Protected by the blood-red rhododendron and white azalea bushes, she smiled as Siobhan and Fiona passed a few feet away from her.

The first time in weeks the guards had allowed her to walk unprotected enough that she could strike. All she had to do was wait until Fiona moved out of the way.

She would dispatch the enemy, then she would return to fix everything.

She knew Angus might suffer a time of mourning, but once the soil turned cold upon his fiancée’s grave, he would find solace and sweet passion in another woman’s arms—a woman who would fit his rank, his education, not some illegitimate, low-born waitress, someone she was going to make sure he met. And that someone would kill him.

And if that didn’t work, she had other plans. Many plans, schemed minute detail by minute detail.

It was taking longer than she thought, but she would not fail.

* * *

Siobhan should have been tired from spending the afternoon wandering every inch of Lenox Palace park.

When she’d finally consented to return to the palace’s gardens, Fiona had wilted, saying they must have walked twenty miles, and she had to get ready for tonight’s reception.

Even her elite guard had looked a little peaked, but her pent-up frustration had only burned off some of her frustrated energy.

Just what is your problem, Siobhan Faulkner?

She shrugged and sighed before forlornly advising a nearby bush, “I seem to have a bit of a thing for the man.”

The flowers nodded sagely in the soft spring breeze and Siobhan willingly poured out her soul upon her rapt, silent audience. “But I can’t understand a blasted thing about the man. First, he wants me—I mean, come on, he kidnapped me and threatened to take my—our baby—to keep me here. Then he schooled me in the finest forays of sex. I knew nothing, but I was a virgin! What did he expect? And I have been an eager student.”

When the flowers didn’t accuse her of being too forward, she summoned a truly pitiful sigh and continued, “And then he saves my life, turns paranoid, put those brutes up to following me around every single minute.”  

Siobhan plucked irritably at one of the rhododendrons, rolling it in her fingers. “Even if I was in any kind of real danger, it was his fault to begin with. Now, he refuses to take me places with him. And if that’s not enough, he just up and leaves without so much as a fare-thee-well, my princess, leaving a note saying I should be ready to host a reception for the winning party!”

She looked over her shoulder at the men patiently waiting a few feet away and back at the flowers.

“A reception!” She had spent the whole morning locked with Ewan, Kerr, and half of the staff to organize everything and, although Ewan assured her everything would go smoothly, she was sure it was going to be a huge failure. “I don’t think he quite understands the full necessity of clear and timely communication. Timely meaning now. How long does this voting take, anyway?”

Her phone buzzed with Ewan’s incoming text, informing her the royal hairdresser was waiting for her in her rooms. She turned to the flowers one more time. “Wish me luck.”

* * *

Angus watched the buzz about the room as the final vote was read, seeing the anger on some faces, and elation on others. They had done it. The Romani Party was now formally represented by their new Prime Minister.

He stepped down from his perch and made his way to Mircea, who was receiving congratulations from his supporters.

Times are going to change. Angus doubted they would be for the worse. No, he felt perhaps this was the turning point that was needed, one that would bring about peace amongst the parties. “Congratulations,” he held out his hand to the newly elected Prime Minister. “I wish you well on your journey.”

Mircea looked down at his hand before he placed his in Angus’s, giving him a firm shake. “I thank you, Your Majesty. This has been a long time coming.”

“That it has,” Javert replied from Mircea’s side, his expression smug but grateful. “There is much work to be done but I imagine we are up to the challenge.”

Angus chuckled. “You will need support, that is a guarantee. Prime Minister can be very lonely at times.”

Mircea smiled as he looked at Angus. “And I can count on your support dear friend?”

Angus gave him a smile. “Depends on the topic.”

Mircea laughed, Javert joining him as Angus walked away, greeting those that he came in contact with. No, Mircea would not have it easy the first few months, but he knew his friend was strong and would withstand the controversy that would no doubt follow. Once it all died down, though, the rest of the country and the world would see what Mircea could do.

* * *

She gathered up her purse and took one long look in the mirror, feeling a mixture of glee and sadness at what would happen this evening. This evening she would complete her mission, make right everything that was wrong with this country and with the dragon that haunted her at night. Mircea was in a position of power now, the Prime Minister that would change the way the world saw the Romani people. Her people were cared for and she could only rejoice in that fact.

But there were still loose threads to tie up, ones that would make all her years of sacrifice come to reality.

Tonight, it would happen.

She pulled out the letter from her desk and sat it on her pillow for when they came to look for her. In that letter, she had taken the time to explain the need to do what she was going to do and why it would affect the future of Lektenstaten—its rightful future that had been put on hold for so many years.

When the sun came up tomorrow, there would be grief and hurt, pain and sorrow, but she would be rejoicing on the other side.

For tonight, her dreams and her nightmares would become a reality.

* * *

Angus watched from the window as a line of cars began to form on the outside of the palace gates, lining for inspection.

It had seemed only fitting to have a celebration party at the palace for Mircea, to show his support to the new Prime Minister, and wipe out any thoughts he was against the change. No, he embraced the change that was about to happen.

And his life was full of changes at the moment.

Sunny wormed its way around his ankles and Angus scowled down at her. “You do understand you shed when you do that?”

“I knew you would warm to her.”

Angus looked up and gave Siobhan a shake of his head. “Not even close. The infernal thing won’t leave me alone.”

Hearing the voice of her mistress, Sunny lazily made its way to Siobhan, who bent down to scratch behind her ears. “But she senses the authority inside you,” she remarked with a laugh. “And as an intelligent woman, she likes it.”

Angus didn’t respond, instead enjoying the view of Siobhan in a stunning long silver dress, showing more than enough of her cleavage, and the sparkling crown on her raven hair, showing the world that, even if they weren’t married yet, she was already his princess.

Coming behind her, he put his hand over the slight bump on her midsection, feeling under the dress the tight panties she wore. He frowned. “You won’t be able to hide it for long, you know.”

She straightened, her hand going over his, and turned her head to look into his eyes. “I know. I just don’t want the attention to be on me tonight. This is a very special night for you and Lektenstaten.”

He was surprised she cared so much. “It is a special night for the Romani people.”

Siobhan knew that it was, but she could see the relief in Angus’s eyes that it was all over with. The Romani people would have a voice. It was a time to celebrate.

He held out his arm. “Are you ready, Angel?”

“Yes, Dragon, I am.” She gave him a bright smile, and placed her hand in the crook of his arm, reveling in the warmth she felt from his body.

He looked every inch the king he was, powerful, mighty, and wise, and she hadn’t felt so proud since the moment she stepped foot into his world as she did now.