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reasons behind them had already been reduced to a combination of facts and legend. According to the family stories, a falling out had occurred between Stefano’s grandfather, King Alejandro, and the presiding archbishop at the time. Frustrated that several clergy members in the Meridian Church were trying to influence state policy, King Alejandro had insisted that all state and church operations be separated. In an effort to make the transition run smoothly, he also created a liaison position between the royal family and the church.
    Since Stefano’s father, Eduard, was already actively involved in the politics of Meridia, King Alejandro had appointed his youngest son, Elam, to serve as the liaison. Stefano couldn’t be sure if Elam had ever been anything more than a figurehead, but regardless, the public perception was that the Meridian Church was still very much integrated in state affairs.
    Stefano turned his horse toward the cliffs on the west side of the ruins, dismounting when he reached the spot where the grass gave way to rock. The salt-scented wind whipped through his dark hair as the waves of the Mediterranean crashed beneath him. Stefano looked out over the water, his eyes lingering on the dark rain clouds in the distance. A storm was coming, but it wasn’t the rain he feared. Rather, he worried about the political tempest most surely brewing on the horizon.
    The ruling council could be fickle at times, and the presence of U.S. naval vessels in Meridian waters had already caused some ripples of dissent among them. Didn’t they see that his father was taking this country into a new era while still preserving centuries of tradition? The exploration of oil in the mountains had given Meridia’s citizens a new industry without impeding the stunning coastlines that had made the country a popular tourist spot for Europeans for decades.
    His parents had used much of their increased wealth from their oil profits to invest in both the country’s infrastructure and local businesses and the arts, yet the villages that dotted the countryside continued to maintain their culture and charm. Traditions ran deep in Meridia, and change was rarely easy.
    Glancing back at the ruins behind him, Stefano couldn’t help but worry about what would happen when his brother’s baptism into the LDS Church came to light. Only a handful of people knew of his brother’s conversion, all of them Mormons except for his immediate family. He was amazed that these relative strangers were protecting his brother’s privacy so fiercely. Stefano wished he trusted his extended family as much as he had come to trust Garrett’s newfound Mormon friends. Unfortunately, he knew his Uncle Elam and Aunt Victoria to be narrow-minded in most things. Their only child, Philippe, was simply self-absorbed.
    Stefano imagined that, given the opportunity, his cousin and his new bride would be more than happy to see Garrett banished from the royal family so they could step in and take his place. It wouldn’t happen, of course, but Stefano’s distrust of his extended family was cause for concern. The news was bound to become public eventually, and the family needed to be unified to keep Garrett’s religion from becoming a spark for political unrest.
    Midnight shied back from the edge, and Stefano patted his neck, murmuring soft reassurances. He swung himself back into the saddle and wondered what the future would hold for this little piece of earth his family had ruled for centuries.
    * * *
    King Eduard settled back on the couch beside his wife as their sons and Janessa walked into their sitting room. He motioned for them to sit and then addressed his future daughter-in-law in his native Italian. “I know you prefer not to work on Sundays, but I felt it prudent for all of us to meet before you and Garrett return to the chateau tomorrow.”
    Janessa’s eyes lit with humor as she sat on the loveseat across from him. “Believe me, I am not a stranger to having