The Secret King by C.J. Miller

Author:C.J. Miller
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2015-08-19T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

The coronation of the queen was a grand affair in Acacia. It had been declared a national holiday. Banks, libraries and schools were closed. The formalities of the day were broadcast on television and streaming on news sites.

Serena tried to think about the day in pieces: the procession, the ceremony and the reception. She was hosting dozens of royals from around the world. The coordination of security, the staff and various events was a huge task.

Lucky for Serena, she had help. Iliana was handling her first major kingdom-wide event as Serena’s personal assistant with poise. She’d provided Serena a detailed schedule, outlining where she had to be and with whom. Without her, Serena would be lost.

Her uncle Santino had overseen the details of her personal security and how to manage the crowds. Living through the day would be an accomplishment, as would her holding it together.

King Warrington was scheduled to meet with Serena before the procession. While he was not a part of the coronation, he had inserted himself into the day by making his travel plans known and arriving in Acacia by private airplane.

A physical reminder of her duties and future life, the Acacian crown, sat heavy on Serena’s head. She had practiced wearing it, balancing it and walking with it. She would wear it today, but not many other occasions. It would return to the vault for safekeeping after the ceremony. Her biggest hurdle would be pressing through the coronation and the reception without stuttering and stumbling over her words. Her stomach was in knots. Someone might decide tonight was the day to take a shot at her. Or poison her food. Or slip into one of the private events and get close enough to hurt her.

A queen. The queen of Acacia. It was a position she hadn’t thought she’d occupy. Immediately, her mind shot to Danae, sending grief to war with her worry. The crowning of the new leader of Acacia should have happened years from now, when her father was old and had decided to pass his crown to the next generation and live out his remaining days in the comfort of his seaside estate.

Her phone rang and seeing Samuel Warrington’s private number, Serena almost didn’t answer. But if she spoke to him now, perhaps she could avoid him later.

“Samuel, hello,” Serena said, sitting on the chaise lounge in her bedroom.

“Good morning. I hate to drop in on you on such short notice, but I’d like to congratulate you personally before the coronation. Stealing a moment alone with you later will be nearly impossible.”

Why did he want to meet alone? She was immediately suspicious. Would he try to pressure her into agreeing to the engagement today? “My schedule is booked.”

“It will only take a few minutes. I am sure you can squeeze me in. I’ll see you shortly.”

He ended the phone conversation. His tactics were strangely like Demetrius DeSante’s. Why were the men in her life so quick to strong-arm her?

Iliana looked at Serena. “Everything okay?”

“King Warrington would like to see me before the procession.

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