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Hopefully not.
My father’s gaze falls on me and I immediately walk with my shoulders pushed back and my head a little higher. Since I was small, he’s always drilled the importance of presence into my head.
“No one will take you seriously unless you make them take you seriously,” he’s said countless times. “Command respect by being the biggest person in the room.”
Even with my height and muscular build, he still easily overshadows me, but I don’t want there to be a single doubt in his mind that I’m the next rightful heir of Ulleh. When I’m in his presence, I adopt the cockiest, proudest demeanor I can manage, using Oryx’s inflated ego as inspiration.
Sometimes, the brute comes in handy.
We stop in front of our parents and I bow at the waist, the customary greeting for those who outrank me. After a beat, he nods his head, giving me permission to speak.
“You wished to see me, Father?” There’s no point in wasting time.
“I did.” His deep voice demands respect, even without raising it. When he speaks, even the servants stop moving for a moment to listen. “I have news.”
“News?”
“We have chosen a mate for you,” he says without emotion. My brow twitches, but I try to maintain my unbothered expression. This was the last thing I expected.
“A mate,” I echo, hoping that if I say it out loud, it will sink in faster. However, all it does is spurn a tidal wave of thoughts.
A mate, or a bride, for me means many things, but most importantly, it signifies a soon-to-be transfer of power. In Ulleh, the preceding king and queen may pass on their titles whenever they see fit, but only to a married pair. I can’t help but wonder, even though I’m not bold enough to ask, if my father is looking to end his reign sometime soon. Why else would they have chosen a mate for me so suddenly?
The information has me numb.
“Yes,” he goes on when it’s clear I have nothing left to say. “Preparations are already being made for the ceremony, which will take place in a week.”
“A-a week?” I choke. I chance a quick look at Oryx to silently chastise him for keeping this a secret, but his eyes are wide in shock. He’s just as surprised as I am. I turn back to my father. “That’s a bit soon, isn’t it?”
He merely nods his head. “There’s no need to draw things out if the outcome will be the same. Your mother and I agree that sooner is better.”
I look down at her, expecting a smile, but her gaze is just as firm as my father’s. If they agreed on this rushed engagement, why isn’t she more excited? What are they not telling me?
“I—I understand.” There’s nothing else to say. Arguing will only anger my father and, like he said, postponing the union will only prolong the inevitable. In order to take the throne, I must first have a mate. “Who is she?”
“The princess of Hyatt.”
For a moment, all the air feels like it’s been sucked out of the room, and it’s hard to breathe.
“A human?” I blurt louder than intended. “Are you serious?”
My father’s eyes narrow on me, but I’m too shocked to stand down.
“Yes. We are forming a valuable alliance with Hyatt by securing this marriage. You should be pleased.”
Pleased? More like mortified.
In the thousand years since our kingdom formed, no one in the royal family have ever married a human, but here I go, fucking up tradition.
My reign will be a laughingstock for future generations.
“Hyatt, of all places?” I ask, desperate for answers. “Really, Father?”
If I had a say, an alliance with Hyatt wouldn’t even be on the table. While they possess some of the richest land of any nearby kingdom, their economy is crumbling. Their population is shrinking. The only benefit from this is overthrowing them when they’re too weak and desperate to carry on. Perhaps that’s what my parents had in mind when they arranged this marriage.
“Head up, Nor,” Oryx butts in, attempting to diffuse the situation. “At least she’ll be easy on the eyes.”
I shoot him a deathly stare, even though his words ring with a whisper of truth. Things could be worse. My marriage could be to a troll or a tree goblin. A human isn’t the ugliest thing out there, just the weakest.
