Free Dahlia's Deception (The Annihilation Series) by Saxon Andrew

public.”
    Dean looked at Sean and he nodded. “You’re still too beautiful to go unnoticed.”
    Vicky laughed, “Trust me on this; people will see what I’m wearing before they see me.”
    Dean looked at Sean and he nodded again. “Something’s wrong with that.”
    Sean burst out laughing and had to leave the room. Victoria shook her head and said, “Let’s go take a stroll around my city, shall we.”
    “Lead the way.”
    “Come stand next to me.” Dean stood and went over and stood beside her. Like his sister, Dean wasn’t big, or tall; but he had the body of a fencer. He was lean and there was no fat on his frame. Vicky lifted her arm and pressed a place on her wrist. Dean’s expression changed and she said, “My wrist unit is invisible,” just before she took his hand and they teleported away from Castle Gardner.
    • • •
    The meeting took six days to complete and Dean and Victoria spent all their time together touring the planet and Castle Gardner. Dean was amazed at all he learned but he was also amazed at the Princess. She was direct and said what she thought without any deceit. She could say things to him that ordinarily would have offended him but her smile made it acceptable. Dean had never met anyone like her. They were at the Gardner Museum and Vicky felt her arm vibrate. She blew out a breath and said, “It’s time to go.” Dean looked at her with his eyebrows lowered. “They just called for me to take you back.” Dean nodded and moved close to her. Before she pressed her arm, she put her arms around Dean’s neck and kissed him. He was shocked for an instant and then he put his arms around her and returned it. The kiss seemed to last a short time and then Victoria stepped back and pressed her arm. They arrived on the spire and found Ping and Dahlia waiting on them.
    Dahlia looked at Dean and saw something that bothered her. “It’s time to go, Dean.”
    Dean turned to Vicky, looked into her eyes and said, “Thank you. You’ve made this trip an exceptional experience.” Vicky smiled and did a small curtsy. Ping came over and gave Victoria a hug and turned to leave. Vicky said, “You can’t leave just yet.”
    The three turned around and looked at her. Dahlia said, “Why not?”
    “Because I’m going with you.”
    Dean was more surprised than Ping or Dahlia. She stared into his eyes and he saw she meant it. His smile was huge. Ping said, “Oh no you’re not.”
    “Yes, I am.”
    Dahlia shook her head, “My planet is in a war zone and we could be attacked at any time. There is no way the Realm will allow the next Queen to go into those dangerous conditions.” Victoria just raised her chin and smiled. Ping was talking on his wrist unit as Dahlia and Victoria were discussing the issue. A moment later the King appeared on the spire and came walking quickly forward, “What is this you’re planning?”
    Victoria looked at her father, as Ping, Dahlia, and Dean bowed, and said, “Father, have I ever given you bad advice?”
    “Well, no but that doesn’t have anything to do with this. You are not going to go to their planet.”
    “I’ll go or renounce my title.”
    Ping and Dahlia were stunned at the comment. Ping shook his head, “Victoria, you are absolutely needed here.”
    Scott looked at his daughter and saw her determination. He knew her and saw something was going on that was important. “Why do you have to go?”
    Victoria looked at Dean and said, “I have to go with him and somehow convince him that marrying me will be the best decision he could ever make in his life. He doesn’t know it…yet.”
    Scott, Ping Dahlia, and Dean were shocked speechless at her comment. Dahlia started shaking her head and Victoria spoke before she could say anything, “I love your brother. I know you don’t like me because of my childish behavior the first time we met, but I will not give up trying to make him see it.”
    Dean smiled, “You don’t have to go to convince