Victoria's Challenge (56 page)

Stannic roars his rage at being on the ground again
, jumping to his feet, his breath is suddenly gone, as Peter sinks his fist deep into Stannic’s soft belly, lifting him off his feet with the force of this punch.

Stannic gasps for breath as
he drops to his knees.

"You're fini
shed Stannic.” Peter tells him then with a right hook he knocks him out.

“Mom!” Victoria exclaims, seeing Cyndy shove the King.

“What?
” Cyndy quizzes, still trying to see over Jotham. “Nothing better than watching your dad in action.”

“I totally agree, move Jotham.
” Having handed Sabah to Javiera, Cassandra pushes on Jotham’s other shoulder.

"Mom!
” The chorus of young voices has both women turning to see the shocked faces of their children, looking at each other they giggle.

“Ooops.”

“Ladies, I believe you ne
ed to tend to your children,” Jotham tells them trying not to smirk.

“Where’s the fun in that?
” Cyndy whispers under her breath but she moves to Brett. “It’s okay honey.”

“But dad…
” Worried eyes look to the entrance.

“Will be just fine
. You wait and see. No one bests your dad in hand to hand. Especially not some cocky little Assemblyman.”

“Thank you
, pixie.”

Jotham steps aside as Peter reenters the garden
, a little mussed but otherwise unhurt. Moving directly to his wife, he pulls her close giving her a hard deep kiss. “Even you could have taken that piece of shit out.”

“Even me?
” Cyndy raises an eyebrow at the implied insult.

“Because you are so skilled
,” Peter quickly tells her.

“That’s what I thought you meant.
” She pulls his head back down for a kiss that tells him she knows
exactly
what he meant.

William moves to Cassandra, pulling her into his arms. He hadn’t liked standing aside, letting Peter handle Stannic, but he also knew it would have made things more difficult for her if the ‘King’ attacked an Assemblyman. While he hadn’t been able to touch Stannic, he’d thoroughly enjoyed watching Peter handle the little foabhor. A few of the moves had some interesting applications for the Coalitions Shock Troops. At Cassandra’s raised eyebrow, he chuckles.

“Your brother is a man to be
reckoned with. You should have seen him.”

“I
would
have, if
Jotham
hadn’t been in the way.” She gives Jotham an irritated look. “You know, I
am
the Queen.”

Jotham
decides to take the high road and say nothing as he returns to his original position.

“
If everyone would return to their seats,” he commands. “I believe we have a ceremony to complete.” After several minutes of laughter and confusion, everyone returns to their original places.

“
Lucas…Victoria…” Jotham looks to the smiling couple before him. “You have stated your intentions towards one another in front of family, friends and the ancestors. The ring?” Jotham sees the surprise in Victoria’s eyes as Barek hands Lucas the ring he had designed for her.

The exchange of rings was an
out dated custom on Carina. At least it was until Cassandra and William exchanged them at their Union. It was slowly starting to return. Victoria had not been aware Lucas wished to honor the tradition.

Lucas holds the ring out for her to see
. It is a simple band made of two very different metals that swirl together to form a third. “It represents us, our love,” Lucas tells her softly. “Two separate and different people, who’ve come together and are now one. Never to be separated again.”

Victoria looks up at him with
joy, tears filling her eyes and holds out her hand.

“Victoria, with this ring I make you my wife.
” Lucas tells her, his voice full of love.

When Jotham would have continued
, Amina interrupts holding out her hand to reveal the matching man’s ring.

“What
? How?” Victoria looks at her friend.

“When your mom found out what Lucas was planning
, she knew you’d want to do the same.” Amina enjoys seeing the surprise on Lucas’ face. Victoria turns to her mother sitting with her father’s arm around her and their eyes meet. That connection they had always had, mother to daughter, had never been severed, not even after all the cycles and distance. Cyndy knew what her daughter wanted and needed and made sure she had it.

“Thank you mom.
” Cyndy just smiles and nods.

Taking the ring f
rom Amina, she turns to Lucas. “Lucas, with this ring I make you my husband.” Looking from his hand to his eyes, Victoria sees her future.

“Lucas
, kiss your wife,” Jotham tells him.

Framing her face
, Lucas leans down, giving her a hard, reverent kiss.

“Ladies and gentleman, I announce the Union of
Lucas and Victoria Zafar.”

Smiling, Jotham steps back to see his son’s gaze, not on the new couple but the vision in purple who has happy tears running down her face. Amina. His eyes sharpen as he looks back to Barek. Perhaps it is time he took an interest in Victoria’s friend.

Michelle has always loved to read and writing is just a natural extension of this for her
. Growing up she always loved to extend the stories of books she'd read just to see where the characters went. Happily married and the mother of two, who are nearly out of the house, she's found she has time to write again. You can reach her at
[email protected]
or her website at
http://www.mkeidem.com
she'd love to hear your comments.

Cassandra's Challenge: The Imperial Series

Grim