Ever After Read Free Page B

the king. But he’d made a choice and would live with the consequences.
    As he got to the foyer, arched front doors swung inward, and his regal grandmother sauntered toward him beaming. She was in obvious harmony with the early morning’s business. In her arms, she held a dozen red roses. He only knew what they were because he’d seen the flowers in Earth Embassy’s compound. Because scientists had to be careful about introducing alien cultivars into Mythreal’s ecosystem, roses weren’t a variety of fauna currently planted on his planet’s surface. Indeed, the planting of such species was only allowed within the confines of Earth’s glassed-in greenhouses. However, while the plants could not yet be introduced into Mythrealian soil, their carefully inspected buds and stems could certainly be dispersed at will. Momentarily startled by the display of so many roses at once, he hesitated until the beloved older woman approached.
    “Good morning, Dillon dear!”
    “Good morning, Immy,” he replied, using one of many nicknames employed since childhood when, at the age of two, the grand moniker of Immeldeline was totally unpronounceable.
    He soundly kissed her cheek before asking about the roses. “Where’d you get those? And at such an early hour?”
    “Oh, they’re not for me, my darling. They’re for you . A delivery man was bringing them up the drive as I left my cottage. They were obviously sent from Earth’s embassy. I uh… think …they’re meant to be an early Valentine’s Day gift.”
    “For me … why ?” he blurted.
    “Well, open the accompanying card and see,” she suggested as she simultaneously handed the card from the bunch to him. Then she passed the blood-red blossoms to an approaching servant. “Put those in a crystal vase, will you, Eldred? They’re far too lovely for anything less. After they’re arranged, put them in the library where everyone can enjoy them. Including me . I’ll be reading there all day.”
    The servant known as Eldred, bowed slightly and walked away to do her bidding.
    Dillon simply stared at the old-fashioned, cream-colored envelope bearing a golden, Earth planetary seal on the outside. There was no reason someone from Earth’s Embassy should send him flowers or a note.
    Timing of the magnificent gift was suspect. The flowers apparently coincided with the upcoming holiday known as Valentine’s Day—a celebration still celebrated by humans wherever they happened to find themselves in the known galaxy.
    He stood there looking down at the small envelope, instinctively feeling his day had just gone from terrible to catastrophically horrific.
    “Aren’t you going to open it?” Immy impatiently prompted. “Please tell me you’ve finally got around to courting someone sensible. A nice Earth girl has invited you to the annual Valentine’s Day ball this weekend, hasn’t she?” Immy questioned as she clasped her hands together in glee. “I do hope so. You need someone in your life besides those silly, royal debutantes your parents keep throwing at you.” She rolled her eyes and shook her head in disdain. “What a load of piffle-heads!”
    On any other day, he’d have laughed at that very apt description. But this morning didn’t find his mood so jovial.
    He opened the envelope and slowly scanned the message therein. The words were written in a very neat, lovely cursive. The style insinuated that the writer was feminine. In terms Earther’s would refer to as busted the note left him in no doubt as to the reason for the special delivery.
    ‘I found your thoughtful gift! The roses are meant to make this message appear genial though I can assure you the situation is anything but. We need to talk. NOW! Come alone.’ KF
    The word ‘ but’ had been underlined several times. It didn’t take a psychic to sense the angry tone of the missive.
    On the bottom of the card were a series of shuttle coordinates. They were unrecognizable; meaning the meeting KF desired