He and his entourage swept out of the room, and Zwaantie trudged into Sage’s closet. If they were to appease the public today, then she and Sage would need to match in some way. Sage would be wearing black. What could Zwaantie wear?
Sage’s closet was enormous, and there was no reasoning for where any of the clothes were placed. The red dress Zwaantie wore to the lock-in caught her eye. Ari loved red.
That was it. She might not be able to mourn him properly, but she would mourn in her own way. She would wear red for Ari instead of black, and no one would know differently.
She found a long blood-red skirt, which she paired with a sleeveless white shirt. She almost chose a black one, but Viggo’s words haunted her. People would think she was still mourning, and she had to pretend Ari meant nothing to her.
She checked herself. The girl in the mirror looked stunning and put together. The girl on the inside was a mess.
If Ari had been alive, his hands would be all over her. She missed those hands. A few tears escaped, and she brushed them away. If she were to fulfill her duty as queen, she needed to put on a fake smile and stay away from Ajax. It was a shame because she liked him, and he was one of the few who knew everything about what happened with Ari. She wanted him to explain more about what being queen meant, but now she’d have to find her information elsewhere.
She shivered at the thought of someone posting a picture of her sneaking away from the king’s chambers. She’d seen enough pictures on the Ticker of people doing things without realizing others were watching.
Sage wandered into the closet, wrapped in a towel. She stopped dead when she saw Zwaantie, and a slow smile crept along her face.
“Good thinking, Z. Maybe I should wear red as well.”
Zwaantie smoothed her skirt. “No, Sage. Let me have this. If people think I’m wearing red for Ari, then it won’t work. This has to be my private declaration. Only you will understand what it means.”
Sage pursed her lips and thumbed through her clothes. She pulled out a skirt just like Zwaantie’s, but in black. “Leo might know what it means.”
Zwaantie let out a breath. “Leo will have to understand. I won’t wear red for a full year, but I get at least a month. Maybe longer. I need to mourn him.”
Sage was in full black, but they still made a stunning pair. “I know. This isn’t fair to you. I wish we could somehow let the public know without it being a scandal.”
Zwaantie studied both of them in the mirror. “That will never happen. Viggo stopped by. He wants us to go to Nash today and get dresses made for the coronation tomorrow.”
“Did he talk to you about my father?” Sage didn’t betray any emotion, just kept fluffing her hair.
“How do you know about him?” Zwaantie asked with a glare. Maybe she needed to start reading the Ticker so she wasn’t the last person to know everything. She hated learning gossip about her friends and family though. She didn’t need to know all that stuff. Based on the things it said about her, she was certain at least half of what was on the Ticker was probably false.
“I read the Ticker.” Sage pulled out her disc and pressed a button. Zwaantie didn’t want to see what it said, so she put her hand over it, hiding the hologram. Now that she knew about the rumor, she wanted to make it go away. She certainly didn’t want to see the damning headlines.
“Yes, he talked to me. I don’t know what else to do but stay away from the king.”
Sage put her hand on Zwaantie’s arm. “Fawning over Leo would help. I know it’s hard, but the public is going to see what it wants. We have to lead them in the right direction.”
Zwaantie slipped on a pair of strappy heels. “Can’t I have a week at least?”
Sage pursed her lips. “Yeah, let’s go see Xandria. She’ll have something that will help. You need it.” Sage grabbed Zwaantie’s hand and dragged her out of the room.
*
Zwaantie and Sage were greeted with hugs from Xandria. Then she locked the shop before returning to the other side of her counter.
“I can guess why you are here,” she said soberly. She wore black as well. It wasn’t fair that Xandria was allowed to mourn Ari, but Zwaantie was not.
“If you have something that will take away the pain, I would be very grateful,” Zwaantie said.
Xandria frowned. “I don’t do things like this very often, and I usually regret them when I do.”
“My situation is unique.” Zwaantie wrung her hands, silently begging Xandria to understand.
Xandria’s lips twitched. “I do understand, but everyone’s situation is unique. I saw the Ticker. People can be so petty sometimes. The truth would almost be better. I figured you’d be coming to see me, so I made something, but I can’t give it to you now.”
“What? Why?”
Xandria’s eyes flicked to Sage, then back to Zwaantie. “Do you have secrets?”
“No, of course not. Sage knows everything.”
“I don’t give potions to expectant mothers.”
“What?” Sage yelled, throwing her hands up. “You’re pregnant?”
Zwaantie dropped her head on the counter. She couldn’t believe she’d forgotten about the baby. Too many other things had been going on.
“Yes. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. The king made me swear not to tell anyone.”
Sage gasped and brought her hand to her mouth. “Oh my stars. That’s when the vipers stopped. It’s why it took three days. You didn’t get pregnant until that day.”
“Yeah. I’m supposed to sleep with Leo to convince him the baby is his. I don’t think I can pull it off.” A blush crept across her face.
Xandria smirked. “Now that I can help with.”
“Oh, please, no. I should be able to do this on my own.”
“He’s still angry about Ari, I’m sure. It may take longer than you think. Let me go find something that will increase his, uh, need. Hang on.”
Xandria slipped into the back room.
“This is so embarrassing.” Zwaantie sat back up.
Sage had her arms crossed and wouldn’t look at Zwaantie.
“Oh, come on, Sage, don’t be mad at me.”
“You have baby Ari in there, and you should’ve told me. That’s kind of important.”
“I know. I wanted to tell you, but I couldn’t. No one knows.”
“Yeah, people with the gift can tell.”
“Like Xandria?”
“Yeah.”
“But most people will think it’s Leo’s baby.”
“You should’ve told me.” Sage pouted and dropped her eyes.
“I know. I wanted to, believe me. Forgive me.”
Xandria returned carrying three bottles.
“I don’t want something that will force him to sleep with me.”
“You know I don’t do that. None of these will force him to do anything.” She held up the first bottle. “This one will make him less inhibited. Make sure you only give him these when you two are alone, or you might see your husband going home with someone else.” She raised another one. “This one increases his desire.” Then she held up the last one. “This one will make it go fast. That’s for your benefit. I know this won’t be a happy experience. Pour all three of these into his wine before bed, and voila, pregnant,” she said with a wink.
Zwaantie put the potions in her bag. She wasn’t convinced she’d use them, but she couldn’t wait too much longer, or he’d know it wasn’t his.
Xandria gripped Zwaantie’s hands. “I’m not going to give you anything. You’re a strong, strong woman. Draw on that strength to deal with all of this. I have faith in you. After all, you saved all of our lives, even if most of the people can’t see that.”
They chatted with Xandria for a while, and then Sage looped her arm through Zwaantie’s. “It’s time to see Nash.”
Zwaantie was nervous that Sage would still be angry with her, but she didn’t seem to be. Nash met them in the lobby of his building. He embraced Zwaantie first, then Sage
.
“First Astrid, then Ari. We’re losing all the good ones. You ladies need to be careful.” He shook his head and ascended the stairs, with Zwaantie and Sage following.
He took them into a different room this time. This one had two daises. Sage stood on one, and Zwaantie took the other one.
“Clothes, off,” Nash snapped, and circled them as they undressed. “You can’t be matching for this one. Zwaantie will be crowned queen, and, Sage, you will still be a princess. Perhaps we can do a similar style, but make Zwaantie’s long and Sage’s short.”
“That sounds good,” Zwaantie said. “Sage’s will obviously need to be black. I would like red.”
“Always messing with my colors, aren’t you, dear. I was going to do a royal blue or purple. Those will be more fitting for a coronation.”
“No. I want red.”
Nash sighed and snapped his fingers, and a bright red sheath appeared on her body. He massaged the fabric until the red was a little deeper and he put a black sheath on Sage.
He stood back, and Zwaantie watched the changes in the mirror. She wasn’t sure she’d ever get used to this kind of magic. It was fascinating to watch. The top of her dress turned into a tight corset decorated with ruby’s and diamonds. Sage’s was exactly the same except he used black sapphires. Then he went to work on the skirt. Ruffles exploded all the way to the floor. Sage’s stopped at her knees.
Nash made small subtle changes that Zwaantie had trouble detecting. Finally, he stepped back. “Well, ladies, what do you think?”
“It’s gorgeous, Nash. You’ve outdone yourself,” Sage said.
“Try not to die in this dress. Please. People might think my dresses are cursed.”
Zwaantie gave him a small smile. “I’ll try. Promise.”
He snapped his fingers, and the dresses disappeared. “I’ll have these sent up to the castle.”
They dressed, and Nash gave them both kisses on the cheeks. “I’ll see you at the coronation. I expect a good seat.”
“I’ll let Viggo know. He’ll put you as close to the front as he can. Right behind the royal family,” Sage said.
“Atta girl. Thank you.”
Just before they left the room, the memory of the last time they were there struck Zwaantie. Ari and Astrid had come and taken her to lunch. Now they were both dead, and she was still here, getting dresses made. Her dress last time was supposed to signify a new beginning for both Stella and Sol.
Fate had a twisted sense of humor. This new beginning wasn’t what she imagined.
Chapter 9
The Last Resort
Raaf devoured the baked chicken and rolls Wilma brought him. It seemed so silly, really, that he had to eat, but it was difficult to concentrate when the hunger pains hit.
Wilma stared at him, disgust in her eyes. He wiped his mouth. “Is there a problem?”
She sniffed. “Zwaantie’s still alive. You couldn’t even finish the job yourself.”
He let out a breath. “She’s also still a princess, so we have time.”
“How much? Your dad is worse than they are telling the public. His illness could kill him.”
Raaf gripped the edge of his table. “Will the Voice disappear when Zwaantie becomes queen? The prophecy wasn’t exactly clear.”
Wilma shrugged. “I only say the words that are given to me. I have no way to interpret anything.”
Raaf rolled his eyes. “Then get out. You’re no help.”
Wilma crossed her arms and then spun on her heel and stomped out of the room.
Raaf pulled out the same book he used to allow the Voice to cross the wall with the slaves. He’d stolen it when he was angry with his trainers.
He’d spent four years in a tower in the middle of the woods being taught everything there was to know about the Voice but never actually seeing its source. No, he wasn’t allowed to witness the orbs until after he’d been crowned grand chancellor.
The same day Wilma had visited him for the first time and told him Zwaantie had to die.
He’d been horrified. Zwaantie had been his best friend. But the whole purpose of his training in the woods was to teach him the importance of the Voice. They drilled the message into his head every day. Protect the Voice at all costs.
In the beginning, the training wasn’t too bad. Mostly just boring old men teaching and testing him. But then two years in, the grand chancellor showed up.
He was a wizened old man with a long white beard. His eyes were friendly, and Raaf thought he’d be more exciting than the other old men.
The grand chancellor came in and dropped a hand on Raaf’s shoulder while he was reading. “They say your training is going well.”
Raaf met those eyes and smiled. “I’m learning a lot.”
“Yes. You’ve learned everything you can from books.”
Raaf sat up straight. “Does this mean I can come back with you and train?”
The old man chuckled. “No. But I will oversee some of your training here.” He held out a small ball. “Go hide this somewhere where you think no one can find it and come back.”
Without question, Raaf ran up several flights of stairs and found a loose stone. He pried it out and hid the ball behind it. He replaced the stone and returned quickly to the grand chancellor.
“Are you going to find it?” Raaf asked with an excitement he’d never experience again.
“No, you will tell me where to find it.”
“But then why did I hide it?” This was stupid. He asked Raaf to hide it. Why would he now demand to know where?
“The Voice has many enemies. Your job is to protect it.”
Raaf rolled his eyes. It’s all he’d learned in the two years he’d been there. “Yes. I know.”
The old man stuck a fire poker into the fire and left it there. He spun on Raaf. “Pretend the ball is the Voice. No matter what happens, do not tell me where it is.”
Raaf nodded.
“Also take off your shirt.”
“Why?”
“Do not ask questions.” His eyes had gone hard.
Raaf pulled off his shirt, unsure of why, but he’d been taught to listen and not question.
The old man pulled the poker out of the fire, its tip glowing red. Raaf scooted back as the man shoved the poker in Raaf’s face. “Tell me, where is the ball?”
Raaf gulped. “I’m not telling you.”
“Are you sure?”
The poker hovered only an inch from his nose. The heat nearly burned him. What if the grand chancellor slipped and took off his nose? Raaf’s heart raced. “Yes, I’m sure. I won’t tell you.”
The old man dropped the poker to Raaf’s shoulder. Pain flared through his muscles, and Raaf cried out, dropping to the ground. The old man shoved the poker back in his face.
“Tell me. Where is the ball?” the chancellor asked in a deathly quiet voice.
Raaf squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head. The poker came down on his other shoulder, and he collapsed from the pain.
The poker appeared in his face again.
“Tell me.”
“Behind the loose stone, three flights up.”
The old man threw the fire poker across the room. “You fail. Go hide it somewhere else.”
Raaf stumbled up the stairs, tears pricking his eyes.
And so went the next year. He was burned, punched, kicked, cut, given poisons that made him vomit, nearly drowned, and other things he didn’t like to think about. He was always given a respite for however long he held out. So if he went a whole day without telling them where the ball was, he was given a day’s rest. The chancellors didn’t stop until he held out for a whole month. That was the worst month of his life, but he earned his right to control the Voice.
He had to protect it.
Even if people he loved died.
Chapter 10
The Coronation
Leo slept on the couch once again. Zwaantie was positive if this kept up, she’d never get him to sleep with
her. Perhaps she’d need to use the potions after all, though she dreaded having to resort to that.
Leo stopped her before she left for Sage’s rooms. “We need to talk about today.”
“Sure.”
“Have you heard about the Ticker?”
“You mean the rumors I’m sleeping with the king?” She dropped her eyes. She couldn’t look at him. Guilt over Ari and Phoenix settled in her stomach. She might not be sleeping with the king, but she’d done enough to hurt Leo.
“Yes.” His lips formed a tight line. This couldn’t be good for him. “Would it be too much to ask you to help me put those rumors to rest today? I’m about to be crowned king, and I can’t have the people thinking my wife is sleeping with my father.”
Zwaantie shuddered. “That is not what I want. You know that.”
“I know. It doesn’t make this any easier. It would be helpful if we were happy and affectionate with one another today.”
“I’m not the one trying to stop this marriage from moving forward.” It was a low blow, but maybe it’d get him thinking.
“It’s been only a few days. Really, Zwaantie, is it that easy for you to forget Ari?”
She felt as if he’d slapped her. “You have no idea what I’m going through, so stop acting like this is easy for me. I’m getting ready with Sage. I promise I will make sure the Ticker thinks we are madly in love.”
Leo’s face fell. “I’m sorry. It’s just… This is hard for me as well. I know you loved Ari, but so did I. Every time I look at you, I’m reminded that you were his wife.”
Zwaantie didn’t trust herself to speak. She didn’t want to think of his pain. Hers was enough to deal with.
“I’ll come get you from Sage’s room, and we’ll go to the coronation together.”
Zwaantie nodded and swept from the room. They would never be happy if both of them always brought up Ari. Their marriage was doomed from the beginning.
Leo took a deep breath as he knocked on Sage’s door that evening. He wasn’t handling Zwaantie very well. Part of it was his grief.
Every time he looked at her the image of the two of them under the oak tree haunted him. He wasn’t sure he could ever go into those gardens again.
Stella and Sol Box Set Page 55
