“I thought that notion was for children.” It was my turn to give her a once over because her attitude was very child-like.
Her face burned with humiliation, but she held her ground. “She’s only to observe and report back to my mother. She’s not a part of this conversation.”
I shrugged. “Even so, I can still answer. We grow many different fruits. With our rich soil, we’re able to produce apples, pears, hinderberries, and blue lockharts.”
Narina gasped. “But hinderberries are rare.”
“They are, but we have one tree that thrives in this climate. We’re hoping to be able to use it to grow more. Seeds from the tree are only produced every five years and in limited quantities. Next year, we’re expecting it to finally flower and give us seeds instead of the fruit.”
Hinderberries could help treat many ailments, but they could also be made into a poison. They’d been over-harvested for their lethal properties, leaving the trees barren. Without their fruit to fall to the ground and fertilize their roots, they stopped producing anything, even flowers and seeds.
“Can I try one?” Narina asked.
I shook my head. “We’re not currently harvesting from it yet.” Not to mention, I wasn’t sure how she’d react to the fruit. Though it was tempting to give in just to see if I could rid myself of her.
She pouted and slumped in the saddle.
The apple trees came into sight first. shiny globes of green, red, and yellow dotted the plants.
“You’re welcome to an apple if you’d like.” I glanced behind me. “Your maid can as well.”
Narina plucked one of the green apples as she passed a tree. “I’m sure she’s not hungry, but I am.” She bit into the fruit and her eyes began to water.
“I forgot to warn you. The green ones are quite tart.”
She spit the bite out and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “I noticed. That was horrendous. Who eats these?”
I plucked one of the red apples and tossed it to the maid. “The cooks use them in pies. Simmered in cinnamon and sugar, they come out sweet and soft.”
“Apple pie sounds good right about now.” Narina sighed as she grabbed one of the red apples and took a more refreshing bite. “Our country produces spices as you well know. We also have a diamond and sapphire mine.”
I nodded but remained silent as she wandered through the trees on horseback.
“Our gems are sought after by the whole continent of Uskaria, you know.” Narina tossed her apple core to the ground once she was finished eating and smiled. “I could have a new crown made for you with jewels inlaid around the whole piece.”
My crown already held jewels, but none as expensive as the sapphires and diamonds that Jenisa produced. I loved the green and purple stones that adorned it, even if they were a lesser stone.
“Are you listening to me?”
I snapped out of my own thoughts and looked at her. “Huh?”
“You didn’t answer me.” Narina stopped her horse in the middle of the orchard and frowned. “I said I could make you a new crown.”
“You did, but no question was asked.” I brought my horse to a halt several feet away.
“A conversation is supposed to work both ways.” Her hands flailed in the air. “I say something and then you say something.”
“I understand how a conversation is supposed to work.” I turned my horse and headed back toward the castle.
“Where are you going?” Narina asked in a high-pitched voice.
Her maid covered her mouth and turned away.
“You’d mentioned apple pie and I have yet to break my fast. I thought we could get a bite to eat from the kitchen.” Without waiting for a reply, I started back toward the castle.
I was done with this tour. Mother would be outraged at how I was treating Princess Narina, but I already knew neither one of us would ever see eye to eye. She expected me to fawn over her, tell her she was pretty, and hang on to her every word. None of those were going to happen. I wasn’t the prince for her.
Technically, I wasn’t the prince for anyone. If this was how the rest of the week was going to go, I was doomed.
Chapter 3
“What do you mean you don’t like Narina?” my mother demanded as we rushed down the hall. Another caravan had been spotted. We hadn’t expected any other guests until early tomorrow morning, yet here we were. We’d receive them in the throne room as we should have with the first.
I shook my head. “She’s self-centered and rude to her servants.”
“So, you were rude to her in return?”
“I was never rude. She only thought of me as rude because I didn’t cater to her every whim.” I entered the massive room and up the dais to stand. As soon as the Queen sat, I was able to sit in the chair beside her.
Within the week, we’d switch seats. I’d be the King of Sulenia, and she’d sit on the sidelines while I ruled a kingdom, one she’d lied so hard to keep.
“This conversation is not over,” she whispered.
Trumpets erupted as an entourage entered the throne room. A whispered hush fell over the crowd as two women lead the group, both with long, blonde hair done up in complicated braids beneath the simple crowns on their heads.
The Dragoni were the dragon shifters, feared across Uskaria for their brutality toward their neighbors. They hoarded their resources and retaliated when anyone encroached on their territory.
As I laid eyes on the princess, her crystal blue gaze met mine. I rose from my throne with my heart beating wildly in my chest. Something electric seemed to pass between us.
Her mouth parted, eyes wide, and I realized whatever I was experiencing, she felt it too.
My feet had a mind of their own, dragging me down the dais steps and toward the beautiful creature walking my way. Never in my life had I felt a pull like this.
“Hey,” I said breathlessly as she met me in the center of the room. Everyone around me fell away except for her.
She regarded me for a moment, finally closing her mouth as her eyes searched mine. Her gaze wandered over the planes of my face as if to commit everything to memory.
“Where are my manners. I’m Ro—really sorry.” I swallowed, realizing I’d almost given her my real name. “My name is Stefan.” I bowed low. Lower than I’ve ever bowed before. In my bones, I knew she demanded more respect than anyone I’d ever met.
When I rose, she still stared at me, but with a soft smile. “You are a vision.”
My hand rose to touch the braids on the side of her head before I could stop myself. Fingers grazed over the soft strands. “No, you, my dear, are the vision. You light up the room with your presence, demand all of the attention, and give off an aura I cannot even begin to describe.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.” She curtsied, never taking her eyes off me.
How could others fear something so beautiful I thought, but then I realized my mistake. I was not a prince. There was no way I could woo this gorgeous woman before me. I wasn’t even supposed to like any of the princesses, at least not like this. No, definitely not like this.
My sister’s taunt echoed through my head.
How else would you get your first kiss while parading around the castle as a boy?
I never thought I’d consider kissing another woman, yet here I was, glancing at her lips and thinking about just that.
“It seems you two are getting along rather well.” Mother’s hand clutched my shoulder in a death grip despite her smile. “I’ll have someone show you to your rooms so you can relax after such a long journey. I’m sure you must be tired.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” The Dragoni Princess curtsied and cast her eyes to the shiny marble floor in respect.
The Dragoni Queen approached, her expression giving nothing away. “We appreciate your hospitality.”
“And we appreciate you coming all the way from the southern Uskaria to help us celebrate this special occasion,” my mother said. “Your rooms should be read
y.”
“Thank you,” said the Dragoni Queen.
As they were led away to their chambers, my mother turned to me with a sharp look. “What was that?”
“What do you mean?”
She pulled me from the room and into a nearby study behind the throne.
When we were safely away from prying eyes, she shook her head and tsked. “The Dragoni are dangerous. Too dangerous to break etiquette like that.”
“I—I didn’t think…”
“That was the problem. You didn’t think.” She struck me across the face. Hard.
My head whipped to the side, cheek stinging.
“Mom!” I laid a hand over my sore flesh and backed away until my backside met the desk. I had nowhere else to go.
“I am still your Queen.” She hissed in a breath. “And what was that between the two of you?”
“I don’t know. My feet had a mind of their own, and before I knew it, I was standing in front of her.” The events from moments ago felt like a blur, yet I could feel some tether linking us, pulling tauter with every step she took away from me.
Mother’s hands balled into fists at her side. “Magic. I didn’t think dragons possessed any, but it’s the only explanation I can think of.” She pointed a finger at me. “Stay away from the Dragoni Princess.”
“I thought I needed to spend time with each one so as not to raise any suspicions?”
She growled low and turned her back on me. “You’re right. And if we don’t show the same consideration to them as we do the others, they’ll feel slighted.”
“Very true.”
She whirled back around, eyes narrowed. “Keep your time with her limited. Do not draw any unwanted attention from her. And whatever you do, do not be rude to her like you did to Princess Narina this morning.”
“I’ll be on my best behavior.” I crossed my heart and bowed my head.
My mother stalked toward the door and clutched the knob. “You best be. Do not disappoint me.”
And then she was gone.
I sank to the study floor. The bindings around my chest pulled, but that pain was nothing compared to what I felt as the princess slipped further away. She must be on the other side of the castle by now.
Emotions warred within me. My need to please my mother seemed overshadowed by my need to get closer to the Dragoni Princess. I hadn’t even caught her name.
Rising from the floor, I brushed my trousers off. I was soon to be the King of Sulenia. I shouldn’t be acting like a love-struck teenager when the fate of a Kingdom rested on my shoulders.
I also couldn’t face anyone else right now. Not Narina, not any of the staff, and definitely not my mother. Instead, I wandered to the service hall and took the back way up to my room.
Each footfall brought me closer to my room and closer to the guest quarters. Some of them were on the East Wing like my own, but the majority were on the West Wing. Which side had the servants taken when they’d exited the throne room?
I didn’t even really need the answer to that question, because as soon as I stood in front of my bedroom door, the burning in my chest eased. She was nearby. Perhaps just doors away, but it would be improper for me to knock on her door and invite myself in. Even if that’s all my mind kept telling me to do.
Find her. Touch her. Kiss her.
There could only be one explanation for this burning desire to rush straight to her side. An explanation I wasn’t quite sure I understood. Magic hadn’t existed in our realm in decades. The Harcrow Coven had been executed for their crimes long ago, their village nothing but a relic.
Was it still possible for her to cast a spell to make me want her?
Chapter 4
Pure torture. That’s what this was as I surveyed the throne room from the dais once again. The object of my desire stood across the room, her eyes trained on me. My core burned every time my gaze locked with hers.
I’d be a puddle of sweat by the time the new guests arrived.
My mother glanced between the two of us. “Stop looking at her like that,” she whispered. “It’ll never work out between the two of you, not when she finds out what you really are.”
Leave it to my mother to knock me down five pegs, but she was right. There was no reason to pursue anything with the Dragoni woman. She was dangerous, out of my league, and the completely wrong gender for me.
Get it together, I told myself as I painfully pulled my gaze from hers.
The trumpets blasted through the room as several groups entered.
The Queen of Terracon entered the room with her son at her side. No daughter accompanied her, which puzzled me until I saw the son saunter to the bottom of the steps.
“Greetings. My name is Josua Jensen, Prince of Terracon.” He bowed low with an effeminate flourish of his hand. “It is a great pleasure to finally meet the prince and soon-to-be King of Sulenia.”
“Well met, Prince of Terracon. I hope your travels were pleasant,” I said, offering him a small bow.
Josua winked and cocked a hip. “Very much so. The views along the way and up until now have been exquisitely gorgeous.” His gaze raked down the front of me.
Was he flirting with me? I mentally smacked myself. Of course he was. He preferred the male gender and I fit right into that category with the getup my sister had shoved me in this morning.
Nothing could hide the smirk on my mother’s face. She arched an eyebrow and sized up the prince in front of us. “You’ve grown into such a fine young man, Josua.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Josua dipped his head and excused himself so the next guests could approach.
The next half hour was a parade of eligible daughters for me. I met Princess Luann Travers of Denarto with her green eyes and quick wit. I liked her instantly, but it wasn’t the same as with the Dragoni Princess, who I’d yet to properly be introduced to.
Evany Archer from Syrax shyly approached the dais. Her chocolate brunette locks matched my own hidden beneath my wig. She spoke so softly I almost didn’t hear her. Her mother scolded her in whispered barbs and pushed her closer to the stairs.
She glanced back at her mother, then at me. “Good morning. My name is Evany.” She curtsied and blushed when our eyes met.
“Well met, Evany,” I said in the deepest voice I could muster. My throat was going to hurt later.
My mother leaned over and whispered in my ear. “That girl could work. She’d never talk loud enough for anyone to know your secrets.” She chuckled.
I blanched. None of this charade was going to end in marriage, except… my gaze lingered on the blonde vision hovering near the left side of the dais like she wanted to get so much closer but was afraid of making a scene.
Lora stared at the Dragoni Princess and bit her bottom lip to keep herself from laughing, but some of it bubbled out.
Penny smacked Lora’s forearm and gave her the same look Mother had given me a million times. She had definitely picked up the role of a mother ever since giving birth to Ophelia.
Mother cleared her throat. An annoying habit that irritated my last nerve and she knew it, but it was her way of getting my attention when I needed to focus.
Another young woman stood before the dais, strawberry blonde hair left down to lay free around her shoulders. She grabbed a piece of her dress in each hand, curtsied, and cast a smile my way. “Prince Stefan, a pleasure to make your acquaintance. My name is Princess Amelda of Baston.”
“Well met, Princess Amelda,” I said.
“I’ve brought you a present.” She reached within the folds of her dress and pulled out a folded piece of rich, purple velvet. “My land is known for its textiles. I thought perhaps you would like a piece. May I?” She dipped her head in my direction.
“You may,” said the Queen.
She took slow, sure steps and held out the fabric in front of her.
The velvet nearly melted in my hands when she laid it in my palm, so soft was its surface.
“This is exquisite.” I
fingered the edge with my other hand. “Thank you so much for the gift.”
“My pleasure.” Amelda gave a small curtsy and hurried back to her mother.
My mother held up a hand to silence the din of conversation that had picked up. “I’m sure you all must be tired and road-weary. Servants will show you to your rooms and we’ll dinner ready in a couple of hours.”
I turned to my mother. “Who would you like me to woo this evening?”
“Keep your voice down.” Her eyes shifted around, making sure no one had heard.
“If none of this will end in a marriage contract, why are we doing it?” I asked.
She crossed her arms and leveled her gaze with me, even if she had to look up a couple of inches. How I’d gotten taller than both her and my sisters was beyond me, but it helped lend to the idea of me being a male.
“Appearances must be kept.”
“Leading people on is wrong.”
“I’m sure you can make it feel genuine.” My mother looked over my shoulder and frowned. “I have some matters to attend to before dinner. Remember what I said. Limited time.”
I glared at my mother’s retreating form until a warmth spread through me, one that had every skin cell tingling. Whirling around, I came face to face with the Dragoni Princess.
She reached out a hand to steady me, crystal blue eyes alight with mischief. “Prince Stefan,” she said, removing her fingers from my skin and nodding her respect.
My nerves recovered enough from her nearness to finally make an attempt at conversation. “You know my name, yet I have not had the pleasure of being graced with yours.”
“Helena, Your Highness.”
“Helena.” I slipped my hand into hers and brought her knuckles to my lips. “Definitely a pleasure.”
“You honor me.” When I released her hand, she tucked it behind her and canted her head to the side. “There is no need to fear me.”
“Fear you?” I asked.
“I can hear your heart beating a mile a minute.”
I laid a hand across my chest, feeling the wild thumps beneath my breast. “It beats at your nearness for an entirely different reason than fear.”
Forbidden Throne: An LGBTQ+ Fantasy Novella Page 2