All the stories and laws about the mark are running through my mind faster than flipping the pages of a book. Probably as fast as the rumors are flying through the hallways of the castle right now. I enjoy listening to the gossip as much as the next girl, just as long as the topic isn’t about me, which unfortunately is not the case this time.
I pace in front of one of my windows in my bed-chamber. However, I’m not paying any attention to the view. Nerves keep twisting in my stomach, and I can’t stay still. I can hear two of the maids cleaning my sitting room, whispering back and forth as they fluff up the pillows on my settee. As much as I loathe to listen in on people talking about me behind my back, they would be the first to circulate any new information. Not wanting to be in the dark any longer, I sharpen my hearing to listen in.
“Did you hear the news yet?” I hear one of them ask. Seems I started listening just in time.
“That one of the nobles from the North arrived to check on his nephew’s mate mark?” Her voice is filled with excitement at the prospect of gossip.
“That’s the one. But he isn’t just any noble, he comes from the North Alpha’s household. Apparently, his nephew has visited the castle with his family on numerous occasions. What a blessing it will be if our princess has indeed met her mate before and she can skip having to get to know a stranger!” Little does she know that just because he’s come to the castle, doesn’t mean I actually know him. I spend so much time training with my mother while our pack Alphas are visiting, I don’t have time to spend with their offspring.
“Oh, but that’s part of the fun!” I don’t think she understands what fun is...
“Haha true. But what a romantic story it would make if she was mated to a childhood friend.” I am constantly surprised by others’ perceptions of what my life is like. I agree it would be a romantic story, but the only childhood friend I have is Thea. Life is rarely all roses and romance like these maids seem to think. I roll my eyes with their thoughts of how sentimental this imagined love story sounds.
“You have a point there. Apparently, the Queen and King were called to verify the mark. So things seem serious. I heard the next step is to call the Princess into the great hall so she can check the parchment for herself.” This was the information I was waiting to hear. I knew my parents were aware of the visitor but hadn’t realized they were called in to verify the mark.
“I heard that as well.” The girls keep up with their chatting, but I’m too distracted to keep listening. Instead, I’m deep in thought over what I just heard.
Could he be someone I’ve met? I try to remember the North Alpha’s only son, but to be frank, usually all the pack leaders come to the castle simultaneously and their children tend to blend together. I’m usually required to join all meetings with my mother so she can teach me everything I need to know. That means I don’t spend much time with others my age. See… my life isn’t normal, it’s something I’ve resigned myself to. Maybe someday I’ll be able to change things, completely rearrange the script of what my life is supposed to look like.
I pinch my bottom lip between my thumb and middle finger, and tap my index finger on the pinched portion, trying to puzzle out which of the boys I remember could be him.
My mother’s lady-in-waiting, Eleanor, came to let me know my presence may be needed and to make sure I was presentable as soon as possible. That was fifteen minutes ago, and the waiting is eating me up inside.
Am I even ready to complete the mate bond? I’m only twenty-five. Not to mention when the royal heir finds her mate, it means the Fates have decided it’s her time to ascend and become the queen of our people. Usually an heir is several hundred years old before finding their mate and ascending to the throne. My mother was two hundred and fifty before my father found her! There’s no way the Fates determined it’s my time yet. I still have so much to learn from Mother. Whoever started the rumors surely misunderstood what they overheard. There’s just no way. I sigh in relief, having come to the conclusion this is a mistake. I pause my pacing to gaze out the window.
Just as I lean against the frame of the window, my door opens, admitting my lady-in-waiting; a fairy and a dear confidant of mine. Thea nearly skips in excitement. “Eeek! Can you believe it? Your mate developed his mark!” Her voice is a little too high-pitched, and it always takes me a moment to get used to it when she talks.
“We don’t know that for sure, Thea, you know the rumor mill is unreliable.” I try to convince her it isn’t true while containing my scoff at her over-the-top excitement. Or maybe it’s myself I’m trying to talk into not believing.
“Ah, denial is not your friend, Your Majesty.” Damn, I was hoping she wouldn’t call me out. “I passed Eleanor on her way here to fetch you. Your mother needs you to come to the great hall. I told her I would let you know myself.”
This isn’t looking like a false rumor. I wring my hands as I lead Thea out of the room. My favorite guards, Frances and Baxter, are currently on shift and lead the way, probably knowing where we’re going due to the gossip. Thea walks just behind me, offering her support through the silence as we all walk along the maze of hallways, making our way to the great hall. My shoes make a clipped sound as I walk along the stone floors. I try to swallow past the lump that has lodged itself in my throat.
We finally arrive at the great hall after making our way as slowly as I could possibly draw out the walk without actually walking backward, which I was seriously tempted to do. There are only five people in the room when I walk in, my parents, Eleanor, Uncle Ephraim, and the Lord from the North.
Uncle Ephraim takes care of most of the mark inquiries, so I’m not surprised he’s here. My mother, catching sight of me, has a huge smile blossom across her face. “Hello, my little Sinopa. Thank you for getting here so quickly.” She gives me a wink, which I take as her knowing just how much I tried to delay the walk here.
The Lord from the North turns around when my mother acknowledges my entrance into the room. He offers a bow before greeting me, “Your Royal Highness, Princess Cecily of the Shifters. It is an honor.” As soon as his eyes land on me, I feel a bit uncomfortable. My gut lurches, resulting in my mood continuing its downward spiral. There’s something hidden in his eyes, a flicker I can’t quite discern. Knowing my role, I offer him a smile in return since I still don’t know what his name is.
My uncle speaks up offering an introduction. “This is Lord Silas. His brother is Alpha of the North pack, and he’s come with his nephew’s mate mark parchment. It has passed both mine and your mother’s inspection. We just need you to verify it as well.” Why must everyone in this room display such cheesy grins?
It’s incredibly hot in here.Is it just me?I wish I could fan myself, but it wouldn’t be very ladylike, and I know my mother wouldn’t approve of such behavior. My palms are sweaty. My mark is itchy and I want to clear my throat, but instead I offer another polite smile, and ask, “May I see the parchment?”
Holding out my hand, I wait for someone to hand me the parchment so I can inspect the mark they all seem to think matches mine. Clearly, my family doesn’t remember what it looks like, and I’ll be more than happy to let them know they are wrong. My mother hands me the object I loathe to receive. Her smile also shifts into a smirk, as if she knows exactly what I’ve been thinking. Truth be told, it wouldn’t surprise me.
I unroll the small parchment she hands me and take a good long examination of the mark. My eyes carefully scan the image, my heart skips a beat when I can’t find any discrepancies from my own mark. Please, why couldn’t this have been a mistake? “Oh, how lovely, my mate chose to be ready for his mark to appear at a very inopportune time,” is what I wish I could have said. Actually, what I wish I could have said was, “No match. Good effort, my Lord!” What I ended up saying was, “Well, it seems like my mate has displayed his mark. I suppose I should direct my maids to start packing my trunks.”
I bet I came off as a cold bitch with my reply, but it was honestly the nicest way I could respond. I’m a bit bitter thinking about what my next steps will be. There’s another tradition when a Royal finds their match. I'll be required to travel and get to know my new mate at his family’s estate. The idea is that he’ll be less intimidated by being mated with a Royal on his homeland and will be more comfortable to open up so we can get to know each other faster.Sounds like a stupid idea to me.
I have people who are loyal to me… I could get away with killing the messenger, right?
Unable to offer anything more, I nod my head to my mother and turn on my heel to walk back to my chambers. I have some packing to oversee under duress. I’m going on a trip.
Chapter 6
Alex
Twenty Minutes Ago
