AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Iwasthinking of the optics! We know nothing about this fae. Her parents apparently kept her very sheltered, for obvious reasons. She has no internet presence, no backstory to speak of. It was in hers and everyone else’s best interest to keep her from roaming,” Grisella protested. “But it’s best if you leave female issues to the females.”
“No,” I disagreed. “In fact, I want her fully prepared for palace life. She should be fully immersed in what’s happening—know what she’s getting into. I don’t want some doe-eyed fawn wandering around, bumping into the furniture.”
Grisella’s head cocked to the side. “You will still have your final approval of her suitability, Alpha.”
I stared at her through the reflection of the mirror, wondering if she actually believed that or if she was just appeasing me. She genuinely seemed to think that was the case.
Don’t they understand that a blood oath means certain destruction and loss of the kingdom? I have to marry this unknown fae from the sticks, or a dark spell will fall upon us.
“Give her free run of the palace, Grisella,” I insisted. “In fact…”
A plan began to take hold of me, a slow grin forming over my mouth, and I felt my eyes brighten. “In fact, let’s get her more involved.”
“I’m sorry, Alpha, I’m not sure I understand what that means…” Grisella hemmed worriedly.
“It means that she will need etiquette training among other classes—ones that I will handle myself.”
Grisella gawked at me openly, an expression of discomfort painting her whole face.
“Alpha?”
I nodded vehemently, suddenly liking my idea better as it manifested. “Yes. This is perfect, but no one in the palace can know,” I went on, the scheme fully taking shape in my mind. “I’ll meet her as a servant, watching her, getting to know who she is. I’ve never had a chance to meet her, you know? This entire arrangement was brought to me as a child, but we’ve never met one another.”
Grisella gawked at me, dumbfounded.
“But to what end?” she questioned.
“I’ll get an understanding of who she is—who she really is. It’s only fair that I prepare the kingdom for what’s coming in their queen. But to do that, I have to get to know her first. And if I meet her as a servant, not as the King, I will get to know who she truly is. She won’t be trying to impress me.”
I smiled smugly, proud of myself for coming up with such a clever ruse. Grisella seemed to disagree. “Is that wise, Alpha?”
I grunted. “It’s better than going in blind, marrying some fae I was promised to before I was born,” I retorted, an unbidden bitterness at my father resurfacing. It wasn’t his fault any more than it had been the generations before him. It was the way of the realm, and if I wanted to truly claim my kingdom, I’d have to marry this noblefae from Vegetableville or wherever she’d come from.
“There’s a reason that blood oath betrothals are kept distant, Alpha,” Grisella warned. “Marriages grow with the years. Not knowing one another beforehand has a certain appeal.”
I jeered loudly and rudely, relishing the expression of disgust on Grisella’s face.
“I won’t change my mind. I’m doing this. I’m introducing myself to Zephyrine as a servant, and we’ll go from there. You can tell a lot about someone by the way they treat the help, you know.”
“You don’t say,” Grisella muttered under her breath.
A scoff in the doorway ended our conversation abruptly, and my chest tightened as I realized Stralia had been listening, her beautiful face screwed as she stared at me accusingly. A surge of guilt shot through me as my gaze fell on her porcelain face. She was paler than usual.
How much of that did she hear?
“You’re dismissed, Grisella,” I told the servant. “Remember what I said about the fae.”
“Don’t you mean your fiancée?” Stralia corrected, stalking toward me as Grisella bowed and hurried out before my long-time lover could say something that might embarrass her.
Grisella had witnessed her fair share of our fiery arguments, and I didn’t blame her for scurrying out.
“Stralia…” I told her warningly. “Not now. I have enough shit to deal with.”
“If not now, then when?” she demanded, her clear, verdant eyes flashing hurtfully. “You always put me off, and I never get a chance to speak with you when I need to.”
I rose from the vanity and approached her, extending my arms to lay on her trembling shoulders.
“We’ve talked about this,” I reminded her softly but firmly. “You’re acting like you didn’t know Zephyrine was coming.”
