Page 60 of Talon (Road Rebels MC 2)
They chatted a few more minutes, and Teagan was relieved when Ellie finally left to answer another call on the other line. It was probably Jaden; Teagan could almost guarantee it.
Teagan finished her ice cream and started up her show. She figured she would probably fall asleep before the end of the first episode.
Teagan realized that she had not yet checked her emails since leaving for work earlier that day. It had been such a hectic Wednesday that she barely had time to even wolf down a quick lunch.
It was then that she saw it. An email from Siri Park. Siri, as he preferred to be called, was a yoga teacher in Ronovia. Ronovia was a small European principality located near France. Every year he ran an extensive yoga retreat where he invited top yoga practitioners to come and study with him for a week. They usually spent most of this time out in the woods away from all civilization just communing with the world around them. It was very exclusive. Teagan had been trying to get in for almost three years now.
She’d submitted a new video every single year detailing her dedication to the art of yoga, her skills, and her knowledge. This was the first time she’d been able to include footage of her own studio and class though. That had to be the thing that had cinched the deal for her. Because she was accepted.
She had to read the email three times to make sure it was not a mistake of some sort. But it was happening. She had been selected out of thousands of entries to be among the handful of yoga practitioners to get to study with Master Siri.
Teagan leaped up off the couch, nearly spilling the empty bowl of ice cream to the floor.
It was a dream come true. She was going to be in the presence of one of her heroes in less than a week. Her mind was completely blown.
CHAPTER 2
Cort
Cort Monreau entered his father’s private chambers. He took a deep breath as he entered. He was nervous, but he was trying to put up an air of confidence and total self-assurance, especially in front of his father’s primary advisors who were seated at the table in the center of the large room.
They all stood up to greet him, bowing their heads in allegiance and respect. Cort smiled and nodded at them but kept his eyes focused on his father who was seated at the forefront of the illustrious table that had been sitting in the King’s chambers for over two hundred years. Even Cort being the Prince of Ronovia was not immune to its impressive history. He could practically hear the voices of great men who had sat at this table dwelling over major decisions that had shaped the course of his nation’s history. It was an impressive legacy and one he hoped he would be able to do justice one day.
And he had a feeling that day was soon.
“Please leave us,” his father King Tristian Monreau said motioning for his advisors to exit the room. They quickly did so shutting the massive doors behind them.
Now it was just the two of them.
“Father,” Cort said.
“Have a seat my son,” Tristian replied.
Cort sat down at the other end of the table and leaned back in the stiff-backed chair. “What do I owe the pleasure?”
“Son, as I’m sure you are aware you are nearing your thirtieth birthday in a matter of a little more than a month,” his father said.
“I am aware of this,” Cort replied.
“Well, I am also approaching my seventieth birthday,” Tristian added. “I am getting too old to continue my duties as King of our nation.”
“Father you are as fit as a fiddle,” Cort said. “I don’t see what your age has to do with anything.”
“Well, the people do. And I do as well. I’m getting older, I’m getting tired, and it’s come time for me to declare an heir to secede me in my duties. I am going to declare the process to begin of selecting a new king.”
Cort held his breath. He tried not to show his nerves or how anxious he now was. It was evident to everyone that this was about to happen, but Cort wasn’t sure his father was ever going to give up the rule. It was purely up to the king to decide if he wanted to pick an heir to secede him or if it would be done strictly by chronological order of the first-born son when the King passed on. Either way, it was going to be him one day. He was pleased beyond words that it was going to happen so soon.
“I am pleased to hear this, father,” Court said.
“Well, you shouldn’t be too pleased yet.”
“I’m afraid I don’t understand,” Cort replied. His father was starting to worry him a bit.
“According to the laws set forth by the council the son of a king cannot assume the crown even if decreed by the king to do so unless that son is in fact married. Single men can’t become King.”
Cort felt as if he’d just been slapped. What was going on here?
“I’ve heard of this rumor father— “
“It isn’t a rumor. It is a royal law set forth by the council over two hundred years ago.”
Cort swallowed hard and took a deep breath. He wanted to scream at the top of his lungs. He’d waited for this since the day he was born, and now it was about to be taken from him because he hadn’t found miss right and refused to marry just anyone. It wasn’t right. He was not going to go down on this without a fight. But these matters had to be handled delicately. He had to show that he had the poise to handle a crisis such as this without resorting to childish antics.
“I’m sorry. I always felt this was something that mother told me to scare me into marriage. You know how your mother has always wanted grandchildren.”
“I’m aware of all of that. But you can’t assume the crown if you are not married. That is all there is to it.”
“So, you expect me to just pick some woman at random and marry her? That really doesn’t sound right to me.”
“You are the prince. Any woman would be happy to marry you. The pick is yours for the taking,” his father said.
“Father that is not what I’m looking for. When I get married, I want it to be to someone I love with all of my heart. Not just to anyone who wants to be a king’s wife.”
“I’m not sure where you get these silly, romantic notions. That certainly wasn’t in my day. Do you think I was madly in love with your mother when I married her? No. I did it because it was expected of me. And you will find a woman and do the same if you want to wear this crown.”
Cort was getting angry. He wanted to tell his father and the council to go right to hell.
“Father this is a silly rule. I’m going to find a way to appeal to the council and get his archaic rule changed. I’ll not lie down and let myself be forced into some kind of a silly arrangement.”
“You have the right to challenge the ruling, but I doubt you will get very far. These rules are in place for a reason, and you aren’t going to change the council’s mind. Dismissed.”
Cort stood up and began walking out. “We will just have to see about that!”
He let the large doors to the chambers slam shut behind him.
The council had no idea who they were dealing with.
CHAPTER 3
Teagan
The hotel was fantastic.
Teagan sat her suitcase down on the floor beside the large canopy bed and flopped herself down into it. She was shocked to see how quickly the bed conformed to her body as she began to sink down into it. The mattress was so comfortable that she debated whether she should even try to get up, even though it was still only about six in the evening Ronovia time.
