A hand pulled her back, Patrice turned to Evander. His face was sincere as the pleading eyes looked at her.

"I ask for just a few minutes to make a couple of alterations."

Patrice nodded and returned to the throne room. Evander moved to the table and picked up the book.

"Your attention, please."

The clerics stopped what they were doing and turned to the prince. When he had their attention, Evander cleared his throat. He didn't like having to go behind his brother's back, but Evander knew that Jarek was stubborn and would fight him every single step of the way. This was his duty. He was charged with the care of Patrice while she was here. It was unsaid, but he knew that it was clear that his duty extended to caring for his brother too. After all, the crystal had bound itself to Patrice and if it didn't return to Jarek, he would die. They might argue and continually butt heads, but Evander loved his brother and wanted him to be in this world, alive and healthy. If he was in love with a wonderful woman, that would be just as incredible, in Evander's opinion.

"We will conduct a vote on the passage, and if you believe that it applies to the situation. Raise your hands if you agree that Jarek and Patrice are bound by the stones intention to make them lovers."

Patrice was not surprised that they all raised their hands. She sat down, waiting for these alterations to happen. Patrice didn't know what they were or what the prince had planned, but after hearing the first vote, she knew that it would not be pleasant.

"Keep them raised if you agree to the statement that Jarek will die if their union is not completed in marriage and fornication."

Evander glanced at Patrice, giving her a grim smile.

"Sorry," he murmured.

Patrice rolled her eyes. She was sick of this conversation and this world. She was also annoyed that not one of the clerics lowered their hands.

"Thank you. Please, lower your hands. If this is your vote, then you will undoubtedly agree that we must move them in a direction that adheres to the natural law of what the stone wants. Fate has determined this and wielded its magic through the stone. We have it written in this book that when a stakalis stone leaves its owner and binds itself to another, that fate has intervened in their lives, and they must join to become lovers. For any of that to happen, we must remove the obstacles that hinder natural progression. The largest obstacle is in the garden with the king right now. I ask you to raise your hands once again if you agree that Adella Remec should be removed from all aspects of the king's life."

Patrice was stunned to see their hands rise quickly. It was unanimous and obvious that Adella was not liked. Patrice wasn't surprised. Their interactions were limited, but in each of them, Adella had been quite rude to her.

"It is done."

Evander gave the guards at the door a firm nod. With a heavy stomp of their feet, they turned to cross the hall and enter the private courtyard. Seconds had barely passed before her loud protests could be heard. Then Jarek started. He stormed into the throne room, his wrath ready to be unleashed.

"How dare you." he hissed a heavy growl.

"If you are going to start something, brother, I would suggest that you don't. The kings were notified that the clerics found the passage and are waiting for word of your acceptance. If I do not report to them, then they will come here to investigate. Anything that you do against me, Patrice or the natural law of what the stone wants will see you stripped of your title. Accept that your life has turned in a new direction and that you cannot change it."

Patrice looked at the anger on Jarek's face. She believed that it would take a long time for him to get over this, which was fine. They needed a lot of time because, at the moment, she didn't even like him. Evander stood a better chance than what he did.

Angrier than ever, Jarek stormed out of the throne room.

"Can I go now?"

Evander turned to the quiet and unamused human.

"Perhaps remaining in the palace would be ideal for a while."

"Great," Patrice muttered tersely as she stood.

Holding out a different book, Evander hoped that Patrice would accept that this was her future and not protest like his brother. He didn't want to force this on them, but there was no choice. If Jarek was to survive, he had to listen to the stone.

Evander wondered if there was a greater force at work here. The clerics thought it was odd but didn't dwell on it for long, almost as if they were not surprised by it.

"Please, read this book and start down the path to your future."

Patrice accepted the book, then moved out of the throne room. She thought that the garden was a pleasant-looking area, reasonably well shaded and cool enough to rest while reading the book. Best of all, she could not see Jarek, which meant that she would be alone.

She did not see the figure follow her into the garden.

To her left was a wall that rose high into the air, giving privacy but robbing her of the view of a beautiful village. The garden was large. Fully grown trees stood proudly around her as she walked through their shade. On the other side of the area were large windows that spanned the entire length. Patrice walked over to them, looking into what she assumed was a ballroom.

Patrice smiled at the visions in her mind. Beautiful women in luxurious gowns, men looking dapper in tailcoats, dancing in time to this world's version of classical music. She hadn't seen anything to contradict her thoughts, but she believed that this world was not that different to Earth.

The fashion seemed to be reasonably close to what was current. Perhaps the turn of the century, at least from what Patrice had seen of the staff and Evander. Jarek was still in his battle gear, minus the armour and weapons. The only difference she'd seen was Adella. She wore a dress that might have been considered scandalous. It was certainly daring. Patrice turned to the wall that blocked her view, wishing that she could see a few townsfolk to learn what they were like.

Moving to a breezeway, Patrice slowly walked through the quiet garden to the rotunda. It was there that she found comfortable chairs to rest in.

As she climbed the few steps to the rotunda, Patrice saw the shadowed figure drawing in on her. Gasping, she turned.

"Surprised to see me?"

"What do you want?"

"You, dead. See, it's easier than what Evander makes it out to be. The stone must be returned to its rightful owner, but it's bound itself to you instead. If you're taken out of the equation, the stone will naturally return to where it belongs. See? So simple."

Patrice began to back away, her hand shaking as her heart raced. Glancing at the doors in the distance, Patrice wondered if she would make it in time. She could scream. Maybe the guards would hear her. There was no plush rope to pull twice in the garden.

"Go on, try to run for the door. I'll give you a fighting chance and let you pass me without harm. How's that?"

"I didn't ask for this," Patrice said softly. "Why should I die when this is not my fault?"

Adella shrugged. She didn't care who was to blame.

"I can't help you with that. All I can do is solve my problem, which is you, stealing my place as the king's lover."

Patrice's back tightened as it went rigid.

"The king or Jarek?" she asked. "Curious that you're more interested in his title than the Jarek himself."

"Shut up." Adella hissed.

She rushed to Patrice, grabbing her shirt. Her hands moved quickly, pulling at Patrice's hair.

"Let go of me," Patrice cried out.

A firm hand on Adella's shoulder pulled her away. She turned to see Jarek standing behind them, his face plain as he looked at her.

"This is all her fault," Adella protested. "Punish her for attacking me. She questioned my love for you and is determined to put a wedge between us. Don't you see that, my love? She has manipulated your beloved brother and your clerics into accepting a questionable passage from an old book."

Jarek stepped aside, the guards behind him moved closer.

"You are not serious."

To show that he was, Jarek stood beside Patrice.

"Accept that this is how it will be, Adella. The book might be antiquated, but it is the law. Leave quietly, and nothing more will come of this."

Adella's back straightened as her head tilted up. She looked derisively at Patrice. Turning on her heels, Adella stormed out of the garden, followed by the guards.

Patrice watched in silence, unsure of what she should say to Jarek. He'd saved her from being attacked and then sent his lover away, never to return to his life. She hoped that things would change now that he'd accepted what the book said.

Patrice wasn't prepared to start something. Not yet, at least. She didn't know when or even if she would be ready. It was a complicated situation that was spiralling out of control.

She still did not like him, but he'd made a solid move in the right direction by picking her over Adella. It didn't change her mind about what was going on or her thoughts on him, but she believed that things had improved slightly.

Jarek turned to look at Patrice, their eyes connected in the silence. His hand flinched, almost reaching out to adjust the stray hair that had been pulled out by Adella. She didn't know why but Patrice had hope.

Instead of the soft-touch that could break through the wall between them, Jarek turned and walked away. He couldn't deal with any part of the situation at the moment. As for the annoying human, she was just another part of the nightmare that his life was quickly becoming.

Patrice watched until the king was out of sight. She'd seen the flinch in the corner of her eye. Patrice thought that he would say something. Instead, she got a cold glare and silence.

Brushing the wayward hair back, Patrice sat on one of the chairs. She hoped that this was the last that she would see of Adella.

Opening the book, Patrice tried to concentrate but she was unable to focus with the raging thoughts in her mind. So, Patrice closed the book. Her head lifted, and she found that a guard was standing at the doorway facing the entrance hall. He was her silent protector, placed to stop the danger before it reached her.

Putting the book on the cushion beside her, Patrice pulled out the letter from the War Office. In the silence of the afternoon, she reread the letter and cried.

This was not the plan for her life. She never thought that being trapped in another world was going to happen. Patrice had a plan that she'd work hard and save all the money she could. When she had enough, she would pack her bag and visit Eddie's grave. In that little bag, she'd have everything that she owned. Her goal was not to return to England or life itself.