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ONE
LEXI
“Happy birthday, little sis! I can’t believe you’re finally twenty-one,” the eldest princess, Taryn, declared, hugging her sister. The three princesses were visiting their parents’ home for their youngest sister Lexi’s birthday.
“You better believe it. Otherwise, this huge party wouldn’t make a lot of sense,” Lexi joked.
“So, are you going to dance with anyone other than your King Charming at the ball tonight?” Addisyn inquired.
Lexi hadn’t really considered that. Today was not just Lexi’s birthday. It was something more profound. The day was also marking the fulfillment of her duty.
Madison, Addisyn’s younger by minutes twin, tuned in to Lexi’s moment of insecurity and gently jabbed Lexi with her elbow. “Come on, sis, it’s all good. I didn’t mean anything by it.”
“I know. I just hadn’t really thought about the whole mating thing in a while. I sort of forgot that this was the day everyone was waiting for,” Lexi replied.
“You know, arranged marriage isn’t the end of the world. It’s not like you have to talk to him. Or even like him,” Taryn interjected with a huge grin. Lexi smiled weakly.
“Hey,” Addisyn said gently, “you know father did what he thought was best for us. To keep us safe. To help us thrive. We’re princesses, and we’re meant to marry kings. You have enjoyed your childhood. It’s time.”
“Yeah. But I’m sure the kings would’ve preferred brides who could shift. Now we will be the laughingstock across five kingdoms,” Lexi mumbled in frustration.
“Can you blame father for falling in love with mother? Would you really have that any other way?” Taryn asked.
“No, no, no. It’s just … what if he doesn’t like me? What if his real mate is out there, and I end up just pretending to be his queen?” Lexi started to cry softly.
Her three sisters gathered around, comforting her.
“Lexi, you’re a brave, beautiful, and confident young woman, and King Alpha Rush will be lucky to have you as his bride,” Addisyn spoke with such conviction, almost offended by the idea that the king wouldn’t love Lexi.
“Banish those tears, sweet sister,” said Madison.” Addisyn and I have been living in our own kingdoms for a while now, and our husbands-to-be have treated us with nothing but the utmost reverence and compassion.”
“Mine too,” Taryn added. “Maybe it was meant to be this way.”
“Oh, how I’ve missed you all. You always know what to say.” Lexi wiped the last tears from her eyes before giving them a genuine smile.
The girls had kept in touch after the sisters moved away, but there was something special about having the sisters reunited under one roof for Lexi’s birthday. They were best friends and sometimes the only friends they had.
“You don’t think the king will be upset that I can’t shift?” Lexi ventured, not entirely convinced by their assurances.
“They signed the contracts. The kings knew full well what they were signing up for. They could have declined,” Madison said shortly.
“Besides, you know we have other gifts to offer. And the alliance of the five kingdoms. The kings are winning in this scenario, truly.” Taryn always spoke like she knew everything.
“Besides, father hand chose each king for each of us. Knowing what abilities we have and which kingdom it would most benefit. There has to be a hint of fate in that, don’t you think?” Madison continued to be a voice of reason, which further calmed Lexi’s nerves.
“Regardless of kings, and mates, and marriages, we have to get ready for the ball,” Taryn declared, pulling Lexi out of the entryway and into the castle.
As the girls got ready for the big event, Lexi found herself still stuck in her thoughts. “Were you nervous about going to your new kingdoms? About what your mates would be like?”
Of course, the princesses had all met the kings before … danced with them, and had seen them come and go in the castle. That didn’t mean any of them actuallyknewtheir soon-to-be husbands.
“Oh, yes. I was terrified,” Addisyn admitted. “A new land, a new castle, a new pack, all next to a man who I was to call my husband. I never felt lonelier. But the longer I lived with Tyler, the more comfortable I grew in his presence. Soon, I felt that it was going to be all right for me to rule at his side.”
“It’s an adjustment, but not a bad one. Declan has shown me a great deal of his territory already and taught me about what Noblegrace has to offer,” Taryn commented.
“We were all nervous, but the most important thing to remember is that we swore to uphold these contracts, to be the very best Queen Luna we could be to our respective husbands. To withstand whatever comes our way with grace and dignity. To satisfy our obligation to our parents, the realm, and our respective mates. So stand tall, baby sister, and be the courageous young woman we all know you are,” Madison said.
Lexi took that to heart. She smiled at Madison and went back to applying her makeup. She would not be afraid. She would look past the shackles of an arranged marriage and remember that she agreed to this.
