by Tenaya Jayne
Ena snorted, flushed, and curtsied again. "Yes, Milady."
Forest softened her tone. "How long did you serve Christiana?"
"Three years, Milady."
"Where were you before that?"
"At home with my family. I was sent to the castle when I came of age," Ena said dispassionately.
"Are you happy here?"
Ena's eyes grew fearful.
"You can tell me the truth. I don't care if you hate it here."
"I do hate it, Milady... This is not what I had envisioned for my life. I want to travel. I want to start a family of my own, with a man I choose, not one from the right bloodlines. I want…I'm sorry. I've spoken too much."
Forest regarded the young woman.
"I'm very happy to serve you, Milady. You have already made my life so much better."
Forest smiled. "Don't get ahead of yourself. Those spiteful peacocks still live in the castle. I'd watch my back for reprisals, if I were you."
"But I'm with you. And you're with that Rune-dy, aren't you? They're too scared of him to do anything."
Forest hoped for her sake, Ena was right.
Ena abruptly got down on both knees and grabbed Forest’s hand. "I pledge to you my undying loyalty, Milady."
"Uhh…thanks. Get up, we're running out of time. Can you do my hair the way a queen would wear it?"
"Oh, yes! Hair is what I do best." Ena walked around Forest, her bottom lip caught between her sharp teeth. "Pity yours isn't six inches longer, I could do the most intricate design. No matter, there's enough for…"
"Six more inches?" Forest asked, forcing her hair to lengthen. "Or would eight be better?"
"Ooooh!" Ena exclaimed bouncing on the balls of her feet. "Wow. Just you wait till I'm finished!" She began running her fingers through Forest's hair, separating it into sections. "Wait, does your dress go over your head?"
"Um. Not sure."
Forest showed Ena her dress selections. Ena agreed fervently that she must wear the red, but it didn't have to go over her head, so it could wait till her hair was finished.
Forest didn't enjoy the styling as Ena pulled and threaded, braided and curled, but she suffered in silence, allowing the young woman to enjoy herself. And she couldn't deny the end result was "queenly."
This is stupid. Why are you doing this? Forest asked herself. Syrus. You're doing it for Syrus.
Forest gritted her teeth as she slipped her arms through the sleeves of the fire dress. Despite her big talk about not needing help getting dressed, she did have Ena lace up the back.
"You look amazing, Milady! More beautiful than Christiana ever did."
Forest took a deep breath. "Thank you, Ena. I appreciate it. It's important that I don't look out of place tonight."
"Oh, you won't! Not at all. You shall set a new standard."
"Great," Forest grumbled. "Just what I was going for."
****
Syrus rolled his neck and stood up. "I'm sorry. Maybe if everyone would leave us alone longer than three minutes, Forest and I could have a real discussion about it. At this moment, I can't say one way or the other, Father."
Zeren knew he was pushing too hard, but he couldn't seem to stop himself. It wasn't that he didn't see the possible benefit of Regia becoming a republic. He just wanted to see his son on the throne. He had wanted it ever since Syrus had been born. Zeren knew it was in Syrus to be a much better king than he had been.
"All right," Zeren said. "I'll not ask you again. I'll just wait for your answer."
"Thanks. I really appreciate what you're planning to do for Forest tonight, and as much as I'd love to be there, I think it best if I don't show up."
"Why?"
"Stop playing stupid, Father. I can see your plan. I'm not ready to come back from the dead. I don't want all those people to see me."
"You could go in disguise again," Zeren suggested. "It will be a shame if you miss it."
"It is a shame, but our connection is too new. If Forest is in the same room, I cannot help but be next to her. I can't stop from touching her. And all eyes will be on her tonight."
"How do you think she will take it?" Zeren asked.
"No idea. But she's tough. She can handle anything."
Zeren stood up and placed a hand on Syrus' shoulder. "I'm glad you have her. Don't ever let anything separate you. Losing your mate is a pain no heart should have to bear."
"Father?"
"My obligation as king is what killed my mate."
"What?" Syrus knew there was no way Zeren was speaking of Christiana.
Zeren took a deep breath. "I've never told you about Phippa, but I think it's time…I sealed my bond with Christiana one year after taking the throne because I caved to pressure. She was of the right bloodline, and she manipulated me completely. At first, I thought she loved me. But she loved nothing but power. She was pregnant with you when I met Phippa….
"Phippa had been employed in the kitchens; she was serving that night…Our eyes met. She dropped the tray she was carrying. No one in the room noticed what had really happened. I couldn't make her the queen. Removing Christiana was impossible since she was pregnant. And as soon as Christiana learned of it…well, you know your mother…I wasn't strong enough…I didn't do all I could. Phippa waited for me, but when I was called away Christiana forced her out of the castle and…" Zeren turned away from Syrus, wrapping his arms around his torso. "I'm sorry…I've never spoken of it."
It was Syrus' turn to put his hand on his father's shoulder. "It's all right. If it's too painful."
"Oh, it is son," Zeren's voice broke. "The pain never stops. My heart never stops beating, but it's just a lump of dead tissue. If it weren’t for you, I'd have died right along with her."
"If it weren't for me?"
"Of course. You'll understand when you have a child. I couldn't leave you. You were, are my reason for living. But you must do everything you can to keep Forest with you. I can't stand the idea of you suffering the same loss that I have."
At his father's words, Syrus felt a great weight settle into his heart. Forest would never want a child, he was sure of it. She wouldn't be able to stand the idea of mixing even more bloodlines. And maybe she was right. A child of three races was, as far as he knew, an unprecedented entity.
Wanting to shrug off the solemnness of their conversation, Syrus abruptly cleared his throat. "I think it's about time for the party to start. You should go down."
"Yes, you're right. The time draws near."
Chapter Sixteen
Forest waited, not moving much, as she feared she would come apart, ruin her hair, or tear her dress. She thought Syrus would be back before the party.
"Is there anything else I can do for you, Milady?" Ena asked.
"No. Thank you. You can go now."
Ena curtsied and headed for the door.
"Ena, wait."
"Yes, Milady?"
"You said you wanted to travel."
Ena's brows came together. "Yes, Milady. I do."
"Why don't you?"
Ena hesitated a moment. "Well, I can't. My life is in service."
Forest crossed her arms. "Are you telling me you're a slave?"
"Uh, well. I don't think about it in those terms. I find the word 'slave' offensive."
Forest smiled a little. "So do I."
Ena shifted a little, looking uncomfortable.
"Thank you for being candid, Ena. You may go."
Ena curtsied again and left.
Forest sighed and rubbed her temple, a headache pinching just beneath the surface. She looked out the window at the sunset spreading over the land. She could see so much: The sprawling vampire city of Halussis, the edge of Paradigm, and the Fortress castle, the mountains and forests, and her heart ached to go home.
She turned from the window and looked in the mirror. She might not look out of place, but her heart was shouting that she didn't and would never belong here. Her skin began to itch under the fabric of the dr
ess, and her fingers curled into claws about to tear it all away. A sharp knock on the door stopped her.
She didn't get the chance to ask who it was.
"Forest, it's Zeren. I'm here to escort you to the party. May I come in?"
Forest relaxed her fingers. "Yes. Come in."
Zeren opened the door. Forest smiled unwittingly. Syrus looked so much like his father. Zeren wore a simple bronze crown that matched his breastplate, and a black cape fell around his shoulders.
He returned her smile and gave her a small bow. "You look beautiful, my dear. I wish Syrus could see you now."
"So do I," she said sadly.
"Come." He offered his arm.
She took it, feeling better as they walked down the halls, as though his arm gave her shelter. He smiled down at her again and squeezed the hand she rested on his arm with his other hand. The emotions filling her were warm and unfamiliar. He offered her support, protection, and approval.
They crossed under an archway into the party. The opulence gave Forest whiplash. She clenched her teeth together so her mouth wouldn't hang open in amazement. Everything was so bright and sparkly, her vision blurred, pockmarked, where the light had burned her retina. She stared at the chandelier, unconscious irritation rising up her throat. She knew enough of Christiana to know that every gem and bauble that caught the light was real. Forest wanted to tear the thing from the ceiling, sell it off piece-by-piece, and give the money to the poor and hungry.
Zeren led her to the head of a massive table. All faces turned to her with interest. Zeren pulled out her chair and everyone rose to his or her feet, waiting for her to be seated. She expected them to sit again after she had, but they remained standing.
"My lords and ladies," Zeren greeted everyone in a bellowing voice. "I am honored for you all to meet The Lady Forest, my adopted daughter, and heir."
Every face mirrored her own with wide-eyed shock.
"Let us all lift a glass to The Lady Forest," Zeren commanded, picking up a goblet.
Everyone copied his action, their shock sliding back into smiles. As soon as Zeren drank, everyone else did too. The men pounded on the table in approval after the toast. Forest lifted her own glass in a toast to everyone in the room and took a deep gulp, hoping desperately whatever was inside was strong enough to make her drunk.
Zeren clapped his hands loudly, bringing in an army of servants with dinner trays. Forest focused all of her mind on the herculean task of getting through dinner without making a fool of herself. It's just a job. The spy gig Fortress never gave you.
With that thought lodged firmly in her mind, she smiled regally at everyone and took another drink. The wizened duke next to her leaned in, kissed her hand, and introduced himself. She heard everything and nothing at the same time. She flirted, teased, and insulted everyone as only aristocracy can. Dinner was the best Regian food she had ever tasted, but she acted as though it was hardly worth consuming. The more superior she behaved, the more Zeren beamed at her across the table.
When dinner was finished and dessert was brought in, Forest was beginning to enjoy herself. The vampires now filled their glasses with blood and just to mess with them, she asked for blood as well.
"But you're not a vampire, Milady," the Duke protested, aghast.
Forest took a small sip and smiled teasingly at him, her teeth crimson. "Do you really know what I am?"
He blinked a few times and turned his face back to his plate, obviously offended and embarrassed.
Talk around the table turned political. Zeren caught Forest's eyes and shook his head slightly. The next second he stood up dramatically, walked to Forest's chair, and lifted her hand. "Friends, tonight is not for talk of worries and wars. Tonight we celebrate." He gave them all a wicked smile. "Tonight, we dance."
Applause erupted around the room as a troupe of musicians filed in. Zeren led her to the dance floor as the musicians began playing an ancient formal song. Forest didn't have to worry about the steps, all she had to do was hang on as Zeren waltzed her around. When the song changed, she found herself passed off to another partner, and then another. Their faces hazed together until they all melded into one gross blob. She had looked at too many faces that night, and she hated them all because none of them was Syrus.
The whole charade blurred like an odd dream that could turn into a nightmare at any second.
****
Confusion turned into sorrow. Sorrow gave birth to pain. Pain painted long gashes through Syrus' inner darkness. Why? Why was Leith still alive?
Syrus' hands braced on the magic that barred him from Leith. He could feel the blackguard's life force behind the door. Still alive. Breathing. And keeping Forest from fully being his. Why hadn't she finished him? The gashes of pain began to crackle red with the rage Syrus desperately fought to hold back. His mind had to be clear. He must grab a hold of the understanding that danced just beyond his reach.
"Syrus?" Redge came up behind him.
Syrus took a deep breath. "Leith is still alive. I can feel him. I don't know why Forest hasn't come here and…"
"She has."
Syrus turned on Redge. "What?"
"She came to see him a few hours ago. I wasn't following her, Syrus. It was just coincidence. But she left the door open and I heard. I'm sorry."
Syrus waved Redge's apology away. "What did you hear?"
Something inside Redge clinched, and he desperately wished he wasn't compelled to tell Syrus.
"Well, they talked, nothing much. His was just postulating. He wanted to know who her new lover was. She didn't tell him. There was some scuffling, and then she injured him in some way because he started screaming. Then she told him she would use him to buy some time. Then she left, blood all over her clothes."
Syrus gave Redge a brotherly pat on the arm. "Thanks." There seemed to be no life in his voice. "I need to be alone for a while."
Redge watched sadly as Syrus walked away, down the dark hall.
****
Forest hadn't turned in so many consecutive circles since she'd been a child. Amazingly, she managed not to get sick to her stomach. The waltz ended, and her partner released her and kissed her hand before walking away. She took a deep breath as her equilibrium tried to right itself. The musicians began playing again, making Forest curse in her head. She wanted to be done with the party.
Her next partner swaggered toward her, causing her brain to trip. Before she could gasp, Leith caught her in a harsh grasp and began spinning her around the floor.
No. Not Leith, his twin, Lorcan. She struggled against him as he crushed her against his chest.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't my brother's whore," he whispered in her ear, lewdly licking her lobe. "Seduced the king with those sorceress eyes, have you? I'm impressed."
Forest clenched her teeth, unsure what to do. She could beat the hell out of him, but everyone would see. Maybe she could just act the girl and scream. "What do you want, Lorcan?" she hissed.
"I want my brother. I know you've done something with him."
"I have done something with him. I killed him."
Lorcan flinched before schooling his face into a sneer. He squeezed her tighter, making it hard to breathe.
"Think, Lorcan. I'm now Zeren's daughter. I'll have your head for this."
"Zeren has lost his mind, all the nobility think so. None of us will bow to a disgusting abomination like you. In fact, once we lock Zeren up and throw away the key, I'm going to claim you as my own, and the time you spent with Leith will seem like heaven compared to the hell I'll put you through."
"Get your filthy hands off me!" Forest shrieked.
"Is there a problem here?" Zeren asked, placing a firm hand on Lorcan's shoulder.
Lorcan let go of Forest and took a step back, a nasty smile curling his lips. The people around them stopped dancing and were watching them.
"Shall I tell him about you, Forest? Or would you like to do the honors?"
A shot of ice went straight
to Forest's stomach. She didn't want Lorcan telling Zeren or anyone else in the room, anything about her past. She shot a panicked glance at Zeren.
"You can leave now, Lorcan. Or, I'll have you escorted out." Zeren waved his hand, and an ogre was instantly at his side.
Lorcan continued to smile, but he backed away. "Just wait," he said to the room in general. "Wait till you learn the truth about the Lady Forest." He turned and quit the room.
Every eye was stuck on Zeren and Forest and she desperately wished the music was still playing, but even the musicians were looking intently at her.
"I…I'm sorry," she stammered. "I've known Lorcan many years." She tried to smile, thinking quickly. "I broke his heart as a boy, at academy. He's never forgiven me."
Many faces smiled and winked. Some chuckled and looked back to their dance partners. Forest looked pleadingly at Zeren again. He nodded and gestured for the music to resume.
Forest looked toward the doorway where Lorcan had just left. "I have some business to attend to, Zeren. I need a sword."
Zeren swept her up into a dance again. "No, Forest. You are to be the queen. Queen's don’t take up swords and chase down their enemies to kill them in the streets."
"But…"
"No," Zeren said firmly. "Hard as it may be, you must be still and wait. Leave it to other's to handle."
"Fine," she snapped. "Let me go tell some others so they can take care of it. If he isn't silenced quickly, he will do irreparable damage to me. Please."
"Calm down. I'll have him brought in for questioning first thing in the morning."
"That's not good enough!"
Zeren looked exasperatedly down at her. "I'll end the party, and we can talk about this some more."
He danced her around the floor for the rest of the song. What kind of nonsense is this? She wondered. Dancing as though nothing was wrong. Smile, chat, and be charming when she should have been standing over Lorcan's corpse. Let someone else handle it—to hell with that. Killing vampire scum was what she did best. She still held the traffic controller kill record in Fortress and would for some time to come. But she held still and did as Zeren told her, while bloodlust coated her mouth.
