A Royal's Love (Unit Matched #1) Read online

  A Royal’s Love (Unit Matched #1)

  Copyright 2015 by Mary Smith

  This publication is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws, and all rights are reserved, including resale rights: you are not allowed to give or sell this book to anyone else.

  This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it, and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  All rights reserved. Except for the use of short passages for review purposes, no part of this book may be reproduced, in part or in whole, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronically or mechanically, including photocopying, recording, or any information retrieval system, without prior permission in the form of writing by the authors.

  This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to any person, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Any actual places, products, or events mentioned are used in a purely fictitious manner.

  Cover Designed by: Bailey Ardisone

  Model: Tessi Conquest

  Photographer: K Keeton Designs

  Dedication

  To everyone who is looking for their Matched

  Table of Contents:

  Prologue

  Part 1: July

  Chapter 1: Four Days Away

  Chapter 2: Two Days Away

  Chapter 3: My Birthday

  Chapter 4: The Next Day

  Chapter 5: Matched or Leave?

  Chapter 6: The Matched Life

  Chapter 7: Amaya’s Twentieth Birthday

  Chapter 8: Just Another Weekend in Unit

  Part 2: August

  Chapter 9: Bring It On, New York City

  Chapter 10: Getting to Know Your Matched

  Chapter 11: Miami, Baby

  Chapter 12: Couldn’t Stop If I Tried

  Part 3: September

  Chapter 13: Gia’s Birthday

  Chapter 14: The Strange Feelings

  Part 4: October

  Chapter 15: The Pain of the Truth

  Chapter 16: Lies or Truths?

  Chapter 17: Answers

  Chapter 18: Verdict

  Prologue

  The Rules

  The Rules are for the citizens of Unit, and our culture. To keep our secret and the balance of all that live within our walls.

  Rule 1: The secret will never be told to those not of our kind.

  Rule 2: All will show respect to each other, even in anger.

  Rule 3: All citizens will be educated to the highest nature.

  Rule 4: All citizens will work for Unit to thrive.

  Rule 5: The proper attire will always be worn.

  Rule 6: Unmatched males and females will not interact in a private manner or setting.

  Rule 7: At the coming of age (18), a Unit citizen has the right to leave. Once the citizen is gone from the walls, the magic will not be in their blood.

  Rule 8: If citizen remains, they will remain pure and follow the rules.

  Rule 9: At the age of adulthood (20), a female will be Matched by their parents choosing.

  Rule 10: The Matched pair will have three (3) months to make the decision of completing the ceremony.

  Rule 11: If the Matched breaks the commitment, then they have the right to leave Unit, or remain in Unit, alone

  The definitions are as such:

  King: able to rule the land of Unit through the power of the Ring.

  Royal: able to handle one or more of Mother Nature’s elements

  Controller: able to handle the emotions of the citizens, without disturbing their free will

  Protector: able to fight, speed, save the Royals, Controllers, and citizens of Unit

  July

  Chapter 1

  Four Days Away

  I tapped my pen hard against the book that I’m supposed to be studying. My mind was definitely not on reading, homework, or anything school related. I was turning twenty in four days. It seemed like an eternity to get here.

  “Would you please stop doing that?” Amaya hissed at me trying to keep her voice down in the library.

  “Fine.” I threw my pen down and shut my book.

  “Don’t think about it,” Gia said softly to me attempting to calm me down.

  “Easier said than done,” I mumbled.

  “That’s it, let’s get out of here.” Amaya started gathering her books. “You’re not studying, and I’m hungry.”

  Gia and I agreed and put our books and items into our bags as we follow Amaya out the door. We headed to Amaya’s car, and we went back to Unit.

  The three of us have been friends for as long as I can remember. We were Paired since the day each of us were born.

  Unit, Vermont is where we live. It is a small community of less than three thousand people, but it’s our home. Unit was founded several centuries ago. It was split into three groups: the Royals, the Protectors, and the Controllers. According to the Rules, we will always remain with our Paired. In my case, Amaya is my Protector, and Gia is my Controller.

  People who live on the other side of Unit’s walls assume we are a religious group. That is the furthest thing from the truth.

  I am a Royal. My official title is Princess Xaviera, but outside of Unit, I am plain, old Xaviera Anderson.

  Inside the walls, I have a duty to the citizens. I am to keep them safe, free from the dangers on the outside and keep the balance in nature.

  When I came of age, I debated with myself if I should leave Unit or remain. Being a Royal put me in a harder predicament then if I was of another bloodline. Not to mention, I am my parent’s only child.

  My mother had several miscarriages before me and had a very difficult pregnancy with me. After having me, my parent's decided not to have any more children.

  I struggled with being the Princess of Unit. There were numerous Royals, but I was at the top of the food chain, so to speak. The one thing that sets my family apart from the other is we can control all four of Earth’s elements. Most Royals were only able to control one or two of them.

  My dad is the King of Unit and holds the most power. He has the most power because of the Royal ring. Legend tells of a story long ago in the beginning of time, Mother Nature herself created a bloodline of people to help ensure the balance of nature. In that she put her power in the ring. Whoever held the power of the ring was the King.

  Was there fighting for the ring?

  Not in the sense that many think.

  There’s never been a war in Unit. Mainly because it’s not a complete monarch that some would assume it to be.

  My father is a fair man. He has a Royal Court, and he always ensures the citizens are put above all else.

  Even though I decided to stay in Unit, I know that when I am Matched I would still have the opportunity to leave, if I wanted to. It could leave Amaya and Gia without a Royal to take care of, but I know they would support my decision, either way.

  My two best friends and I go to a local State College. I wanted to go far away to school, but that wasn’t proper in Unit, so I stayed close to home. I don’t get to travel too far from Unit, either. If I did it was only with my dad and the Royal Court to help out different parts of the country.

  Unit controlled the balance in the United States and Canada. There are numerous other groups all around the world, but I’ve never really met them.

  Amaya pulled up to the gate and punched in the code to let us into
Unit. The gates were tall. An average person could shimmy over it, but the Protectors monitored it very well.

  Amaya headed straight for The Diner. It’s the one place to eat in town, because it had the best burgers and was a hot spot for those under twenty-five and not Matched. The owners watched out and made sure that no one wandered off alone with someone they shouldn’t be with. There were a few that tried, but they had already chosen to leave Unit.

  “Princess. Girls, great to see you this evening.” Mrs. Walters, a Controller, smiled at us.

  Inside the walls of Unit I was addressed by my title, outside, not so much.

  “Hello, Mrs. Walters,” we say in unison as we sit at a corner booth.

  We give her our drink and food order. When you come to The Diner, you already know what’s on the menu.

  The girls and I start discussing classes and projects coming up. Why did I decide that going to summer school was a good thing?

  Oh, right, I want to hurry up and finish. If everything goes as planned, I’ll be in done in December, and then I’ll be able to focus some of my time on my duties in Unit.

  “Well, hello.” Graham Centers’ dark eyes and smirk appeared at our table. Graham was a Protector of another Royal that was around our age. If there was anyone whom I thought would leave when they reached age, it would have been Graham Centers. He was very open about the policies in Unit and felt that some of them were old-fashioned. I wonder if he was waiting for his Matched.

  “Ugh, go away,” Amaya groaned.

  “You wound me, Amaya. You know.” He leaned down on the table. “When we are Matched you’re going to have to do what I say.” He winked at her.

  “I’d rather chew off my arm.” She gave him a fake smile back.

  “Ouch.” He stood up holding his hand over his heart. He grabbed a chair and sat at the end of the booth. Coming around the corner was Thaddeus Edwards, Royal, and Oliver Thomas, Controller.

  As always, Thaddeus looked like he was mad at everything. I’m not surprised that he isn’t Matched. Even more so, that he hadn't left yet. He ran his hand through his shaggy brown hair looking at me and huffed in frustration as he sat next to Graham.

  I have known Thaddeus all my life because his mother is Protector to Mom. Every memory I have was of Thaddeus’ stern face staring back at me. I found him odd at times and sometimes a jerk. There are times if I talk to him, he completely ignores me.

  Then there was Oliver. I don’t know why, but I always felt bad for him. Oliver was quiet and shy, but had a heart of gold and looked like he belonged on GQ magazine.

  Yes, I do read magazines. I love Vogue, although I wouldn’t wear any of those clothes. I love the articles, the purses, and the shoes. Especially the shoes. I may have a slight obsession with them.

  “Thaddeus, I hear that you’re really moving up in the firm.” Amaya smiled at him. She’s always had a crush on Thaddeus, and I know that she wants him to be her Matched.

  In Unit, there was never a rule about mixing of bloodlines. In fact, I don’t know anyone that wasn’t of a mixed bloodline. In my situation, I gained my powers through my dad’s side of the bloodline, and the rest of the power comes from the ring. That was how I sustained my powers of all four elements. The sole purpose of our powers was to help keep balance in nature. Our powers grew the older we became, and we could easily control the balance from anywhere.

  “Yep,” was all he said. That’s Thaddeus, a guy of few words.

  “Okay, boys.” Mrs. Walters came over to our booth staring down the boys. “Time to move to your own table.” She pointed to the table and without a word being said the boys got up and moved. Even though Mrs. Walters wasn’t a Royal and couldn’t command someone, we were respectful of our elders.

  Our food came, and we went back to our decision about our classes and summer school. It was Gia that turned the conversation back to my Matching.

  “Do you have any ideas yet?” She asked quietly not wanting others to hear.

  “I don’t know yet.” I shook my head.

  “Oh, I can’t wait to see who it’s going to be.” Amaya rubbed her hands together.

  “We’ll find out Saturday at the party.” I picked up a fry but set it back down. I couldn’t eat right now because my stomach was doing flips.

  My mother wanted a huge blowout party for me and considering that I was the Princess of Unit I should have one. But I hated big parties more than anything. So, I was able to talk her down to a small picnic of a few hundred people.

  Four days.

  Could I make it?

  Chapter 2

  Two Days Away

  The words from the professor’s mouth were going in one ear and out the other. I didn’t want to be here. I wanted to know my Matched. Luckily, I only had one class today and the girls and I were going to the mall before I went to work this afternoon.

  Class ended, and I headed out to the front of the building, waiting for Amaya’s car to pull up. What was I going to wear on Saturday? I gazed at my outfit that I had on today, khaki trousers and a light pink blouse. Of course, the best part was my pink Gucci heels.

  Shoes are my weakness.

  The horn pulled me from my thought and the fact that I’m worried about my shoes for the picnic almost as much as finding out my Matched. Amaya was yelling for me to hurry up. I smiled at my friends and got into the car.

  “Let’s go to the mall, ladies,” Amaya announced.

  We didn’t talk on the way to our destination, we sang. The air conditioning was blasting, cooling us from the heat of July in Vermont. I had my hair in a tight bun, as did Gia. Amaya’s pixie cut kept her cool enough. I was glad the windows were up because we didn’t sing well, at all.

  When we reached the mall, we went straight for my favorite store. I knew that we didn’t have much time to shop because I was due at the bank in a couple of hours. Amaya was the first to start pulling dresses off the rack. Of course, I said no to almost all of them. However, there were two that I liked, and I quickly tried them on.

  The first one was a sky blue, long cotton dress. The problem was the top of it. I felt a little bit exposed. I did have a half cardigan that might match it. I slipped off the dress and put on the other one.

  It was perfect.

  It was bright pink that stopped mid-calf and came with a three-quarter length sleeve jacket. I stepped out of the dressing room, and both of my dearest friends gasp collectively.

  “You have to buy that right now,” Amaya said.

  “I have to agree with her,” Gia concurred.

  “We’ll need to find shoes.” I clapped. I’m more excited about finding the shoes and trying to keep my nerves down from the meeting of my Matched in a couple of days.

  “Of course,” Amaya said as if it was always the plan.

  I changed back into my clothes, and I pay for it. Making my heart beat faster because this is the dress that I’ll meet my Matched in.

  We go next door to the shoe store, and I find a pair of pretty sandals to match the dress. Gia suggested grabbing something to eat in the food court.

  As we headed up the escalator, I asked Amaya about her Matched. “You know your birthday is a couple of weeks after mine,” I teased her.

  “I’m not nervous like you,” she said confidently. “I know that my parents picked someone perfect for me, and if they didn’t.” She shrugged instead of finishing her sentence.

  “Are you still thinking about leaving?” Gia asked.

  “Come on, you can’t tell me you haven’t thought about it?” Amaya challenged her.

  “No.” Gia shook her head. “I like living in Unit. I like the safety of having my family close, and being Xaviera’s Controller.”

  I understood what she meant because I liked those things too. But I wanted to see the world. I know that there is more to it than Unit.

  “There’s Oliver.” Gia quietly pointed over to him on the other side of the food court.

  “You want to be Matched with him, don’t you
?” Amaya teased her.

  “I wouldn’t mind it. I mean,” she blushed, “our families are close and have been for years.”

  “We live in Unit. All of our families are close. It comes with the territory.” Amaya rolled her eyes.

  I watched Gia eyeing Oliver. Since both of them were Controllers it wouldn’t be farfetched for them to be Matched.

  “Oh, looks like Thaddeus has joined Oliver.” Amaya cooed over him.

  I looked over to see them standing in line for sub sandwiches. He was wearing a tight gray t-shirt and loose fitting jeans.

  “He looks so hot,” Amaya moaned as Gia and I gasped.

  “You can’t say that,” Gia chastised her.

  “Why not? He’s good looking. I think he owns a mirror and knows that,” she explained. “If my parents loved me, they would make him my Matched.”

  We all giggled at that. I’m sure her parents did. Poor Thaddeus, Amaya was going to be hard to reign in.

  We stayed a little bit longer, talking about the party for my birthday. I was lucky that my birthday is July Fourth and this year it was on a Saturday. The downfall was I wasn’t going to be able to enjoy it much because I’m nervous.

  “I need to get to work,” I finally said trying not to sound like I’m on the verge of fainting, which I felt like I was going to.

  I work at the Unit Bank. My father holds the title of President of the Bank, which sounded strange because he is the King of Unit. However, to the outside world, it wouldn’t seem out of place.

  Dad felt that I should know all aspects of the bank, in and out. He always said that being leader wasn’t about barking orders. It was about knowing the people and since all the money people made came through the bank, it was the best way to get to know the citizens.