Free Expecting Royal Twins! by Melissa McClone Page A

Charlotte.
    As the limo left the airport, Niko pointed out the window toward a town up ahead. “We’re entering the capital city.”
    Izzy was surprised to see a city smaller and more compact than Charlotte with narrower roads. But the commotion on the streets suggested a busy, bustling town.
    A crane lifted steel girders while men in yellow hard hats guided them onto the fourth floor of a construction site. Next door, scaffolding covered the front of a new office building and men painted. Across the street, a woman in a multicolored skirt, boots and long sweater pushed a baby stroller. Two teenagers kicked a soccer ball back and forth as they hurried past the woman and child. A man in a business suit glanced at the limousine before hurrying into a newer five-story building made of steel and glass.
    “What do you think?” Niko asked.
    “It’s very modern for a country that allowed children to marry.”
    “I told you, that is against the law now.”
    “Yes, you did.” She didn’t see any garbage or graffiti anywhere. That was quite an achievement. “Everything is so new and clean. Even the streets.”
    “This part of town was demolished by bombing,” he explained. “Rebuilding takes time and money. Projects are being spread out to best utilize our resources.”
    The limousine drove into another part of town. This section consisted of smaller stone and brick rectangular buildings each painted a different color. Some were new, but many were older. Several had window boxes, but no flowers. “Is this a residential area?”
    “Yes.”
    Izzy noticed one similarity among the colorful homes. Holes on almost every structure. Bullet pocks? she wondered.
    A memorial sign hung on a pole. Flowers and pictures were attached. She shuddered.
    “I can’t imagine what living through a war must be like. Just watching the television coverage of 9/11 was difficult. Granted I was a teenager, but this…” A weight pressed down on her chest. “I hope this never happens again.”
    “I intend to make sure it doesn’t,” Niko stated firmly. “War is never pleasant, but fighting amongst your own is particularly brutal. Friend against friend. Brother against brother. Both the Loyalists and the Separatists accepted the treaty unanimously. Our postconflict elections have gone well. We are fortunate to have not faced some of the problems that have plagued other Balkan countries. I am determined to see that peace is upheld and good triumphs for all Vernonians. No matter what side they supported in the conflict.”
    Her respect for him rose. “Good luck.”
    “Thank you.”
    The limousine left the town behind and traveled up a steep hill. Tall trees lined both sides of the road and cast shadows on the pavement. As the car crested a bump, she saw a castle in the distance.
    Her heart beat triple time.
    A fairy-tale castle, so perfect it appeared to have been painted on a canvas of blue. Turrets jutted into the sky. Leaded glass windows sparkled. Silver roof tiles gleamed beneath the morning sun. She’d never seen anything so beautiful in her life.
    “Wow.”
    “We are fortunate the castle remained in such good shape given the battles fought here,” Niko said. “The wall took several mortar hits, but that was the worst of the damage.”
    “Thank goodness.” Jovan turned around from the front seat. “The royal family stayed in residence during the conflict.”
    “When we weren’t fighting,” Niko said.
    Izzy was surprised a royal would be out on the front line. “You fought in the war?”
    “Yes.” The one word spoke volumes. “Stefan and I fought with the loyalists to preserve the boundaries and traditions of all people.”
    Izzy could imagine Niko as a warrior, fierce and hard, defending his people to the death. That took courage and strength. She pointed to the jagged scar on his cheek. “Did you get that fighting?”
    “Yes, we are all marked in some way by the conflict,” he said. “Some scars are physical. Others