A crease appeared in his forehead.
“I did?”
“Yes, on the cheek. No one has ever kissed me before.”
“That was highly inappropriate,” Raaf said. “Didn’t the Voice warn you?”
Zwaantie glared at her brother. “No, it didn’t warn me. I didn’t know he was going to do it. But the guilt was horrid.”
Raaf speared one of his strawberries. “I wasn’t talking to you. I was talking to Leo,” Raaf said.
“No, the Voice didn’t warn me. Why would it?” Leo scratched his forehead.
“If the Voice can tell what you are about to do something wrong, it will warn you so you don’t do it. Surely it could tell what you were doing.”
“I’m sorry. The Voice said nothing to me.” He faced Zwaantie. “What did the Voice say after I kissed you?”
She blushed. “I don’t want to tell you, but it made me feel bad about the kiss, and it’s your fault.”
Leo picked up his fork again. “It was a simple kiss on the cheek. I often give my sisters the same. I’m sorry if I offended you, but in Stella, kissing on the cheek is considered a polite form of greeting. Probably why the Voice didn’t warn me. It’s not wrong for me.”
Raaf frowned. “That’s interesting. The ways of the Voice are mysterious. I wonder what else you can do that we cannot because it is not forbidden in Stella.”
Leo shrugged. “You must teach me how to get food like this in Stella. We try with magic, but it doesn’t even compare.”
After dinner, Zwaantie escaped out to the rock where she and Phoenix met. She needed to think. Phoenix wouldn’t be there for an hour at least, and she wanted to be alone. Voices came from the other side of the hedge. Zwaantie listened for a moment. It was Leo and his guard. She crept toward the hedge.
“She is gorgeous. This is bloody awful,” Leo said. Zwaantie’s stomach buzzed again. She shouldn’t react to the fact that he thought she was beautiful. She loved Phoenix.
“How is that a bad thing?” Hunter asked.
“She’s funny and beautiful. What do I have to offer her that no other suitor has? Especially since her father has no interest in entertaining the thought.”
“You are a high prince. From Stella, which is a hellava lot better than here. And no offense, she’s pretty and all, but not gorgeous.”
“You’re just saying that because you are over the moon in love with Candace. If you weren’t, you’d agree with me.”
Zwaantie crouched down so she could see them. They sat with their backs to a tree. Hunter pulled an apple out of his bag. “Speaking of Candace, do you remember that she promised to castrate you if you didn’t have me back in time for the baby? So whatever you need to do, do it quick.” He took a big bite of the apple. “Stars, the fruit here is amazing.”
“Father will kill me if I don’t return with her. But I made a complete ass of myself today.”
“Yeah, you sort of did. The cow dung didn’t help. At least it doesn’t smell as bad as dog poop.”
The prince smiled. “I miss Molly. Have you noticed they have no pets here? No cats, dogs, or birds. Just cows and pigs and crap.”
Hunter shrugged. “Maybe we can bring her a kitten or something. That might work. We’d have to go back home first though.”
Leo grimaced. “That will take too long.”
“Focus. We aren’t going anywhere until you get the princess to marry you. What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know. This shouldn’t be that hard.”
Hunter shook his head and swallowed. “You are a prince. Woo her. Don’t they teach you that in prince school?”
Leo slugged Hunter in the arm. “I have an idea. Let’s go talk to her servants and find out what she does when she thinks no one is looking. I’ll find a way to win to her heart.”
They ran to the castle, and Zwaantie rocked back on her heels. Leo wasn’t interested in any trade agreements. He wanted one thing and one thing only.
Her.
The question was why. He’d given no good reason, but he said his father would kill him if he didn’t marry her. What was so special about her?
The problem with Leo was that he was incredibly charming. If he convinced Father and Mother that he was a good match, Zwaantie might not have a choice.
She had to figure out how to get out of this. Because unless she was walking down the aisle with Phoenix, she didn’t want to do it all.
Chapter 21
The Declaration
Phoenix joined her on the rock an hour later. “Missed you last night,” he said.
“I know. I had to help deliver babies. I didn’t get home till nearly gray. Besides, Luna said you were with Raaf anyway.”
“I got here late and just assumed you didn’t wait for me.”
They sat in silence for a few moments. Then Phoenix spoke. His voice was low and quiet. “I saw the prince kiss you outside the castle. Did you agree to marry him?”
Zwaantie’s chest burned. “No. I didn’t ask for any of that. I’m not going to marry him.” She took his hand. “I love you more than anything. I’m going to marry you. I don’t know how or what it will take, but I will.”
The Voice went bananas. Take that back. Foul girl. You know your place.
A pinch started in her forehead. But her declaration was worth the pain. Zwaantie figured while she was at it, she might as well give the Voice something to really berate her for. That cow-hole Leo had already kissed her cheek, and she was going to be damn sure he didn’t get one on her lips before Phoenix did.
She hopped off the rock and motioned for him to join her. He landed right next to her. “Who’s chasing who?” he asked.
“No one.”
She grabbed both of his hands and wove their fingers together. He smiled at her, and she took a step closer. So far, the Voice didn’t seem to notice anything out of the ordinary. Zwaantie met his smoldering eyes. She should’ve kissed him when he was in her room. She was done waiting.
She stood on her tiptoes and pressed her mouth against his. His lips were soft against hers, but he didn’t react. Just stood there still as a maple tree. Zwaantie pulled away, her chest tight.
“I’m sorry,” he said with sad eyes. “I couldn’t do it. I love you though.”
Filthy, filthy girl.
A blinding pain overtook her forehead, and she knew that for the first time in her life, she would have to confess to her brother.
Chapter 22
The Failure
The Voice called over Zwaantie’s orb and removed the guilt. He thought about just letting her suffer and maybe allowing that to drive her mad. In the end though, he was afraid that would lead to questions about him. A peasant or slave with unending pain was one thing. The princess was quite another.
A clatter sounded behind him. Oh Sol, she was back again.
He spun around.
“She’s onto you,” the woman said.
“Excuse me?”
“Zwaantie. She knows it is the Voice.”
“How would you know that?”
“I overheard a conversation between her and one of her friends. She knows. Need I remind you what happens if you don’t stop this? The prince from Stella plans on winning her heart. I daresay he’s almost succeeded.”
The Voice laughed. “No. He’s not. Trust me.”
“Regardless. She suspects you. What are you going to do about that?”
“Does it matter if she suspects me or not? I got close last time.”
“With the guard?”
“No. The wall. Though the guard was a near miss. If Zwaantie had come home even ten minutes earlier, he would’ve killed her, but she was too close to midnight, and my influence ended before he had a chance to finish. The next one will work.”
“And what, pray tell, is the next one?”
“None of your business.” This woman had done nothing so far to help him. He wasn’t about to reveal his plans to her.
“It is my business. I need her d
ead as much as you do.”
“Trust me. She doesn’t have a single person dear to her who won’t attempt to kill her before this is all over. The whispers are planting seeds.”
The woman pounded her fist on the table. “You cannot fail. If she even gets close to crossing the Stellan border, I will intervene, and you won’t like my methods.”
Then she turned on the spot and disappeared.
Chapter 23
The Snoop
The next morning, Mother summoned Zwaantie to her room. She probably just wanted an update on how things were going with Leo. Zwaantie could report that she’d been a good girl. Usually Luna would accompany her when she visited her mother, but she’d sent Luna off to find out if Wilma would need her later. She was looking for an excuse to not have to be with Leo.
She knocked, and Ariel peeked out.
“My mother sent for me.”
“Yes, come in.” Ariel opened the door wider, and Zwaantie swept into the room. She saw Raaf sitting in another chair, Phoenix standing behind him.
She didn’t look at Phoenix as she approached the chairs. She was afraid her face would betray her.
She took her seat carefully and smiled. “How are you, Mother?”
Mother scowled at her. “Tell me, Zwaantie, are you in love?”
“Of course not. Who would I possibly be in love with?” Zwaantie hoped against hope that this wasn’t the moment where Mother decided she marry Leo.
Mother shook her head. “I was taking a stroll in my garden yesterday, and it was stuffy and crowded and I wanted to be alone so I wandered a little to the west. To my surprise I overheard the most interesting conversation.”
Zwaantie paled. She tried to keep her expression neutral.
“Oh, and what did you hear?”
“My daughter, the crown princess, swearing her undying love for a slave. She even promised to marry him. Can you imagine how shocked I was to hear such a conversation?”
Phoenix squeezed his eyes shut.
“Mother, I can explain.”
Mother narrowed her eyes. “No. You cannot. I understand now our previous conversations. I have given you options, Zwaantie. I have been nice about this, but no more. You have been shirking your responsibility, and it’s time for you to step up and take your place. Maybe then you’ll stop with these foolish notions. Once all of the princes arrive, you will have three days to pick one, or I will see to it that Phoenix is executed for his crimes. Do you understand?”
Zwaantie’s chest tightened, and her palms began to sweat. Phoenix had done nothing wrong. What was mother thinking? “What crimes?” she asked with desperation.
“Persuading the princess to love him. For a slave, that is death.”
“You wouldn’t.” Zwaantie squeezed her eyes shut. She’d never thought that far. How stupid of her to not think of Phoenix’s life.
“I would.”
“Mother, I must protest,” Raaf spoke up. Oh, thank the stars, Raaf would save her.
“Excuse me, Raaf, but what does this have to do with you?”
“Phoenix is my slave. I need him. You can’t take him away from me.”
Mother narrowed her eyes at Phoenix. “What is this sorcery you have done? Have you bewitched both of my children? I cannot believe I allowed you to play with them. That was my mistake. I won’t make it again. For now, you will work with the sewage slaves. Zwaantie obviously needs some persuading. But if she doesn’t marry a prince, you will see your death. I promise you that. Guards, bring him to the sewers.”
Tears fell freely. Zwaantie watched as they dragged him away. Her heart shattered. She wanted to save him, but she couldn’t. She tried to hold in the sobs, but they came anyway.
“Now, go to your room. I will summon all of the lower princes to the castle and you will announce your engagement within the month.”
Chapter 24
The Revelation
Zwaantie spent most of the next day crying in her bed. Luna bustled around the room but didn’t try to talk to her. She must be upset as well, but all Zwaantie could focus on was the pain in her stomach. Not only had she lost the love of her life, she was now going to be forced to marry someone else. And poor Phoenix. He was in the sewers, shoveling out the muck and refuse. This was her fault.
Sometime after lunch, Luna flung the covers off.
“Get up. I know you are upset, but at this point, our goal is keep Phoenix alive. To do that, you must choose a husband. You need to go for a walk, clear your head, and be ready to charm the ones who’ve arrived at dinner.”
Zwaantie wanted to hit her. “Who is here?”
“Vache. I heard Ryker will make it before dinner because he was already in town visiting with the lower king and queen of Zonnes. It will take Willem and Isaac a few more days.”
Oh Sol, they were already here. Luna was right. Zwaantie had to keep Phoenix alive.
“Okay,” Zwaantie said and swung her legs out of bed.
“You need to change first and let me fix your hair. Then, while you are out, I’ll clean up this room.”
Zwaantie changed and washed her face. After Luna did her hair, she went out to the garden. Phoenix wouldn’t be there, but she just wanted to be in a place where they’d been happy.
Just as she started down the path to the pond, a hand gripped her elbow. She spun around.
“Leo, what are you doing here?”
“Taking a walk.”
“Where is Hunter?”
“He’s training with a few of your guards. I was bored, so I thought I’d check out the gardens. Would you like to join me?”
She wanted to say no, but she couldn’t. She took a deep breath, let it out, and tucked her arm into his elbow. The wandered toward the roses. She did not want to talk about herself, so she quickly asked him a question. “What’s your family like?”
“Loud.”
“You can give me more than that.”
“Father’s a typical king. Though he spends more time with me than yours does with you, I think.”
“That wouldn’t be hard. I don’t see my father often. What do you do with him?”
“He likes to take me out among the people. We’ll go to a bar or restaurant and mingle. Father taught me how to gauge the happiness of our people by how they behave around us.”
“Why? You aren’t heir to the throne.”
He pursed his lips. “No, I’m not. Nevertheless, my father thought it was best to teach me how to handle the affairs of the kingdom. I will likely be a close advisor when my brother becomes king.”
A tickle of memory came to Zwaantie. The last time Leo spoke of his father, he mentioned how his father had removed bondage bands.
“Didn’t you say you had a brother who was married to Solite slave?”
“Yes.”
“Can your father remove all bondage bands?” Perhaps she could somehow find a way to sneak Phoenix across the border. If that Solite woman did it, then it must be possible. But Zwaantie didn’t want to be too hopeful. Not yet.
“Of course. So can I.”
Zwaantie’s heart stilled. She kept her voice steady as she tried to make sense of things. “Can all Stellans remove them?”
“No. Only a few. I can do it because I deal with prisoners sometimes.”
“I thought you said you were an academic mage.”
He gave her a wink. “I lied. Sort of.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Well, I am an academic mage, but I don’t sit around reading books all day.”
“What do you do?”
“I work closely with our head mage. She’s similar in rank to your brother.”
Zwaantie wanted to ask more, but the wheels in her head were spinning. This changed everything. Mother had not been specific enough. She said pick a prince. She didn’t say she couldn’t marry the Stellan.
Chapter 25
The Announcement
The next morning Zwaantie woke early, buzzing with excitement about h
er plan. She spent all night planning how she would pull this off. She’d nearly told the prince she would marry him last night but figured that would be too suspicious. This would be epic.
Luna arrived after Zwaantie awoke. She seemed harried and worried.
“I want my best dress,” Zwaantie said.
“Well, you’re just going to have to wait,” Luna snapped.
Whoa.
“What’s the matter?” Zwaantie asked.
Luna shook her head. “I don’t feel good. Sorry.”
Zwaantie smiled. Luna’s foul mood couldn’t ruin hers.
“What color dress?”
“The green,” Zwaantie replied.
She hauled out the dress and then scowled at Zwaantie. “Why are you in such a good mood? Or have you forgotten about my brother?”
Zwaantie felt as if she’d been slapped. “No. Of course not. I have a plan. I found out yesterday that Leo can remove bondage bands in Stella. So I’m going to tell him I’ll marry him and then make sure he takes Phoenix with us. Then Phoenix and I will run away in Stella.” Zwaantie bounced on the bed. She was pretty pleased with herself.
Luna blinked for a second. “It’s a stupid plan.”
“What’s stupid about it?” Zwaantie was hurt.
“Where are you going to live? Work? You’ve never worked a day in your life. Do you think you can live like normal people do? Because that’s what you’ll have to do. And don’t think you’ll be able to come back to Sol. Your father will have people looking everywhere for you, and then they’ll execute the both of you.”
She made it seem like Zwaantie hadn’t thought about that. Which she hadn’t, but that was beside the point.
“I’ll just get work as a midwife in Stella. They have babies there too.”
Luna slipped the dress over Zwaantie’s head. “They have mages who deliver babies. They won’t need a midwife.”
Zwaantie hadn’t thought of that. She could learn. Maybe magic was teachable. Plus, Phoenix was employable.
“We’ll figure it out.”
“Still stupid. But you never did listen to me anyway. Come on, let’s go ruin your life.”
Stella and Sol Box Set Page 13
