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It wasn’t.
If it wasn’t for the Boy's quick thinking, the massive mechanism might have crushed my foot. Instead, it tore my hem.
“Hmmm.” She made a noise of disgust, curling her lip at my dress.
“What news do you have, Mother?” Batian said loudly, clearly trying to stop our mother from whatever tirade she was on.
I did not miss that Batian was allowed to call her Mother whereas I was not.
“I have brought Elara to you, as requested.” Batian placed a warm hand on my back, and I made sure to curtsy in what I hoped was a submissive, apologetic way. I was good at neither, but anything that would help me get out of there faster was fair game.
“Of course. As you know, Aeinya of the House of Spryv is coming for her annual visit.”
I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face. Aeinya was one of my favorite people. Of course, that might have something to do with the fact that she was the only female around my age that I had spoken more than two words to; but I didn’t care. A powerful vio, she was funny and witty and a perfect match for Batian.
The Goddess had clearly shone down on them, considering they had been betrothed before either of them knew how to use their chamber pots properly.
“For this visit, she is bringing her family and court.”
Batian straightened, this must be news to him as well. Bringing her family and court for her visit only meant one thing. It was time for their binding and wedding.
“They will be here before week’s end, and all the other houses will arrive within that frame. The festivities shall start upon their arrival,” she continued, actually sounding happy for once. “We will commence the walk to the Temple of the Sister in a fortnight, and the ceremony will be performed and consummated at the Temple under the next full moon.”
Batian grew even straighter. I, however, was trying not to jump up and down. It was finally time. Batian was almost twenty and six, and Aeinya five years his junior. Part of me had wondered if this would even happen.
“The tailor has been called; the invitations are going out.” I was going to explode out of my skin from excitement. Batian’s smile was taking over his face, now. “I have called extra security for you, Elara, to protect you while we are all away.”
All of that eager excitement slipped from me as though it had been drained from my body.
“Away?” I gasped, the word as heavy as the rock that was slamming into my chest. “What do you mean away?”
“Oh? Didn’t I make that clear? You will not be joining us.” The woman had the gall to smile even as I stood there punctured and broken.
All of that rage that was coiled through me tightened, and I stood a little taller.
“Mother!” Batian stepped forward, placing himself between me and the queen, as he had so often in my life. Any smile was gone from his voice now. “You cannot be serious. She is my sister. She is the princess. She?—”
“Is a Requisite without the power her bloodline requires. She would be nothing but a liability.” Her eyes narrowed, all of that prickling rage cementing in a whoosh of ice.
As though it had been torn apart in both pain and fury, any desire to restrain myself vanished.
“I am also your daughter,” I snapped, stepping around Batian to face her. Batian wrapped a hand around my shoulder, trying to pull me back, but I shrugged him away. “I always have been your daughter. I always will be your daughter. It is my brother’s wedding. I cannot miss it.”
“You can, and you will.” Her voice whipped through me as it echoed over stone and glass. “I will not let anything ruin this joining, and the issue regarding your attendance is not up for debate.” I wasn’t even sure she was looking at me. All I felt was that heavy weight as her words settled against my soul.
“But he’s?—”
“It’s not up for debate!” She roared and Father jerked to sit. I could have sworn something behind him cracked. I jumped as the sound echoed over the gray stone and she finally looked at me with all the repulsion I had seen her stare at the servants with. All the vile hatred she had fixated on the peasants when we had gone through the city when I was younger.
Now it was all focused on me.
“I will not accept this.”
I had been attempting to keep my voice level, but that look, that pain that sliced me open was making it impossible. No, not impossible. I just didn’t care. Screw controlling myself, screw all of it. She was going to keep taking from me until I had nothing.
“I am your daughter.” Even saying the word sliced all those open wounds deeper. “It’s time you acknowledge that. It’s time you see me! See me!”
I held my hands out to her, my palms covered with dirt and scars from years of hiding in corridors, sneaking through the castle, and hiding in trees and gardens in an attempt to just be part of life. Any life. But it didn’t matter what I did. She would always look at me the way she was now.
