by K.N. Lee
“Yes,” her mother urged, covering the flame of a candle with her cupped hand. She was pale in the dim light, and her dark hair hung in long waves over her white chemise.
Elise stood, shrugging the blankets off and stepping onto the cold, wooden floor. She crossed the room to pack and bag, and to pick up Princess Polly.
“No, dear,” Seyena said, sadness in her eyes. “The king demands that you stay here. Only I must leave.”
“Its not fair,” Elise said.
“I know. I wish you could come, but it is best that you stay here. The palace is not a safe place for you. You’re better off far from your father’s sights. Trust me, my sweet girl.”
With a sigh, Elise nodded.
Seyena cupped her face and gave her a soft kiss on the cheek. She smoothed her chin with her thumb and sighed.
“I must make haste,” she said, and Elise followed her mother out of her bedroom and into the dark corridor. The servants were awake, shuffling through the manor as they headed down the stairs.
At the door were four, armored guards and the golden trunk Lady Devyn ways had packed with her belongings for times such as this.
Since before Elise had been born, her mother had been called to the palace to sate the king’s desires. But, never had Elise been summoned, and she wondered if he’d ever want to see her—to know her.
She barely even knew his face. He was a man from myths and legends as far as she was concerned.
She wondered if she would meet the man who ripped her mother from her life all of those years.
They stepped outside and into the courtyard. The moon had yet to dim its light as they headed down the stone steps.
There was a grand carriage just inside the stone walls, with white horses prepared to pull it along the journey to Giran.
As Elise walked her mother to the carriage, she couldn’t help but glance at the guards as they watched them pass by.
The king’s whore.
The king’s bastard.
Frowning, she knew that’s what the kingdom called she and her mother, but at least the guards were kind enough not to whisper it in their midst like most.
Now, as her mother was being summoned once again, her heart raced with worry. They last time she’d gone to the king, he beat her mother for simply saying hello to one of the lords of court.
He didn’t care that the lord happened to be her cousin, and that she’d denied all offers for marriage to be his mistress.
No. King Caden was a jealous man—one driven by power and lust—and everyone in Giran bowed to his commands.
Dutiful subjects.
Fools.
Her mother climbed into the carriage, and gave her hand a squeeze. “I love you, Elise,” she said, and kissed her on the forehead.
Closing her eyes, Elise nodded. “I love you too, Mother. How long will you be away?”
“I wish I knew,” she said. “Promise me you will obey Inora and keep to your studies. It’s very important that you do.”
“Of course,” Elise said, meeting her mother’s gaze. “I will do as Inora says.”
They shared the same dark hair and bright, blue eyes, but while Elise had tanned skin, like the king, her mother was pale like the people of the north.
“Good, my dear,” she said, tucking a lock of hair behind Elise’s ear. “Now, be a good girl, and put a smile on that face. You have a very important day to look forward to.”
“Promise you’ll be back in time for the ball,” she said.
Mother smiled. “Of course. I wouldn’t miss it.”
“Lady Devyn,” one of the soldiers said from his horse. “We must be leaving now.”
“Very well,” Mother said, and gave Elise another kiss on the cheek. “Go back to sleep, and have sweet dreams.”
“I will,” Elise said. “Please write as soon as you arrive.”
“Promise,” she said. “Oh, and your father sent a guard to look after you while I’m away.”
Elise glanced back once more to the new young man watching her.
She nodded, and the carriage took off. She waved at her mother, standing in the cold with only a shawl over her shoulders.
Somehow, as her mother rode away, she knew that everything was about to change.
Perhaps, it was the way the wind blew at her, or the whisper it carried along with it.
Chapter Nine
The chirping of birds awakened Lady Seyena Devyn as she rode through the countryside to Perth. With two armed guards ahead, and behind the carriage, and the king’s elite force on either side, she was heavily guarded.
It was a well-known fact throughout the kingdom, that she was his most prized possession.
King Caden had summoned her early, and she’d barely had a chance to prepare Elise for her time alone. The castle was staffed with just enough servants and guards to keep her safe and make sure her needs were tended to.
The closer the carriage came to the palace, the more dread began to fill her gut.
From the day she’d been presented to court by her father and uncle, the king had taken an interest in her. Before long, interest became infatuation, and quickly became an obsession.
To have a king obsessed with you was frightening—to have a wizard hold his power over you was a constant prison.
Nonetheless, she would do her duty as his mistress to keep Elise safe—to keep her living in luxury and comfort—even if she was a prisoner in her own home.
One day, they would both be free.
As soon as they crossed the bridge over the Crystal River, where enchanted waters flowed, the shining white palace glinted in the sunlight in the distance. With the Siren Sea crashing against the rocky wall that protected the kingdom, Seyena inhaled a breath of the salty air.
Orision Palace stood on a hill, with its walls facing the sea. It could be accessed by a bridge and roadway that weaved up the hill. The carriage rolled upward, and she peered out the window to the city that sprawled across the valley between the mountains.
Perth was the most opulent city she’d ever seen, with tall towers, beautiful, thatched cottages, and temples that paid homage to the ancient days and the old gods.
The closer the carriage came to the palace gates, the more she worried about what state the king was in. He could be kind, but his times of cruelty were frequent.
“Nearly there, Lady Seyena,” the soldier called from his horse at the right side of the carriage.
She wanted to vomit, but kept it in—kept her composure.
As she fanned herself with her hand, she dared to peek out the window and look ahead.
The gates were being opened for them, and her chance to escape was growing slimmer.
She closed her eyes and let the breeze cool her face.
There was no escape now. Elise was a gift from the gods, and she would sacrifice her happiness to ensure her daughter was kept safe and far from the poison of the Orision Court.
Still, as they passed through the gates, and they closed behind, tears burned her eyes.
It was the right thing to do.
But, as her hands began to shake, she knew what she was walking into.
“Please protect me,” she whispered, praying to the old gods. She kissed the jewel around her neck. “And, keep Elise safe.”
Chapter Ten
The bard played a tune that reminded Seyena of her childhood in the countryside, a time when her father was alive, and she was still innocent and untainted by the king’s desire.
It was a simpler time, before the scheming began—before she caught the king’s eye.
As she drank from her chalice of wine, performers danced in the center of the dining hall. The entire court was assembled, and dined on the best cuisine in Perth.
She glanced at King Caden, trying to gauge what kind of mood he was in. He’d been quiet during most of dinner. Since she’d returned to Perth, he’d been unusually kind, and gentle. She couldn’t help but wonder what he was up to.
“Is everythin
g all right, my king?”
He nodded, and glanced at her before taking another sip of his wine.
“It is, my love,” he said, and she tensed. He hadn’t called her that since she was just a teenaged girl.
Seyena faked a smile. She was good at it. It masked the deep sadness settling in her soul.
“I’m glad,” Seyena said, and turned her gaze to the court as her plate was removed from before her and her glass filled with more wine.
“Caden,” Dowager Queen Lysett, the king’s mother called.
He raised a brow, and she took the empty seat at his side. “Yes, Mother?”
“I know I’m late,” she said. “But, worship can never have a definitive ending. I was particularly moved during my meditation this evening,” Lysett said, and turned her green eyes on Seyena. They lit with disdain, and her lip curled into a sneer.
She was a stout old woman, with white curls, elaborate jewels decorating her neck and ears, and taut skin that betrayed her true age.
“Why isn’t Queen Isadora here for dinner?” Lysett asked. “Why did you summon your whore in her stead?”
“She is ill, Mother,” King Caden said.
The look of distaste on Lysett’s face was apparent, but she flickered her glare from Seyena to her son. “What is it this time? By the old gods, she is always ill. I am beginning to believe it is all in that poor woman’s head.”
“Stomach ailments, or something along those lines,” King Caden explained with a flippant shrug of his shoulder. He had his goblet refilled, and Seyena stared at it, hoping he didn’t finish his third serving. She knew what would happen if he had more than three, and she would be the one to face the consequences.
“Ah,” the Queen Mother said. “Perhaps she is with child, as my meditation has prophecized.”
Seyena’s brows rose with shock. The king’s did as well.
He sat up in his seat and leaned forward. “Truly? Did you have a vision?”
“I did,” she said. “And, I believe another child is in your future.”
As her gaze returned to Seyena, a wicked smile came to her rosy-red lips.
“A child with the gift of magic.”
“Truly?”
She nodded. “Am I ever wrong?”
He remained silent, and seemed reflective. To Seyena’s relief, he lowered his goblet and turned to stroking his beard as he contemplated her words.
“I haven’t been with the queen in sometime,” he said, finally. “So, it is doubtful that she is with child.”
Lysett frowned. “Why not? It is your duty.”
He lifted a brow. “My duty?”
The tone of his voice silenced his mother, and she leaned back in her chair.
Seyena placed a hand on her belly, and looked away.
Some secrets were best left unsaid, and her lips were sealed.
The Queen Mother may have aspirations for an heir with the gift, but she knew the king better than she did.
A child with magic was the last thing he wanted.
When she risked a look at Lysett, she caught her staring at her, and flinched.
She removed her hand from her belly, and lifted her glass again. Hand shaking, she drank her water down, and stood.
“Permission to be excused, my king?” Seyena asked, her head bowed.
He waved a hand. “Permission denied. Sit back down.”
Her shoulders slumped as she lowered herself back to her chair.
“Tell me what Elise has been up to these days,” he demanded, and her heart sank at the sudden interest he’d shown in his very own daughter.
“Her coming out ball is in a week. I was meaning to ask you if I could return to be there for it,” she said.
When his eyes rested on her, she tensed, hoping he had no suspicions for what secret she held.
“We shall see,” he said, simply.
“She has her sights set upon a match with Prince Tolwin of Arundell,” Seyena risked mentioning.
“Interesting idea,” Lysett said, her brow lifted. Seyena dared hope the Queen Mother was on her side in this. “Perhaps you should consider it. Prince Tolwin is as eligible as they come, and in line for the throne.”
“Damned ridiculous,” he said, shaking his head. “I’d have to declare her as legitimate in order for such a match to be made.”
Seyena tensed. Such a thing would change Elise’s life.
“Hmm,” Lysett said, tapping her nails on the table. “Would that be entirely out of the question? Declaring her legitimate would only serve you, my king. Imagine having Arundell as an ally against Larkath, or Dyon. I wouldn’t rule it out entirely.”
“Elise could be a queen one day,” Seyena added, lacing her soft voice with enough honey to draw his eyes to hers. Smoothing her hand over his upper thigh, she leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “Imagine that. She’d be out of your hair, cared for, and would secure a worthy ally.”
Instead of resisting, he cupped her face into his hands and pressed his lips to hers. His scratchy beard tickled her delicate flesh, and his hands ran down her back.
“Perhaps you can convince me further,” he whispered into her ear. “In my chamber.”
She shuddered, and closed her eyes.
“That,” she purred, suddenly starkly aware just how important this trip to the palace could be. “I can do.”
Chapter Eleven
Sunlight spilled onto Elise’s face from the open drapes. She kept her eyes closed for a moment, savoring the warmth as she awakened. The sound of branches scraping against the side of the castle as the wind blew became a sweet melody that lulled her from the bliss of sleep.
In her dreams, she and her mother were together, and were far away from Giran. To return to reality left her numb, but she knew she couldn’t remain in bed all day.
The scent of fresh bread and cinnamon urged her to open her eyes and resist going back to sleep. With a yawn, she sat up and stretched.
The cold draft bit at her and she shuddered, grabbing a blanket from the back of her chair. Instead of summoning Mera to dress her, she stood and shuffled to splash her face with water. She patted it dry and scrapped her tongue and teeth with bound bristles.
With a quick run of her fingers through her hair, she stepped out of the room in her slippers. She didn’t care who saw her walking the halls of her home in a nightgown with tangled hair. Visitors were rare, and no one of note resided in the castle with her.
Elise wrapped a shawl over her bare shoulders as she headed down the main stairwell to the kitchen.
Freezing, she stopped at the bottom of the stairs as the new guard walked past, brushing shoulders with her. Her entire body froze at his touch, and her eyes widened by the boldness, or carelessness of his action.
She shot him a glare, but he never looked back at her as he walked up the stairs.
Baffled, she shook her head, and continued to the kitchen.
The cold in the air made her pull the blanket closer, and shiver.
At least the kitchen was warm and smelled of the fresh bread that had gotten her out of bed. To her surprise, there was also salted pork and cheese.
“Morning, Cora,” Elise said as she stepped inside. Her eyes went directly to a bowl of fresh cream. She took a finger and dipped it into the cool mixture and licked it. It was divine.
Cora glanced at her from the wash basin. Strawberry blonde curls framed her face and rosy cheeks. “Morning, Elise,” she said, and wiped her wet hands on a cloth that hung from her waist.
Slumping into a chair, Elise took the bowl. Cora handed her a spoon, smiling.
“Have at it, dear,” she said.
“Thank you,” she said, and took a spoonful of the cream, as Cora reached for a handful of berries and poured them into the bowl.
“Stir that up and enjoy.”
The flavor of the berries and cream was the best thing she’d eaten since her mother had been called away.
For days, she’d awakened to run to her mother’s bedroom
to check to see if she’d returned in the night. She hadn’t, and weeks had passed.
“Know anything about the new guard?” Elise asked, and Cora sat across from her at the table.
“Oh, Destan, aye? Can’t say that I do. Though, I have noticed he’s quiet, but polite.”
She looked to her as the scullery maid, Becca came in with a large sack of potatoes and a loud grunt as she placed it on the floor at the foot of a chair.
“Hello, Elise,” Becca said, as she sat in the chair and picked up a knife to peel the potatoes.
Elise nodded to her with a smile, and turned her attention back to Cora.
“Is he?” She hadn’t ascertained much about him as the days rolled by. He’d kept his distance, but always seemed to be within sight whenever she left her quarters.
“Who?” Becca asked.
“The young man with the dark hair,” she replied.
Becca shot a look at Cora. “Oh, talking about the new handsome lad, I see. Eyes like jewels,” she said, closing her eyes as if envisioning him. “A body like a god.”
Cora shook her head. “He’s hardly handsome,” she said.
Elise hid a smile. She wasn’t certain what tastes in men Cora had, but Destan was quite possibly the most attractive member of the opposite sex she’d ever seen.
Not that she’d seen many.
He was a complete opposite to Prince Tolwin, nonetheless; all darkness and ethereal, while the prince was golden and bright.
“Planning on leaving the castle today? You look like you could use some fresh air. I’m sure that piglet of yours could use some too.”
Elise had peeked out her window to see the sun shining down on the castle grounds. But, an ache in her stomach kept her isolated inside.
“I have too much to do today,” she said, with a sigh. She licked the spoon and glanced at her friend as she looked at her with concern in her eyes.
“Ah, dear,” Cora said, reaching across the table to place her hand atop hers. “Do try to cheer up. Your mother is fine in Perth. The king dotes on her like none of his other mistresses.”