AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“And you still hung her?” she finally demanded, voice too high.
“What? My daughter is alive.”
“Her mother—my presumed cousin. The one you mistook for me.”
My face heated, and feeling the numerous eyes on us, I tried to contain my retort.
“I would never kill a child. I recently found out I have a three-year-old daughter. I’ve already prepared the documents to claim her officially.”
“Congratulations?” Helia raised an eyebrow, tapping her fingers on the table as salad leaves arranged into birds were settled before us.
“That complicates things,” she continued when alone again. “No one would believe her mine. It also offers me a great excuse to leave after the wedding and you find a replacement bride. As long as you honor all the trade terms in the marriage contract.” She narrowed her eyes.
“You’ll still go through with the vows? And not object when I claim Dasha?”
She waved her hand dismissively and her glass levitated into it. “If I was going to back out it would have been before now.”
The weight inside eased. But I had one more thing she needed to know…
“After the wedding, I’ll tell Vanya that I want a future no matter what it looks like.” After I solved the issue of her death sentence, of course.
“I understand your fascination with the Komovara sisters. I came here planning to avoid the marriage as I thought you would expect a meek woman to bear your children. Seems you have both other women and a child—all you need is my title. That, I’ll happily give.”
“And your magic.” She needed to know more but even I only partly believed Solovyova’s story. “The crown will tie you to Tal… and something might happen when we swear our vows.”
A Spirit drifted in through the wall to my right, the glass crown reflecting its milky shine. I stared as the crowd cheered, believingit showed the approval of our ancestors, not knowing the sigils were still supposed to be working.
Five more light shapes joined the first one.
“Something is wrong.”
I turned to Koshka who stood like a statue at the back wall. She, more than anyone else, knew what was at stake.
My look was enough to send her outside to investigate. She knew my orders. Knew the Spirits were not supposed to be here, had felt their touch on the bridge and fought the undead under the city.
Helia followed my gaze. “What—”
A noble man I did not recognize stopped before us, seemingly not noticing he was interrupting his soon-to-be queen.
“Congratulations, my king. We have all awaited this day a very long time.”
I nodded in return to his polite words and hid my concerns behind a stiff smile.
“Thank you…” My eyes drifted back to the Spirits. There were already more.
“Lord von Mekeln.” He bowed as my fist clenched.
Von Mekeln. Vanya had given me his name. I had told the spymaster to look into it, but there had been few people to spare in the last, frantic days. I could not arrest him, a connected lord, on her accusation alone. It was not like she could testify in court, dead as she was.
The man smiled at me, eyes flickering to the Spirits.
I pulled Helia to her feet, declaring, “It’s time to head to the crypt and say our vows.”
Von Mekeln frowned. “It’s not midnight for another bell.”
“Seems I cannot wait to make the princess my wife.”
I was already backing away, pulling Helia along.
