Chapter 42

Lily held Ella's hand while the two sisters sat at the back of the church. Despite all the people gathered in the building, there was not a sound to be heard. Ruby looked over her shoulder to where her two daughters sat, separated from the rest of the family. Her eyes brushed over them as if they were just ordinary people who had come to pay their respect. Mia, who sat right beside her mother, did not turn to look.

Maksim held Ella's other hand as everyone rose to say the prayer. He heard Ella take a deep breath as she fixed her dress and held her head high. Next to her, Lily looked up with concern and shifted her gaze to Maksim. He didn't know what to tell her. She had been like that since the morning. Maksim had expected her to cry or weep but as she stood beside him saying her final farewell to Dean, she did not shed a single tear.

After the prayer, as the guest walked to Mia and Ruby to offer their condolences, Ella asked Maksim if they could leave.

"Are you sure?" Maksim asked. "You don't want to see your mom?"

Ella shook her head, "No, thank you."

Lily chewed on her bottom lip as she stared at Maksim. She threw one last look over her shoulder at her mother before she walked out behind Ella and Maksim. The photographers outside clicked away as the three approached their car. Out of some respect for the dead, they did not question them or ask for any comments. They simply clicked away as the future queen, dressed in black, lowered her head and slipped into the heavily armored vehicle.

"Will Charlie meet us for lunch?" Ella asked once Lily got into the seat beside her.

"No," Lily shook her head. "We're actually flying back tonight."

"Oh," Ella frowned. "Couldn't you stay? I have a few weeks before I go to New York. We can do something together."

"Yeah," Maksim said as he buckled himself into the front passenger seat. "We're all going to Mexico, you should come."

"When are you all going?" Lily asked.

"Next week," Ella said. "Come with Charlie. Piper will be there too."

Lily thought about the offer for a second, "I'll see what Charlie says. We had plans to visit his extended family. But maybe we can move some things around."

"I hope so," Ella smiled.

Lily nodded her head as her sister took in a deep breath and leaned her head back against the seat. She shut her baby blue eyes and let out the breath she was holding. In the rear view mirror, Lily caught Maksim's eyes peering at Ella. She knew he was just as worried as she was about Ella's calmness. It was unlike her. She was the emotional one.

"Ellie?" Lily couldn't stop herself anymore. "Are you okay?"

Ella's opened her eyes and looked at her sister, "Yes, I'm fine. Why?"

"You don't seem fine," Lily frowned. "I know you were close to dad...... I just..... I don't know. I thought you would be more upset."

Maksim couldn't take his eyes off of Ella. He watched her like a hawk. His eyes ready to catch even the slightest of change. His mind link was open to her. The last thing he needed was for her to hide within herself.

Ella stared at her fingers for a while as she looked for the right words in her head. She knew her reaction to everything was out of the ordinary and Lily and Maksim's concern for her was crystal clear in their eyes. She had been waiting for them to ask.

"To me....he was already dead," Ella finally said after a while. "The day that he.....he stood in the room and watched Roman......"

Ella couldn't finish. She felt Lily reach out and take her hand. Usually, this would be the part where tears would be running down her face, but in the moment, Ella didn't feel the need to cry anymore.

"I cried for him that day," Ella said looking at Lily. "I cried in the room as Roman broke my fingers and my father stood by watching. It wasn't the pain, it was the look in his eyes. The man standing behind the camera wasn't my father. He wasn't the man I grew up with. He was a stranger. My father, the kind man that I thought he was, had died some while ago. The man being buried today isn't my father."

Lily didn't know what to say. She moved closer to Ella and wrapped her arms around her sister. Ella placed her head over Lily's as she caught Maksim's eyes in the mirror.

I love you, Maksim linked her.

I love you so much, Ella linked back.

"What about Mom and Mia?" Lily asked after a while.

Ella sighed once more and kissed Lily's head.

"I honestly don't know," she said. "Right now, I don't want to keep any kind of connection to people who would harm Maksim or I or my new family. But..... who knows what will happen in a few years."

"That's fair," Lily nodded slowly. "Are you sure you want to keep Piper with you? She can come stay with me."

"Technically, " Ella rolled her eyes. "You should be staying with me too. You're still a minor."

Lily laughed as she pulled away, "Good luck fighting Charlie off."

"Max can take care of him for me," Ella teased. "Right, babe?"

"Whatever you want, baby," Maksim smirked as he checked his phone.

"Everything okay?"

"Yes," Maksim turned to face Ella. "Good news. The town we were having a problem with the protesters with? They have sent us an invitation."

"Oh?" Ella raised a brown.

"Roman's broadcast didn't go the way he had planned," Maksim said as he passed his phone to Ella.

"He thought he could get the people against you but what he did just made everyone love Ella even more," Lily said as she read the email along with her sister.

"Yes," Maksim nodded. "Her approval rating is through the roof. Everyone wants to see the future queen. They love you."

"Us," Ella corrected her mate. "They love us."

Maksim smiled, flashing her his sweet dimples as she handed him his phone back. Ella's fingers brushed over his and instantly sparks flew around them.

"We can make one trip before Mexico and New York," he said to the girl, smiling at him.

"Yes," Ella nodded her head.

After they dropped Lily off at Charlie's house, Maksim climbed into the seat beside his mate. Ella immediately moved closer and let him wrap his arms around her. She moved her head closer on his chest as he placed soft kisses. When he stirred, Ella whined thinking he was moving away, but he had just leaned forward to roll up the partition. She smiled as he sat back beside her and pulled her closer.

"Are you sure you are okay?" Maksim asked as they drove towards the palace.

Ella nodded slowly, "I..... I can't hold anyone in my heart that would purposefully harm you. I don't know the man my father turned into. You can't mourn someone you don't know."

"They will never know the gem that slipped through their hands,"

"I don't know about that," Ella shook her head.

"Ella.... You are the rarest of souls," Maksim placed his hand under her chin and lifted her face to look into her eyes. "I will spend my whole life trying to prove myself worthy of you. You make me want to do better, be better."

"Just don't ever leave me," Ella leaned forward and kissed him softly.

"I could never," Maksim kissed the tip of Ella's little nose. He heard her sigh happily as she placed her head on his shoulder.

For the rest of the ride, they did not speak anymore. Ella had begun to drift off to a tired slumber. She felt Maksim carry her out of the car and up to their room as she drifted in and out.

Maksim laid her down on the bed and removed her heels before he slipped in beside her and pulled her to his chest. He carefully placed her right hand on his shoulder to keep her broken fingers undisturbed as his hand stroked her hair. Pretty soon, along with her steady heartbeat, Maksim's eyes closed and he too slipped deep into a peaceful slumber.

Hours later, when his arm stretched out to an empty bed beside him, Maksim opened his eyes in search of his mate.

"Ell?" he called to her, his voice coated with sleep.

"I'm here," Ella walked over to the bed and sat down beside him. She hand her hand through his hair just as he had and within seconds, Maksim fell back asleep.

Ella watched him as a small smile came over her lips. She felt her heart swell up as her prince slept beside her. His sharp jawline and nose laid against the pillows as his dark hair fell over his forehead. She leaned forward and placed a kiss upon his cheek before she turned to the letter in her hand.

Ella had been struggling for a while with what to do with the letter. She didn't know if she wanted to read it or just throw it out. Maksim had urged her to see what Dean had to say, but Ella didn't know if she really wanted to know.

With a final sigh, Ella slowly opened the letter. If she didn't read it, the curiosity would haunt her forever. Her eyes scanned over the words without reading them. It was a short letter, written in a haste. She picked up random words such as sorry, daughter, love, family, but none of it made any sense. Ella shook her head and decided to focus once more.

Dear Ella,

What I have done to you and to Lily, no father had ever done to his daughters. I do not have enough time or enough words to tell you both how sorry I am. I should have done better. I should have thought about our family more than my hatred for the others. I hope you find it in your heart to forgive me. But I will understand if you don't. I hope nothing but the best for you and your future family.

Forgive me,

Dean

Ella read the letter once, and then twice, and then a third time. She didn't know what she was expecting, but whatever it was, it didn't deliver. She was afraid her feelings and her longing for her dead father would rise up after reading his last words. But the only thing Dean's letter had done was leave Ella underwhelmed. She was...... disappointed.

There was no amount of words that would ever be enough to ease the pain in Ella's heart from her father. With one last read, she folded the piece of paper and tore it in half. She placed the broken pieces on the bedside table beside her and turned back to Maksim's sleeping form.

Ella leaned forward and kissed his lips as she whispered.

"You're all I have, all I need."

_______________________

Two weeks later.

Maksim sand in the shade as he watched Ella and Cleo run around on the beach. Clare laid beside him under the sun as she covered her face with a large straw sun hat. A few feet away, Mavi and Piper were working on a sand castle as Owen read a book under the umbrella.

"Clare!" Cleo yelled from near the water. "Come fly the kite!"

Clare lifted her hate and looked at her sister. She rolled her gray eyes and went back to snoozing.

"Pip!" Cleo yelled to her best friend. "Come here!"

"It's too hot in the sun," Piper scrunched up her nose and shook her head. Mavi laughed as she added a few white sea shells to their castle.

Maksim sat with a goofy smile as he watched Ella's long legs and her curves. Her skin had turned golden under the sun and her blonde hair was lighter. The pink bikini she wore made her tanned skin look like caramel.

As if she could sense her mate's thoughts, Ella turned around and looked at Maksim. She broke out into laughter as she ran towards him. Maksim held out his arms as Ella flopped down between his legs and kissed him.

"Hi," Maksim said smiling from ear to ear.

"Hi," Ella blushed.

"Ellie!" Cleo protested. "This isn't fair! No one wants to help me with the kite."

"Coming, princes," Owen sat his book down and picked up his sunglasses. The family watched him from the shade as he hurried over to the girl and took hold of the kite.

Ella made herself comfortable between Maksim's legs and leaned back against him. His warm skin felt heavenly against her as she dug her feet into the sand.

"Just to remind you two, I'm still here," Clare said. "Don't start eating each other's face."

"Oh year," Maksim rolled his eyes. "Let's go Ell, let's make a baby right here on the beach."

Ella smacked his arm as he started to make kissing sounds. She giggled as he pulled her closer and tickled her sides.

"Oh yes, baby," Maksim said loud enough to bother his sister. "Mmmmmm."

"You're disgusting," Clare said from under her hat.

Maksim and Ella laughed as Ella smacked his arm again and elbowed his ribs.

"Do you need more sunscreen?" Maksim asked as he kissed her shoulders.

"No," Ella shook her head.

You know if Clare and the family wasn't here, I would have you rolling around in the sand with me.

Ella choked on her drink as Maksim mind linked her. She sat her glass down as her fingers brushed her wet lips. Maksim smiled against her ear as he kissed her with a quiet laugh.

Max, stop. Ella bumped him with her shoulder.

It's hard to stop when you look so sexy in that bikini, Maksim teased. I want to take you into the water and have you wrap your legs around me. And as the water moved us, we will mo-

"I'm going upstairs," Ella jumped out of Maksim's arms. "I.....I need to get out of the sun."

Mavi looked up from her little castle, "Good idea, love. You've been out here for a while. Go cool down."

She looked at her son, who was staring at his mate with a smirk on his face.

"Mackey," she said, catching attention. "Go with Ella. Make sure she's okay."

"Yes, your grace," Maksim said as he jumped to his feet.

Ella's eyes darkened as she eyed his rock hard abs that had tanned under the burning sun. His swimming trunks hung low on his hips as his strong arms brushed off the sand. He caught Ella staring and gave her a playful wink.

Ella picked up her hat and began to march away. Maksim followed silent behind her. He didn't understand why she was walking so fast. It was almost as if she wanted to break into a run.

"Ell," Maksim called to her as she hurried through the living room of their beach house. He followed her as she ran up the stairs to their room.

"Hey," Maksim grew concerned. "You okay?"

Ella tossed her hat aside and jumped into Maksim's arms. He caught her with ease as she began to kiss him wildly. He smiled as he lifted her off the floor and walked her over to the bed.

"I hate you," Ella said against his lips as she pushed his swimming trunks down. "Why would you do that to me with your family around."

Maksim laughed as he let her take his shorts off. He released her lips and moved his mouth over her neck and then to her chest.

"I can't stop thinking about all the things I want to do to you," he said against her warm skin. "Next time, we're getting a private beach."

"Why?" Ella asked breathlessly as Maksim undid the two strings on her hips holding her bikini in place.

"Because I want to fuck you on the beach," Maksim came back to her lips.

"Yes," Ella said as her back arched off the bed. "Please, Your highness."

Maksim shook his head, smiling as he undressed Ella. She showered her body with kisses as his fingers brushed off the sand on her legs and back. When he reached for the condoms in the night sand table, Ella stopped him.

"I got the shot, remember," She said as she bit down on her bottom lip.

"Are we all good for that?" Maksim asked as he held himself over her on his elbow.

"Yes," Ella nodded.

"No more condoms?"

"No," Ella blushed, laughing.

Maksim captured her lips as he flipped her over. A small yelp sounded from Ella as she threw her legs around Maksim and looked down at him. Her long blonde hair was wavy from the salt water and it fell around her face like an angel. She looked into Maksim's eyes as he helped her slide in.

With the warm ocean breeze dancing through the room and blowing the white curtains around like sails on a giant ship, the prince and the princess made love amongst the sheets and bits of sand. The soft moans, laughs, and love filled the room as Ella and Maksim lost themselves in their own little paradise.

When Ella needed to catch her breath, Maksim held her against his chest as their heartbeats thundered in their bodies. He kissed her as he gazed into her baby blue eyes.

"What is it?" Ella asked after a while when Maksim wouldn't blink away.

"Look how far we've come," he said.

Ella slowly lifted her head and looked down at him. Her lips were plump and her eyes full of love and lust.

"We have so much more to do," she said searching his eyes.

"I sometimes stay awake at night just thinking about everything we will share together. Our love, our life, our kids, our kingdom.....I get impatient. I don't want to wait to feel every single happiness with you."

"Baby," Ella moved closer and placed a hand against his face, "There is no rush. I'm here."

"Stay with me," Maksim said even though they both had made countless promises to each other that they would never leave. "Stay with me forever."

"Why would I do that?" Ella blushed as she moved on top of him again. "I don't even like you, Maksim Radacovick." 

The End.

Thank you guys so much for the love!! You all mean the world to me. 

There will be a epilogue. 

Maya's story is next. Adeline will have a short story sometimes in the future, but not yet. 

I hope to see you all in Maya's book. Trust me it will leave you speechless with what I have planned ;) 

Also thank you for all your love and well wishes for me to get well soon. I am feeling much better and I've missed you all so much <3