Free Phantom of the Heart by Stein Willard

loincloth and a white band covering her breasts. Soft, black leather trousers and a short, black tunic were thrown over her naked body.
    Once she was fully dressed in her own clothes, she was escorted back to where the queen patiently waited on her. The queen, once again, held out her hand and, this time, Orla accepted. A soft smile formed on the queen's beautiful face. Orla allowed herself to be led down the hallway in silence. They entered a large room.
    Orla's eyes widened as she looked at the large throne. As far as she knew, only nobles and senate members were allowed here. She quickly turned to the queen and found her already watching her.
    “I brought you here so you could see what you will inherit one day.” She walked over to the throne. “Very soon, my daughter, your soon-to-be wife, will ascend this throne. You, Orla, will be sitting next to her.” The queen's green eyes flashed as she looked at her, and Orla inhaled deeply. “Up until the day she met you, Sterling was extremely reluctant to assume her responsibility. You have made her want to embrace her birthright.” The queen walked over to stand before her. “I know you are overwhelmed by all that is expected of you, but I do not want you to lose focus of what your most important duty will be.”
    Orla's eyes softened. “Sterling?”
    Mesmeria smiled tenderly.
    “Yes. She loves you and it is obvious that you love her too. As Queen, Sterling will have a lot of responsibilities, and as Commander of the Royal Army, her responsibilities will place her in much danger. But she will have you to come back to. You will be her beacon in the dark. The rock she will hide behind and…even underneath…when the pressures of life become too much for her. Your love will serve as an impenetrable armor against all her fears and all her enemies. Orla Peron, I want grandchildren and you will make that possible for me. For that I will forever be indebted to you.” She gently cupped Orla's cheek. “You are making my daughter so happy; please, do not take that away from her because you doubt yourself. I beg you, do not hurt her.”
    Orla saw smoldering, silver eyes flash before her, and she shook her head. She was taken back to earlier in the day when Sterling had sat on her lap, quietly eating her lunch. She remembered how wonderful she had smelled. Her heart swelled with each and every memory that rushed through her. No matter what, she knew, deep down inside, that her life would never be the same without Sterling. She doubted if she would survive a day without looking upon her beautiful face, seeing those intense, silver eyes, and tasting her lips.
    She reached for the queen's hand and brought it to her lips. Her eyes were clear as they stared at Sterling's mother and, for the first time since meeting Sterling, she was totally convinced that she was on the right path. She sensed her destiny and it rested with Sterling.
    “You need not worry about me hurting her, milady. I promise you that I will never hurt her and that I will love her forever.”
    “That is a very long time, Orla,” Mesmeria said with a soft chuckle. “But that will suffice.”
    Orla blushed and averted her eyes.
    “I am afraid it might not be long enough.”
    Mesmeria's eyes twinkled as they studied her.
    “My daughter has chosen well.”
     
    ***
     
    Sterling lifted her hands, holding them palms down. They were shaking. With a deep sigh, she quickly hid them behind her back.
    “It happens to the best of us, my child.”
    Sterling swung around to find Cybralle leaning calmly against the doorjamb. She quickly turned away and rubbed her hands against the ivory one-piece she wore. She very rarely wore dresses, but for her wedding day there was no other way. Her wife-to-be had made it very clear that she was not going to wear a dress. The queen, on the other hand, was adamant that she would not attend a wedding where both brides wore britches to the ceremony. Sterling had opted for the dress as a