Stroke of Midnight: A Scifi Fairy Tale BWWM Romance

By Stella Dawn

Cindy isn’t interested in princes and thinks that happily ever after is nothing more than a fairytale. But the other shoe is about to drop, because the only way for her to rescue her stepsisters from their wicked stepmother is to sneak into the ball and outmaneuver the one man she cannot stand — the arrogant, selfish, and sexy-as-sin king. Soon, she's at risk of becoming a pawn in her own game, for the king is ruthlessly pursuing his own agenda. He’s determined to teach her a lesson before the night is through: at the stroke of midnight, nothing is forbidden.
Turns out their unforgettable tryst is the least of their surprises. Do you know what's more inconvenient than a misplaced glass slipper?
Unplanned pregnancy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Porete Press
• Release date: Jan 9, 2019

Book preview

Bastian."

2

Cyndi

When I overhear Dora gushing to Toni in the middle of the night, I'm not eavesdropping. We girls all share the same hotel suite, and Dora is a little loud on a good day. On a good day, she can bring all 30 floors of the hotel down.

Well, today's the best day of her life, and I'm surprised management doesn't call in the Galactic guard. Dora's usually breathy voice veers into screeching territory. She squeaks 'palace,' and 'royalty,' and 'we're getting married,' emitting those words on the sonar frequency of a dolphin. It takes me a moment to process what she is saying. Soon both Dora and Toni are squealing at each other and flopping backwards on their individual queen sized beds.

I sit up on my inflatable mattress near the bathroom and ask, Okay, Dora, can you please slow down and tell us what is going on?

Prince Rupert has asked us to come stay in the Dowager's wing. It's part of the royal palace. I can bring my family . . . and I've just said yes!

All this noise wakens Char, my ten year old sister. Her cot is further away, tucked head first into a spare closet. Hey, what's this about a palace and a prince?

Don't you dare call him Prince! He's going to be your new brother in law! She cries out with the strength of the Valkyrie claiming the soul of a hero as she sticks out her hand so we can all see her gigantic diamond.

Char's eyes bulge. Is that real? Char asks.

Of course it's real. I'm gonna be a princess.

It's so big, Tori whispers. Isn't it heavy for your hand?

Hell yeah it is. I'm gonna have to start doing push-ups or something. But it's worth it, don't you think?

 With that, she raises both hands and wiggles her fingers. Both of my sisters start dancing around her, squealing.

My jaw hits the floor. Our lives haven't been the same since.

For the next ten hours my step-mother, Gwendolyn, has been issuing out more orders than a sergeant. Cyndi do our shopping, pack our bags, and make appointments to get our hair done.

Thankfully, this hotel is so large that I can manage those orders without any of us having to leave the hotel. That's a good thing since it turns out Delta Ohr has a serious appetite for gossip. The silver lining is that this ritzy hotel has enough security to keep out the pesky paparazzi.

I send Char to the lobby with a good book. I make appointments and finish packing our bags, and have just enough time to find three new gowns, completing my to do list. Dora, Tori and Gwendolyn emerge from their day at the salon looking like royalty. Thereupon, we take a hover sedan to the palace.

I marvel how Gwendolyn goes through daddy's money and hope that she has some of her own. It might not matter. The rate she spends on her daughters no fortune will outlast her expectations. We are on an intergalactic grand tour, to broaden the Dora and Tori's horizons. Well, I guess my stepmother's ruthless social-climbing paid off because our last stop will be the palace Delta Ohr.

At twenty, I'm old enough to claim independence. The only reason I won't leave is for the sake of my eight year old sister, Char. My mother died giving birth to her and I resolved she would never die in vain. Charlotte is all I have left of my parents and the perfect love that I was lucky enough to share. I will never let Charlotte know a life without love in it. Gwendolyn knows I would never leave Charlotte. She is also in need of a nanny, an organizer and a maid. As long as I have a back to break, my stepmother will never let me have custody of my little sister.

An hour and a half later, the driver pulls through the high iron gates and on either side of the narrow road sets of urns atop high plinths punctuate the long drive. At the end, the palace glows as sunlight shines on its golden stone walls and colorful flags wave on the turrets. The driver stops ,in front of two rows of guards standing on either side of the steps. As soon as Dora steps out Prince Rupert emerges from the palace doors with two attendants. He takes long strides and reaches our car just as we all get out.

The handsome prince moves to embrace Dora, but Gwendolyn places her right hand out to shake his hand. It looks like she is going to accost the Prince and the guards take defensive stances. Prince Rupert waives them off with an easy laugh. My guests are unused to our customs.

Gwendolyn recovers and drops into a deep curtsey. We are most grateful for your invitation to visit, Prince Rupert. I am Dora's mother, Gwendolyn West. I must introduce you to Dora's twin, Victoria but we all call her Tori. We are so thrilled to visit your fabulous palace.

Tori and Dora rush upon the Prince and he kisses Dora and then Tori on both cheeks. Mother offers him her cheek as well and after the greeting she waves at me and gestures that I handle the luggage. Char stands quietly with her mouth slightly open.

The driver empties the trunk and our bags at the base of the steps. I fumble in my purse for his tip and he drives away. I am about to pick up the first bag when a white gloved hand intervenes. Let us take them to the Dowager's wing for you, ma'am.

What do you think you are you doing, Cyndi? Let the butler take the bags. The harshness of Gwendolyn's voice makes me jump back.

I haven't had the pleasure of being introduced. Are these two your other daughters? says the Prince.

Cyndi is my step-daughter, says Gwendolyn with a high pitched musical laugh. She likes to feel useful and this little one is Charlotte. Don't worry at the presence of a child, you won't even notice she is here.

I roll my eyes and follow them inside. Alright, I know my step mother is crass and a pain, and that Tori will do anything she asks without protest. At the moment I am more amazed that Dora has caught the eye of Prince Rupert. I can't believe we are all going to stay in an honest to goodness palace.

Prince Rupert leads us into the palace, along a wainscoted mahogony corridor littered with family portraits lining the walls. Sunlight pours in through the high windows and the light slants across the black and white marble checkerboard floor.

I nearly laugh when I overhear Gwendolyn telling the Prince in a very confidential tone that his palace might be the finest she has ever seen. The Prince isn't listening. He is walking hand and hand with Dora whose head is bobbling with wonder and seems to be attached on a string. Tori is smiling and cooing but she can't seem to get the Prince to notice she exists.

Tori finally leans over to Dora and speaks loudly into her ear. Can you believe this? I mean look over there -- they have one of those fancy curving staircases and everything!

They giggle together, pointing here and there. Gwendolyn tells the girls to hush and smiles brightly at the Prince. I hope you will forgive us for being in awe of your palace.

It's just a place where I grew up. It really belongs to my brother, King Petros. I heard he returned last night. I am eager for him to meet all of you.

Tori practically swoons and Gwendolyn gives her a nudge and raises her eyebrows knowingly. I know that look. Mother already has plans for Tori to steal the heart of the King. Really, the man could think for himself but he hasn't met Gwendolyn yet. I am happy just to be here to make sure my little sister, Char, is given all the love and attention she deserves.

3

Cyndi

Once inside I take a little time to explore the big empty palace on my own. I hear a bang and spin on my foot to see what's up.

Dashing out of the room I nearly crash into one of the most handsome faces I've ever seen in my entire life. Actually, I crash with his chest as he's easily a head taller than me.

I look up. His dark brows are drawn tightly together Steely gray eyes flashing at me. He's wearing the kind of tailored suit that tells me money is no object for him. The cut fits his athletic body in all the right places. For a moment he looks completely surprised to see me here. Then his face drops into the smooth mask I recognize from the coins of the realm. His chiseled jaw is clenched tight. Who might you be?

Yes, his eyes look exactly like the King's, for that matter so does his entire face. I know for a fact that Kings are very fussy about their person and it is decidedly uncustomary to overstep personal and physical boundaries. In truth, I don't belong here. I am only a guest and an unannounced one at that. I have no excuse for running inside a royal palace. I'm not expected to answer the door. They probably have butlers for that. Yet, in my haste to find out the cause of all that commotion I bound through the doors and literally ran into the King. As his nostrils flare, I wonder if this constitutes assault and battery.

How can I reverse this horrible first impression?

Feeling like a complete idiot, I lift both hands away from his royal chest and take a lunging step back with my right foot and bend my knee to bow. Then I pop back up and stammer with most of my hair covering my face, Your Royal Highness. I am Cyndi Burton. Half-sister to Dora West who is newly engaged to Prince Rupert. He invited her family here for a visit.

Yes, I am aware of my brother's impertinence. Meeting you is an experience. I hope the others in your family are less forward and more traditional. Would you mind telling me where I might find my brother, Prince Rupert? Something passes across his mouth, it seems to wobble. He pauses for me to answer, lifting one eyebrow while his eyes pierce me through.

His voice is carefully modulated but I can tell he is filled with impatience. He just called Prince Rupert impertinent. I guess the prince isn't allowed much autonomy in his life. Suddenly I have more sympathy for Prince Rupert.

Prince Rupert is outside with my mother and sisters. He said something about taking them for a walk in the gardens. Is everything all right?

I'm surprised to see the amount of disdain he's failing to hide from me. The King clears his throat but his voice comes out strained. Oh, it's nothing to worry about at all. I simply need to speak with Prince Rupert about this whole, well, you know.

This sets me on edge. What exactly is he saying? This whole what?

Obviously I should have held my tongue and remembered that Kings are never spoken to in this way. I doubt any woman speaks to him directly much less likely anyone else, besides. The color of his eyes goes from gray to granite and the edges of his eyes crinkle. Is that amusement? Does he think I