A/N: Hello everyone! Thanks for the feedback! So glad you guys are getting into this story! Ok, now here's some history- it will explain some things about Max and Liz's undeniable connection. 
It's gonna get real intense. I also wanted to tell you all, that I put out an APB on a banner for my fic and got a great response! I got TWO! lol... they're both beautiful. One is from LilacStar and the other is from the challenger herself, miss Anais Nin. The cool thing is that they both felt the colors to describe the story were blue and both came up with very cool interpretations. I will post Lilac Star's first. Then in my next post, I will post Anais Nin's... she's adding the finishing touches. Thanks so much guys and great jobs!!!
Chapter 7:
“You are leaving again.” She looked up at him, a sense of frustration in her eyes. How could she get to know her new husband if he was always away or busy or at a function? She knew very little about him, except that he loved her, and he seemed to feel that was enough.
“Being a King is not easy my dear.”
“Being a Queen is cake.” Her voice was slightly venomous and he looked at her questioningly.
“Are you unhappy here Ayleyna?” His eyes held a sadness that broke her heart. This man was sweet and gentle. He took care of her and admired her. And yet she could not bring herself to love him. How could she? She didn’t know him! Truthfully, her heart had fallen upon a different face, a man with similar amber eyes.
“No. Quite the opposite Mekhi. I love it here. Everyone has been so warm and welcoming. I love the castle and being able to pick flowers and read books in the library and attend grand balls. But I miss our conversations and our picnics.” She was being completely honest. She missed his company.
“What about Vilandra? Perhaps you can go out with her?”
“We talk occasionally, and we have fun planning the dances. But she has a very busy social life, much like yourself.”
“Forgive me love. But while I am gone, you are the only thing on my mind.” He kissed her forehead. She looked down, knowing full well that while he was gone, she was usually occupied; so perhaps, she had no reason to complain.
“Go out Ayleyna, make friends. I promise, it’ll make the time go by much faster.”
“Well, at least I have Zan to talk to….” Mekhi turned his head questioningly. His eyes seemed to inquire about his brother.
“Zan?”
“Yes. He’s been nice enough to show me around town. Keep me busy. Whenever Vilandra isn’t available.”
“I see. Well, he is there to look out for you. I am glad he is fulfilling his duty.” Mekhi felt a tinge of jealousy at his brother’s spending more time with his wife then he could. Who was he fooling? His brother was but a prince, and being King kept him very busy. It was only coming home to Ayleyna that kept him sane.
“All right love. I will see you in a few days.”
“Take care.” She saw him off and headed back to her chambers, her mind lost in thought. Being Queen was not so bad. After all, she didn’t have to work as hard and she had started to build a lab all for herself. In fact, her biggest project was in construction, a time machine she referred to as The Granolith. It would be ingenious if she could get constructed and working properly.
“Penny for your thoughts.” Zan stood before her, his eyes shining and a sly smile on his face. Next to him stood his best friend and commander, Rath.
“Your Majesty, we finally have the pleasure to meet.” He kissed her hand and nodded respectfully.
“The pleasure is mine. I have heard wonderful things about you.” She smiled, trying to keep her nerves under control. There was a look in Zan’s eye that she did not trust.
“What are you up to?” Zan looked into the open library doors and back at Ayleyna.
“You were not going to go in there and read again were you? Because that would be a real shame; the day is beautiful outside and we have decided to go out to the market.” She looked up at the sudden sound of the word. The market. It was where she and her father had spent so many days. She looked down, debating how smart it was to go with this man, the man that made her heart beat and her stomach turn every time she looked at him. She also knew how wrong that was. And yet, looking into his eyes, there was a magic. What would have happened if she’d met Zan first? The question plagued her. Life would likely be very different.
“I see it in your face. You want to go. Go, get ready and we will go pay your father a visit.” He smiled and pushed her into the room. He looked back at Rath’s serious face.
“What?”
“Be careful Zan.”
“Careful? Of what?”
“I see the way you look at her.” Zan looked up curiously at Rath’s worried eyes.
“What are you talking about?”
“Do not let your emotions get the best of you. They make you weak, and she… she’s dangerous. Those big brown eyes, that long brown hair. I see how you feel about her Zan. It sits on your face. You cannot do that. She’s your brother’s wife.”
“Oh come on! It is not like that at all.” Zan stood up straight, a feeling of discomfort coming over him. Could Rath see what he himself had been trying to deny?
“Just be careful.”
“I’m ready.” She came out, her hair in a French braid and her day gown making her glow. Zan shook his head. Maybe Rath was right.
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“Father!”
“Ayleyna!” She ran over to the man she missed so much and hugged him. Zan and Rath stood in the background watching the reunion. Zan felt his heart tug. She was unhappy at the palace.
“What are you doing here?”
“I came to visit you! To say hello! I miss you!” She hugged him again and turned to look at the men behind her. “Father, this is his Majesty Zan and General Rath. This is my Father.”
“A pleasure Sir.” Ayleyna smiled happily and turned to see the woman standing behind her father.
“Serena!” She hugged her tightly. It was her very best friend. God, how she missed her.
“Ayleyna, we will be back for you in an hour.” She nodded and smiled thankfully at Zan. He had just made her day.
“Look at you! You look so different!”
“And you, you have changed!” Serena smiled, tucking her blonde hair behind her ears nervously. She was now talking to the new Queen of Antar.
“I miss you so much Serena.”
“Oh silly. You have married the King. You should feel lucky. Don’t miss us, just think of us every once in a while!” Ayleyna laughed and sat with Serena to catch up.
“So you have been helping my Father.”
“Yes, he hired me after you left. I was more than glad to help him. I get to travel everywhere.”
“I miss it.”
“What the work? You get to live in the palace Ayleyna… under the adoring eye of Mekhi… what more would you want?” Serena lowered her eyes sadly. She still wondered what would have happened if she’d gone to the ball that night. She had been caring for her sick mother and could not attend. Would he have seen her? Chosen her perhaps? She remembered the day Mekhi was crowned King. She had looked into his golden eyes from the crowd and fallen immediately in love with him. But she would never have imagined this would happen. That her best friend would have ended up the queen. All in all, she was very happy for Ayleyna and was glad that one of them had reached that level of happiness.
“I’ve been thinking… about maybe asking Mekhi if Father could come and live with us. In the palace. There is more than enough room. Perhaps you could come too! I would love to have you there with me! Someone to talk to and to get in trouble with. There is nothing to do there but read. I feel so lonely.” Ayleyna looked around sadly and saw the shock in Serena’s eyes.
“But you have it all!”
“And no one to share it with! Mekhi is always out on business and I’m left alone! Well, not completely alone. Zan usually keeps me busy.” She smiled at the sound of his name and quickly wiped it away. No, she could not let her mind wander there.
“Well, I guess I would love to live with you in the palace!” Serena smiled widely, imagining the fun they could have.
“I can show you my science lab! Can you believe they let me sit in there all day and do whatever I want?!”
“They do not know any better!” Serena laughed and continued cleaning up the cart as Ayleyna continued to tell her about life in the castle.
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“Ayleyna.”
“Oh, hello Zan.” He looked up at her odd creation.
“What is this?”
“It is called the Granolith. It is a time travel machine. It has a built in ship. It serves as an emergency exit device.”
“Maybe you should patent it. Tell Rath and have him train the soldiers to use it.” He laughed and she looked up indignantly.
“Are you teasing? It will be wonderful when I am done with it, you will see.”
“No, I do not tease. I really do think it is incredible.” He smiled and looked at her serious eyes.
“Did you have fun at the market yesterday?”
She stopped what she was doing and looked him deeply in the eyes. She could never thank him for that display of kindness.
“Zan… it was wonderful. Thank you. Thank you so much.”
“Anytime,” he smiled loving being next to her. There was something about her demeanor that made it impossible to leave her. She held a magic and a passion and when he was near her he felt complete in ways he had never thought possible.
“Was there something else?”
“Oh… yes, actually there was. There is a meteor shower tonight. I thought that perhaps we should go out to the gardens and see it.”
“Really?! I’ve never seen a meteor shower! When?”
“Actually, in a few minutes. I have the area set up with some snacks and the benches are cleared for us to sit.”
“Oh! Well then, let’s go!” She took off her work gloves and loosened her hair from the pins that held it out of her face. Her long dark hair came flowing down and she tucked it behind her ear the way she always did when she thought no one was watching. He grabbed her hand and they headed to the gardens. She looked out at the area lightly lit with candles. She looked at the picnic basket with some of her favorite snacks. She felt her stomach turn. Why was he doing this?
“Sit, it should be starting soon.” She sat on the marble bench and looked up at the sky eagerly.
“Drink?”
“Thank you.” He handed her a glass of wine and sat next to her on the cold marble bench. He looked up at the sky and saw the first hints of the meteors.
“Look! Look at them!” Ayleyna looked up excitedly at the sky. She stared in awe at the beauty of the stars. The meteors flew across the sky. The candles burned around her and she felt happy for the first time in weeks.
“Oh Zan, they’re beautiful.”
“So are you.” He stared at her face, the beautiful structure of her face and she looked down to meet his eyes.
“This is wrong.”
“I know.” They both knew how much trouble this could lead them too. He leaned forward and she leaned in as their lips touched softly. He could feel the electricity run across his body and wondered if she felt it too. She opened her eyes slowly, his face still dangerously close to hers.
“We shouldn’t be doing this.”
“I know. But I can’t stay away.”
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“Liz.” She sat on her balcony writing in her journal, her head full of ideas. She didn’t know where to go with it. How was it possible that she was the ancient Queen of Antar? That she was married to Mekhi, Max’s big brother? How is it possible that the man she’s still in love with was simply her bodyguard? Her protector? Why did she feel so strongly to Max if she wasn’t meant to be with him. She heard her name again and stood to lean over the balcony, afraid of the face at the bottom. She could not face Joshua again. Not for a while.
“Liz.” She leaned over and looked down sadly at the face she’d grown to love.
“Can I come up?” She nodded and stepped back as Max jumped over the stairs into her private area. They stood in awkward silence for a moment and she finally turned towards her seat.
“How are you?”
“I’m all right.”
“Joshua told us that he told you.”
“Oh yea?”
“Yea.” He walked over to her and watched her close up her journal. He looked down at her hand and saw the faded shape of the v-constellation. His heart broke at the sight. It was her.
“What’s that?” He pointed at her hand and she withdrew it into her jacket.
“It’s Henna. Just this Indian tattoo stuff.”
“Liz, please don’t lie to me.”
“Max…” She looked up, her eyes swelling with tears. “I’m so scared.”
He could feel his heart crying out to her. He wanted to hold her in his arms and tell her everything would be alright.
“I know Liz. I know.” She hugged him and he could do nothing but hold her tightly.
“I don’t know what to do. What to believe.”
“I like to think that life sets out a course for you to follow. What you do with it and how you handle it determines what kind of life you will lead.” She pulled her head back to look into his eyes. What was he saying? That she had a choice? That she could choose not to believe all this?
“What if I told you I’d already made a decision?” He looked into her eyes, fear lingering in his chest. He could lose her forever.
“I’d support you. No matter what.”
“Really?” She brushed a way a few of her tears.
“I still love you Liz. I can’t seem to stop.” He looked at her now, passion and doubt covering his face. He shouldn’t be there. He shouldn’t be telling her this. But he was as lost as she was.
“I love you too.” She leaned forward and kissed him and he returned the kiss, fear and uncertainty acting as their bond.
Joshua stood at the bottom of her balcony, listening to their words. He had come to see how she was doing. He felt the anger in him rise. Things would never change. Not even in this world. Now it was time to tell them all the truth. He would not lose her again.
How sad, since the story will not begin to take shape. This is where it starts getting good. 
Thanks so much. ENJOY!