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Sienna slid her gaze from Ophelia back to the glass panels. Instead of looking at her reflection in the glass, she looked through it to the waiting ballroom.The servants had done a marvelous job at decorating, the queen thought to herself.

Tables were set up on the perimeter of the room nearly overflowing with finger foods. Lavender was tucked between plates and propped up in large shining vases. White ribbons hung from the ceiling with sparkling crystals tied at the ends. It made the ceiling twinkle like the darkest night lit by a thousand stars.

Queen Sienna’s high back throne, carved from gold, sat just before what everyone else would consider a mirror. The queen knew better as she watched them from the other side. The wall of mirrors was not only made to let the queen get a good view of the party’s attendance but she wanted to be able to send the Fae a message too. Every mirror in Pasia that wasn't in use was to be covered with a curtain at all times so the Fae couldn’t use them as looking glasses.

Uncovered mirrors could be a source of discomfort for most of the citizens. Queen Sienna enjoyed the way her wedding prospects avoided looking into the glass. On occasion, she caught a fleeting look that was then followed by a nervous laugh or the slightest shift in their body language.

"Does the court favor anybody?" Sienna asked, walking closer to the mirror.

Ophelia cleared her throat. "They seem to think highly of a few of the more wealthy citizens. Jack McHaynes. Thomas Delroy. Lucian Dean."

"Well, at least if they're wealthy; we know they don't need me for my fortune. Who would you pick out for me?"

"Out of those three? I suppose if I have to pick, Thomas is probably the most tolerable of the three."

Sienna took her time searching their faces out in the crowd. Jack McHaynes was a tall man, with neatly managed blond hair and deep blue eyes. His thin lips were always pursed together. Yes, he was in a constant state of disapproval.

Thomas Delroy was quite a bit shorter than Jack. He had met the queen for the first time at her crowning. She had noted that they were the same height. Thomas had curly brown hair and even though his tan skin always gave him the appearance that he hardly got sunburned, his cheeks were somehow always still rosy. What she did find something of a rarity was that gold ran through his iris in such a way that reminded her of a sunflower. As a child, she used to pick sunflowers with her sisters out of their neighbor’s field. It was a fond memory.

Now there was Mr. Lucian Dean. No matter how handsome the man was with his black hair hanging onto his forehead, his dark pine, almond-shaped eyes, and his confident nature, Sienna had the impression that most of the ladies in the city had somehow found his bed.

Even the married ones.

She wasn't sure if she wanted her name added to his long list of conquests. Sienna hummed her agreement and continued looking from face to face trying to remember names. Curiosity about the new faces rose slowly.

She glanced at Ophelia over her shoulder and asked, "And if you could choose fromallof the options presented here…are there any winners?"

Ophelia stood a little taller at this question. Her brows pinched slightly as if she was confused that the queen could even consider the other options, but her small smile gave away her excitement. "Well, personally I think Leo Maverick has great potential. He's a farmer. He's kind and well liked amongst the people in his class. He cleans up rather well. In fact, if we got our hands on him he would probably look even better. The people love him. I've heard that he often gives away his extra produce."

Queen Sienna waved Ophelia closer and gestured to the crowd. A silent command.

"He is right over there." Ophelia pointed a finger directing the queen to look through the mirror at a man with light brown hair tied back in a low ponytail with vibrant green eyes. The sharp cut of his jawbone emphasized the square shape of his face. While the queen was almost immediately drawn to the fullness of his lips her attention was quickly diverted to the man he was speaking to. She squinted and stepped forward till her breath fogged against the glass.

"Who is he talking to?" She almost recognized him. In fact, she thought she did recognize him.

Black hair, short and combed away from his face. Beard trimmed short, shaped perfectly on his cheeks. Bold brows over eyes so dark they were practically black and rich golden skin. Most of those features were quite handsome on a grown man. However, as a child his bushy brows looked goofy and his jawline without a beard made him look like a baby. At such a young age the black eyes had been unsettling and his golden skin somehow always looked dirty like he’d been rolling around in the mud. Yes, the queen did know this man.

"I am—I’m not quite sure who that is. Maybe he came from one of the other territories hoping for your favor."

"Yes," the queen said. "I think perhaps he did."

Sienna brushed back the small ringlets of hair that were left hanging around her face and smoothed her skirt. Her heels clicked against the floor as she turned away from the view of her party and moved toward the door. They could not wait much longer or she would never hear the end of it from her court.

"Well, shall we get this started?"

Ophelia swallowed audibly and nodded. With near white knuckles, Sienna clutched her staff as anticipation built inside of her. Power called for death. Revenge called for blood. And Sienna had no problem delivering either of those.

The queen swore as she reached for the door and let herself out of the room that she could hear Ophelia mumbling a prayer under her breath. For a moment, she wondered which god she prayed to and if they would answer.

But she didn't pray to the gods anymore.

She had the power that she wanted and she no longer needed them. Not to mention the gods were fickle creatures, easily angered. Sienna hadn’t been prone to doing the right things that made them happy anyway. It’d been like that her whole life. She disappointed her parents till they had passed and then after that the gods.

After gaining her crown she had prayed one time for forgiveness and the gods had remained painfully quiet. If they wanted to be stubborn then so could she.

Guards stood at attention just before the ballroom doors. This door would take her onto the dais where her throne would have the best view of the spectacle she’d planned to start this party off with.

Three citizens stood in shackles in a line waiting at the wall. Wet streaks glistened on their cheeks and one of them began to tremble as she approached. She couldn't help but grin. When she stopped and passed her staff from one hand to the other all three of the waiting criminals flinched.

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
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