Sing For Me

by Ellabee Andrews

  Her mention of Drakson and the ‘union’ is the perfect time for me to bring up my real reason for being here, and I prepare for the ensuing argument. “Yes, Dra—, I mean, Princess Dragamina, has been very helpful. I really enjoy my time and lessons with her. And her brother, Prince Drakson seems nice too... but I can’t marry him. I just turned eighteen. Thoughts of marriage aren’t even on my radar right now. I’m sorry. I know this isn’t what you want to hear, but it’s how I feel.”

  The queen stares at me for a second before she stands and makes her way around her desk, surprising me completely when she sits down into the chair beside me and takes my hand.

  “I understand that you were not raised with our culture, but this is simply the way things are done. I’m not asking or requiring more from you than what I myself had to do. To lead, is to sacrifice for your kingdom. And marrying the Wendigo Prince is what your kingdom needs.”

  I’m thrown off by how kind she’s being, and even though her sweet, soothing voice makes me want to agree to whatever she says, a nagging voice in the back of my mind is screaming at me to not listen.

  Listening to that tiny voice, I gather my strength once again. “I do want what’s best for the kingdom, but I want what’s best for me too. I’ve never even had a boyfriend, so jumping into a marriage, especially with someone I don’t even know, is going to be a problem for me. I’m not trying to be difficult, but I have to be honest with how I feel. And, as your niece, I’m telling you honestly that I can’t go through with this marriage.”

  I’m proud of myself for speaking my peace, but when her face goes blank, the warm and comforting aunt nowhere to be seen, I immediately regret how candid I’ve been with my words.

  Squeezing my hand tightly, she doesn’t even blink as she stares into my eyes. “Listen to me girl, you will do as you’re told and marry Prince Drakson. You’ll do it with a smile on your face, and fake it so well that even I’ll believe you. Because if you don’t, I’m afraid there will be a war. And your friends, the ones that brought you here, they’ll be on the front lines. Even the Wendigo Princess won’t be spared. Since her kingdom will declare war on ours, she’ll end up caught in the crossfires. Such a shame too, but there will always be casualties. Is that really what you want? Are you so selfish that you’ll risk your friends’ lives?”

  I can hardly breathe as her threats sink in, and I have no doubt that she’ll arrange it. With how cold her eyes are, and the tight grip on my hand, she’s conveying a message. One that says to comply or suffer, and since I don’t want anyone's blood on my hands, even those of the guys who I haven’t spoken to in over a week, I nod my head.

  “I understand,” is all I say, and stand to walk toward the door.

  I’ve just laid my hand on the handle when the queen speaks again, loud enough that I hear her without needing to turn around to read her lips. “I’m sorry it had to come to this dear, but you must be brought to reason. If you can’t do it for those in our kingdom, think about the supernaturals outside of it that will be affected by a war between two strong forces. No one would remain untouched. Not human, shifter, or phoenix. Some fires burn out and are never reborn.”

  Angry at her last threat, one that she somehow knows would be the one that would hurt me most, I twist the knob and walk out the door. Ignoring my instinct to go back in there and do whatever it takes to ensure she never threatens Sal, Draga, or the guys again. But since that would only end in ways I can’t even fathom, I settle for firmly closing the door behind me as I walk toward my room.

  I have a dinner to dress for.

  I clamp my mouth shut when Lyla shows up at my chambers with a dress and card from the queen. The card simply reads ‘A Princess must always be presentable.’ I’d like to show her presentable by taking the black chiffon gown and throwing it in her face. Even if it is gorgeous with undertones of pink and orange in some places that are so expertly interwoven that they appear more like a trick of the light than actual colors on the black, floor length gown.

  Biting back my scathing remarks, I take the dress from an apologetic looking Lyla, before she slowly excuses herself. No doubt more than ready to get away from the fury she must surely see burning in my eyes. With the queen’s threats fresh in mind, I remove the simple maxi dress I’m wearing, and pull on the expensive fabric. Hating it on principle, even while begrudgingly admitting how comfortable it is for something so fancy.

  The shape of the gown is bell shaped. With the way it’s sewn together, it creates an optical illusion that not only make me appear taller, but as if my curves are more exaggerated than they really are. The top is strapless, with a sweetheart neckline that somehow manages to be both sexy and sophisticated at the same time. Somehow, she’s managed to pick a shade of black that actually compliments my skin tone instead of washing it out.

  The queen, though horrible, has exquisite taste. Which only adds fuel to my growing rage. How dare she threaten my friends!

  I know that I need to calm down, lest I make her prove whether or not she’s bluffing, but it isn’t easy. I may have been a prisoner in the circus, but I never knew it. For me, the cage was just a prop. I was free to stretch my wings and fly away anytime that I wanted. But since I never wanted to, I never tried. Now though, with her telling me what I will and won’t do, I can’t deny the urge to rebel. To show her what I think of her rules and traditions.

  As I pace back and forth across my chambers, my mind races to come up with a solution. Something to stave off the nuptials that she so obviously wants, but I keep drawing up blank on how to convince her otherwise. That is, until I realize that I’m going about this all the wrong way.

  Rather than waste my time trying to convince her to change centuries of customs to suit me, I’m going to go along with her plans. I’ll be the best damn princess this kingdom has ever seen. And Drakson won’t know what to do with such an eager wife, but the first real chance I get, it’s over the gates in the garden and down to freedom. I don’t know where Sal is, but until I find my time to get away, I’ll work on learning the location of the second safe house. I won’t leave her to the queen’s fury. Which brings up another challenge. Sal isn’t the only one that the queen threatened. The guys and Draga are too, so I’ll somehow need to find the time to convince them to run, all the while making sure no one suspects my real plan. To be free of this gilded cage.

  When a knock comes on my door, I don’t hesitate to stride over, ready to greet the soldier that escorts me to my meals but when I turn the knob and swing the door inward, it’s not my usual guard that I find. No, Arius stands across the threshold, and my breath catches as I take in his guarded face.

  I’ve forgotten just how striking his bi-colored eyes are during our week apart. Or how I had started to think of him as a friend before I found out the secrets he’d kept from me. I’ve been upset, and I’m still not one hundred percent over it, but knowing now that the queen had ordered their silence, I know that I can’t be too mad. They are as much a pawn to her as I am, and I need them. They know more about Aviary than me, so escaping will be easier with their help.

  Not speaking, Arius stands there as his gaze warily takes me in, no doubt worried if I’ll yell at him again, but I just smile instead. “Hello, Arius. It’s very nice to see you again,” I say, and I have to bite back my giggle at his confused look. I deserve his cautiousness, but it is still funny to see such a big guy look so wary.

  Moving forward through the door, I brush past him as I shut the heavy wood behind me. As I do, I shiver at the feeling of my breasts brushing across his coarse shirt.

  “Everything okay. Lorelei?” he finally asks, misinterpreting my shiver, and I turn a large smile on him, hoping to cover up how not okay everything is right now. With a frown, Arius steps forward, invading my personal space as he leans down to speak directly into my right ear. “You may still be upset with me, Lorelei. But please don’t lie to me. Something’s wrong, and if you’ll only trust me again, I’ll help you fix it.”

/>   He sounds sincere, but so far, all evidence points to him being a loyal soldier, so until I can feel him out a bit, I keep all talk of escape plans to myself.

  “No lies here, Arius. I’m just a princess trying to find her place. Though I would like to speak with you and the others soon. I feel I may have overreacted a bit, and would like to give you all an opportunity to defend yourselves. The way I should have done in the beginning.”

  He doesn’t look convinced, but unless he decides to call me on my lie, then there's nothing else he can say. Instead, he just holds out his arm, allowing me to slip mine through, so that he can escort me down to dinner.

  While we walk, I look at him out of the corner of my eye. I can’t help notice how well he fills out his uniform. Unlike me, he’s not dressed in formal wear, but wearing the uniform that all of the castle guards wear.

  Thick black leather pants, that have to feel like a sauna. A top made of some special material that looks like tightly woven chain mail, but moves under my arm like a much more flexible fabric. With black boots, and a sword attached to a hilt on his back, he makes quite the impressive image. As I feel my cheeks start to heat up, I tear my gaze away and focus on moving forward.

  “I know that the others will be happy to hear that you’re willing to give us another chance. None of us ever intended to hurt you, but when Queen—”

  “Hey, I get it. She’s the queen. Your loyalties are with her, not me. It just caught me off guard.”

  I feel him stiffen when I mention his loyalties, and a part of me wonders if maybe I’m wrong. Just because he has to serve the queen, it doesn’t mean he wants to. But it’s not enough to get me to confess what I plan to do. Even if he is for some reason willing to go along with what I need. Though it doesn't mean that the others will be. No, I need to bide my time.

  The rest of the walk to the dining room passes quietly, but I don’t push to pick the conversation back up. Everything I need to say has to wait anyways, so I’m surprised when Arius stops me right before we take the last turn that will bring us to the dining room doors.

  “Lorelei, be careful with Drakson. He may be Draga and Daruk’s brother, but he’s not like them. He… well, he is very headstrong and has set his sights on the crown. Aviary may be Matriarchal, but I don’t think that would stop him from trying to rule through you.”

  I turn and meet his eyes as he speaks, but he looks dead serious, so I don’t fire back with some sarcastic remark. Instead, I take one last steadying breath to get me through the upcoming meal.

  “Thank you, Arius, but you’ll find that I’m well versed with being ruled over. Just because I didn’t realize it before, doesn’t mean I’ll allow it again. If there’s nothing else, I should head in before I’m tardy. If you could ask the others to meet me in the garden tonight, that would be amazing. But I need to go now,” I say, and he opens his mouth like he has more to say, but when nothing comes out, I turn and walk away.

  Taking that last turn, I march forward with my head held high. I don’t flinch as the doors open to reveal a table full of people that would have me under their command. Walking toward the seat reserved for me, between my aunt and Drakson, I keep my face relaxed into a pleasant expression, and even allow Drakson to rise and pull out my chair. I ignore his suggestive grin, and even though my stomach turns at his hooded gaze, I remain pleasantly neutral, smiling at the appropriate times, and overall being the picture of princess perfection.

  “Now that we are all here,” the queen starts, lifting a brow in my direction, despite me being ten minutes early, “we can begin. The feast I have requested tonight, is to celebrate the upcoming union between the Aviary and Frost courts. Once enemies, we’ll now be united. I know that this pairing has been a long time in the making, and I am so pleased that Princess Lorelei and Prince Drakson share my enthusiasm. It’s such a delight to find two royals willing to be the sacrifice and lead by example for their nations.” As clapping breaks out around the table, I fight to keep a pleasant expression, as I allow myself to finally look around at the inhabitants of the large table.

  While I sit on one end, I look down the line and see many people I don’t recognize. Some have the wings of the Aviary Court, while others have the midnight skin I’ve come to associate with the Frost Court where the Wendigo are from.

  At the opposite end of the table, a man and a woman in dark jewels sit. With their exotic features, it’s easy to guess that they’re the King and Queen of the Frost Court. Even without their crowns, Draga and Daruk favor their mother, they even share her unique markings, while Drakson is a younger version of their father.

  Turning from them, I find Draga at their side, Daruk occupying the chair beside her and dressed as formally as me. Both are clapping like the others gathered, but where Draga’s eyes can’t hide a sadness there, Daruk has his jaw clenched and a tight smile on his handsome face. When I look into his eyes, I can almost make out the shadows around him moving, like he could become one of them at any moment.

  “I’m glad that you’re as ready as I am to take over and lead, Princess. I know you still have a long way to go, having not had the education and training that I have, but don’t fear, darling. I will teach you everything you need to know. You just focus on looking as beautiful as you do tonight, and I’ll handle the business. We’ll take these kingdoms by storm. With my power, and your looks, we’ll be strongest rulers to ever grace this planet.”

  Despite my resolve to pretend that I’m wanting the things the queen speaks of, it's hard to keep up my act when Drakson leans in close, as his hand rubs small circles on the outside of my thigh. The motion causes bile to rise in my throat as my mind flashes back to the last person that touched me, that tried to hurt me, and I feel sick.

  What I really want is to pick up my fork and stab him in his wandering hand, but instead, I settle for ‘accidentally’ knocking over my glass of wine as I go to reach for it.

  Doing as I hoped it would, it pours from the table and right beside me, where there should only be space between me and the Prince, and just as I suspected, he yanks his hand away but doesn’t comment on having gotten wet. He may feel secure in our future union, but he’s not supposed to be touching me. Interesting. I store that information for future use, and look properly embarrassed as a maid comes quickly forward to soak up the mess.

  As she cleans the table, and then the floor, I glance up and find Daruk staring at me. He still doesn’t appear happy, but some of the shadows have receded from him, as he gazes between his brother and me, and I wonder if he noticed what I did.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Back in my room, and no longer under the watchful gaze of my aunt, I fall back onto my bed as I close my eyes against the light.

  Between Drakson’s never ending supply of lewd and condescending comments, spoken softly for only me to hear, and feeling the queen scrutinizing my every move, I barely ate anything. I just want to go to sleep, but remembering my planned meeting with the others in the garden is approaching, I know that I can’t yet.

  Groaning, I allow myself just a few more seconds of peace as I abruptly stand from my comfortable spot and yank the dress away. Feeling it rip in some places, but not caring that I’ve destroyed the beautiful fabric. It may not look like it, but it’s just another cage.

  I hear a garbled sound, and feel a rush of wind caress my wings after I have stripped down to just my white bra and panties, and when I spin around, I find Daruk standing with his back to me, hand on the wall, and head lowered.

  Surprised, I grab my robe off a chair and pull it up to shield myself. “What are you doing in here? Have you lost your mind?” I ask through clenched teeth, not raising my voice in fear of alerting my guards outside, but I see him flinch, so I know that he can hear me just fine. “I’m covered now, though you probably already saw it all, so turn around and answer my question,” I add, and after a brief hesitation, Daruk turns, and for the first time since I met him, his eyes look wild.

  Taking a small st
ep back from that look, he matches it with one of his own, his predatory gaze raking over where I hold the robe up to cover me. A small voice in the back of my mind says that I should drop it and let him stare. I ignore it though, even if it only grows stronger under his heated stare.

  As his chest rises and falls quickly, I wonder if Daruk will ever speak, but once I get ready to demand he explain himself, he seems to snap out of whatever emotion has been driving him, and he looks almost sad. “I’m sorry, Lorelei. It was not my intention to catch you in… your state of undress. When I travel through the shadows, it sometimes limits my regular sight, and since I waited a bit before coming up, I had assumed you’d already changed. That was my mistake, and I understand if you wish for me to leave.”

  So different from his older brother, who I have no doubt would’ve bust in on purpose to try to catch me nude, Daruk really does seem horrified to have caught me. Even if I had seen a dark emotion in his eyes at first.

  With a tired sigh, I take a seat on my bed, making sure to keep the robe tight against my body. “I needed a minute to rest when I got back, or I would have already changed. Just, give me some kind of warning next time. You about scared me to death. If you can’t remember, I’ll have to attach a bell to you or something so you can’t sneak up on me anymore.”

  I mean the bell part as a joke, but when I see his eyes widen slightly, I can tell that he might not realize it. Deciding not to tell him otherwise, as payback for sneaking around, I remain quiet and allow him to think what he wants.

  Moving from his spot, I see him make an effort to look everywhere but at me. With him being so careful, I don’t protest as he pulls a chair closer to where I sit, before gracefully sinking into it and balancing his elbows on his legs, with his head in his hands.

  “I’m sorry about, Drakson. He shouldn’t touch you like that. Not if you don’t want him to. I promise, not all men from my court are like him. He’s just been raised knowing he’ll lead his whole life, and now feels entitled to whatever he wants. If you’d like, I can tell him to back off.”