Chapter 13

Chapter

Thirteen

JOHA

T he whispered comments and worried titters from the councilmen and advisors follow me through the palace grounds as I make my way to the throne room. Ignoring them all, I force myself to look around obliviously, smiling as we pass those who live in the palace compound like I do not have a care in the world.

I called an emergency meeting as soon as I awoke, not giving them time to try and change my plans. I did not manage to get any sleep last night. My mind continued to turn over all my concerns and fears about what we are doing. Have I made a mistake in trusting the assassin? No. My instincts tell me that I’m right about her and that this is going to work. The most dangerous thing about this whole plan is the tiny spark of hope that blooms in my heart.

It has been a long time since I allowed myself to feel hope or anything akin to it.

Thanks to the last-minute nature of this mandatory meeting, I only have a handful of my normal entourage of advisors and scholars. My guards are all present as usual, with the ever-faithful Orion leading us all.

Wearing my formal, highly decorated purple cloak, I cannot help but feel amused by my councilmen’s confusion. Usually, the king’s cloak is only worn for ceremonial purposes, which has everyone even more confused about the reason for this meeting, yet no one has questioned me directly about what is happening. That will not last for long, I am sure, but in the meantime, I am going to enjoy this moment of peace before the interrogation begins.

“Do you know anything about why this meeting has been called?” one of my scholars asks quietly behind me, concern making his voice warble more than usual.

“There’s nothing to worry about,” Advisor Ruik chimes in snidely. He is one of my most vocal advisors and is coincidentally from the Queen Mother’s family. If there was a way for me to dismiss him, I would, but unfortunately, that is out of my hands.

“This is the king, after all,” Ruik continues, chuckling slightly. “He probably just wants to tell us he’s decided to ban porridge from the kitchen or something equally ridiculous and mundane.”

The others chuckle in agreement, placated for the time being.

With how often I hear them speak about me this way, you would think that I would be used to it by now. However, shame and anger burn inside me. Once upon a time, they used to at least do it behind closed doors, but now they barely even bother to lower their voices. I am their king, yet they treat me like a clown.

The only thing that’s keeping me from simply rampaging at their obvious disdain is Alyx. She’s going to change everything around here. My smile turns genuine as I imagine the horror and shock of my council when I announce my betrothal.

It’s my turn to make decisions.

It’s my move, and I just pressed my advantage.

I just made a queen.

“Your Majesty, I really do feel it’s imperative that you tell us what you plan to announce to your people,” my advisor scolds, once again treating me like a disobedient child rather than his king. “We cannot help you if we do not know what’s happening.”

Settling myself in my throne, I sit back and let my lords-in-waiting run forward to adjust my cloak as I peer out at the bustling building that houses the throne room. The throne room, placed right in the centre of the palace grounds, is massive in an effort to intimidate and remind everyone of my station, even if it has become a laughingstock as of late, but the kings who sat before me used it to their advantage, just as I will today. Like most of the rest of the palace, it’s a one-story building with a high, decorative roof. My throne, whilst terribly uncomfortable, is carved from marble and has intricate patterns that must have taken the artist months to create, and it sits atop a raised dais, allowing me to look down at my people—another reminder they are below me, or should be.

The room itself is relatively devoid of furniture, allowing for many to stand before the king. Windows line the walls, spaced evenly throughout the halls like arched sentinels providing light. Lanterns hang from the walls where the light from the windows doesn’t reach, their golden casings gleaming thanks to the huge team of cleaners who keep the place spotless. Tapestries of my family’s long history are draped upon the walls as well. Two of the largest are fixed to the back wall behind my throne, the image depicting the triumphant win of the first king of this land. It’s as beautiful as it is brutal and completely impossible to ignore.

My people are filing into the room, both the nobles who live within the palace compound and those who are from the upper part of the city who could make it in time. Scanning the room, I notice how almost everyone is wearing the same confused expression, splitting into small groups as they discuss their theories on why they have all been called together.

They are not permitted to kneel on the pillows to rest unless I allow it, so they mingle as they stand before the throne.

I do not reply immediately, needing time to cool my temper so I do not shout at the weaselly man beside me and ruin everything. Orion is standing on my other side and slightly behind the throne. He’s silent, but I can feel his anger radiating from him. There is another reason I do not speak, though that has nothing to do with my frustration. Staring off into the distance, I pretend that I do not feel his eyes boring into me, even as I grow more and more annoyed with each passing second.

When it becomes apparent that I am not about to answer anytime soon, my advisor eventually loses patience and clears his throat. Blinking and whipping my head around as though snapped out of a daydream, I laugh, but it is devoid of any true mirth as I meet his stare boldly.

“Oh, sorry, Advisor Ruik, I forgot you were there for a moment.” Smiling, I roll my eyes at myself and chuckle once more. “Thank you for your concern, Advisor Ruik, but you will know about the nature of the meeting soon enough. I have this all in hand.”

Outrage flashes across his face before he quickly masks it, and I turn back to watch everyone file through the doors. The hall is packed, and almost everyone must be here now. Most of those waiting are males, with only a handful of females attending, and I would hazard a guess that is only because they live in the palace grounds.

We have had queens for generations, yet rules and restrictions on women still apply. It’s foolish, if you ask me. My smile turns genuine then as I remember my future queen. Alyx will not conform to them.

I almost delight in the chaos she will cause amongst those gathered. It’s enough to lift my spirits despite the whispered insults that reach my ears.

“Sir,” the advisor squawks beside me, outraged at my dismissal.

He’s cut off by the presence of another making their way to my side, and I’ve never been more grateful for the interruption—that is, until I realise exactly who it is. Ruik would only back down to one person.

Queen Mother.

I am sure the weather darkened with her arrival, or maybe that is just my mood.

“Your Majesty,” Queen Mother greets demurely, her voice grating on me. However, when I turn in my throne to look at her, I smile widely.

I wait for her to finish her curtsy, making sure to drag it out to almost a disrespectful amount of time before I finally address her, something I know infuriates her, but with so many witnesses, she cannot make a scene. Above all else, she protects her image of a doting Queen Mother and widow of the former king.

“Oh, Queen Mother, good, you are here. I was worried that you might not get the message about today’s meeting in time.” Keeping the wide smile on my face, I run my eyes over her discreetly. Despite the last-minute invitation to the meeting, she looks impeccable as usual. Her deep purple dress is just a couple of shades off my colour, more blue than purple, in her own silent protest that no one else would notice. I see it though, along with her barely restrained contempt for me. Four ladies-in-waiting stand behind her—two holding the train of her dress, one carrying a folded parasol, and another cooling her with a white lace fan.

As she dips her head in acknowledgement, her smile is poisonous. “It was certainly a surprise,” she replies carefully. Glancing around, she takes in the huge gathering of noblemen before returning her gaze to me, her brow raised in question. “What is this all about? Is all well?”

She could not care less if something was amiss. If something was truly wrong, she would have been notified by one of my guards or advisors. Her little spies would whisper it to her, yet she knows nothing about this, and it’s clearly driving her mad. She’s suspicious, and I will admit that this is out of character for the person they believe me to be. To organise something of this scale is above what many of them think I am capable of, and I can practically see her thoughts spinning around her cunning mind. She is smarter than most, but she also wants to believe this act so she can continue to rule the kingdom with me as her puppet.

“He will not tell us, Your Majesty,” Advisor Ruik cuts in snidely, standing just to her side.

Pinning me with a look of disappointment, she tilts her head to one side. “What is this, Joha? Your advisors are here to help you. They cannot do that if you do not allow them to.” Her eyes gleam with annoyance. “Think of your people.”

“That is exactly what I am doing, Queen Mother, but I thank you for your concern.”

The comment on its own is innocent enough, but this time, I do not hide my anger, so it’s more of a snap than anything I have dared to say to her in years. I let it burn in my eyes for precisely two seconds, plenty long enough for her to see. I should not have done it, and I know that I play up to their assumptions of me, but to imply that I am not doing the best for my people when I do everything to keep them safe is an insult I cannot let slide.

Her eyes widen and then quickly narrow, seeing right through my now neutral mask. She’s about to argue with me and possibly even make a scene in front of everyone. She might even attempt to provoke me into revealing myself by making an announcement to those gathered that the meeting has been cancelled.

I feel Orion stiffen beside me before clearing his throat, ready to step in and protect me from any and all threats, including the Queen Mother.

That never happens though. As if the old gods know we need something to break the tense atmosphere between us, the doors at the back of the throne room suddenly swing open. I am not even sure when they closed, but I certainly noticed the moment they opened once more, and I am not the only one.

Shock ripples through the crowd like a wave, slowly reaching me on my throne. Several gasps reach my ears, but I pay them no heed, my eyes locked straight ahead.

Light filters into the room, and there, standing in the doorway with the sun shining behind her like an angel, she is.

Alyx.

Thanks to the way the light shines behind her, I can only see her silhouette, yet I still know it is her. Like a kick in my chest, the surety of it rings through my entire body.

Taking a few silent, dainty steps into the hall, she pauses as the doors slowly shut behind her, and I can finally make her out.

Everyone falls silent, and I do not blame them.

Her auburn hair has been brushed and oiled to perfection, the locks gleaming in the updo it’s been tamed and pinned into. Tiny pearls are nestled into her hair, catching the light as she turns her head. Two curls hang around her face, framing her flawless skin as she tilts her head demurely.

The dress is a work of art in its own right, and I do not have the faintest clue where she got it from, as it certainly was not one of those provided in the concubines’ palace. My mouth goes dry at the sight. Although Alyx looks formidable and attractive beyond reason in her black assassin gear, Alyx in a dress is almost enough to send me tumbling from my throne. Cream in colour, the dress has a fitted bodice and modest, scooping neckline. Loose, floaty sleeves end at her elbow, the fabric slightly sheer so I am able to see the skin of her arms. The skirt cascades down to the floor in gentle folds of fabric, making it easy to move around in but still beautiful and elegant. What really sets off the dress, however, are the tiny purple flowers that are embroidered into the fabric. They are scattered evenly throughout the bodice, but the flowers increase at her waist and seem to flow down the skirt, lessening until there are only a few around the hem.

It’s a beautiful dress, but there are several things about it that make it so perfect. Firstly, she looks like a lady, someone who could fit in amongst the crowd of staring nobles. Secondly, the flowers are purple, my purple. It gives a statement, especially once everyone knows the real reason she’s here. Thirdly, the dress creates a youthful, girly appearance, the perfect ruse for my spy. She looks nothing like the hardened assassin I met the other night. In fact, I feel like I am seeing her properly for the first time.

Her eyes are lined like that of the ladies that flock to me, her lashes dipped in a substance and extended. Her cheeks are flushed, and her plush lips are stained a deep purple to match the dress, which fades to a pale pink at her cupid’s bow. She seems softer, or maybe that is just the lack of weapons on her body, though I have no doubt she has some concealed somewhere.

After all, you can put an assassin in a dress, but you cannot change who they are.

I like that I am the one behind the secret for once and that when her gaze meets mine, we’ll both know the truth, even if no one else will. Her eyes flash for a moment, making me smirk. It is the same Alyx, even if she looks nothing like the feral assassin I met in a muddy alley.

After giving everyone a chance to see her, she starts to walk towards me, practically floating through the hall with a gentle, almost timid smile gracing her rosy lips. The watching nobles clear a path for her, filling in behind her once she’s passed. It’s becoming clear to everyone that she has something to do with the reason they have all been called here, and Queen Mother seems to have realised that too.

“Who is she, Your Majesty?” Queen Mother demands, quickly tacking on my honorific as she watches Alyx glide towards us.

I ignore her, my eyes locked on Alyx. I could not speak even if I wanted to. She consumes my entire focus as she glides towards me. Is it possible that this isn’t actually her? Does she have a twin sister I do not know about? Somehow, in those short hours, she’s completely changed. Something about her demeanour and the way she holds herself catches my attention, and I realise that she’s even walking differently. She looks like one of us. How did she learn the correct mannerisms so quickly? I was expecting to have to brush over slip-ups and teach her how to navigate the court, but it looks like I might not need to.

I’m getting ahead of myself. Just because she made herself look pretty and she’s walking differently does not mean that she actually knows how to survive life in the palace.

Someone clears their throat beside me, their anger at my distraction pretty clear. I would love to say that I was ignoring Queen Mother on purpose and that it all played into my plan, but that would be a lie. I am completely captivated by Alyx, and I’m struggling to think of anything other than her. At least I will not have to pretend to be enamoured with her.

Continuing to ignore Queen Mother, I turn my head slightly and glance up at Orion. I expect to see his standard frown, since he has made his disapproval of Alyx pretty clear, but I am blown away by the surprise and hint of admiration in his eyes as he watches her too.

I don’t blame him.

Every man in this room watches Alyx like she is an angel they want to corrupt. If only they knew the devil that hid behind those fluttering eyelashes.

“Joha, answer me.” Pain flashes through my arm as a hand grips me tightly. Jerking my head around, I meet Queen Mother’s fuming eyes.

“Queen Mother,” Orion snaps in warning, glancing pointedly at her nails digging into my skin, his body seeming to grow even larger as he begins to move towards her.

I hold my hand up, and he instantly stops moving despite me not having said a word. I’m sure she’s cut into my skin, but the pain helps remind me why we’re here.

“You wanted to know why this meeting was being held,” I comment quietly, making it seem as though I’m attempting to keep this from being overheard.

She seems suspicious at my sudden cooperation, her eyes narrowing. “Yes.”

Nodding, I flash her a smile. “Well, you are getting your wish.” Using my free hand, I pry each of her fingers from my arm and slowly get to my feet. “She is to be my betrothed.”

Horror flashes across her perfect face, and I overhear several of my advisors squawking with outrage, but there is nothing they can do to stop me now. I am already on my feet and addressing my people.

They seem to be caught between looking at me, their king, while also trying to watch the mysterious woman moving through their ranks. However, she has now reached the base of the dais my throne sits on. Smiling widely, I clap my hands together before gesturing towards Alyx as I offer her my hand to help her up the steps. She lays her palm in mine, and the rough skin makes me smile, reminding me she is just as lethal at wielding a sword as she is wearing a dress. She stands tall at my side, her hand in mine, as I smile at the now gawking crowd. When my voice comes, it rings out clear and proud . . . and maybe a little smug.

After all, I have a queen at my side.

One of the most lethal women in all our kingdom.

“Lords and ladies, I invite you to welcome my betrothed, Lady Alyx.”