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“The ceremony they’re getting you ready for.” Bradach moved aside as two women approached me with towels. “It would seem you’re to be married again. Properly, this time.”
“Properly?”
“The faeriken respect the old traditions of marriage and bonding.” Aeris’s voice reached me from underneath the vigorously rubbing cotton. “Your people threw those traditions away to allow for the travesties they commit against their wives and women. Vows of fidelity? I think not.
“Our lord honors you, Queen Ana,” she gushed. “He means to make you his mate and bonded for eternity. Only death will separate you.”
I whirled on Bradach. “If this is such an honor, why did you speak of it like a punishment?”
Bradach shrugged. “Because when my lord left, he made it clear in no uncertain terms that he planned to leave you at the altar. This whole arranged marriage nonsense was obviously a brazen attempt to get a spy across our borders,” he said, black eyes pinning me through. “You.
“He played along, signed your worthless treaty, accepted the many crystals, jewels, and money bestowed upon our kingdom as a wedding gift, but in the end, there was to be no marriage between Lord Lumenfell and Princess Emiana of Lyrica. But then—”
“I put a sword through his chest,” I whispered, lips numb.
“Exactly, keva.” He made to clap me on the back, then stopped—pulling back. “With one simple, insane move you proved beyond a doubt that you are no spy. In fact, you have no subtlety at all. There couldn’t be a worse spy than you.”
I choked. “And for that he went through with the wedding? For that, he ripped me from my home and dragged me from the faelands!? It is your precious Lord Shitsoul that’s insane!”
Growls peeled from Foalan’s lips, standing my neck hairs on end. Suddenly I was back in the alley with the wolf.
“I humbly insist, my queen,” he said, his even tone at odds with his bared fangs, “that you do not speak of our lord in such a manner.”
Aeris screeched, shooting my heart in my throat. “How dare you, Foalan! Do not threaten our queen.”
That was a threat?!
“After these many long decades, Lord Lumenfell has finally chosen his mate, and he’s chosen her.” She took my shaking hand. “It truly is an honor. He must see something special in you.”
“Or.” Bradach’s voice grated on my ears. “He sees a special and honorable opportunity... to draw out your punishment. You thought yourself his assassin, now you find yourself his pet.”
Silence fell over the room, smothering me. What did it mean that no one was arguing with him? Not even Aeris.
I was quiet for a long time—long enough for the attendants to guide me to the vanity and begin braiding my hair while Aeris left and came back with a plate of food for me. I barely glanced at the shaela bread, grapes, roasted chicken, or wine. The food grown and bred from this cursed soil would turn me into one of them. Not a morsel of it would cross my lips.
I won’t be here long enough to need to. Eventually, all of these hovering servants will leave my side and I’ll have a chance to run. The question was when?
“What is about to take place?” I spoke up. “I’ve heard things. Legends. Stories. About the old ceremonies. The customs were done away with for more reasons than war wives. What does my dear husband believe he’s going to make me do?”
There.In the mirror. Bradach and Aeris exchanged a look.
Aeris cleared her throat, making the feathers on her neck puff up. “It is very simple. You will both be painted with thetraditional marriage runes, you will make your vows to one another, and in the morning, after consummation, the runes will take root in your skin and in your soul—binding you before Meya, in life and death.”
She stood me up and draped a black, sheer gown over my body—covering everything and concealing nothing.
“Will we be alone for the”—I forced the word out—“consummating.”
She blinked. “Of course, my queen. Why? Is it your preference to have an audience? My Lord Lumenfell doesn’t care for such, but if that will stoke the flames of your desire, I’m sure I can convince—”
“No,” I bleated, louder than necessary. “That is not how my desire flames are stoked. I merely asked because we’ve not had a true minute by ourselves since we married. I should like to finally be alone with my husband.”To get rid of him for good and make my escape.
“Why?” A hand snaked across my vision and helped itself to my grapes. “To try your hand at another assassination attempt?”
My face heated. The power of mind reading wasn’t possible through magic or curses, but right then I would’ve sworn the raven man did.
“That would be very stupid, keva.” He tossed a grape in the air and caught it between his teeth with a strange, rapid, head-jerking motion. Rather like a pecking bird. “Do you see this palace with its high walls, barred windows, and battalion of guards? They all exist to protectthem,” Bradach said, pointing to the attendants. “Not Lord Lumenfell. He doesn’t need walls, weapons, or guards. He is the Lumenfell Army. We are merely his toy soldiers, brought out to play when he’s bored.”
His smile sent goose pimples down my spine. “Alone or before an entire wedding party—your sword will never strike true.”
