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A couple of minutes before the service began, they entered the sanctuary. Joe continued to hold her hand as they followed the king and queen, his mom and step-dad, and one of his older sisters and her husband. The younger siblings followed behind.

There was definitely a hierarchy in place.

Bekah didn’t know how she felt about the rigidity of the family structure, but it was part of life with the royal family, she supposed. She’d seen it in Øyanord with Ginny, but it was more removed for Bekah there. She was outside of it - and she hadn’t stayed very long.

“Are you all right?” Joe whispered as they sat down. He still didn’t let go of her hand.

She nodded.

The service was a bit different than any she’d been to before, but the peace that settled over her felt familiar.

Throughout the service, Josiah continued to hold her hand when appropriate. When they stood to sing, he let go, but otherwise, that point of connection remained.

When they left the pew at the end of the service, they continued out the same way so they exited down the center aisle, with the king leading the way to the back of the sanctuary and out the main doors before anyone else in the crowd moved.

A few people waited outside, but not many. Several held professional cameras. They had to be either legitimate reporters or paparazzi. She didn’t know who else they’d be.

“Just smile,” Joe told her. “Wave if you want but hold your head up and smile.”

Bekah nodded. “Got it.” She kept her eyes on the ground in front of her as they walked down the steps. Otherwise, she ran a real risk of tripping. Once they reached the bottom, she looked up and waved just a bit, and plastered a small smile on her face.

They were still in the immediate aftermath of their friend’s death. Being joyful wouldn’t be appropriate.

She was overwhelmed at best.

A minute later, they were back in the car, and Thor drove them back to the palace.

“Do you want to have lunch with my family?” Joe asked. “Or we can eat those sandwiches from last night.”

“I think I’d rather have the sandwiches.” She was very aware that there could be people taking pictures from outside looking through the windows. Hadn’t she seen pictures of the Queen taken that way?

Once they were back inside the palace, she felt a bit of relief. At least they were out of the public eye.

Joe showed her a back way to get out of the more public areas and into the family area quickly. The stairs were more utilitarian than the ones you’d expect in a palace.

In the apartment, she quickly shed her outer layer, then kicked off her heels.

“I’m not a huge fan of dressing up either.” Joe closed the door and locked it behind them.

She turned and saw him tugging his tie off. “It’s not my favorite,” she told him. “Probably not a great trait for someone married to a prince.”

“Probably not a great trait for a prince,” he countered. He headed for the bedroom then the closet. “You’re welcome to wear some of my clothes again if you want to. They’re probably more comfortable than whatever they brought you.”

“I appreciate the offer. Your pajamas are much cozier.”

A minute later, he emerged wearing some comfortable pants with a t-shirt. She went into the closet and found clothes already lying on the dresser waiting for her. She looked down at the small swell of her belly as she let the t-shirt fall to cover it.

She was growing a human.

And needed to tell Joe about it soon.

Before long, she wouldn’t have a choice.

CHAPTER 5

Monday morning arrived far too soon for Josiah, but as expected, a representative of Athmetis would arrive at the palace shortly after noon.

Ben didn’t want Josiah and Bekah there to start, but to be ready to join the meeting if deemed necessary by Justin, Ben’s head of security, and Thor - who stayed far more active in the family’s protection and other matters than most people would have expected.