Chapter 9

Chapter

Nine

~ Princess Blake ~

I pace the room, unable to sit still as I think about Shade in the tunnels trying to find the rebels. Our connection had cut off some time ago, and the silence is driving me crazy. It was one thing not hearing her voice when I could still see her, but now worry has me second-guessing my decision to send her out there. I scrub a hand over my face. Pull it together, Blake. She’s fine and your mates are, too.

My body warms at the thought of the four males in the prison. Shade had said they were okay, and I relax a little even though everything in me is telling me to go to them. I’m clearing the destroyed bed just to give myself a distraction when Sassia enters my room. I pivot toward her, and she takes one look at my innocent smile and peers at Shade’s empty cage. I don’t give her an explanation, and thankfully, she doesn’t ask for one.

I’m aware she could alert the guards to Shade’s escape but considering her plea for me to kill their king, I’m hopeful she’ll keep it to herself.

“The servants are talking about what happened at the party,” she tells me, turning from the empty cage like it’s of no consequence.

“Yeah? And what are they saying?”

She purses her lips, and my expression flattens.

“That good, huh?” I ask her.

Striding forward, she places her silver case on the bed and gestures for me to sit on the mattress. I perch on one corner, and she gets to work, cleansing my face.

“You must have upset him,” Sassia says as she finishes cleaning my face, and then works on powdering my cheeks, only applying a thin amount of makeup this time. “He normally doesn’t treat his soon-to-be-brides like that. At least, not in front of the high lords and ladies. Not until the wedding ceremony is complete.”

“Why do I get the feeling this is your way of saying it’s my fault?” I reply dryly. “He’s the one with terrible taste in brides. If he wanted a demure sacrifice, he should have chosen better.”

Sassia’s lips quirk upward, and I narrow my eyes at her.

“And why do I feel like you’re happy about all this?” I ask.

She flicks her brush, finishing the touch of color on my cheeks. “Because his little temper tantrum shows that you’re exactly who we need you to be. He’s trying to scare you because he knows you’re powerful.”

I grimace. “Yeah, and it also means he’ll be even more powerful if I can’t stop him from draining me.”

Sassia doesn’t seem bothered by this comment, and she smiles as she moves on to brushing my hair. Her confidence that I’m going to free her and her kind has me feeling guilty, but I decide I don’t need to tell Sassia that it’s not my main priority. Truthfully, I’ll kill the king if I get the chance, so it might still work out, and she’s the only friend I have in the palace right now. I don’t want to risk upsetting her.

“So, do you think he’ll notice?” I ask, tipping my head toward the cage.

She looks over at the mangled bars and a small smile teases her lips. “Luckily for you, King Celzar has given me strict orders to get you ready for the day, and then the guards are to escort you to him.”

“And what is on the agenda today? Another party?”

She makes a face. “Not exactly…” she trails off as she finishes my hair and rifles in her case. A moment later, she holds up what looks like a white silk bra and some kind of skimpy underwear covered in crystals.

“Uh, what the fuck is that?” I ask, pointing to the clothes.

“This is your outfit for today.”

I furrow my brow in confusion. “Wait, so I’m going stripping?”

She snorts and rifles in her case again. “No. Look, the bright side is you’ll also get to wear this for most of the time.” She holds up an almost sheer white gown, and I peer at her incredulously.

“You can't be serious.”

She gives me a sympathetic look. “You'll be joining the king at the sacred waters. There, you’ll both be cleansed. It's a tradition meant to signify new beginnings.”

“Right,” I say, pointing at what I now realize is a tiny swimsuit. “But why do I have to do it wearing that?”

“Would you rather be naked?” she teases with a laugh. “Because the last bride went full commando.”

I press my lips together. Honestly, I don’t really care about others seeing me naked, but it’s the vulnerability of not being clothed that’s bothering me. You’re more likely to sustain an injury with such minimal protection. I want to protest and request that the royal tailor bring me a dress with inbuilt armor and pockets for weapons, but then I remind myself that I have no weapons, and the king isn’t going to try to kill me. Or at least, he’s not going to do it by running a sword into me.

Begrudgingly, I dress in the bathing suit, and when I look at my reflection in the mirror, I can’t help but grin. I’m pretty sure my mates would be livid if they saw me dressing for the king like this, but then I remind myself that some of them probably wouldn’t even care, and I scowl. Stupid dud mates.

“Ready?” Sassia prompts, watching me.

“Do I have a choice?”

Her brows lower, and when she speaks her voice is quieter. “Choices for most of us are few and far between these days.”

I’m taken aback by her words. “Okay, so I’m going to take that as a ‘no.’”

Someone raps their knuckles hard on the door, and Sassia jerks at the sound. “You’d better go. The guards are waiting to take you to him.” She packs up her case and strides toward the door.

I follow after her, tightening the straps of my white gown as I walk. Looks like it’s time for a swim.

The guards look annoyed when I emerge from the room, so I’m guessing we’re late. I smile at them sweetly and let them lead me through the palace. Twice I catch the guards staring at my ass, but as soon as I question whether the king would appreciate having his guards staring at his betrothed like that, the males stiffen, and their expressions turn sour as they escort me the rest of the way.

The hallways of the palace seem never-ending, but eventually, I’m led down to some kind of large stable. The air smells of oil, grain, and straw, and massive wooden stalls line the space. We stop, and one of the guards rests his hands on his hips.

“Lets go, Wendel,” the guard calls out impatiently.

“I-I’ll be right there!” a male replies from somewhere out of sight, and the guard mutters something under his breath.

We aren’t waiting long when a large bird-like creature walks into view, and my mouth drops open. The creature stands taller than the winged centaur guards beside me, and while it has a curved beak and beady eyes like that of a chicken, rainbow scales cover its body instead of feathers, the colors seemingly always changing in the light. The creature pulls a crystal carriage with an open top, and as it comes closer, it takes me a moment to realize its fiery tail is made of fur rather than flames.

Whoa. I wish Shade could see this.

A male coachman sits at the front of the carriage, presumably the individual named Wendel, and with his hooked nose and bushy hair he almost looks comically like the creature. He smiles kindly at me, and I grin back, feeling the tiniest bit happier about this whole situation.

That is, until one of guards opens his mouth. “Get in,” barks the one who’d called out to Wendel, and I try not to let his bad attitude ruin the moment. It’s a strange sensation being called the future queen while also being treated as if you’re less than dirt. Then again, I guess they think I’m going to die soon anyway. I would dwell on that morbid thought if I actually thought it was going to come to that. For now, I ignore the grouchy male and open the carriage door, sliding onto the plush leather seat.

“Welcome, welcome,” Wendel says, still smiling at me, but the guard barks another impatient order, and Wendel quickly closes his mouth, facing the front.

Wendel says a few soothing words to the bird creature, and as the animal starts forward, the two guards move to either side of the carriage, matching the steady pace. We approach two wide crystal doors, which open automatically when we draw near, and then we’re exiting the stable and moving beyond the palace walls.

What the—? I knew we were underground given what Shade had said about the tunnels, but I’m really not prepared for the city of The Haven. Craning my neck, I gape at the massive concave ceiling that’s far above us and lined with white crystals. The stones are arranged in a pattern that reminds me of scales, and they glow, giving off warm, luminescent light. Around us, the road is also made from crystals, though these have been shaped and arranged together like a mosaic artwork. The small houses up ahead have been constructed in a similar fashion, the oddly shaped crystals neatly stacked together to form the walls and roofs, leaving no house appearing the same.

We’re not far from the palace when the streets become thick with citizens walking about, all of them in their non-centaur forms with cuffs around their ankles. Some turn and bow to me as we pass, but most avoid looking in my direction like they’re determined to pretend I don’t exist. Had we been back in Seral, this would have been seen as an insult, but here, the guards act like it’s expected behavior. Not that it bothers me. If anything, I feel less obligated to smile back at people, and I’m happy to spend more time marveling at my surroundings. King Celzar might be cruel, but his city is magnificent.

Another cart pulled by a bird creature starts to pass us, and I’m admiring the rainbow scales of the animal when a lively voice chirps in my head. “Hullo!” I blink, turning to my side in surprise, only to find my trusty guard still staring sternly straight ahead.

Frowning, I convince myself I must have imagined it, and it’s not until I hear the voice again that I realize it’s the bird-creature pulling my carriage who’s speaking in my mind. “Yes, yes. Here we are, another day. More walking. Always walking.” I notice the slight tingling sensation in my mind now that I’m aware of what’s happening, and excitement makes me sit up in my chair. We leave the other carriage behind us, and everything is silent for a short while until we go to pass another carriage, and I hear, “Hullo friend!”

I watch in fascination as both bird creatures subtly dip their heads to one another as they pass by, and it’s not until the other creature is some distance away that I say, “Hello?” like I’m the one who’s responding to the bird’s greeting.

The carriage jerks to a halt, and the creature swivels its head, peering back and staring at me with beady eyes.

I lift my hand and give him a little wave. “Nice to meet you, friend.”

The bird cocks its head in surprise. “She speaks. How does she speak?” the creature rambles.

Unaware of what’s happening, Wendel nervously pats the bird’s neck. “C-come now. Can’t keep the king waiting.” At that, the creature starts walking again, but it leaves its head to the side like its determined to keep an eye on me. “Strange. So strange,” the bird mumbles.

“Yes, I speak,” I say when the creature has a steady gait again, and this time aside from a misstep, the bird doesn’t stop walking. “It’s nice to meet you,” I say, politely. “I’m Blake.”

“Blake? Blake?” the creature repeats. “Must not talk to the Blake.”

“No, Blake is my name,” I explain. “Do you have one? A name, I mean?” This is honestly one of the most exciting things to happen to me since I was kidnapped, and I can’t help but keep talking.

There’s silence for a moment, but then the creature replies, “Pask. Pask is my name.”

“Pask,” I say with a nod. “I like it.”

“Who are you, Blake? You are a stranger, new queen-to-be. You shouldn’t be here.”

I frown. “You’ve heard about the wedding, huh?”

“Oh yes, we all talk. The king just does not listen. But Wendel does. Yes, he does.”

He reaches back to nudge the driver with his beak, and I grin when Wendel smiles and rubs the bird’s neck affectionately.

“So…you’re happy here?” I ask Pask, still trying to figure this place out.

“Happy? Strong word that. Very strong word. No, we’re stuck. We’re all stuck.” He pauses for a moment then goes on. “No wind. No sky. No sun.” He ruffles his huge wings, before tucking them in tighter against his back. “No, I would not say happy, but safe from the witches, yes. No witches. Horrible witches.”

I think about the ruins of Perstalia and stare around at the life bustling around us. “But this place is incredible,” I say.

“It does not matter,” Pask replies thoughtfully. “We are not free. Not even my Wendel.” He lowers his beak and sends me an image of the large cuff around his right leg.

I sigh. “So you, too, huh?”

“Yes, yes, all of us. This is his plan. We all know it.”

“His plan?”

“He must have control. Magic is chaos of the best kind. He does not want chaos except within himself. He wants order. And now he wants you. The king gets what he wants.”

I think about this as I stare at another group of citizens that we pass, all of them with cuffs around their ankles. “Do you think he’ll be upset when I say ‘no’ to him?”

Pask’s laughter is warm and genuine in my head. “He will not allow you to say no to him, little bird. He will not allow it. Even the fish know this. But I will be rooting for you.” He falls silent then, and as the tingling sensation fades, I realize Pask has severed our mental connection. It’s not hard for me to figure out why when I see who’s standing up ahead. As we pass another row of houses, a vast lake emerges before us, shimmering at the city's edge. The water sparkles in vibrant shades of blue, illuminated by the light of the crystals high above. A semicircle of elegantly dressed citizens stands nearby, their gazes fixed on me in the carriage, and at the riverbank, the king watches intently, flanked by a contingent of guards. He’s dressed in a silver t-shirt and three-quarter-length trousers that reveal his calves. He beams when my gaze locks with his, though the light doesn’t reach his eyes.

I move from the carriage, and Pask gives me a reassuring nudge with his beak, propelling me forward.

“Stunning,” the king says as I approach, though the compliment is empty.

I smile, pretending his comment was sincere, though I get the feeling that all the extravagant outfits are more for show than anything else. “Anything to please my king,” I say with a sickly-sweet voice, and he narrows his eyes at me.

A male with long plaited red hair comes up to the king’s side, his elegant robes flapping as he moves. “Shall we begin, your highness?” he asks King Celzar, his gaze roving over me and no doubt seeing straight through the sheer robe I have on. Hope you’re enjoying the view.

Like he realizes what he’s doing, he looks away quickly, turning his attention back to the king.

King Celzar doesn’t seem to notice. “Yes, now that my betrothed has finally arrived, let us proceed.”

“Very good, sire,” the other male says and steps forward, pulling the gathered crowd’s attention to him. He clears his throat. “Today we continue to celebrate the impending union between our benevolent king and his new bride-to-be. As is tradition, the king and his betrothed will enter the waters at the same time, and while they are submerged the water will both connect and cleanse them, washing away their impurities in preparation for their coming union.”

Connect them? I curse under my breath. Sassia never mentioned anything about being connected to the king, and the idea of it has alarm bells going off in my head. I think about the way he’d drained power from me the last time we’d touched, and my gaze slides to the royal.

He’s busy smiling at the citizens who are clapping politely, but when his gaze connects with mine, there’s a dark eagerness in his eyes that has me wishing I had a weapon. I remind myself that he’s not going to drain my full power until we’re married.

“Come, my beloved,” he says, and music starts up from somewhere in the crowd. A strange burst of color shines ahead in the water, and I think I spot one of the rainbow fish we’d encountered back in the baths in Perstalia, but then it’s gone again a second later.

King Celzar holds out his arm for me, and I arch a brow. “Such chivalry,” I mutter sarcastically. Ignoring him, I take off my robe, and when no one comes forward to grab it, I throw it at the closest guard. He’s too busy staring at my sparkling bra that the robe catches him in the face, the fabric smacking him in the eyes. He curses, reeling back as he tears the cloth from his face, then he quickly corrects himself as the king gives him a look of disapproval. Back at the carriage, Pask let’s out a strange noise, his eyes bright as he watches on, and I grin and wink at him.

“If you’re quite finished,” the king hisses beside my ear, stepping up behind me. “Need I remind you of what happens when you don’t behave? Take my hand, my beloved. We enter the water as a pair.”

Ah, there was that word again. Behave. I pivot, smiling sweetly at him. “Oh, I remember,” I reply, but I still ignore his hand and saunter toward the water alone. I hear him huff behind me, but I don’t care. Shade’s not in her cage anymore, and I highly doubt he’s going to kill my mates because I’m not holding his hand. Then again, he is rather sensitive, I muse. Oh well, too late now.

The water is pleasantly warm as it licks over my toes, and I don’t pause as I walk further in, moving until the water is up to my ribcage. King Celzar is quick to follow, only a pace behind me. When he makes it to my side, his hand grabs mine, and he leans in close, bringing with him the overwhelming scent of roses as he twists and peers at the crowd still watching from the riverbank.

“I’m not sure why you’re making this so difficult,” he murmurs in my ear. “You must realize by now that there is no escape for you. I don’t know what you’re trying to prove.”

“The only thing I’m intent on proving is that by taking me, you made a poor choice for a bride,” I hiss back. “And by the time you realize the full extent of your failure, it’ll be too late.”

His eyes flash with anger, and he grips my hand painfully as he drags me into the water.