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“As I said, you will see him when he sends for you. I have no schedule for that as of this moment. We do as our king asks—not the other way around.”
Shaking my head, I sighed and nodded, knowing there wasn’t much else I could do.
“Fine,” I muttered. “Great.”
“Will there be anything else?”
“No. Thank you.”
“Very well. Good night.” Grisella pivoted and left the three of us alone in my new living room as I struggled to steady my breaths.
“This is beautiful,” Maywin offered in her usual bright way. “We have all the creature comforts we need. No expense was spared, that’s for sure.”
“It’s a gilded prison,” I muttered, upset. In my state, I slammed the door too hard unintentionally. Rufus jumped, and I eyed him apologetically. “I’m sorry. You can go to your room, too, Rufus. Thank you for getting us here in one piece.”
“Of course, miss. It’s always a pleasure to serve you.”
I couldn’t even muster a smile.
“Off you go,” I sighed.
Gratefully, he hurried off to do as I ordered, leaving me alone with Maywin, and I sank onto the huge, canopied bed in the center of the bedroom. I couldn’t deny that the bedroom was very pretty and much brighter than the rest of the palace with full windows, although what they overlooked, I couldn’t tell at that time of night. If I craned my neck around, I could make out the palest hint of a glow around the side of one of the palace walls, but my view offered me nothing but the brilliant blanket of stars overhead.
Maybe in the light of day, I’ll find this more appealing,I reasoned, but I didn’t have high hopes for that thought. I’d had twenty-one years to prepare myself for this very moment, and so far, it had been anti-climactic.
“I can’t believe he didn’t want to meet with me when I arrived,” I muttered, more to myself than Maywin.
My personal maid perched cautiously at my side and took my hand.
“It’s late,” she said softly. “Maybe you’ll meet him tomorrow. Maybe he was overwhelmed by the idea of meeting you. Don’t forget that this is just as new to him as it is to you. He probably needs some time as well.”
I managed a small grin, finally. I waved my hands, and my hair fell loose from the elegant updo I’d spent hours doing—without the use of magic—hoping to offer a good first impression to my future husband. Now, my black hair fell in waves around my shoulders as Maywin helped to unzip my dress at the back.
“Perhaps,” I mumbled, but I had a terrible, gnawing feeling about what was to come.
“Does something feel off to you?” I asked Maywin.
“Do you mean like some sort of darkness?” she asked, putting my exact thought into words.
I nodded.
“I think it’s just a new place for both of us,” she said. “We will get used to it.”
I wasn’t convinced she believed her own positive attitude.
The dark feeling had been growing in my stomach ever since my parents had informed me that it was finally time to ship me off to Ironhelm Place, and now, I thought the ominous feeling might consume me whole.
This is my fate, though, and I had to suck it up. Someone had to keep the family’s honor afloat.
Chapter2
Cade
Iadjusted my tie for the third time, scowling at my reflection in the mirror as Grisella stood patiently behind me, waiting for me to get it right. I had to be driving her crazy with my inability to tie a proper knot even after all these years.
“Shall I, Alpha?” she offered in her formal way, extending her hands.
My azure eyes glittered in the glass as I yanked the garment out from around my neck and threw it aside, snorting. “No. These things are pretentious as all hell. Why are you insisting on them for the coronation? I never wear one in real life. I want to connect with the kingdom, not look like a pompous ass.”
