Isabelle smiled at her and shook her head. “No, I haven’t, majesty.”
Amalthea returned her smile warmly. “Give it time, dear. Just give it time. Before long Zorin was born. That he wasn’t my husband’s son was immediately apparent. Dimitri was fair haired and blue eyed, as was my first son, Dimitrious. Zorin is a softer version of his father, but still just as dark haired with eyes that can change color from chocolate to onyx with his moods. Thanks to my mother, he didn’t have the happiest childhood. Although he was a prince it was little more than a formality. He is the bastard son of my affair, and he’s a half-breed as well. Olivia made his life more than miserable.”
Isabelle, chin tilted to the side in curiosity, interrupted her, “How so?”
Amalthea shook her head. “His pain is private. If you are still curious later I suggest that you ask him.”
“Yes, your majesty,” Isabelle replied softly, quite sure that she would never ask him such a thing.
“Now, after Justin died,” Amalthea continued, “We had another Lord Batal, followed by yet another after only a few years in service. Each of these was less inspiring than the last and they hardly instilled trust in the humans of Feeorin. After a few more attempts, Olivia dropped the position altogether. And then Arabella met Thomas. He was her human servant, a handsome man with red hair and a light spattering of freckles. Oh she resisted, I know she tried. But he was such a gentleman, I know it must have been hard. They fell in love and were married privately before long. As her best friend, Zorin went. Within a year, my sister’s love had been destroyed. Thomas was well loved in the community and when my mother had him wrongly accused and then sentenced to death there was a great outcry of animosity toward her. As the grandson she couldn’t stand, a half-human of great power that defied the queen publicly whenever he could, Zorin was a great source of strength to those hurting souls. Then after Olivia also had Arabella murdered a year later, Zorin took matters into his own hands.”
Isabelle, eyes wide, asked, “How?”
“He took her life and ended her power in the city,” Amalthea said with what Isabelle could tell was a great deal of pride. “She had a force of guards, all humans that would carry out horrible deeds in her name. Zorin eliminated them all in a single night. Bloodied and horrifying as he was, he was the people’s champion, a person they knew would serve their type of justice. They are afraid of him, but they also listen to him and trust his judgment in all matters. You won’t find a better ally in all the world, or a worse enemy.”
Isabelle looked at her skeptically. “You think so?”
Amalthea smiled at her. “I know so. He’s stubborn, but he cares deeply.”
“You’re his mother,” Isabelle said evenly. “Why should I believe your description of his character? You’re hardly unbiased.”
“Because I don’t hate him,” Amalthea returned. “Open your eyes to the possibility of not hating him as well. You might be surprised.”
Isabelle fidgeted nervously in the chair and bit her lip. Amalthea frowned at her, leaned forward and caught her chin between her long, delicate fingers. “What is it, child?”
“There is one more thing I wish to speak to you about tonight, if I may?” Isabelle said, her voice barely above a whisper under the scrutiny of Amalthea’s gaze. She hated that her voice was so soft, that her cheeks were flushed, and especially that she couldn’t meet the queen’s questioning gaze. She hesitantly met the woman’s eyes, choosing to forgo the submission being in the queen’s presence dictated.
Amalthea smiled gently at her. “Of course, child, anything at all.”
Isabelle gulped nervously. Caden’s well-being rested on the queen’s acceptance. She just prayed she got it. “I don’t want Caden staying here. It isn’t a good place for him. I’ve already spoken to Thadius and he agreed so I was wondering if—”
The queen held up a delicately bejeweled hand, stopping her ramblings in mid-thought. “Say no more, Isabelle. I would be happy to have him live at the palace with me.”
Isabelle paled at the queen’s easy acceptance. “He wants tutors. He was always too sick to learn anything that a normal young prince should have so he’ll need those instructions.”
Amalthea nodded eagerly. “And he will gladly get them. There hasn’t been a child in the palace since Zorin was a boy.”
“I…I…” Isabelle sighed wearily and nodded. “Thank you.”
“Think nothing of it. I’ll be happy to take him for however long you’d like. Come, child, let’s go collect your brother so that I can be on my way. Zorin is still here, but I’m sure he’s busy with Thadius still. He can find his own way home though,” Amalthea said, rising smoothly to her feet and pulling the younger woman along with her. Minutes later they were standing in front of Caden, his wide eyes taking in Amalthea’s smiling face and fancy dress while he stayed huddled against Isabelle’s side.
“Caden, may I present her majesty Queen Amalthea of Feeorin,” Isabelle said quickly, her eyes glued to her brother as she assured herself that he really was healthy enough to leave her side even for a month or two.
“Oh dear, that isn’t necessary. When it’s just us, let’s have you call me Amalthea. How does that sound then?” Amalthea said with a wide, reassuring smile in Caden’s direction.
He nodded and slipped his fingers from Isabelle’s tight hold. With a curious tilt to his chin, he stepped forward and bowed to the queen. “I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Amalthea.” He straightened up, a wry smile crossing his lips.
“Am I to go live with her?” he turned to ask Isabelle.
Isabelle bit her lip as her chin began to tremble. They had never been apart before. She wasn’t sure if she could send him away now. But these mountains were not the place for him. She was sure of that. She nodded once to him.
“I would like tutors. And a horse,” Caden informed Amalthea, his small frame stiff with authority.
“And you shall get them, young prince. I have the perfect set of chambers in mind for you. They haven’t been used in decades, it will be good to see them in use now,” Amalthea told him.
“And Isabelle can come visit when she’s done here,” Caden told her, furthering issuing commands of the queen. Isabelle smile softly at him as he turned and came back to her, once again standing by her side.
“Of course,” Amalthea said.
Caden nodded, seemingly satisfied. He turned to Isabelle, hugging her tightly.
“I will come to you as soon as I can. I promise you this,” she whispered to him.
“I know you will, Izzy.” He rose up on his toes and kissed her cheek. “You always keep your promises. And you’ve always kept me safe.”
Isabelle choked back a sob as he looked over the few things he had collected in their months in the mountains. With a shrug, he dismissed them all and came to stand before Amalthea.
“I am ready to go now,” he informed her. He gave Isabelle one more smile before exiting out to the hall. Amalthea chuckled lightly and joined him.
Isabelle watched them disappear around a corner, knowing that she couldn’t follow them below to the carriage Amalthea had undoubtedly arrived in.
Chapter Thirteen
Faolan landed on the ledge outside their bedroom as the first rays of light began sweeping over the rocky canyon. He stretched lazily, his scales receding as his body began shifting into the smaller human form, blinking quickly to adjust his eyes back to their lesser human senses. He ran a hand through his hair, marveling at the strangeness of it as the strands fell away from his pale fingers.
Thadius stepped out of the shadows, giving his son a slight nod in greeting.
“I have noticed something about Isabelle that I thought you should know,” he said as way of greeting.
Faolan turned sharply toward him, his eyebrows raised in question. “Oh? Such as?”
Thadius gave a slow smile and came to stand beside his son, watching as the rays of sunlight chased aw
ay the predawn gray. “Did you know that she and Zorin are getting close?”
“I don’t believe you,” Faolan hissed.
Thadius scoffed at him. “I have seen them myself. They sneak around and hide in dark corners where they can be alone. Would you doubt your father’s word?”
Faolan shook his head slowly. “She wouldn’t betray me. She loves me.” The conviction in his voice faltered.
Thadius glared at him. “Wake up, boy,” he snapped irritably. “She loves her brother. She needs you. That’s it. You’re just an inconvenience that she has to put up with. I’ve seen it in her eyes.”
Faolan frowned, the color draining slowly from his cheeks. “It can’t be,” he whispered.
“Human hearts are fragile, fickle things. They are completely vulnerable creatures. It’s disgusting really,” Thadius added.
Faolan nodded absently. “What should I do?”
Thadius huffed. “Confront her. Demand the truth.”
“And then what?” Faolan asked with a sigh.
“I have an offer for you,” Thadius said.
“Oh?”
Thadius smiled at him. “That girl has already decided that she doesn’t want to be here after your son is born. She wants to go live with Zorin in Feeorin. What a selfish, selfish girl she is.”
Faolan spoke harshly through gritted teeth. “What is your offer?”
Openly unconcerned by any lasting protectiveness his son may have over the girl, his smile merely widened. “You need female companionship. I have spoken to Mortimer. He has agreed to turn Celeste over to you after your son is born. If that is what you wish.”
Faolan shook his head, backing away from his father. “I must confront Isabelle first. I will agree to nothing without knowing where her heart lies.”
“And if she confirms the truth of what I have told you here tonight?” Thadius asked him.
“You may tell him that I accept his daughter,” Faolan replied with a miserable sigh as his head lowered in defeat.
Thadius clapped his son on the shoulder and pushed him into the opening they stood before. “Good. Very good. Now go.”
Foalan nodded and then quietly exited the room. He immediately went to find Isabelle. He needed to know the truth.
He went first to their bedchamber, expecting her to be there and he wasn’t disappointed. He found her sitting in a chair facing the ledge outside. He thought that she was probably waiting for him and it sickened him to think that if he had come in through this opening instead of the one higher up in an attempt not to wake her as he shifted he probably would never have learned the truth.
“Isabelle?” he called as he entered the room.
She rose up as quickly and gracefully as her rounded form would allow. “You’re back. I was up waiting for you.” She stifled a yawn. “I’ve barely slept. Why didn’t you come here first?” She rested a hand on his arm, her warm fingers caressing his bare skin.
He shrugged her off and crossed his arms over his chest. “Did you enjoy yourself last night?”
She shrugged. “I suppose.” She eyed him curiously as she poured them both some tea.
Faolan quickly shook off the cup she held out for him. With another dainty shrug, she put it aside and began to drink her own. “Oh? Did you see anyone?”
“I spoke to Amalthea about Zorin. He doesn’t seem nearly as evil as I had thought. I thought I’d try to speak to him when he comes to the mountains again,” she said offhandedly.
* * * *
Faolan was suddenly stiff as he glared at her. She caught the dark expression on his face and the anger in his eyes and took a cautious step away from him.
“Oh?” he asked, his voice coming out in a deadly soft whisper.
She narrowed her eyes at him, putting her hands on her hips. “Is something wrong with me speaking to him?”
“Since when have you decided to become friendly with that winged half breed?” he growled.
She stared him down. “I can speak to another man, Faolan. You don’t get to decide that. And calling him a half breed is rude, even if he is one.”
“So you’re friends with him now?” he snapped.
Isabelle rolled her eyes at him before answering. “Not hardly. But what if I was? What is the problem with me talking to someone else? You’re hardly ever here and I get lonely sometimes. It’s only natural to want some company.”
Faolan’s face was flushed as his temper rose along with his voice. “So he can help you with your loneliness? He can replace me for you when I’m not here then?”
She paled, finally realizing the extent of his anger. “No, I—”
He held up a trembling hand to stop her. “Just stop. I’ve heard enough from you.” He quickly walked out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
A half hour later she was sitting on the floor, the forgotten tea cold in her hands. Her eyes were red from crying, but whether they were because she was sad or angry she couldn’t have said.
Guards began streaming in. They didn’t knock or acknowledge her, but she was too far gone to care about their manners. She ignored them until they went into the large wardrobe and began pulling out Faolan’s shirts and pants. One guard folded them neatly while another held out his arms to carry them. Once his arms had been loaded up, he disappeared into the hallway to be replaced by another guard with outstretched arms ready to assist.
She jumped to her feet once she noticed what they were doing, snatching one of his linen shirts from their hands. She held it close to her, hugging it against her chest as she stared at them. “Wait! Stop right there. Where do you think you’re going with Faolan’s things?”
Thadius came up behind her and placed a firm hand on her shoulder as he pried Faolan’s shirt from her shaking fingertips. “Continue, men. I want my son’s new quarters set up within the hour.”
“What are you talking about, Thadius? What new quarters?” she snapped at him, reaching for the shirt he had taken from her.
He glared at her. “Faolan is no longer going to be living here with you.”
Tears began to spring from her eyes. “What? Why? I haven’t done anything wrong!”
“Of course you did. You fell for him!” he raged at her, grabbing her by her long hair and shaking her roughly.
Isabelle went slack in his grip, her eyes wide as she stared up at him. “Yes, I love him. What does that matter?” she whispered pitifully.
He smiled cruelly, his fist tightening in her hair. “Did you really think this would all work out for the best? That you would get to keep your brother and your husband and that baby and you’d all just go move into the palace and you’d be happy and everything would be right in the world? Are you really so naive, little girl?”
She gulped nervously. “Well I—”
He cut her off with a jerk of his wrist. “This marriage was temporary. You knew that. You agreed to that. You do not get to change the rules in the middle of our bargain.”
“Faolan loves me, too. I know he does,” she said, her eyes sparking with defiance. Faolan would come back and he would know what the truth was. She would see to that.
“Not for long he won’t,” Thadius said, interrupting her thoughts.
She frowned at him. “What?”
“You will push him away. You will not speak to him in fondness. You will not spend time alone with him. You will not be affectionate to him. And you will not tell him of us speaking here today. I will have my heir soon and you will be gone and soon everything will be right back to normal as it should be. Do not ruin this for me, little girl,” Thadius said.
She gasped. “You can’t make me behave. I’ll go tell Faolan what you’ve said and he’ll hate you for it. Just you wait and see.”
“Oh no you won’t. Not if you want Caden to continue living,” he said with a smug smile.
She stilled in his grasp, her face paling instantly. “He’s in Feeorin You can’t touch him there. Even you are
n’t that powerful.”
He raised a dark eyebrow. “Are you willing to risk that chance?”
Tears seemed from her eyes as she shook her head no. Her shoulders slumped in defeat.
“Good. Stay here, have my son’s child and leave. That is your only responsibility now. Do not disappoint me or your brother will die.”
She nodded. A soft whimper escaped her full lips as Thadius released her hair, shoving her away from him.
“It really is too bad you couldn’t have stuck with the plan this whole time. Then you wouldn’t have had to feel this pain at all. But you wanted to be difficult. You have no one but yourself to blame for this so don’t start causing a scene like your kind are so prone to do.”
Isabelle turned away from him, her hands clenched into fists. She stood still as the guards took everything of Faolan’s and then Thadius left her alone without a backwards glance. She took a few deep breaths, desperate to keep her composure until she heard their retreating footsteps echo down the hallway. Only then did she throw herself onto the bed and start sobbing.
Chapter Fourteen
Isabelle roughly brushed her hands over her tear stained cheeks. She had spent the day in bed, switching from sobbing to yelling every hour or so. But now she was starved and there had been no guard to bring her breakfast or lunch. She had expected to find a guard waiting outside of her door, but there had been none. There weren’t any in the hallway at all. She supposed that now she didn’t warrant a guard. Perhaps they had only been there to serve Faolan after all. She sighed miserably and kept walking.
She rounded a corner and stopped suddenly at the sound of Faolan’s soft voice. She bit back the sob that hearing him brought forth and followed the sound until she could clearly see him in a large room. Across from him stood Thadius along with another older man. Her heart dropped at the sight of a beautiful woman hanging possessively on Faolan’s arm. She was dainty and pale with long ebony hair and brilliant violet eyes. Not at all like Isabelle’s own dull brown hair, now in a tangled heap around her shoulders. The woman, who Isabelle was now sure that she hated, wore a long flowing gown of various shades of green and blue, the sheer layers flowing over each other in a dance that mimicked ocean waves. Isabelle sucked in a breath at the sight of Faolan’s fingers wrapped around the woman’s delicate hand.
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