Hey guys, soooooo, I'm sure you've seen that Guardian and Moonlight Mist are on hold. No worries, they'll be back. I just need to finish these up (Magical and this).

I hope you enjoy! Please vote and comment

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Chapter 13

I continued calling. Eventually, I heard it click straight to voicemail. “That bastard. He turned his phone off!” I growled and Christine actually looked scared of me. I was fuming at my desk. I had the urge to throw my phone across the room but I pushed that thought away and dialed a different number.

“Aunt Patty…we have a problem.” I said, glumly.

The next thing I knew I was in the king’s study with the queen, Christine, my aunt, and of course the king. Carolynn was back at Eastgate talking with James and making calls trying to see if anyone had seen either Juliet or Ian. Even the royal guard was on alert for Prince Ian’s whereabouts. I knew however much trouble Ian would get into I would be in just as much, if not worse. It was my irresponsibility that let them disappear from my view, but was I really his babysitter? Did he need constant watching? I felt myself tighten my fists in anger, my knuckles turning white.

“Will you all let me speak to Lana, alone?” King Henry asked in a stern tone. I looked around frightfully as they left. Cassandra gave me a small smile as she walked out the door. I turned back to the king who looked angrier than I had ever seen him. I felt myself trembling for whatever was coming my way.

“This is inexcusable, Lana.” He said in a low hiss. “I will admit this is Ian’s doing, but to allow them to completely disappear from your view is something you should have never allowed.”

“Your majesty, I am so sorry…” I started.

“Do not interrupt me!” He snapped and I gulped with a nod, avoiding meeting his eyes. “We already have enough to deal with, handling this Juliet situation. The last thing we needed was for something like this to happen! Do you know how many people would love to have your position? How many applicants we had, but we overlooked them because of your relation to Patricia and her high regard for you? Do you think they would be as lazy or neglectful in their job as you have been? This is not some vacation with the prince and princess! This is your job and we can’t afford mistakes like this!” I shrank back as his voice grew into shouting and I tried to stop the shaking of my body. “I think I don’t have any other choice, Lana.”

I looked at him, scared. “No…” I whimpered.

“I’m going to have to fire you.”

“No, please sir. I can fix this, I can do better. I promise! Please don’t fire me!”

“Please leave my office Miss Reed.” He didn’t say anything else as he turned back to his desk and I quickly left the office. I ran past Christine and Cassandra who had been waiting outside the office for me and both looked so sad. Cassandra reached out for me and I shook my head. I ran to my room, the tears pouring down my face. I closed my door behind me and yanked my suitcase out from under my bed, throwing everything I could grab into it. I was blind from the tears now and I finally just dropped to the ground and let my head hang as I cried.

I couldn’t believe it. I had lost my job. I had been careless and reckless and unthinking. I had taken my job for granted and not paid enough attention. How had I let this happen? How could I let this happen?

There was a light knock on my door and I heard it open. I didn’t even bother to look up and I felt someone sit on the ground beside me. My hair was pushed back from my eyes and I looked up to see Cassandra with a small smile. “Don’t cry Lana. It’s all right. I spoke to Henry. I’m not letting you go that easy.”

“What?” I asked, confused. Her smile widened and I looked into her kind, doe-like eyes.

“Everyone makes mistakes every now and then. Henry is just a little over stressed right now, thanks to my brother.” She added. “I spoke with him. You know, I’ve never seen Christine so happy before. She loves you and she looks up to you. It’s thanks to you that she no longer sneaks out to clubs and random parties. Ian also doesn’t sneak out anymore, and I want to think it’s because he wants to do what’s right. I’d like to think that’s also because of you. I think they’ve changed for the better since you’ve come and become more than just their advisor, but their friend. It’s the same with Patty. I don’t know what I’d do if she left and I think making you leave would do more harm than good.”

Without thinking, I jumped into Cassandra’s arms and she hugged me to her. I let myself cry freely now, mostly just from the shock of it all. “Thank you so much.” I muttered into her neck and she laughed.

“No. Thank you Lana.” She surprised me by softly kissing my forehead. We both jumped when my door suddenly opened.

“We’ve found them…or rather, the paparazzi did.” It was my Aunt Patty.

“What?” Cassandra asked.

“All I’ve heard is that they were a bit rough and Juliet may have been involved in it. I think she’s okay though. They should be here soon.” Aunt Patty said, and both Cassandra and I stood quickly to follow her.

We headed to the front gate and waited as a taxi pulled up. I had wiped the tears from my face, but I was sure I still looked terrible. Both Ian and Juliet approached us slowly and I felt my anger boiling up.

“Where have you been?” I managed to hiss at him.

“Lana, make sure Juliet gets home safely.” Ian ordered me. I was so shocked that after everything he had just ordered me to do something.

“Okay, but we have to talk later.” I said, my voice more meek.

“Much later, I’m pretty sure Father is going to talk to me first.” Ian let out a sigh. I didn’t envy what Ian was going to face, but I didn’t feel horrible. Especially after what I had just experienced. He walked up to Henry and his father scowled at him.

“You’re a disgrace.” Henry hissed before turning and storming back into the palace. Ian quickly masked the pain on his face and gave a short wave before following him in.

I turned to Juliet, trying my best to swallow my anger and gestured to the car. “This way.” I walked off to it without a second glance at her. I felt flustered, upset, and drained.

The silence in the car stretched on, the tension thick and uncomfortable. I could tell she felt bad. Good.

“Hey, Lana?”

“What?” I asked, looking at her. She seemed to jump at my irritated tone and sudden movement. She shifted in her seat.

“I’m in a lot of trouble, aren’t I?”

“Yes.”

“How much?”

“A lot.”

“Um, are you in trouble?”

“Yes.”

“How much?” I clenched my fists in annoyance. I was already irate. Was she trying to make me snap at her with all these questions?

“A lot more.” I snipped back and Juliet let out a sigh.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I don’t know. I rambling, but I really want you to know I’m sorry.” Yes, I had a feeling she was sorry. But did that really fix anything? Despite what the queen had done, I knew I was now on thin ice with King Henry and the last thing I would let someone do, is make me lose my job. This girl better understand that she was on thin ice with me.

“You don’t know. You really don’t.” I paused and looked to see a small scratch on her arm. She must’ve fallen on it when the paparazzi came after them. “Are you hurt?” I asked.

“No,”

“That’s good. I heard the paparazzi got rough with you. I was worried. We all were.”

“I didn’t mean to make you worry.” I stopped myself from rolling my eyes at that one. I knew she meant well, but this whole situation was due to her carelessness. I shook my head.

“You need to think things through next time.” I muttered.

“I’m not good at that.”

“I noticed.” I replied, looking out the window. We weren’t too far from Eastgate manor now. “But you can’t use that as an excuse anymore. I can’t say how things are run in America where you’re from, but here we do things a certain way. Royalty does not behave that way. End of story.”

I knew everyone wanted to break everything to her gently and slowly introduce her to our ways. Unfortunately, we didn’t have the luxury of time for that. She needed to know the rules, and she needed to learn them fast. Accidents like this happen because of ignorance, and she needed to be taught about this world.

“I’ve only been here a week, and I’m already ruining lives, aren’t I?”

I let out another sigh. “You aren’t ruining lives. You’re just making mine much more difficult. Ian’s too. He’s going to be in a lot of trouble. I hope you understand that.”

“I could say I do, but I really don’t. I don’t know what happens when a prince misbehaves.” I held in my laugh. That was probably because it wasn’t supposed to happen.

“You don’t hear much about that on the news, do you?” I asked.

“Nope.”

“That’s because it’s not tolerated.”

“Oh, that’s a good reason.”

“Ian is twenty-three. If he was sixteen they could use the whole rebellious teenager excuse. He’s twenty-three. Twenty-three!” I repeated, my anger getting the best of me. “He’s an adult and future ruler of this country. He must appear stable.” I didn’t want to have to do this, but I felt I had no choice if I wanted to keep my job. “If you ever want to see him again, you will have to schedule it through me, and I will accompany you at all times. Do I make myself clear?”

I inwardly groaned. I was sounding like my mother. Juliet nodded. “I really did have fun. He did too.” I shook my head. I didn’t know if she was getting it or not.

“It’s not about fun.” I gave her a serious look. “I hope you can grasp what you did today.”

“I really didn’t, but I won’t let it happen again.”

“I hope not.”

“But I don’t know how…” I took a deep breath, calming myself. She was wearing at my patience.

“I’d suggest you start by getting an advisor.” I answered and Juliet laughed.

“Are you…”

“No!” I instantly shouted. “I have enough crap on my plate with Ian and Christine. I’m lucky Alex is still a little kid.”

“Do you know anyone?’

“I’ll make some phone calls.” I had already promised that to Carolynn earlier. I didn’t even mind that I had a huge workload waiting for me when I got back. I was just happy I still had my job and I didn’t have to leave the palace, or Christine…or Ian. I couldn’t even imagine being away from Ian now. It didn’t matter that I couldn’t be with him that way. Just knowing I would get to see him every day, I couldn’t imagine losing that.

“I really am sorry.” She said again and I was brought back out of my thoughts.

“Unfortunately, sorry doesn’t fix this.” I replied.

When I got back to the palace, it was late and I took a quick shower before falling onto my bed, exhausted. My face in my pillow, I didn’t have the energy to move. There was a knock on my door and I grumbled a muffled, “Come in.”

“Lana?” came Ian’s voice.

“What?” I asked, sitting up and facing him.

“I heard about what happened earlier, and I am so sorry about you almost losing your job. I would have never let that happen. If my mother hadn’t said something I would’ve. I couldn’t imagine losing you.” Ian sat beside me and took my hands in his. I looked up and he was too close. Far too close. “Juliet and I spoke a lot today, and it just felt nice to be able to say everything that was on my mind. I don’t usually get to do that. I’m sorry that it had to affect you, but know that I would never want anything to happen that would send you away. I can’t imagine losing you.” He repeated.

Ian kissed my cheek so softly, I was barely sure it was real. I felt his lips move to my jaw and I was frozen in place. I was so afraid that if I moved I would wake up. He moved down my jaw to my neck, placing a line of kisses down my throat. I let out a soft moan and felt his hands move from mine to wrap around my waist. I turned my face to his and met his lips with mine. I could tell he was surprised by my action but he didn’t stop it. His hands moved to my neck, pulling me closer to him and the kiss deepened.

To my surprise, he pulled back first and we sat in silence for a moment. “I’m so sorry.” He finally said, standing and leaving my room. I was in shock and fell asleep in my confusion, unsure if that had really happened or if I had just dreamed it.