Ethan and Ben had flown out all of the available Shining Knight Protectors, including my entire team, to see us get married–again. They also ensured that my mom and dad could attend by getting them first-class plane tickets; which they greatly enjoyed. A Cothena wedding doesn’t allow groomsmen or bridesmaids, but I was permitted to have Alex stand in as my best man. I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
There wasn’t a dry eye in the house as Ariella walked down the aisle looking absolutely stunning in a Vera Wang wedding gown. Her face was filled with joy, and her eyes sparkled with happiness, mirroring my own. Nothing could have wiped the smile from my face at that moment, watching my future walk toward me.
When it came time to kiss the bride, I’m sure the proper etiquette was for me to make it chaste. But I couldn’t do that when I had been waiting for so long to spend the rest of my life kissing her with my whole self. I took my time showing her how much I loved her, kissing her long, hard, and deeply. The crowd cheered while the priest laughed and said, “Americans” before shaking his head and walking away, which officially ended the ceremony.
The celebrations afterward lasted for days as people feasted and danced in the streets. I was glad that the people of Cothena had welcomed me with open arms despite knowing the role that I played in the arrest of their former queen, who had been beloved by her people. As much as I enjoyed the festivities and all the well-wishes, I was more than ready to get Ariella alone.
The gift that Amelia had mentioned for us was a paid vacation to the Bahamas, where we could spend our honeymoon—the one we never had the chance to experience. Of course, Alex didn’t join us on this trip for obvious reasons, but he did get to spend time at the ranch with his grandparents, riding horses and feeding the chickens. His gift from my bosses was having his horse, Lightning McQueen, delivered to the ranch. He’d had so much fun that he didn’t want to leave when we came to pick him up. It brought me a great amount of joy to see him so happy.
After we returned to my apartment in New York, which was much too small for the three of us, we decided it was time to start looking for a place suitable for a family and not a bachelor. Since Ariella had accepted an offer to work at Cothena’s embassy, located only a few miles from the Shining Knight building here in the city, Trevor bought us a penthouse with plenty of room to grow our family. He also bought the two large apartments on the floor below to house the four royal guards assigned to protect us. I laughed when he did that, considering what I do for a living. But he said, “Patrick, you have a job to do that will take you away from your family. Ariella and Alex are still royal and require security. Let me provide this for you so you don’t have to worry about their well-being when you need to keep others safe.” I couldn’t argue that logic and had to agree.
Now that we’re back, it’s time to return to work. This is the first time I’ve walked into the office with a spring in my step.
“Welcome back, Pat,” Ethan says as we sit around the table to debrief and dole out future assignments.
Ben asks, “Pat, where are we at with the Cothena assignment? Are we able to close it out?”
“Yes. The trials have all been concluded. The twelve men who were following Gabriella’s orders were told that Ariella and Alex were being held hostage, and they thought they were there to rescue them from Jordain’s men and us. They weren’t found guilty of treason, but they were relieved of their positions in the royal guard. The doctor, who had kept Queen Julietta in a coma, was sentenced to life in prison.
“As far as Gabriella Caras is concerned, she was found guilty of multiple counts of attempted regicide. However, when she was being detained, she began to show signs of withdrawal from opium use, which is what had led to the degradation of her mental state over the past few years. Instead of going to prison, she was sentenced to spend the rest of her life in a secure and private facility that operates under the guise of a rehabilitation center in Brachha.”
Ben nods in approval. “That was a very diplomatic approach to a tough situation.”
“It was,” I agree. “Thankfully, her actions haven’t affected the people’s perception of the rest of the Caras line, but they did help Aaron and Julietta facilitate the establishment of a parliament. It’s still a year or two away from becoming a reality, but the people are happy with the arrangement. Those who favor a monarchy will still have their King and Queen, while those who want a voice will have that as well.
“As far as the opium export is concerned, King Aaron and King Jordain have worked out an arrangement. They will be working together to help Brachha develop a lucrative and sustainable agricultural crop by building greenhouses and educating the people on farming techniques. Instead of the opium poppy, though, Brachha will be producing saffron.”
Ethan leans forward, “I’m glad that everything is working out as it should. You all did a wonderful job, and Trevor Caras is grateful for keeping his daughter and grandson safe. He donated generously toward fixing up Don and Charlie’s ranch, as well as a fund to help others who may not be able to afford our services. Since we already do pro bono jobs, those funds will be used to help the people who can’t afford to start a new life to do just that.”
I smile, knowing that the family I’ve married into is more concerned about the welfare of others rather than themselves.
Ben leans forward, resting his elbows on the table. “It’s time to hand out assignments. Carter, Roger, Jessie, and Jerry, you all will be heading to Texas for a weeklong convention. I need you to work with the Bravo and Delta teams, and you will need to be there two days early to secure the premises. Roger, you’ll be the lead for this job. Here are the details.” He slides over a manila folder, which Roger promptly opens and begins scanning.
Ethan smiles at me, “Patrick, you’ll be busy getting Alex settled in and starting his new school for the next week. Enjoy the time to acclimatize your family to the city and show them around to see the sights.”
“What about me?” Savannah asks.
“For you, Savannah, we have an assignment you’ll both love and hate,” Ethan says.
“What do you mean?”
Ethan slides a file over to her. “You’ll be protecting the daughter of a prominent hockey player. He’s been receiving threats and has hired a private security team. But his parents don’t want their six-year-old granddaughter to be surrounded by a bunch of burly men all the time. They specifically requested a capable female to go undercover as a nanny, and you were the first person that came to mind.”
Savannah flips open the folder while she asks, “And what’s the part I’m not going to like?” she asks as her smile slips from her face. She realizes precisely what Ethans is about to tell her.
“You’ll be going home.”