Page 75 of A Kingdom of Magic and Rain

“I hope for the same thing, but only time will tell if your and Emelin’s union becomes the beacon of the new world we all yearn for.”

A somber silence filled the room in the wake of my father’s words. My mother broke it first by saying, “I have no doubt that it will.” She gave me an encouraging smile. “Goodbye for now, Sunshine. We will see you soon.”

The pressure behind my eyes built as tears rushed to the surface. “Goodbye,” I said meekly as Lady May placed her hands on my parents and took them away from me.

The throne room suddenly felt too empty and spacious, yet also seemed to grow smaller, the stone walls pressing down on me.

“Are you ready to retire for the night?” Adrian asked, giving me a new cause for anxiety. If the Fae traditions were similar to the humans’, he and I were expected to consummate our marriage. His eyes widened as he took in my panicked expression. “I don’t mean… We don’t have to… Unless you want to⁠—”

“I don’t,” I cut him off. “Just show me to my quarters.”

“Of course. I’ll glimmer us there. It’s quite a walk from here.”

I nodded, clasping my hands in front of me again. With his lips pressed in a thin line, he reached for me, and a moment later, we stood before tall and ornate silver doors.

“We’re on the third floor in the West Wing. My mother and Tarn reside in the North Wing.” That was a relief as I should be able to avoid them on most days.

“How does security work around here when the Fae can simply glimmer in?” I asked, glancing at the guards stationed nearby.

“No one can glimmer from outside without tripping the wards Lady May has set up around the castle. Our quarters have an additional layer of enchantments, preventing anyone from glimmering in. They also mask sounds and smells…for privacy reasons.” He looked off to the side. My cheeks heated at what he was implying. I doubted we would need that level of privacy any time soon, if ever.

“So, are these my chambers?” I asked, facing the doors.

“Yes.” Adrian opened them to let me in.

We stepped into a spacious anteroom with a seating area before proceeding to a grand, opulent bedroom. My gaze was immediately drawn to the luxurious canopy bed, which sat against the far wall. With a tufted headboard, cream-colored curtains, and bedding with golden brocade, it looked more like a sanctuary than simply a place for sleeping. There was another seating area with a coffee table, a writing desk with a chair, and a reading nook with a bookshelf and a chaise. All the furniture was light-colored with gilded elements, which created an atmosphere of refined elegance. A few emerald-green accents were scattered throughout the room illuminated by small lamps atop of two bedside tables.

“Do you like it? Thea worked hard on it,” Adrian said.

“I do. It’s beautiful,” I replied, walking deeper into the lavish space.

“This door leads to the bathing chamber and that one to the dressing room,” Adrian said, following after me.

When I stopped before the set of double doors to the left of the bed and peeked behind the thick golden curtains, I discovered that the doors led onto a balcony overlooking the gardens.

“My room is adjacent to yours.” Adrian gestured to the opposite wall, where a short hallway led to another door.

“Are my chambers spelled to provide privacy from yours?”

“No.” He frowned. “I didn’t think there would be a need for that.”

“But you’ll be able to hear everything I’m doing.”

“Well, to be completely honest, I didn’t think that would be an issue because I hoped”—he swallowed—“that you would stay with me in my chambers.” When my brows lifted, he added hastily, “I don’t expect intimacy, I just… I hoped you would give this a chance. I know that everything happened not the way either of us would have wanted it to go, but I feel beyond fortunate to call you my wife.”

“Only in title.” The words rang out, loud and clear. “Don’t mistake our marriage for what it’s not. It’s a political alliance.”

His frown deepened. “I finally don’t have to hide anything from you. You can get to know the real me.”

“You said before that I already know the real you, or was that just another lie?” I lashed out.

“You’re not being fair.”

“You know what’s unfair?! My first love broke my heart, and when I was merely beginning to put the pieces back together, you gave me something that I so desperately needed—hope. My heart was still fragile and healing when you took it in your hands—the same hands that had held me and comforted me—and you crushed it.” I spewed the words out, wanting to hurt; to wound like he had wounded me.

“Emelin—”

“You should leave.” I pointed to the door down the hallway.