I pushed myself from the bed, groaning at my stiffness, but appreciative that the pain had lessoned while I slept. I glanced at the table by the bed and saw more willow bark and a hot kettle. No doubt, Master Errol left the medicine with the expectation I would know when, and how, to take it. I poured water into a cup and placed a strip of bark in to steep while the princes continued to argue.
“She is our secretary. He has no right to demand anything of her or us.”
“He is king,” Finn emphasized the word. “He can do whatever he wants. Or have you forgotten that he is the ruler of our entire kingdom?”
Slowly, I made my way to the door. The last thing I wanted was for the brothers to fight about anything involving me. I would go out there and see what was happening, just as soon as my weak legs carried me across the room.
“Being king doesn’t mean we have to stand aside and allow him to mistreat others,” Brion barked.
“That’s exactly what it means,” Prince Finn countered.
I reached the door but paused to catch my breath. Finn’s reply surprised me. I didn’t picture him as someone who would stand aside and let people be mistreated without at least attempting to intervene.
Prince Brion had the same thought. “Since when did you become spineless?” he growled. I could only imagine the intensity of his disapproving stare. “Since when have you put your morals second to our father’s volatile whims?”
“Since I learned what it takes to survive,” Finn replied angrily. “Something you taught me. I will not apologize for wanting Amelissa to join us in the throne room. I’d rather face whatever our father might have planned head on than wait in suspense to see what he does once she doesn’t show up.”
That was enough. I opened the door and stumbled into the main room. The princes stood nearly toe to toe, breathing in each other’s faces.
“Stop it,” I huffed, sounding out of breath.
Both males turned toward me. The fight deflated from their bodies as they stared at me, speechless. Prince Finn’s mouth fell open while Brion’s teeth grinded together.
It was the latter who said, “Lissa. You may want to put a robe on.”
Still groggy and confused by the argument I’d woken up to, I tilted my head. “What?”
Brion cleared his throat and gestured to me while averting his gaze. He slapped his brother in the chest. Prince Finn looked away, too.
Looking down at myself, I exclaimed, “Gods!” I spun around as fast as my sore muscles would allow and slammed my bedroom door shut.
Glancing down at my naked torso, I saw the only coverage was provided from the thin bandages wrapped around my breasts. My entire body heated, mortified to have walked out into the room so exposed.
A soft knock interrupted my humiliation. “Lissa, are you okay?” It was Brion.
“Y-yes,” I croaked through the wood. I wanted to bang my head against the surface until I erased the horrific memory from my brain.
He paused, then asked, “Do you need help dressing?”
“No!” I shouted. Pulling myself together, I said in a quieter tone, “Give me one minute.”
Moving as fast as my body permitted, I entered my bathing room and removed the thick, cotton robe from the hook on the wall. There was no way I could lift my arms to put on a shirt, and I would not go back and ask for the princes’ help. Tying the straps tightly, I ventured back out into the main sitting area.
Prince Brion stood near my door. His eyes trailed me up and down, assessing me for any signs of lingering pain.
His brother sat on the armchair facing me. His elbows rested on his knees. “How are you feeling?”
“The medicine helps mask the pain,” I answered him before I my eyes flicked to Brion’s stare. “What were you two talking about?”
I couldn’t explain why, but I knew Brion wouldn’t lie to me.
I vaguely noted Brion’s cheeks were tinged pink, but his reply distracted me from the observation. “Our father has called us to a meeting in the throne room. Your presence is requested, but I do not think it is a good idea.”
“I gathered that, but I will go with you to the meeting.”
“No. You are injured,” Brion repeated his argument. “You need to rest.”
“Finn’s right. It’s not worth incurring your father’s wrath. I will drink more willow bark to dull the pain. It will be all right.”
Brion’s nostrils flared. It looked like he fought every instinct to lock me in my room and demand I stay there until I healed completely.
But I didn’t have that luxury.
If King Roderick summoned me to the throne room, I would go to the throne room.
Brion saw my resolve. “Fine.” He stomped to the opposite corridor, which led to his personal rooms. “Be ready in an hour.” He slammed his door, leaving me alone with his brother.
My gaze swung to the other prince, and I could see he was preparing to say something. Based on his expression, I sensed it had something to do with the previous evening.
Before Finn could say anything, I muttered, “I need to get ready.”
Without waiting for a reply, I spun around and closed myself in my room.
I had enough to deal with at the moment. Talking about our unexpected kiss could wait a day or two… or three.
15
I’d never been to the throne room. The opulent hall was wedged between the king’s private chambers and his office. I stared at the highbacked chair encrusted with emeralds the size of exotic grapes and shiny pearls. The cushion was made of luxurious green velvet, and the royal crest was carved into the head of the throne.
Brion told me the meeting was to begin at five, but King Roderick did not deign to stroll in until three quarters of an hour later. Still groggy from the effects of Master Errol’s medicine, I hadn’t realized I was leaning against the eldest prince until the tall, wide set of doors swung open.
I straightened and wobbled, but Brion swiftly steadied me before dropping his hand. He turned and watched his father’s entrance along with the other two dozen people in the room.
Beside him, Prince Finn spared me a lingering glance. My cheeks heated, but I wasn’t as affected as I’d thought I would be. Then the prince turned to watch his father, as well.
King Roderick wore expensive, black trousers and a forest green waistcoat cut in an angle, highlighting his trim physique. A bandolier of medals crossed his broad chest, and a heavy crown sat atop his head. He looked… kingly. There was no other way to describe the display.
The king carried himself with authority. The crowd of onlookers parted to open a path. My gaze traveled over the room’s occupants, wondering why they would be called to the meeting.
King Roderick climbed seven marble steps to stand before the throne. He turned to face the crowd, and everyone in the audience bowed or curtsied, demonstrating their respect for the sovereign. I bit back a groan as my back muscles strained, but I managed to complete the curtsy without incident.
The king sat on the throne and lifted a hand in the air.
A flurry of whispers drew my attention to the doors. Several members of the king’s harem entered the room, and they followed King Roderick’s footsteps toward the throne. Their dresses were made of the finest silk and satin, and their bodies were covered in jewelry from their ears to their wrists. Their beauty stunned the room into awed silence. I inhaled a cloud of jasmine and rosewater as the females passed.
With grace and poise, the king’s harem fanned out on either side the throne. None of them made a sound as they stared stoically out into the crowd. King Roderick tapped the throne, and a petite human with ebony ringlets stepped away from the line and climbed up to stand directly beside him.
I observed the harem, and the female’s expressionless, beautiful faces made my skin crawl.
Lord Erwin appeared out of nowhere and whispered in my ear, “That’s Toli.”
“Who?” I whispered back over my shoulder, pretending to flatten the sleeve of my mo
dest dress. The name sounded familiar, but I was too groggy to place it.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Brion and Finn shoot the elf a disapproving glare. But to avoid drawing attention, the princes turned back toward the throne.
“The king’s latest companion.”
King Roderick lifted the girl’s hand and placed a lingering kiss on her skin. She preened with pleasure.
“But she’s so young.” Cienna had said Toli was younger than her, but I didn’t know what I’d been expecting. Certainly not a girl around my age.
I heard Erwin’s tunic shift. “That matters very little to His Majesty.”
Brion bristled next to me, but he didn’t contradict Erwin’s words.
“Where are my sons?” King Roderick asked. As one, the draekon and humans in the room turned to look at the princes.
“Stay here,” Brion muttered. He walked toward the throne. Finn straightened his tunic and followed.
The princes arrived at the base of the throne and dropped to a knee. “Your Majesty,” they murmured at the same time.
“Rise.”
They obeyed.
Suddenly, I felt nervous. I wasn’t sure why I’d been ordered to attend the meeting, but I figured I was about to find out. Slowly, I stepped backwards until I was standing behind the crowd on my side of the divided throne room.
“Relax.” Erwin followed me and positioned himself at my side. I didn’t mind. His presence was reassuring. “Nothing is going to happen here.” He placed a hand on my back and I hissed.
He pulled away. His gaze narrowed and trailed over my body before locking onto my injured back and torso. “What happened?”
“I fell,” I said through clenched teeth.
Erwin didn’t persist, though he did inch closer and grab my hand. I wanted to pull away, but I didn’t want to cause a scene. Warmth filled my palm. The sensation traveled up my arm and crawled over my shoulder before seeping into my back. I gasped, earning one or two curious glances from those around us. Just then the king began peppering his sons about all that had transpired during his absence, drawing the attention away from us.
Distracted by the odd feeling coursing through my body, I briefly wondered why the king was repeating the same discussion he’d had with his sons on his first night back in Draek. Was it all just a show for the public? The way the king looked down upon his impressive sons, I had the thought it might be a display of power, to remind the Court his sons answered to him.
I tuned out the familiar responses from Brion. Instead, I focused my probing eyes on Erwin.
“Stop staring.”
I ignored him. “What are you doing with your hand?” It didn’t take a genius to realize the warmth originated from him.
Both of us were careful to keep our voices low.
He barely blinked. “Healing you.”
My brain sputtered as the implications crashed against one another in my head.
Finally, I managed to say, “You’re a healer?”
Erwin dragged his eyes from the throne. “No, I’m a royal ambassador. But I have healing magic. As you would already know if you hadn’t cancelled our lunch plans.”
I’d forgotten about abandoning Erwin for the midday meal a few days ago. Working in the barracks had distracted me.
Before I could ask about his healing abilities, King Roderick’s voice rose. “Lord Erwin, you seem to be enjoying the company of my sons’ new secretary. Why don’t you both join us?”
How the king had managed to spot us out of the crowd puzzled me; then, I realized we were the only two individuals with blond hair. Lord Erwin’s elven companions hadn’t accompanied him to the throne room.
Without pause, Erwin placed my hand in the crook of his elbow. Murmurs trailed over us as we walked through the crowd and arrived before the impressive throne.
My escort dipped his head, but he did not bow as low as the draekonian citizens did. Limited by my attachment to Lord Erwin, I curtsied as low as possible, surprised by the lack of pain.
“Your Majesty,” Lord Erwin greeted.
King Roderick smirked. “Lord Erwin. I am going to venture a guess and say you and Miss Amelissa are well acquainted.” There was an underlying implication that made me squirm.
“We are, Your Majesty.”
“Hmm.” The king’s conniving gaze roamed over the two of us. He rubbed his beard. “Perhaps we can throw Amelissa into our negotiations? Would the girl’s service be worth draekon access to the port in En Langue?”
The air felt as if it was sucked out of the room.
“Father,” Prince Brion rumbled.
King Roderick ignored his son. He leaned forward. “Think about it, Erwin. She would blend in with your people. There is some Avelin blood somewhere in her veins. Perhaps she would like more?”
My fingers tightened on his forearm and my embarrassment increased. I stared at the base of the marble steps beneath the throne, wishing I had elven magic and could make myself disappear. I could feel leering gazes and hear amused snickers from the crowd.
“With all due respect, Your Majesty, King Aquin would not approve of me bartering away access to his ports for a pretty face.” He wove his way through the refusal the ease of a well-practiced politician.
“Pity.” The king sat back. “But perhaps it is for the best. After all, I’ve recently received a letter from a mutual acquaintance.” I lifted my eyes and noticed King Roderick was speaking to me.
“P-pardon?”
“Lord Stanley, the ruler of Caldiri.” The king watched for my reaction.
I swallowed, unsure where his words would lead. “Oh?” I voiced to fill the pause.
“Yes. He and his son request to visit my court. Apparently, the young half-blood holds a fondness for a young woman recently recruited from Caldiri. Any idea who that might be?”
I did not doubt Hyde’s father would have mentioned me by name in a letter. The king was playing with me, but I couldn’t figure out what he wanted to win.
“Lord Hyde and I are friends,” I stated, remembering to give the half-draekon the title before his name.
“Come now,” King Roderick’s eyes glittered. “Stanley’s letter has revealed you are much more than that.”
Did he know of Hyde’s affection for me? Hyde had proposed marriage to save me from recruitment hours before I’d left Caldiri, but I’d refused. I couldn’t leave my sister to face the unknown capital alone. Hyde had understood.
So why was his father writing to the king about his son’s feelings? Could it be Hyde knew Lorie was no longer in Draek?
And why did the king care? Was his objective simply to make me appear to have loose morals?
“Is this why you insisted our secretary join us, Father?” Brion stepped closer to the throne, drawing his father’s attention away from me. “What is your point?”
Behind us, several murmurs lifted into the air. I couldn’t hear what was said, but I would guess the crowd didn’t know what to make of the prince’s blunt, disapproving questions.
King Roderick leveled a chilling glare on his eldest child. “It appears my initial thought on the subject was correct. Tell me, Son, when were you planning to announce you’ve selected this girl as a companion?”
I couldn’t stop my gasp. The murmurs elevated to cries of surprise and validation. The crowd believed they’d just heard evidence supporting the rumors swirling around the palace. I wanted to curl into a ball and die. Erwin patted my hand, lending me his silent support.
“I don’t know what you are talking about.” Prince Brion showed no signs his father’s comment affected him.
“Tell me, Brion, just how far gone are you for this girl? Have you bedded her yet?”
Humiliated tears gathered behind my eyes.
“Enough, Father,” Finn interjected, finally offering support. I didn’t know if I should feel grateful or worried. His actions could easily fuel even more rumors regarding the nature of our relationship. “You are being cruel to Amelissa.�
�
“Am I?” The king feigned disbelief. “That is not my intention. I’m simply wondering whether or not I can finally look forward to grandchildren from my royal children’s bloodline. Even though they will only be half-breeds, our line could always use more heirs.”
This was the first time I’d heard anyone discuss the half-draekon as if they were less than. Was there an unknown prejudice I’d been previously blind to?
I realized I never thought to ask if the king had children from females in his harem. I knew the draekon wouldn’t be able to reproduce. But what about half-draekon? Or the humans?
Based on what King Roderick said, even if he had offspring from those relationships, it was his three draekon children who would produce the next generation of rulers.
Tilting my forehead toward the floor, I hid my flaming cheeks, staring at the hem of my dress.
“Amelissa is our secretary.” Finn tried to remedy the situation, but it was far too late. “Nothing more.”
“Hmm.” King Roderick smirked. Looking away from his angry sons, he said, “Well, Lord Erwin, it seems the girl is still up for discussion should you change your mind about the ports.”
I kept my eyes down as my escort replied with amusement. “I will keep the information in mind.”
King Roderick waved a hand, dismissing us and ending my torment. Lord Erwin bowed before leading us backward. I tried to curtsy, but it came off as a wobble. Erwin waited until there was ten feet of distance between us and the throne before he turned us around. We walked through the staring crowd. I knew I should’ve held my head high, hiding the extent of my mortification, but I couldn’t.
What was the point? Everyone would know it was an act.
Besides, the court had been given what they wanted—validation for their scandalous rumors. There would be no stopping them now.
16
“Pack your belongings. We’re leaving.”
After Erwin had dropped me off at the princes’ private apartments, Prince Brion burst into the main room and stated the two demands in a clipped voice.
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