by Kayci Morgan
My stomach sank.
He could have his revenge and his war. Why didn't I see that before? Was it because it was hard for me to imagine that level of evil?
"We didn't hurt her, your sister. She died by her own hand." Maybe if he knew we treated our royal captive with respect, he'd do the same.
He released me. "You don't think I have spies in your court, vampire? They might not have been able to get her out, but they were able to get me news of her condition and if she had been harmed I would have brought that gaudy golden hut down around your heads."
Hut? Did he call my ancestral home a hut? Anger flickered across my expression before I could bury it. It was obvious he had noticed as he wore a long satisfied grin.
"If you knew we played no part in her death, why would you ask for me?"
He walked back and forth in front of me, his eyes trailing down the split in my dress. "I wouldn't say your people played no part. Do you know what we do to traitors?"
My eyes followed him as he paced. "Why would I?"
"We bind their wings and toss them out of the castle. My sister didn't put a dagger through her heart or drown herself. She chose to die a traitor's death. Why did she see herself as a traitor?"
Because she'd fallen in love with my brother. Her heart was torn between her people and her greatest enemy. "You wish to kill me because your sister couldn't resist a handsome face? I didn't seduce her."
He froze, a glimmer of amusement shading his features. "Wait. You think my intention is to kill you? And you accepted the offer anyway?"
"If I'm not here to pay the blood debt owed to your family, then why am I here?"
He sighed into his palm. "Our kind have been fighting on and off since before I was born. But after Shaya was captured, there was peace. And more than that. One of your kind was capable of loving one of ours. Do you understand what that means? There is some glimmer of hope that we can do better, be better, so our children won't have to grow up in a kingdom ravaged by war. I didn't ask you here to kill you. I asked you here to marry you and unite our peoples."
"But, I hate you." The words just shot out before I had a chance to consider them. The shock of my situation slamming into me at full speed. All around me were gasps and whispers, reminding me at the very heart, I was on a diplomatic mission. "I don't mean you, personally. I don't know anything about you. I just mean I have a strong aversion to your species."
Those cold black eyes gave no hint of emotion, which was unusual for Deabru, they tended to show their every emotion. I suppose as a king, he had to be better. "Take some time. Think over my offer. I've had a room set up for you in the meantime."
He made a simple gesture, dismissing me from his court and one of his guards stepped up to escort me to my quarters. I followed behind the iron clad man trying to figure out what to do next. Anyone I'd turn to for advice was a world away. I was alone in this prison of a kingdom.
Fully and utterly alone.
Chapter 3
The walls of my room were the same onyx that made up the rest of the castle, so smooth that I could see my reflection. But instead of the silver, gray and purple hues that seemed to be everywhere else, the furniture in this room was made up of the same red and gold colors of my house. Connected to my room was a large wardrobe with dresses on display that were neither the elegant gowns of my people or the crass leathers of the Deabru, instead some strange hybrid of the two styles. An attempt at both elegance and function.
It was clear he was serious about his plan to unite our peoples. Every aspect of my quarters was a testament to that goal. But it wasn't that simple. Sanguinese women submitted to their husbands in all things. If the truce failed and war broke out once again, could I massage my husband's back and wash the blood of my people off his aching limbs?
That would be the vow I'd have to make and if I didn't believe I could do it, I wouldn't even be able to utter the words. Killing me would be so much... cleaner. I would only have to wear the mask for as long as my execution took. If I agreed to marry him, I'd have to wear the mask for the rest of my life. And being an immortal being, short of accident or murder, that would be a very long time.
The idea of taking him to my bed and having his little winged droppings wiggling out of me, made me want to fall to the ground and weep in despair. And what about Maxwell? Mourning my loss was one thing. The news of me marrying another man would destroy him.
As strong as I was trying to be, I could feel my heart shattering into fragile pieces inside my chest.
Why hadn't Julian married me off to some noble years go? All of this could have been avoided. His deep affection for Max kept him from using me to form a political alliance with some other kingdom. At the time, I couldn't complain, I had no desire to surrender my will for the pleasure of another even if it was considered the greatest honor a woman could aspire to. Though part of me desired it, I could never marry Max because he was my lesser. He was safe.
Now I wished with all my heart my brother had married me off to some elf or fae or even a dwarf. Anything to spare me from what I had to do. And I knew I had to accept. If the only other option was war, the choice I was being given wasn't a real choice at all.
I crawled into the massive bed, and curled up under the soft silk sheets letting them curl around me in false comfort. I didn't even bother removing my dress. I was just so weary, both physically and emotionally. I needed to rest. Though my mind raced with the new twists of my fate, sleep found me quickly and I succumbed to it willingly. Anything to distract my frayed thoughts was welcomed with open arms.
The next morning I awoke to the sound of curtains being torn open. Blinding white light flooded the room and beamed brightly onto my face. Squinting I made out a woman in front of my window. She seemed different than other Deabru women, instead of tight leather, she wore a loose linen dress. Her red curls were tied up in a bun instead of falling over her shoulders and her dainty wings hung behind her like a cloak.
When I sat up, she attempted to curtsy. She'd clearly never even seen a curtsy let alone attempted one, but I appreciated the gesture. "Good morning, your majesty," she said in a sing-song voice. "I am Leya, your lady-in-waiting."
She waved at the door and in walked five young women who got to work tending to me and my room.
As two of the girls undressed me, Leya walked over to my wardrobe. "Have you decided what you want to wear today, my lady?"
I had had my eye on one dress in particular after seeing them, whatever the reason it stuck out to me more-so than the rest.
"I like the blue one, with the chain belt." The cut of it reminded me of an upside-down flower.
Leya retrieved the dress, carrying it across her arms, careful of the delicate fabric. "That's one of my personal favorites also. When I explained to the seamstresses your unique needs, I thought the one that designed this dress had understood particularly well."
My unique needs? "Why not have them make dresses in the style of my people, or better yet, why not be clearer about why I was coming here and I would have brought my own clothes."
She smiled as she laid the dress across the bed. "So had you known you were coming here to marry the king, you would have come anyway? That bodes well for me in the betting pool. I don't think the king intended to mislead you. If you understand that executing a helpless woman for something she had no part in isn't something that any of us would do, then the intent behind the king's request becomes apparent. I'm sure next time he'll factor in how little your people think of us and will be more explicit in his desires."
Her tone was so chipper, her eyes so bright, it was almost like she wasn't insulting me. "So you bet that I would accept his offer?"
She was right, I would. Not that I had much choice.
"No, my lady. Everyone is assuming you'll accept the offer. The bets are on how many times you protest before doing so."
I hated these people. Leya was quite possibly the least annoying of all of them, and I still wanted to slap her.
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If my people stood half a chance against a flying warrior race, I'd be planning my escape already. After I was dressed, my servants took care of my hair and makeup, until finally I was ready to throw myself at the king's feet in front of the entire court.
I quietly gave myself a brief pep talk and practiced my half-smiles before leaving my quarters. I was going to need them if I planned on making it through this.
Standing outside my room was a sandy haired man with ruddy wings in full military garb. I turned to Leya, "I guess the king isn't so confident of my acceptance if he's sent a soldier to make sure I don't run away."
The man took a step forward and bowed, "Your majesty, I'm Tinnen, Commander of the queen's guard. I just wanted to introduce myself and see if you needed anything."
"I have a queen's guard?" My eyes narrowed skeptically. "Are you here to protect me or report back to him?"
Leya answered before Tinnen could, "My lady, everyone in your service is oathbound to you. The king made sure only people who supported the alliance were assigned to your household. We all want you to succeed."
His people wanted us to succeed? As off putting as it felt, I was in shock that they would care as much as they appeared to.
As I headed to the throne room, the reality of it all hit me. This was really happening. Soon I would be wife to my most hated enemy, queen to a race of people whose very existence sickened me.
Never had my garment been so light, yet my steps so heavy.
The room was filled with chatter until nobles began to notice my arrival. One by one they quieted and by the time I stood before the king, there was dead silence.
I clasped my hands together to keep from fidgeting as I willed myself to look up at the man I was soon to marry. "I have considered your proposal and I accept."
Half the room burst into applause. The other half glared. I felt a sort of kinship with the ones that glared. They wanted this about as much as I did.
Zuriel stepped off his throne, still towering over me. If not for the gentleness of his smile, he would have been unbearably intimidating. "Excellent. The ceremony is scheduled at midday and after that there will be a feast."
Today? The wedding was a few hours away! "I need time to prepare! Arrangements have to be made!"
He waved me off. "Everything has been taken care of. Unless there is someone you'd like to invite, Julian perhaps, then things could be postponed long enough for him to get here. But otherwise, I'd like to get this done before you have time to reconsider."
There was no way I'd announce in the middle of Deabru court that the Sanguine king had gone missing. Though if Zuriel had spies in our court, he probably already knew about my brother and his offer was his way of pointing out exactly how vulnerable me and my people were.
Defeated, I replied with barely a whisper, "No, if it pleases you to have the ceremony today, then we shall have it today."
He clapped his hands together. "Yes, that pleases me very much, little wife." And kissed me on the cheek. The warmth of his lips on my cheek sent electric waves through my body. I paid the sensation no mind. Of course, I'd physically react to his handsome features and commanding presence, it was my mind that understood what kind of monster his kind were, not my body.
"May I be excused to prepare for the wedding?" I couldn't sit in that room for hours pretending to be happy about what was to come.
He tilted his head to the side with pinched brows and spoke in a softer tone, "You don't need my permission. You are the future queen of the Deabru, you may come and go as you please."
I took that as a yes, gave a quick curtsy to my soon-to-be lord and master and hurried from the throne room as fast as my legs would take me.
Leya and Tinnen followed after me. "Are you alright, my lady?"
No, I wasn't alright. I was anything but. However, I couldn't say that, so I changed the subject. "Did you win your bet?"
"No, I bet five gold you'd give at least one excuse before agreeing to the marriage."
"You should have told me. I'm sure I could have come up with something."
She laughed. "What's the fun of gambling if you're going to cheat? Speaking of gambling, you look like someone in need of a distraction. Do you play cards?"
I stopped in my tracks. "How much do you have on you?"
By the time I needed to get ready for the ceremony I'd already cleaned out three of my handmaidens and most of my guards.
"I don't understand how someone who can't lie is so good at bluffing," complained Tinnen as I stacked the last bit of his coin.
"It's because I can't lie that I'm so good at misleading, after all, every good lie has a bit of truth."
As individuals, I liked Leya and Tinnen. They were warm people going out of their way to make me feel welcome. I wasn't so naive to think just because I hated a species, I'd hate every single person of that species. Regardless of how I felt about the Deabru chosen specifically to get me to feel positively about them, that didn't change the fact that they invaded our lands, burned our villages, killed my father and caused the death of my mother.
There was a huge difference between a friendly card game and giving birth to them. But it was the duty of every princess to sacrifice for her people. So I'd do what was required of me.
Compared to Sanguinese ceremonies, Deabru weddings were simple. Back home my dress would require twenty women to carry my train, ten on each side and the ceremony itself would take four days of feasts and sacrifices and vows.
Instead, I met Zuriel on the highest tower of the castle—alone. He took my hands in his and swore before the gods to cherish and provide for me. Though I knew the vows weren’t of his own words something about them struck me. They were still beyond sincere and honest. At least that was how he portrayed them. There was no hint of hatred in his eyes. As he made his pledge to me, he looked at me as though I was the most precious being in creation. It made me feel confused and conflicted. I pushed my feelings aside, ignoring my body’s reaction and carried on with my own. When Leya explained to me the vows Deabru women make to comfort and counsel, I almost laughed. What man would want that? Taking the same liberties, Zuriel took with my clothes, I instead altered my vows to represent both cultures swearing to honor, comfort and obey.
Zuriel had just the slightest grimace at my changes before quickly recovering. Maybe he misunderstood and thought I meant as his wife I'd bring him honor, when I meant I'd honor him. I made a mental note to clear things up in the future. I didn't want him thinking he was saddled with a presumptuous wife.
Chapter 4
After the wedding, I was shell-shocked. As I sat at the head of a table surrounded by Deabru nobles with my demonic husband by my side, the full weight of what I'd done came slamming down on me. I thought of Shaya tossing herself from the highest tower of the palace and I understood why she did it.
Once the people I loved found out what I'd done, what would they think of me? I did it for them, but I doubt that would matter. And the worst was yet to come. My lord would take me to bed and sample what was forever his.
Dish after dish was sat before me, but I didn't touch any of it. Strange smells, unfamiliar spices. I occasionally ate human food for novelty, but the queasiness I felt wouldn't make it possible to try any of Deabru delicacies sitting in front of me.
I must have made a face when yet another sizzling plate was placed in front of me because Zuriel offered me his wrist. "Are you hungry, wife?"
I recoiled from his offering, regaining my composure far too late. "No. I'm fine. Thank you." The idea of sucking down his black blood was more nauseating than the food.
"Disgusting," mumbled a noble woman wearing form fitting black leather with white trim, whose dark hair fell wildly around her face with thick plaits in the back.
The man next to her softly scolded her with her name, "Mara."
But instead of discouraging her, it had the opposite effect. "I accept that it has married the king, but I shouldn't be forced to watch it slurp down
his royal blood like some greedy leech."
Had I been home, she'd been dead before finishing her sentence. Julian would have never tolerated such blatant disrespect. I turned to Zuriel to see what he was going to do about Mara.
He was leaning back in his chair watching me as if he expected me to say something. I was being insulted in his court and he was going to allow it.
I rose from my chair and stormed from the room without a word to anyone. Zuriel told me I didn't need permission to come and go and I pleased. It seemed like a fine time to test that.
I ran until a reached a balcony. The castle walls seemed to close in on me. I needed air. I leaned over the ledge taking long, deep breaths.
How dare he just allow her to speak so ill of his new wife?! But what should I expect from the ruling king of demons. I clearly expected too much from such a vile species.
Between the clouds, I could make out the full moon. Tonight I would have been running barefoot through the woods with Max. The wind would brush my cheeks and my laughter would echo across the palace. Behavior unbecoming of a princess, but I was allowed some leeway.
My heart broke at the thought that I'd never feel that free and light again.
"Wine?"
I whipped around to find a young human holding a glass of spring wine. He must have never been trained to block his thoughts from vampires because his mind was completely open to me. He thought I was too lovely to be so sad and took it upon himself to remedy the situation.
I held out my hand to accept his offer. "And who might you be to so casually approach a queen?"
He handed me the glass and then took a step back. "I'm Alik, I take care of the drakes."
I lifted my glass in a mock toast. "Alik the Stableboy, my hero."
His studied his feet. "You just looked like you could use a drink. That's all."
I sipped the wine as I examined him. He looked nineteen, maybe twenty, with soft curls and still a hint of baby fat in his cheeks. He had a cuteness that would have gotten him taken as a blood slave in Sanguine, though, not by me. His thoughts would make a prostitute blush and I was prominently featured in them. I didn't fault him for his inability to shield his thoughts from me, but they were most certainly distracting. "You do realize that's physically impossible, even for me, right?"