Although I’m still working on a few things to remaster I think I have most of it up. My old blogs remain up but I have lost the ability to link in bio so posting there is kind of pointless. Its a long convoluted story about why this is case I really blame tumblrsupport. But just as a PSA to my writer friends please save your hyperlinks and use google docs and one drive for your stories. I could have lost a lot of work had I not done that. While remastering is a huge task it took a little stroll down memory lane and that was priceless.
You've been patiently waiting as I adjust to my new schedule, so I decided to give my DTI readers a little treat. I have not decided if the sneak peeks below will be part of one epically long chapter, or two smaller ones. Though I lean toward the former because there will be a lot of emotional impacts, and I don't want to break them up. In any case, I decided to give you a snippet from six different scenes in the next "chapter" (or two 🙂) of DTI. I hope you enjoy them!
She had only known Vivian a short time, but she already felt like home. As she watched her push through the crowd, she knew her embrace would be all that she needed to feel confident again… and she was right.
“Casey! My darling girl!” She pulled her in close. “I knew you were outstanding in every way from the moment I laid eyes on you, I hope you know that's true. But today, I can’t begin to tell you how proud I am of you today!"
Casey clutched her back, swaying back and forth in her exuberant embrace. With the exception of a hug from her own mother or Tobias, nothing felt better. She was about to speak when she felt Vivian’s arms go slack.
“Ethan,” Vivian declared. “How lovely to see you again.”
Mrs. Carrick had years of practice at feigning pleasantries, so the casual observer would see nothing amiss. But Casey had become closer to her than most, and she saw past the façade, which is why her next words left her startled.
__________
It was freezing cold, and the sun was beginning to set, and that was precisely why she was there, sitting atop a plush blanket spread on the frozen grass beneath her. DC had always been one of Casey’s favorite places, and there was nothing like the sunset on the National Mall. She was not going to miss it on this trip, even if doing so required her to wrap a fleece blanket around her hooded parka. She saw Ethan’s figure emerging from the shadows, a bottle of champagne and two glasses in his hands.
“What is that?”
“You know what it is, Casey. Normally I’d say it’s for a celebration, which is certainly in order. But, given the circumstances, I’m hoping it can serve double duty. Perhaps providing us with a little warmth, so we don’t freeze to death out here.”
__________
He rolled his eyes as he watched her make a beeline in his direction. He looked to his sides but, nope, there was no way to make an escape.
“Go away, Floria,” he groaned before she was within a foot of him.
“Oh, trust me, Carrick, I’m as enthused about seeing you as you are about seeing me.”
“Yet, I avoid you like the plague, and here you are.”
“Have you heard from her today?”
“Who.”
“Your fairy fucking godmother, Tobias, who else?”
“No. I haven’t. I’m sure she’s busy.”
“It’s 10:30 at night. What could she be busy doing now?”
__________
“… we didn’t have much time for sightseeing, but the sunset over the Mall, it was just beautiful.”
His face was serene as he dipped a piece of his grilled cheese into his soup and popped it into his mouth; he was more relaxed, happier than she had seen him in a long, long time.
“Hmm, I’m sure it was.”
“It’s funny, for all the times we went to DC back in the day, we never saw that, did we?”
“No, we didn’t.”
“Maybe we should go down again one day, old times sake,” he smirked, “maybe even convince Tobias to tag along.”
“I don’t think so,” she snapped.
“I was just joking about Tobias,” Ethan smiled.
“No. I don’t go to DC, Ethan. I don’t go to Baltimore. I try to forget that anything below New York City even exists. I thought you realized that.”
__________
“Why are you so upset? He couldn’t have been nicer to me. And he didn’t offer me a job. He just wanted to talk, to get to know the woman in his nephew’s life. Those were his exact words.”
“For now. You bring up meeting my uncle and potentially moving on within 10 minutes of each other… it’s so out of the blue, and,” he rubbed his hands in front of his face as he paced in front of the burning fire, “it doesn’t sit well, Casey. It just doesn’t sit well with me.”
“Nothing is sitting, T. I just said I wanted to explore, and….”
“Explore? Where does exploring lead, Casey? For God’s sake! You’re the woman in my life. We share a home together. When were you planning on bringing this up to me?”
“I’m bringing it up now.”
“After discussing it with two other people? What the… where do I rank, Casey? Where? When you were with Ethan, I don’t think he ever had to worry about learning news like this from Alan!”
_________
"People think we are so odd, that we're so different," he stood and moved to the edge of the balcony, looking at the city he loved as if it were an old friend, a friend he hoped would answer his questions, but it offered none.
"Yet, we're more alike than most people realize."
She put her glass of wine on the table between their chairs. Rising, she made her way to his side, careful to keep a respectable distance, but closer than she would have ever attempted in the past.
"We are," she whispered softly, "and I, for one, don't really care what people think."
The story "The Promise" was inspired by several headcanons, royal history, and art. I will share mood boards and commissioned art that helped me tell this story. Please note that this artwork was created for this story, and please do not reblog without credit.
A/N Liam and Leo switch rings in this series. Liam opted to take Leo's ring as his signet ring to honor his brother. Leo did the same. Just a small detail in the story.
The story "The Promise" was inspired by several headcanons, royal history, and art. I will share mood boards and commissioned art that helped me tell this story. Please note that this artwork was created for this story, and please do not reblog without credit.
A/N Liam and Leo switch rings in this series. Liam opted to take Leo's ring as his signet ring to honor his brother. Leo did the same. Just a small detail in the story.
The story "The Promise" was inspired by several headcanons, royal history, and art. I will share mood boards and commissioned art that helped me tell this story. Please note that this artwork was created for this story, and please do not reblog without credit.
The story "The Promise" was inspired by several headcanons, royal history, and art. I will share mood boards and commissioned art that helped me tell this story. Please note that this artwork was created for this story, and please do not reblog without credit.
The story "The Promise" was inspired by several headcanons, royal history, and art. I will share mood boards and commissioned art that helped me tell this story. Please note that this artwork was created for this story, and please do not reblog without credit.
A/N Liam and Leo switch rings in this series. Liam opted to take Leo's ring as his signet ring to honor his brother. Leo did the same. Just a small detail in the story.
The story "The Promise" was inspired by several headcanons, royal history, and art. I will share mood boards and commissioned art that helped me tell this story. Please note that this artwork was created for this story, and please do not reblog without credit.
A/N Liam and Leo switch rings in this series. Liam opted to take Leo's ring as his signet ring to honor his brother. Leo did the same. Just a small detail in the story.
The story "The Promise" was inspired by several headcanons, royal history, and art. I will share mood boards and commissioned art that helped me tell this story. Please note that this artwork was created for this story, and please do not reblog without credit.
The story "The Promise" was inspired by several headcanons, royal history, and art. I will share mood boards and commissioned art that helped me tell this story. Please note that this artwork was created for this story, and please do not reblog without credit.
The story "The Promise" was inspired by several headcanons, royal history, and art. I will share mood boards and commissioned art that helped me tell this story. Please note that this artwork was created for this story, and please do not reblog without credit.
Queen Adriana Rys, the ring of a fool's Queen, passed down to Queen Madeleine Rys
The story "The Promise" was inspired by several headcanons, royal history, and art. I will share mood boards and commissioned art that helped me tell this story. Please note that this artwork was created for this story, and please do not reblog without credit.
The story "The Promise" was inspired by several headcanons, royal history, and art. I will share mood boards and commissioned art that helped me tell this story. Please note that this artwork was created for this story, and please do not reblog without credit.
The story "The Promise" was inspired by several headcanons, royal history, and art. I will share mood boards and commissioned art that helped me tell this story. Please note that this artwork was created for this story, and please do not reblog without credit.
Rating: M (Mature content and implied sexual activities)
Pairing: Liam & Jessica (MC)
Agent Phoenix: The Promise - Series premise: Two signet rings, one engagement ring, and a pearl tell a story of love and responsibility, and ask the question: what does it mean to choose duty over love. Catch up here and check out the story inspiration here.
The Promise is based on my Agent Phoenix A/U is a story in-between. This series was written before the disclosure of Liam’s mother’s name. I have named her Lily.
Detailed disclaimer
Triggers: None identified by the author in this chapter
A/N: Thank you to my beta reader. This series would not be possible without you.
Recap: The crew was unable to find Tariq in time due to Madeleine having friends in high places.
Chapter Summary: Constantine plots against Jessica, and Leo and Liam are in a race against time before the Capitol closes in honor of Liam's wedding. There is a companion piece to this story written in the time apart series that can be found here.
Series Playlist and Inspiration
Word count: 3,300 *As always, forgive my typos and grammatical errors.*
Inspiration is drawn from Prince Charles's Investiture 1969 in acceptance of his official appointment as Prince of Wales.
Reading time: 5 minutes.
Liam's Office in the Capital
Constantine stepped into Liam's study and threw a decree at him. "Dear Boy, I think someone should call her and let her know."
Liam picked up the order and stared at it in confusion as he rose from his chair. "You personally did this?!"
"Yes. The capitol is now closed in observance of your impending wedding to Madeleine. She is no longer a suitor, and her duty to stand for her House ends on your wedding day. So it doesn't matter that your brother suggested an open Cordonian agreement clause to be written in your betrothal contract. Because we all know the only one you would ever have one with will be gone."
Leo stood up and grabbed the order as he read it to himself. "This is absolutely unbelievable!"
Constantine gave his son an even stare. "Leo, you have no title and no status here. When you abdicated, you lost everything. Yes, we allow you to go around being addressed as your 'royal highness' only because we allowed you the grace we can't strip of the birthright. But the power it once possessed is gone. I never formally restored your title and rights there within your achievements. Even your education is meaningless now."
Leo looked at him in disbelief. So, is this all some revenge tactic against me?"
"It is nothing other than I will not have you meddle with the crown. You lost that right when you abdicated. I must protect this crown by all means available and remove threats. This is what it means to be a King, and common blood is common; they are not born into service by divine right; they are born into strife and will do what is needed to survive. A King must die for his people and not just one. Who will you get to act as a barrister at this hour? And one willing to go against me." Constantine stared at his sons with coldness in his gaze. "Leo, your presence means nothing here. You are here simply because Liam allows it. He thinks of you highly as an advisor, but you are nothing. If it were me, you would be gone like your mother, Elisa, a deserter, her whereabouts unknown... Neither of you will cross me!"
Liam looked distraught as his anger bubbled up to the surface. Tears in his eyes as he glared at Constantine, searching for an answer to the cruelty.
"Why? Why are you doing this to me?!" Liam shouted, "I'm in love with her, and now you're taking my ability even to see her walk down a street to capture a glimpse of her!"
"Liam, you are so sentimental; she makes you weak. Lay with her tonight and say goodbye in whatever way you choose. Be mindful of protecting yourself. Bastards do not sit on a Rys throne." Constantine glared at Leo and said, "Even the ones born in marriage, fate finds a way to remove them."
Leo glared at the old man in disgust. "God, you are a wretched person, Constantine. I can't stomach calling you Father!" Leo said through gritted teeth.
"Leo, your disdain has no impact on me. You stopped being my son when you gave up my throne and spat in the face of the people you were born to lead for what? Love? Freedom? You have nothing to show for it, and I am glad. I will resent you until I lay cold and buried in the ground."
Constantine turned on his heels and exited the study.
Liam's red-rimmed eyes looked at his brother and said, "He changed the law. I can't believe he terminated RG- 7 visa status three days before the wedding, and the state offices are closed. What good is all this power if I am just following the laws he made that can not be overturned? He has stolen our happiness together, and now, with this law, he is taking my ability to see her in any capacity." He crumbled back into his chair at a loss for words as Leo sadly came forward and squeezed his shoulder.
"Liam, we will figure it out," Leo assured his brother.
"Leo, I don't know what to do... I need time to rid myself of this marriage. But she is gone forever if she doesn't have status in the next day or two. There is nothing I can do."
Determination was etched on Leo's face. 'No, he is NOT getting away with this! He already took my little brother's happiness away once; the bastard isn't doing it again just as a fuck you to me.'
"Liam, I will have to go to the archives to find the canon law to refer to. But I can outmaneuver this. The archives are only open to the Sovereign and their regent...Which you are. I need your permission to enter. And I need an order from you to restore my Bastier privileges."
Hope-filled Liam's eyes as he sat up taller at his desk. "Of course; you have it." Liam quickly began working on the order.
"Liam, I will forever atone for what has happened here. He showed me how corrupt he could be long ago, but I never expected him to go this far."
Liam sighed, wiping a stray tear from his eye as he finished the order. He sat back in his chair with a distant expression as he spoke.
"Leo, in my mind, I idolized him. But as I become more and more familiar with who he is as a King, I don't want to rule in his way. It is why Jessica would not let me abdicate. She thought I could do great things with the opportunity, and I believe I can...I wish it were her by my side. I don't know if I can face the fact that I can't hold her even as a friend. Madeleine would need to sign for her entry. We know that won't happen. It could be a lifetime ban… I at least need to be able to have her enter if I can free myself."
Leo got on his phone and dialed a number, "....Hey Olivia, I need a witness. I need to go to The Special Master. Can you meet me at the archives?" Leo looked at his watch and said, "Okay, thank you."
Liam opened his drawer and pulled out his old signet ring. It shined in the light as he held it up to him. "Leo, along with restoring your ability to practice… May I offer you your title back?"
Leo looked surprised and said, "...Brother, only if you want to."
"I've been thinking about this for a while. I never brought it up because not only did we have so many more tasking issues at hand, but I didn't think you wanted it. You always wanted to distance yourself from Royal life and its responsibility. But now, I want you to have this. To exercise your privileges as you wish but not feel bound to the life you wanted to leave behind."
He continued, "I would also like to grant you Dukedom. The lands remain unclaimed from your mother's House. I know you had no attachment to the one that was going to be given to you as a wedding gift. Father dissolved your mother's House, and I would like to reinstate it for you. It was always my intention to do so at the right time. I would have rather had it been announced at my wedding with Jessica; nonetheless, it is something I would love to do for you."
Leo looked down at the signet ring with a sentimental expression as he whispered, "Argon." He looked at his brother and said, "Did you know it means 'From the Valley? My mother told me that's why she gave me the middle name Hunter. Father thought it was in relation to an ancestor. The sigil was a knight's helmet; she wanted it to be a bow and arrow, the sigil of a hunter."
Liam smiled softly, "then that is what it shall be. It is your House. You may use the style of your Royal Highness, Prince Leo Hunter Rys, Duke of Argon. You reserve the right to choose your sigil. Perhaps the one your mother wanted."
"... I think that sounds perfect, Liam. She would have wanted that."
Palace Archives:
The room was grand with gold trimming on the walls, world maps, globes, books, and ancient tomes filled with hand-scribed entries from ages ago. He was taught the words, but he would never have been able to bestow a title as second in line to the throne. He had wished she was there to watch him grant a title for his first ceremony as a regent. But at that moment knew she was on her way back to Cordonia; he knew that any chance they had seen each other on Cordonian soil would be gone if an answer couldn't be found.
Olivia stood by Liam's side to bear witness to the restoration of Leo's privileges and titles. Leo happily knelt before Liam, a reminder of what he did for him years ago at his own signet ceremony so long ago.
They exchanged smiles. Liam smiled at his brother broadly, "Leo Hunter Rys, please pledge yourself once more to the crown."
"I, Leo Hunter Rys, Prince of Cordonia, affirm my allegiance to the crown of my brother, the rightful successor to the throne of Cordonia. I become your liege, man of life and limb, earthly worship, and faith and truth. I will bear unto thee to live and die against all folks." Liam gave the ring to his brother, and Leo smiled at the inscription: 'Liam the Loyal.' Leo held the ring in thought before clasping it in his fist.
Liam spoke again, "It is my wish that on this day, the House of Argon will be established, and I have named its Duke as His Royal Highness, Prince Leo Hunter Rys, as its owner. Please stand and be recognized as the Prince of Cordonia and the Duke of Argon. You may exercise the privileges within your titles, and I have restored your privileges to practice law as a Barrister of my Kingdom as it is my right as heir and named successor to its throne."
Leo stood up, and the brothers embraced. The Special Master handed Liam the tome of titles, and with his left hand-signed that on this day, he granted a title, and Olivia signed as a witness to the event. She watched, a small smile on her face that she used only in rare, trusted company.
Leo instantly went to the books, combing through the exact section he needed as Liam and Olivia watched.
He missed being at the Palace Archive; it was a nostalgic feeling to him as he walked right to the shelf with the treatise on adoption law Liam would need. ‘Aut cum scuto aut in scuto. (Either with a shield or no shield.) Leo read the law out loud for his brother and Olivia to hear.
"A house that sponsors a suitor may choose to adopt that suitor should they not prevail at the end of Social Season. The title is one of honor, and they are afforded the privileges of their shield. They may inherit land if indicated or bequeath should there be no heir to those lands. Those who speak for the House may adopt the suitor as a sibling or child to its House."
Constantines Study
Constantine read a book at his desk after finishing the paperwork. He made sure to look over all fine print, all loopholes, all rules, and regulations. He had mastered it after decades of playing this game. So much of the archives were from his reign as King.
'Either Liam will understand, or he won't. Regardless, his lover has occupied his attention for far too long. She is a distraction. The end game was always Madeleine. If I could have forced the marriage right away instead of a frivolous Social Season, I would have done so. Laws are laws, and traditions are absolute.'
He frowned and sat his book down at the thought, 'That worthless bastard, no good son of mine, has rubbed off on him; Liam never questioned he followed. Now, everything is a fight. Ridiculous.' He glanced down at his signet ring—a symbol of his Duty, Power, and Title as King the words divine right written on the inner band.
'I can't even fathom wanting to give up a crown for the freedom to lay with some woman. Both of my sons are complete disappointments. Love is an unintended consequence of our world; it may or may not come. Madeleine is young and beautiful. What's not to like? My only comfort is knowing Liam's sense of duty is easy to control and keep him aligned with our future goals.'
There was a knock on the door. Constantine sat up and interlaced his hands on his desk.
"Come i-"
He didn't finish his sentence. The door all but slammed open as Liam marched in, placing a piece of paper on Constantine's desk just as he had done previous to him. Both Leo and Olivia accompanied him.
Constantine scowled up at his younger son before his attention went to Olivia and Leo. "I don't remember allowing audiences in my office without a prior invitation. What business do you have here?"
Olivia spoke with a tenacious gleam in her eyes, "Your Majesty." She gave a tiny curtsy all for show. "My job was to bear witness; I did so. I came here to tell you myself before you try to contradict what is on that paper...For what it's worth, I think Liam is entirely too good of a son to have such a hateful Father who wishes such foolish chaos on his own sons. And between what you did to my friend and me during Social Season as well as to her now, you will never be forgiven. Jessica has gained my respect, and I am her ally. In all matters. And my loyalty to Liam goes without saying. You made a grave mistake in crossing them both in my eyes."
Constantine glared, "Duchess Olivi-"
"I'll take my leave." She turned on her heels to leave the two brothers confronting their Father, resentment evident on their faces.
"Read the damn paper, Father," Liam growled out.
Constantine frowned as he picked it up and read a few lines. His face dropped as he reread the paragraph to ensure he had read it correctly.
"...What do you think you're trying to do here, Liam?" His eyebrows scrunched, and his eyes narrowed.
Liam informed him, "Proof of Leo's Dukedom, Father. He owns Argon. Leo has a title and restored his status as a Barrister and all the rights once afforded him. He rightfully has my signet on his finger, gaining him the title's ability, and it's not symbolic; it is his right. Olivia was a witness at his ceremony just a short while ago. He has full right to the archives now and forever."
Constantine lost his temper, yelling as he slammed the paper down on the desk in rage. "How dare my sons conspire against me! My word is law, and you two cannot change it no matter how much meddling!"
Leo huffed as he held up another paper, "You're right to an extent, but there are always loopholes. Including an adoption of the House that sponsored her. All we need is a few signatures from Bertrand and Maxwell, something they are more than happy to do for Jessica."
Constantine glared at Leo hatefully, "How dare you. I -"
Liam interrupted him to shout. "NO, HOW DARE YOU! How dare you take the only bit of happiness I had away from me, just to take her away once again out of spite! How dare you treat your sons like pawns! Like, they're nothing all because they refuse to play in your childish games!"
Leo stepped forward, bearing his ringed finger up towards the light. "I am Rys, whether you like it or not. I deserve the House you allowed to rot away out of pure spite, the same spite you carry with you to your sons. I gained back my title thanks to Liam, and I have lands that should have been mine through my mother, something you didn't even care to do. Now, you're trying to control Liam because I can't be anymore. All you are is an old man losing power and desperately trying to regain it in some way, shape, or form. Well, now, I have the right again to the archives; this time, I read every fucken line in print."
Constantine scowled at his sons, voice hoarse as he growled out. "I was King for well over four decades, almost five. I served my Kingdom and Country. I got married out of obligation. I had two UNGRATEFUL children. I trained them to rule one day... Just for one to be a completely negligent deserter and the other to be a doormat for a commoner!!" He threw the paper in a fit of rage before a coughing fit overtook him.
Both adult men stared emotionlessly at their Father as he tried stopping the coughing deep in his lungs.
Leo looked coldly at him, "Did I abdicate? Yes, but I didn't stop being his brother. I promised always to protect him. This ring gives me that assurance. You can boast all you want about your control with laws that can't be overturned but remember, you trained me. But I will be ingenious instead of being manipulative with my power." He smirked at that last bit. Leo spoke in his mother's language, Catalan, for the first time. Although Constantine didn't speak it, he knew what he said. “No ets un Rei, ets un tirà. (You are not a King. You are a tyrant)".
Constantine laid limply in his chair, exhausted by the coughing as he could only glare at his sons. "...This isn't over…. If you think you two can try to outsmart me with laws I created and a Country I govern, then you are mistaken."
Constantine covered his mouth to cough once more, his signet ring prominently on his hand. Once a sign of strength, now an old reminder.
Liam, Leo, and Constantine's rings all bore the sigil of their House, a Lion that would fiercely protect all the houses under them. Each with a different inscription and a different meaning to the wearer. To Constantine, it was power. To Leo, it was a reminder to help his brother despite his resignation to Royalty. To Liam, it was never to stop striving to be a better King than his Father. To hold the responsibility above all else for his people. Jessica and his signet reminded him of that.
Liam said, "Yes, it is. After the wedding, you will no longer be King if cancer doesn't take you first. Part of me wants you to be mere inches from death's door when I marry the one I love just so that I can place a crown upon her head, and all that was once my mothers is hers. I will not stop there; she will share all that is mine. Today, she becomes a Beaumont. Soon, she will be a Rys. Then, you may pass and go to your version of hell. Your reign hangs by a whim, and you know it."
He glanced down at his watch with a grin. "Oh, look, Leo. It's almost 1 pm. I am fulfilling this order by the close of business. If you will excuse me, I am expected at Ramsford to collect signatures. Jessica can choose to start her residency before the grace period. I will have whatever time I can have with her as she sees fit."
He glanced back at his Father, "You forever lost my respect, and maybe blood makes me your son, but I am not your son; I am your Sovereign. I will tolerate you in public, but I despise you."
He turned to leave, and Leo followed. Leaving Constantine to sulk in his chair at being bested at his own game.
The story "The Promise" was inspired by several headcanons, royal history, and art. I will share mood boards and commissioned art that helped me tell this story. Please note that this artwork was created for this story, and please do not reblog without credit.
The story "The Promise" was inspired by several headcanons, royal history, and art. I will share mood boards and commissioned art that helped me tell this story. Please note that this artwork was created for this story, and please do not reblog without credit.
*She was fire and light and ash and embers.* @phoenixrising308 - Tumblr Blog | Tumgag
