Albedo’s sneering lips gave me hope. He schooled his expression a moment later and slid a cool gaze over to Ryo. “Are Giselle and Jana bothering you, Brother?”
“They are,” Ryo answered curtly.
“I will tell them to leave you alone.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Was I supposed to thank Albedo as well? I held my tongue.
Albedo set his hand on the table and tapped his three middle fingers one by one over the surface. “Soon enough you may find you want their company. When you do, you need only give the command.” His bored tone infuriated me. He spoke as though this outcome was so obvious and inevitable that he had no need of forcing the situation any longer.
“Why would I ever want the company of those two harpies?” Ryo gritted out.
“Harpies?” Albedo repeated with a smirk. “Come now, Ryo. You cannot deny their beauty. But if they aren’t up to your standards, there are many more where they came from. Teryani assembled quite the collection.”
I made a gagging sound.
The grin that slithered over Albedo’s lips snaked through my belly before squeezing tight any comments I might have ventured.
“The elven realm isn’t as liberated as Faerie,” Albedo said. “Everyone here is a willing participant, I assure you, Melarue. I also give you my word, which you know to be true, that I have not touched a single one of the castle’s servants.”
“How noble of you,” I muttered, though it was a relief to hear—willing participants or not.
Albedo drummed his fingers over the table again and called out, “You may bring in the food.”
The footmen swooped in with trays and dished us up. No one spoke during the meal. It wasn’t until we finished that Albedo issued his orders.
“The healer should arrive shortly. You will wait for her in your chamber, Melarue. Ryo, you are not to bother our guest this afternoon while she recovers. I will instruct Giselle and Jana to leave you alone unless you ask them to do otherwise.”
Ryo and I glared at Albedo.
We did what he said, though. I spent the afternoon in my chamber, only slightly more relaxed knowing Ryo had a reprieve from the tramp team. But my skin crawled, sure that Albedo had something up his sleeve. I just had no idea what. Unlike charades, I was afraid if I didn’t guess soon, it would be too late.
By the time dinner came around, my limp was gone, and I no longer had to wear a sling. The healer truly had worked magic over my damaged muscles and bones.
Walking down the hall unassisted buoyed my steps. I was surprised to find Ryo but not Albedo in the dining room. Ryo stood with his arms clasped behind his back across the table. His black jacket pulled taut against his chest and his dark locks artfully messy.
A grin stretched up my lips. “Where’s the chastity king? Please tell me he choked on a pit.”
“I wish I could,” Ryo said.
“Did the tramp team leave you alone?”
Ryo watched me fold my arms. “No sign of them. Your arm is better?” He raised a brow.
“Good as new and ready to go,” I answered. Total double meaning in there. Every part of me was ready to leave this madhouse behind.
Although we were alone for the moment, Ryo made no move toward me—keeping the table between us. I was on edge too. Ever since I’d been discovered, I felt like I was walking on hot coals, constantly in motion to keep from burning my feet.
Dread coiled in my stomach. I hadn’t forgotten my other reason for wanting to retreat. Before Isadore had portaled in, I wanted to be long gone. That witch wasn’t touching my fire magic.
Boot steps tromped toward the door. My spine stiffened as two royal guards marched in ahead of Albedo, who donned a crimson cape with gold embroidered trim. One guard stopped and stood aside at the doorway. The other went to the chair at the head of the table and pulled it back for Albedo. He strutted past me in a brocade doublet with a long gold medallion hanging from his neck. His hair had been brushed into a black shine and left unbound beneath a gold crown. Feathered locks framed his face while the longest of his hair trailed at his back along with the cape.
I swung my gaze to Ryo, but he looked just as baffled with his furrowed brows as Albedo settled into his spot at the head of the table.
The guard who had pulled out his chair joined his comrade standing near the open doors.
“You may be seated,” Albedo said in a commanding tone.
Once settled at the table, I had to stop my leg from bouncing in place.
“I have heard from your sister,” Albedo announced, making my leg still. “It seems Malon is with her. Lyklor must have portaled them to Dahlquist.”
My cheeks puffed out as I grinned. Way to go, Lyklor. I bet Aerith had Malon locked up in a cell, which meant I didn’t have to worry about the vagrant returning. I relaxed into my chair a fraction.
“She wishes to trade Malon for Melarue.”
Ugh. I wanted out of Ravensburg but not at the cost of freeing Malon. That rat belonged in a cage.
“What about Ryo?” I sat up in my chair.
Albedo flicked a look at Ryo. “She knows better than to bargain for Ryo. He is my brother, no longer a concern of hers—an insignificant cousin of her deceased mate’s.”
The wounded look in Ryo’s eyes made him appear younger. He sat very still and very straight, but there was no missing the hurt in his expression.
My hands balled into fists.
Albedo stroked the medallion hanging from his neck and stared off as he spoke. “All this means is I must up my timeline. I will deliver the news to Aerith after it is done.”
Albedo blinked and lifted his head as though he’d forgotten he had an audience. He snapped his fingers twice and jutted his chin at the guards who, in turn, ushered in a footman carrying a silver tray with three tall flutes of bubbling wine. The first was handed to me, followed by Albedo, and finally Ryo.
“A toast . . .” Albedo began.
I set my glass on the table, sure I wasn’t going to like whatever high-and-mighty bull crap was about to roll off his tongue.
“. . . to my queen-to-be.”
When Albedo’s arm swung in my direction, I swallowed wrong and began coughing out of control. I had to pound my chest several times to regain my breath.
“What?”
Ryo was out of his chair in a flash, snarling as his boots thundered over the floor toward Albedo. The two guards at the door sprinted for him, barely grabbing him in time to prevent the fist Ryo threw at Albedo. One of the guards captured his arm before he could make contact with the king and wrenched it behind Ryo’s back. He twisted from side to side, his face turning red.
I stood up and started for them, fire rising up from my open palms.
The second guard pulled out a dagger and held it to Ryo’s neck. I sucked in a breath and stopped. My hands burned hotter; the flames rose higher. I turned my scowl over to Albedo, who sat back, watching with all the contentment of a pampered cat.
“Is this your strategy then? If I don’t marry you, you’ll hurt Ryo?” I spat my question.
“Worse,” Albedo said with a somber frown. “Do not tempt me to make statements I will be forced to carry out.”
His cold tone doused my fire magic as effectively as water. There wasn’t even a thin trail of smoke left behind when it went out.
“Let him do his worst, Mel. You cannot mate this bastard,” Ryo snarled.
Albedo looked at the guard with the dagger and gave a slight nod.
The blade flashed as he slashed it across the side of Ryo’s neck.
“No!” I screamed.
Blood spilled down Ryo’s neck. He clenched his teeth and winced. When he attempted to jerk his arm away to staunch the flow of blood, the guard yanked it back down.
“A healer can easily patch him up,” Albedo said. “I do not want to hurt my brother, I assure you. I can promise him a life of leisure with a place here or wherever he desires. Freedom—which
is more than Liri ever gave him. You care about him. I am glad because he will become your brother. Will you show him mercy, Melarue?”
My stomach churned round and round in my belly. It felt like there were blades in there, tearing my insides apart. My guts felt ready to spew out over the table. My body was telling me, “Too much; make this feeling stop.” I felt as though I would collapse into the nearest chair.
Jaw clenched, I glared at Albedo. “Tell me why,” I gritted out.
“For Dahlquist,” Albedo said, running an idle finger around his ear. The thought of his pasty digits touching me made me shudder with revulsion. I couldn’t stomach the idea of the two of us together in an intimate way without wanting to barf out my brain.
“Who is Aerith most likely to hand the kingdom over to? Hmm? The brother-in-law who deserted his kingdom or the brother-in-law married to her dear sister?”
I nearly pitched forward as another wave of sickness rocked through my stomach. I had to fight to stand straight and not grip the edge of the table for support.
Albedo’s fingers slid to the medallion over his chest. His eyes blazed into mine. “Become my queen, and I will never mistreat you, nor Ryo. Give me three heirs, and I will even allow you to visit your sister in the elven realm whenever you want. Until then, she will always be welcome to see you in Faerie. Freedom, Melarue. That is what I am offering, which is more than most males ever offer a mate. Give me what I want, and you can go anywhere you want whenever you desire.”
Right, all I had to do was pop out three of his Fae babies . . . Or more. He said he wanted heirs. Females wouldn’t count.
A fresh torrent of bile rose up my throat.
Oh my dark sky. This wasn’t happening. The room spun out of control, and I couldn’t hold up my body weight any longer.
I slumped into a chair and held my hands over my eyes, wishing it would all disappear.
“Don’t do it, Mel,” Ryo said.
I looked through my fingers and saw blood continuing to flow from the cut along the side of his neck. I lowered my arms, my heart sinking with them.
I couldn’t stomach looking at Albedo as I delivered my answer. It was only to buy time. That is all. I could never . . . This wasn’t just about my future. I couldn’t let Ryo be killed. Not when there was something I could do about it.
“Fine, I’ll marry you,” I said coldly while thinking, I’ll marry you when ogres grow wings and breathe fire like dragons.
“A wise decision,” Albedo said triumphantly. “I will write Aerith and let her know the happy news after we are mated.”
Super, after, when it would be too late.
Aerith was going to lose her shit.
Chapter Eleven
Melarue
Three days. I had three days to figure something out.
Warm water enveloped my naked body from my neck down. I sat with my knees up, arms wrapped around my legs the morning after Albedo’s appalling proposal. My servants were beaming with pleasure and bright smiles that would have been more appropriate if we’d all won a relay race at a carnival together.
I hadn’t had the energy to object when Magnolia lifted the slip over my head before I sank into the tub. I despised the perfect balmy temperature and lilac-scented bubbles. I didn’t want to be soothed. I wanted to burn or freeze. One or the other so long as it annihilated the creepy crawlies I felt skittering over my skin.
“I’ll kill you!” Ryo had screamed at Albedo.
The king had promised not to hurt him if I agreed to be his bride, but he wasn’t going to let Ryo come after him. His guards had dragged the snarling prince out of the dining room before the first course was served.
“It is better this way,” Albedo had crowed. “Just me and my queen-to-be.”
My shuddering body made small ripples in the water around me.
Dinner had been short. Albedo had made no advances or threats. Instead, he had expounded on the superb benefits of our union. Power. Freedom. Family. He said that any grievances with Aerith would be forgotten. She would be treated as a valued member of his family. Guards would be sent to help rebuild Pinemist. I wouldn’t even have to share a bedroom with him. I could have my pick of any chamber in the castle with my own entourage to serve me. If I didn’t like the servants he’d assigned, I could replace them with others from “Teryani’s collection.”
He made it all sound so reasonable . . . until my mind jerked back to the baby-making part and I doubled over in disgust.
Would Aerith really hand over Dahlquist if he managed to make me his mate? I knew she’d rather kill him after such a fate. But if I found no way out, no escape for myself, Ryo, and Ella, what then? Aerith would do anything to protect me. If protecting me meant handing over the throne—
Gah. I couldn’t allow myself to think that way. Becoming Albedo’s mate was too horrifying an outcome.
My body went slack. I was too numb to protest when Magnolia spread my knees apart and sponged between my legs while Gem scrubbed my back.
Lulu chirped a new tune—something about ravens and a nest full of baby ravens. If it was some kind of fertility song, I was going to have to smack her—just as soon as I got the feeling back in my body.
Magnolia and Gem each took one of my arms, lifting me out of the foam bubbles. They took turns pouring pitchers of water over me until they were satisfied all the soap was out of my hair and off my skin.
As they guided me down the slick stairs, I briefly fantasized about slipping and breaking my neck. Instantly, I shivered and dashed the thought away. Mel wasn’t a quitter. The crown wasn’t on my head yet. I still had time to pull something off.
On the tiled floor below, Gem and Magnolia patted me dry with fluffy towels before pulling a fresh slip over my head. Gem draped a fresh towel over my back and shoulders to keep my wet hair from soaking the slip.
“You and Lulu pick out a gown for our lady while I comb out her hair,” Gem instructed.
Magnolia nodded eagerly and swept out with Lulu.
Gem led me to the vanity beside my bed and had me sit while she worked a comb gently through my thick, damp tresses. Small squeals of excitement went up on the opposite side of the room as Magnolia and Lulu raided the armoire. I scowled into the mirror.
Gem paused in her combing. “Sorry, my lady. I will try not to pull.”
“It’s not you,” I grumped.
She lightened the pressure on the comb and slowed her strokes despite my moody assurance. Her voice softened. “I would like my lady to know that I can have tinctures of all kinds prepared by the kitchen. You might find an aphrodisiac welcome on your wedding night.”
Ew!
My upper lip curled.
Gem shrugged and continued combing. “Even a loveless match can be an enjoyable one.”
“Is that some kind of theme in Faerie?” I folded my arms and pursed my lips.
Gem moved the comb carefully down my scalp, not answering. I didn’t need an answer. No glamour, spell, alcohol, drug, or tincture could ever make me enjoy a night with Albedo.
Once she’d worked the comb’s teeth through all my tangles, Gem towel-dried my hair.
“Oh my lady, look at this one. It is beautiful,” Lulu gasped, running over with a cream dress. She held the gown up for my inspection. It had a long skirt with gold embroidery and beadwork around the torso and top. The short sleeves were beaded. It looked beautiful, dainty, and way too bridal. When I said as much, the females tittered.
“This is much too simple for a claiming gown, especially for a queen.”
“It won’t do as a day dress,” Gem said. “Save it for dinner.”
Magnolia stepped forward with a full-skirted navy gown. “Will this do?”
“Yes,” Gem said.
I tried not to huff too much as they dressed me. When Lulu brought a sapphire-encrusted tiara over and attempted to set it on my head, I batted her hand away.
“You might as well get used to it, my lady,” Gem said. “In three days, you will
be wearing a crown.”
“I’m not wearing that,” I said. Allowing it on my head felt equivalent to wearing an engagement ring in the mortal realm.
Gem nodded at Lulu, and she backed away. Who the freak was in charge here? Gem or the queen-to-be? Ugh. I was no queen-to-be. I was a captive.
Damn skirts, I grumbled to myself, lifting the heavy material as I stormed down the hall for the obligatory family meal. When I walked in and saw no trace of Ryo, my heart sank. Albedo was already seated. A guard stepped forward and pulled out my chair. I plopped down and glowered at Albedo.
“Where’s Ryo?”
Albedo’s answering smile made me feel nauseated. He wore the same doublet and cloak from the night before. I guess he was still waiting for his new kingly wardrobe.
“Ryo asked to eat breakfast in his room.”
I gaped at Albedo. Ryo had chosen to leave me alone with this jerk face?
“He’ll come around eventually,” Albedo said with an offhanded wave at the guards.
Breakfast was served. Albedo took small bites while I pushed around bits of baked herb polenta drizzled in cream sauce with a side of sautéed greens.
“You look well this morning,” Albedo remarked.
I folded my arms. “Will I have to wear gowns and crowns all the time as queen?”
“Yes,” he said, rubbing his fingers between the stem of his wineglass with its bubbling orange liquid.
I scowled over the table at Albedo and his ladies-in-skirts pronouncement. This was some medieval shit right here.
“In the castle you must look queenly. In your bedchamber you may dress however you wish.”
“What about when I travel?”
“You may go as you choose after you give me three sons.” Albedo took a bite of polenta and chewed slowly, arms resting at his sides. His look of ease troubled me more than when I’d first appeared at the castle posing as Sarfina. He didn’t appear concerned about Malon, which added to my agitation. It was as though everything was going according to his plans.
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