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His eyes flash orange for a moment, but they quickly turn blue again, masking his anxiety. “We all know I’m their back up choice.”
I don’t bother responding because he’s right. The fae do want me as their empress and they aren’t going to take losing me to the dragons very well.
Cypress gives me one last tight squeeze. “Go. Enjoy your freedom.”
My heart flutters again. Cypress is right, I should be enjoying this freedom. It’s not my bed or the castle that I’m truly going to miss. It’s my brother.
“I love you,” I tell him, as I back away.
His eyes soften. “I love you too. I hope you can be happy here. You deserve it.”
I turn before I start crying again and am surprised to see that Prince Stellan is waiting for me quite a ways back. I’m sure he could hear us with his dragon hearing, but at least he was giving us the semblance of privacy.
Prince Stellan offers me his arm. “Are you ready?”
I put my hand on his arm, not bothering with words.My voice would quiver if I tried to speak right now anyway.
“Are you sad?” He asks, watching my eyes carefully.
“I’m just going to miss my brother, that’s all.” I wipe under my eyes with my free hand, hating that I’m crying in front of a stranger.
A stranger who happens to be myhusband.
He moves his arm, slinking it around my shoulders as he pulls me closer to his side in a half embrace. It’s oddly comforting and I have to fight the urge to bury myself deeper in his embrace.
“We can go see him anytime you want,” Prince Stellan says.
Even though he, as a dragon shifter, can easily break promises, I don’t think he’s lying. I really do think he’ll let me see my brother whenever I wish.
“Thank you.” I back up from him. “I’m sorry for crying.”
“You don’t have to apologize for crying.” He lifts an eyebrow as he watches me. “I have known about this marriage alliance my whole life, but I’ve only ever thought of how it would affect me. You’re the one leaving your entire life and family behind. I’m sorry that you have to do that.”
“I don’t mind leaving my life behind,” I admit. “But I do mind leaving Cypress. He’s all alone now.”
At least he still has his mom. I know she’ll look out for him. She won’t let my dad treat Cypress poorly. But there isn’t much she can do about how the fae monarchs are going to treat him.
They reallywilltreat Cypress like a second choice. They think I’m the one who can save them from the lessening of fae magic. But my brother is strong too, if a littleyoung. Someday, if given the chance, he could do a lot of good for fae society.
It isn’t until Prince Stellan opens the door to a room that I remember that I’mmarriednow. And this marriage—the alliance—has stipulations. Like the fact that we’re supposed to have children together, which I’ve been trying desperately hard not to think about. But right now, I know that I’m not ready for any ofthat. I need to get to know him first, and I don’t know anything about him.
The room that we’re in is a sitting room, likely attached to a bedroom and bathroom. I had my own sitting room attached to my bedroom in the castle back home, though my room wasn’t this big.
The room is nice. There are windows at the back, giving us a glimpse of the gardens. There are a lot of palm trees that are illuminated by lights. I can’t see anything past the garden in the night time. I wonder if we’ll be able to see the ocean from here.
The sound of Stellan clearing his throat has me turning to face him. It’s clear from the look on his face that he finds all of this just as awkward as I do.
“Your eyes are steadily purple, so I can’t get a read on your emotions.” Stellan won’t look away from my eyes as he says it, like he’s hoping I’ll show him something.
“My father has dragged me to fae council meetings and other events multiple times a week since I was a child. By necessity, I’ve learned to mask what I’m feeling,” I admit, taking a deep breath. “But I will be honest with you and tell you. I know that this—” I motion between us, “is about having powerful heirs. I know what is expected of us. And you do seem really nice, but I don’t know you. I’m not ready for everything that comes with marriage yet. And I’m really hoping that while we get to know one another, we can try being friends first.”
Please know what I’m saying because I really don’t want to say anything more than what I already have. As it is, I can feel my cheeks growing warm with embarrassment.
Prince Stellan’s shoulders slump forward. “Yes, that sounds good. I didn’t want to be presumptuous, so I had your things brought to the room on the left. I’ll stay in the room on the right.”
I chew on my bottom lip. “Thanks.”
“Do you want to change and then we can meet out here and maybe talk?” he asks. “I’m not ready to sleep yet, but I’d like the opportunity to know more about you than just your name.”
