But even Danzin wasn’t a great prospect. Would any of them be?
Fifteen
Lily
ONE MONTH LATER
I awoke the next morning and flung open the drapes before my lady’s maid’s discreet knock at my door. My fire had long since dwindled to embers, but I barely felt the cold. I gazed out over the view, down into the summer palace’s small courtyard covered in frost, and I gasped.
A lone figure stood on the roughly hewn stones, a stiff breeze whipping her dark brown hair across her face. But even with her face obscured and her hood up, I knew her.
I ran from my window, out through my door and past the guard there. He broke into a run behind me as I raced down the first spiral staircase I came to, my right hand against the rough stone as I took the uneven steps faster than I usually would.
The guard unsheathed his sword behind me. “Your Majesty, you must allow me to go first.”
I ignored him and burst through the door at the end. “Rose!” I bellowed, my shouting not at all regal or even remotely correct for the time of day. For once, I didn’t care much.
My sister turned to me, her smile bright and wide as she swept her hair from in front of her and tried to push it back under her hood. “Lily!”
I caught her in a careful hug, not squeezing as hard as I would have liked due to her condition. “Welcome to the summer palace.”
“It’s not quite as grand as I remembered.” Rose laughed.
I pulled back and met her sparkling amber-eyed gaze. “I’m sure you’re used to finer castles now, Queen Rose.”
“It’s a bit colder here, at least.” She tucked her arm into mine and pulled me close as she angled us back toward the castle.
“How are you feeling?” I asked, unable to contain my excitement, both at seeing her and the fact that she was pregnant.
Rose blew out a breath. “Queasy and exhausted, but the midwife says that’s to be expected at this stage. I’m told it should go away soon, but this baby seems to like making me ill.”
Keane burst through the same door I’d used, his sword drawn, his eyes wild, but he came to a sudden stop as he saw Rose at my side. Recovering himself, he bowed. “Your Majesties,” he said, his gaze firmly on the ground.
Rose stopped and gave him a smile. “Captain Keane, it’s good to see you.”
He lifted his head. “And you, Queen Rose. Forgive my rushed appearance, I was just—”
Rose laughed and cut him off. “You were just chasing Lily.”
Keane nodded before taking his usual place behind me, as we walked around the castle toward the main doors.
“What are you doing here, Rose?” I asked. “I’m happy to see you, but we weren’t expecting you.”
Rose leaned toward me again like she was about to share a secret. “I’m here to help you learn to use your powers.”
“You’re what?” I turned toward her, shock obvious in my terse whisper.
But Rose remained calm. Serene, almost, as she rubbed her hand over her stomach, even though there was no visible bump yet. Then she enunciated very word very clearly. “I said I’ve come to teach you how to use your magic.”
“I heard what you said.” I shook my head. “I just don’t think that’s a good idea.”
Behind us, Keane’s boots beat out a steady rhythm against the cobbles, and I fought not to turn to see what he thought of Rose’s idea.
“I understand,” Rose said. “I know learning to control your powers is scary—”
“You understand?” I scoffed at the very idea. “You were the one sneaking off into the woods outside the castle walls to practice your runes, defying Father and his laws to teach yourself magic inside Talador.”
“Was I wrong to do so?” The words were mild, but her question was pointed.
I sighed, unable to answer. Magic had saved her life, her marriage, and her husband’s kingdom. She hadn’t been wrong to learn her magic, yet the law was different here, so I couldn’t bring myself to admit she’d been right.
“It’s time you learn to defend yourself. Especially now with these attacks. You can’t hide here forever.” She waved her arm to indicate surroundings.
I pressed my lips together in a tight line. “We don’t need to discuss this now. You’ve only just arrived here, and I’m sure we have many other things to talk about.”
She lifted an eyebrow. “You can’t put it off for very much longer.”
“Come into the castle,” I said firmly, as the guard in front of the main doors swung one of them open. It creaked just as painfully as it had on our arrival, and the split wood looked worse the more often I saw it. I sighed, although it really was the least of my worries.
Rose smoothed her hand over my forearm. “I’m sorry. I didn’t intend to come here and add to your burdens.
“It’s not you. I simply have a lot on my mind.” I led her toward the dining room, where the waiting footman poured us each a cup of sweet morning tea. “And how did you know about the attacks? I wrote you a letter, but I never sent it.”
Rose grinned, but her gaze glittered. “How do you think?”
“Dahlia,” I said. “Of course. Did she send you?”
My sister shrugged. “It was obvious I needed to come after I received Dahlia’s message. I’d like to hear what happened from you though.”
“There isn’t much to tell,” I started.
Keane cleared his throat from his position by the door, and Rose glanced at him over my shoulder.
“Are you sure about that?” Her gaze narrowed on me, suddenly sharp and focused.
I took a sip of tea. “Keane and I were set upon by shadowy villains outside the wall, but Keane protected me. And when Lord Malren sneaked into my bedroom to assassinate me, I…”
“Yes?” Rose prompted, leaning forward.
“I froze him,” I whispered, shame over using my magic flaring inside me.
“It’s far less than he deserves. You wait until I tell Raith that Malren attempted to end your life.” Her eyes blazed, their amber color burning like flame. One of her affinities was fire, after all.
“I think he’s safely in a cell at Winton Castle now,” I assured her. “He can’t do me any harm from there, and I have…other things to occupy me.”
“Seven other things,” Rose said innocently before she taking a delicate sip of tea.
I tapped my fingernails against the old porcelain cup, drumming out a rhythm against the faded floral design. “Yes, there are seven. Supposedly all handpicked by Dahlia but her taste is…a little questionable these days.”
“What? You mean she hasn’t provided you a Garon of your very own?” Rose’s eyes grew wide with humor and she glanced at Keane again.
“No.” The word died in my throat, and suddenly all I could hear was the shushing of the stiff fabric of Keane’s uniform as he became uncharacteristically fidgety.
“Tell me about these suitors.”
“I don’t think I can marry any of them,” I confessed in a low voice.
Rose leaned back and rested her hands in her lap. “What’s the alternative, though?”
“There isn’t one. The stronger the political alliance I make now, the better the future for Talador.” A flare of irritation flickered through me, even as I said the words. My entire upbringing had been politics and diplomacy. Surely my marriage didn’t need to start the same way?
“Who have you spent time with?” my sister asked.
“Grumpy, Sleepy, and Doc so far.” I ticked them off on my fingers as I listed them.
Rose’s eyebrows lifted higher, until they were almost in her hairline. “Who?”
I waved a hand. “The men. I gave them all nicknames so I would remember them correctly. Lord Theund is far too old and very grumpy. He barely spoke two words to me yesterday. Lord Covack spends most of his time asleep, it seems, and Lord Danzin has an almost endearing interest in herbs and potions to cure ailments. But none of them are what I would choose for myself.”
I raised my gaze to meet hers, and she took my hand, squeezing her fingers around mine. “We’re royal. Sometimes we don’t get to choose.” she said, her voice sad.
“Rose!” We both turned at Iris’s screech as she bounded through the door like a lolloping puppy. “How wonderful you’re here!”
Grimelda followed Iris through the doorway, her mouth pursed in displeasure.
“Grimelda.” I stood and indicated Rose. “Do you remember my sister, Rose? She’ll be staying for…” I paused. I had no idea how long Rose intended to stay. “A few days.”
“I see.” Grimelda huffed and turned in the direction of the kitchen. She walked away, her skirts swishing her annoyance. What was that about? Perhaps she was upset I didn’t warn her we’d have an extra mouth to feed. Of course, I had no idea Rose was going to arrive either.
I didn’t care if she was grumpy though—I was just happy to have my sister back, even if for only a short time.
Sixteen
Keane
Four more men milled around to entertain Lily on her latest outing, hopefully all of them ready to shower her with the attention she deserved and that her station demanded. My role was to be invisible, but I’d come close to breaking that a couple of times on the last date when Theund had barely had the manners to reply to Lily’s attempts at conversation and Covack had fallen straight to sleep. That man behaved like his favorite drink was a sleeping draught. Perhaps Danzin was putting something in his drinks and secretly knocking out the competition.
I chuckled to myself because I needed to find the humor somewhere. Watching Lily with other men was hard, even when I kept reminding myself of my place in life. Perhaps everything seemed harder because of my place in her life.
This afternoon, Grimelda had sent Lily out to build a snowman with the other lords she hadn’t had a date with yet, and not all of them seemed used to the cold. Today she was spending time with Lord Gusten and Lord Lasloe, both from Talador and comfortable in the snow, along with Lord Vasso and Lord Hirth. Lord Vasso, whom Lily had dubbed Dopey, had the most issue with it, but Andaria was a more temperate kingdom, with talk of leafy forests and dappled sunshine. It was probably somewhere I’d like to see one day, but for now I just maintained a steady gaze on their clumsiest export.
I glanced toward Vasso at that thought, just in time to see him launch a huge handful of snow right at Lily. It caught her full in the face and she coughed and sputtered. I started forward at the same time as Vasso, but he tripped over his other foot and landed face-down in a snow drift.
I ran over the snow, light on my feet after a lifetime of practice. Sun and Moon, I was standing too far from Lily if it took this long to reach her. That handful of snow could have been any sort of projectile, and I wouldn’t have been by her side to prevent serious damage.
“Your Majesty, I apologize,” I said.
Lily brushed off the top of her dress. “It’s just a bit of snow, Keane. I’m fine.”
I nodded, but still. It might not have been. I stood closer to Lily as her suitors continued to pat snow onto their snowman. Lord Vasso offered an apology to Lily, and she smiled up at him as she accepted. He was probably the best-looking man here, not that I was expert at such things, and I bristled seeing them together.
“Princess Lily!” Lord Lasloe, the one who wouldn’t quit smiling and laughing, boomed Lily’s name across the quiet clearing. A couple of birds took sudden noisy flight from a nearby tree, leaving snow to fall from their vacated branch.
Lily looked up and smiled at the man she’d nicknamed Happy. Perhaps she liked what she saw. I narrowed my eyes. He was definitely friendly, but perhaps a little too charming. I put him firmly in my mental no pile with the other six. None of them were good enough for her.
“May I escort you back to your carriage for a warm drink?” He held out his arm, all chivalry and manners.
She took his arm gracefully. “Why, Lord Lasloe, I’d be honored.”
They chatted the whole way back to the carriage and my steps seemed extra heavy as I realized I could be following Lily and the next king of Talador.
I stood outside the carriage as they drank some hot cocoa Lasloe had asked the cook to prepare before the outing, and my warm breath fogged up the windows from the outside as I kept constant careful watch.
Shortly, a second lord arrived, looking to take over from his competition. I beckoned him closer and knocked on the door of the carriage. “Your Majesty, Lord Hirth is here.”
Lord Lasloe groaned. “That’s my cue. It has been lovely to spend some time with you, Lily.”
My stomach twisted at his inappropriate use of her first name, but I battled to push my jealousy back down.
The second lord climbed into the carriage, and I shut the door behind him, but not before he produced a large handkerchief and proceeded to sneeze into it with gusto. Less than three noisy minutes later, he opened the carriage door and climbed back out.
“I can’t stay in there,” he wheezed. “I think I’m allergic to all the furs.”
I inclined my head in acknowledgement. It would be no great loss if he left this place.
“I’ll send the next man,” he called as he hurried away, seemingly relieved he didn’t have to sit with Lily any longer.
The next man turned out to be the clumsy oaf from Andaria. Really, only the Sun and Moon must have known where Dahlia found these men. Lord Vasso yanked on the handle to the carriage so he could climb in, and I winced as the spring snapped under the force he applied.
“Just climb in this side,” Lily called as she opened the other door. “I’ll move along to make space.”
It gratified me to see that Lily’s smile seemed a little thin. The carriage rocked whenever Vasso laughed, which seemed often, and as he left, Lily pushed down her window.
“Are you all right?” I asked.
“Just a little motion sickness, I think,” she murmured as she took in long breath after breath of air.
The last man arrived, the young one, and Lily smiled gracefully. “Lord Gusten, it’s nice to finally meet you properly.”
He blushed right up his neck to the tips of his ears, and I looked away from his obvious discomfort. She’d soon have him feeling more at ease, though, I thought bitterly.
I stood outside the carriage for longer than with the other three lords, and my heart sank a little. Out of all them, this seemed to be the one she liked most. I’d tried not to focus too much on the cozy meetings happening inside the carriage, but each sound grated across my skin, and every touch across her skin made me grip the handle of my sword just a little tighter.
With every man who spent time with her, I died a little more. But I had to get myself together. Frustration at myself coursed through me. Lily needed a competent guard following her around, not a lovesick puppy.
Still, I was more glad than usual to ride alongside the carriage on the journey back to the palace. It meant that the courting opportunities were over, and that I could see Lily safely to her room.
She briefly greeted Rose and Iris, who were playing a game of cards in a corner of the great hall. It was the quietest I’d witnessed Princess Iris in a long time as she bit her lip to concentrate on the fan of cards in her hand.
“No, don’t stand for me. I’m a little tired,” Lily explained to Rose as she bent to give her a hug. “I’m going to go straight to my room, and I’ll see you both at dinner. I couldn’t possibly drink another drop of liquid. I’m quite positive I’d float away if I did. I’ve been plied with cocoa all afternoon.”
I walked behind her down the stone corridor, my booted footsteps echoing sharply around us. Lily walked with her had lowered, like she was deep in thought.
“Are you all right?” I murmured.
“Fine, thank you,” she answered, but she paused outside her room. “I just have a lot on my mind.”
“How was your afternoon?” I managed to keep my tone light.
She rested her hand lightly on the stone doorframe outsid
e her room. “That’s what I can’t stop thinking about.”
I studied her graceful fingers, imagining her touching one of those men, cupping his face or stroking his hair. The thought made me want to stab the theoretical man through with my blade.
“None of them are good enough for you,” I blurted before I slammed my mouth shut. I’d never been so inappropriate before.
Lily’s expression changed, her jaw becoming tight, her eyebrows drawing down. “Thank you, Keane, but I don’t believe that’s any of your business, and I haven’t asked for your opinion.”
“My apologies, Your Majesty.” I hadn’t intended to wear my heart on my sleeve quite so obviously, but her words stung anyway.
“I’m not sure you understand how difficult this is for me,” Lily continued, her voice low and controlled. “I don’t have a choice. I have to marry one of these men for the good of Talador. Dahlia thinks it will secure my rule and possibly save my life to have a strong king beside me. If she and Garon believe these are the best men, I have to give them a chance.” She finished on almost a pleading note, and I met her gaze, surprised to see the vulnerability in her eyes.
“I really am sorry.” I reached for her, my fingers grazing her hand before I let my arm drop back to my side. My desire to touch her, to connect like that, was inappropriate.
“I have to marry one of them.” She used that same pleading tone, and it was clear neither one of us was happy about that fact. My chest tightened, but I managed to nod and turn away, shutting the door behind me.
This had to stop now. No more pining after her. No more touching. No more near kisses. All I was doing was hurting her more.
Kiss Of Snow (Royal Hearts Book 2) Page 8
