by Tara Brown
My father takes my hand, turning me to face the man who has caused the horns to blast and people to stare. He deserves every bit of pomp he revels in. The handsome man next to me is paled in comparison to him. But instantly I realize I do not find him intriguing, as I do the other prince. He is impressed by the pomp he is receiving rather than the person he is meeting. Edmond was excited to meet me; this man is excited for me to meet him.
“Prince Griffin Giovanna,” he speaks to my father, “at your service, Your Highness.” He bows to my father.
“Thank you, my boy.” My father pats me on the back. “May I present my daughter, Princess Estelle Dumont, heir to my throne and the last of the blood.”
The prince bows, far deeper than required by his station compared to mine. I curtsy to match, hoping I’m doing his deep bow justice. I don’t want to appear to snub him, which I suspect I will be doing.
When we stand and face one another, I am entranced.
“Princess Estelle.” His olive complexion and green eyes suck the proper greeting from my lips. I don’t even smile—I just stare as though I’m gazing at the sea on a fine day. I almost feel the wind in my hair. His eyes own me and my emotions for the briefest of moments. He is truly stunning and even more so up close. I strain to look deeper into his eyes, but I do not see myself in them. He sweeps his hand up quickly, almost snatching mine in his. The grip is firm, but it has an intensity I don’t expect nor appreciate. I nearly gasp but pretend to clear my throat instead.
“It is lovely to meet you, Your Grace.”
“Lovely is not the word I would use.” He kisses my hand, leaving his lips there too long. I pull my hand back, freeing it from the heat he has created everywhere.
“Your Grace, it’s good to see you this far north. It must be a shock to your skin to be so cold in summer,” Prince Edmond mocks him, bringing a slight grin to all our faces, even my father’s.
“Yes.” Prince Griffin laughs. “You are right. I am delicate, compared to you Northerners. I don’t imagine you enjoy the stifling heat of our summers. Something we find glorious.”
“Indeed.” Prince Edmond shakes his head. “I find them too close as though I am being smothered and yet left unsatisfied.”
My father laughs again, slapping him on the back. “You are a funny lad.” He is acting odd. When he catches my puzzled stare, he clears his throat and mutters, “My son Henry was fond of you, very fond.” A comment made for my benefit, no doubt. Henry was my favorite brother.
Prince Edmond’s face turns crimson. “And I him. He will be missed all the days of my life.”
Prince Griffin’s lips turn up and everyone is smiling about something I am unaware of.
“Lovely meeting you both. Excuse me.” I turn and find my way to my friends, my court friends. They are not true friends as Gail is, but the ladies who will be my companions all my life in court, just as they have been for our childhoods. Although, I have been fortunate in avoiding them, constantly being sent on lengthy trips to my uncle’s.
“Estelle!” The ladies greet me, led by a girl I have never enjoyed, Nicola La Pierre. She is the ringleader of the callous group of them and by far the fakest.
“Nicola, ladies. How nice to see you all again.” I play my part, though not as well as she does.
“Come and sit, tell us all about your journeys. You’re away far too much.” She beams at the dig. Everyone knows I was sent away.
We sit and stare about the room, making annoying small talk.
Eventually, I give up, no longer adding anything, and they carry on without me, conversing about dresses and the number of people attending. Until a voice catches me off guard, “May I escort you into the garden for a walk?”
Lifting my gaze, I discover Prince Griffin.
He offers a hand and a soft smile, threatening to make my heart skip beats. He is too beautiful. I glance at the ladies-in-waiting, contemplating his offer. “I suppose.” Surely, he is better company than they are.
He takes my hand before I offer it. He takes liberties; I am uncomfortable with that.
“You are too forward.” I pull my hand back carefully so no one will notice.
“I am?” he asks with a laugh.
“Yes. You are. But I think you know that.”
His green eyes flicker with the lights of the torches that illuminate our way into the yard. They are as intense as the flames we pass. The sun is preparing to set and the sky is colored similarly to the flickering torches. It would be a beautiful sight to behold with someone you loved. “I do know that. But it’s not something women point out when they meet me.”
“I am your equal. We are both heirs to the lands we live in. Why shouldn’t I speak as such?” It is my way of gaining back what he takes away by being so overwhelming and undeniably more beautiful than I am.
“That’s fair.” He strolls past another torch, pausing in its light to speak, “You are more beautiful than I was told. As feisty as I was told, but much more beautiful.”
I bite the inside of my cheek before something snarky can escape my lips. “I have been away from the kingdom for many years. Most people recall me as a small child leaving here. I returned home recently when one of my brothers died. The last of the five of them died this year.”
“I was aware.” His face changes. “And your poor sister.”
I nod.
“I am sorry for your losses.” I don’t know that he is, that he understands what that sort of loss feels like. Perhaps he is saying that because he must—because it is the right thing to say. We are alone in the garden, being kissed by the cool summer breeze and touched by the light of the torches and the sun about to dip behind the mountains. We are having an intimate moment. He must say those things. But I see the lack of understanding in his eyes. He is not like Prince Edmond who senses every loss with me. Edmond is a Northerner as I am. He knows our pain—it is his too.
This prince is from the South where no war has touched the lands for hundreds of years. They say it is too hot to fight, leaving the people content to be as they are. The same way they say my people stay warm with war. But the truth is that the North splintered a long time ago, whereas the South remained mostly one kingdom.
Just as I think on his false empathy, his eyes change and his tone grows dark and serious, “I knew your brothers well. They were always brilliant competitors in tournaments, never yielding to me because of my birthright. They had honor.”
“And yet they died the same as a man with none. The gods never saw fit to spare even one, to spare me the burden of all this.”
“I dare say your burdens have become the highlight of my summer. What man could refuse such an adventure?”
“What?” I ask flatly. “Adventure?”
“Oh, I just mean—” He suddenly seems nervous. “I just mean, we as a couple will be the—start of a new adventure.”
“Couple?” I step back. “You are too forward. Perhaps we should have chaperones here in the garden.”
“I’m sorry. I have long awaited this moment.”
“Long awaited what exactly?” I ask it as a possibility occurs to me. “How long have you known we would meet under intentional circumstances?”
“Ten summers. When I was fifteen years old, I was told you were one of four possible princesses my parents intended for me to marry. They take great care when making a speculation of this magnitude.”
“Four?” That stings a bit—one of four. At least he is one of only two princes for me.
“You understand what it is like for people—royals. A wedding is far more about business than it is pleasure.” He shrugs, an odd gesture for a prince. “My parents had to be cautious. You are never certain how things will turn out. I have learned of your lands and your ways and your people, as well as those of the other three princesses. All the princesses were from the North, therefore it was easy. Your kingdom is the largest by far and holds the most land and the original castle of the victor king, so that was an easy choice for m
y parents. You have the best chance of uniting the Northern kingdoms. Northerners are volatile people who war regularly. You have usurpers to deal with and bastards making attempts at the throne. My parents believe that by combining our kingdoms, we could reclaim the entire North under one king, and queen. But the worry is always, which king in the North do you lay your allegiance with? Luckily, your father is the first king in a hundred summers who has maintained his rule for more than thirty summers. For my parents that was the safest wager.”
“Winters.” I almost laugh at him but am wrestling too harshly with the urge to take my shoe off and smack him in the head with it. “More than thirty winters. We don’t count by summers; they are short and tempt you with an ease of life that is not reality.”
His smile comes back but it grows so wide I am unsure of its nature, if it is amusement at me or with me. “Winter is hard and long. You won’t have to live here, once you are my queen. We will rule from the South and unite the kingdoms, naming a regent for the North to rule as an advisor. You will come and live in the South where life is easy and the summer is long and sweet. I’ve heard you love summers in the South.”
“Honestly?” I step back again. “Unite the kingdoms? Is my father aware of this?”
Griffin nods. “Of course. It has been the plan all along to marry us. But much has changed in the last year. When Henry died, making you heir, your father came and renegotiated everything with my father. No one expected you to become the heir, being the last of seven, but you have, and we must accommodate our lives to fit our path.”
I don’t like him. It is such an instant hatred, I am unsure what to do with it. “I have not agreed to marry you, Your Grace.”
“I know.” He leans in, whispering, “Can I tell you a secret?” he mocks me.
I don’t move. I’m terrified I know what this secret is. I am certain in fact.
“Our fathers have already finalized the arrangement. The whole courtship has been planned and our meeting here was nothing more than an informality. You are to join me on this trip to the South where we will court for the remainder of the summer. We will return here in the spring and marry, so your people feel loyal to me. Our summers will be spent in the North and winters in the South. It is truly the best of both worlds, never enduring the worst of either place. Never too hot or too cold and our armies will be doubled. Together we will put the whole world right. We are the perfect match, really. Not to mention, you are clearly the prettiest of the four princesses.”
His words chill my heart and I no longer notice the way his mouth moves pleasingly. His green eyes are hardened and his hands frighten me. The intensity in the grip was desperation to make our parents happy. He doesn’t care about me. He doesn’t care about a single thing, beyond being king and bringing about his father’s happiness. I know that burden. My brothers lived that way. They never enjoyed a day of their own happiness.
“Thank you for that information.” I curtsy deeply again. “It was lovely to meet you, but my ceremony will begin when the moon is high and the light shines into the temple. I must greet everyone before that moment.” I turn and walk back to the stairs. My heart pounds unnaturally. My throat is thick as it attempts to stop my swallowing and labors my breathing.
When I reach the top stair, dark-blue eyes are there searching for me. He smiles and immediately I feel better. “Your Grace, may I ask you to join me in conversation for a few moments?”
“Princess Estelle.” Edmond gives me a warm grin. “I would love to. Shall we?” He holds a hand out toward the balcony off to the side of the massive room.
I nearly lean into him. “What did you mean when you said you were with my brother in the end?”
His smile shifts into that look, the one from before. “He was betrayed by your father’s men. It was an assassination. He died in his bed, bled to death. You mustn’t reveal to anyone I have told you this. My only reason is so that you may see the danger you are in. I want to help you.”
A shiver runs across my bare arms. I suspect I have all the pieces of the puzzle, but am unable to see the picture. ”Does anyone else know this?”
He shakes his head. “I was in your brother’s tent, sleeping under his bed. We had drunk too much. I couldn’t so much as find my sword to defend him. I will wear this shame the remainder of my life. They took his body before anyone might conclude how it had happened.” His cheeks flush as the picture starts to fill in for me. Of course, he and my brother Henry—of course. I always knew that about Henry. He had liked boys since he was a small one. When he was older, he resigned himself to the fact he would have to marry, but he would always love men.
I watch his face for one more second, wondering if that was what I liked about him, his love of my brother.
My heart is tight and my mouth dry, but I manage a few words before we must leave this spot, “My father is forcing me to wed Prince Griffin and unite the kingdoms. He doesn’t intend to give you a chance at all.”
His dark-blue eyes sparkle to life. “Yes, that’s what I’m saying, Princess. Your betrothed murdered your brothers to make you heir. I’m sure of it. The King of the South used your father’s men to betray him and they mean to marry you to him. It’s my duty to warn you, though I fear it will do no good now. Both our armies are weak from the war and our kingdoms couldn’t afford a war with the South. Once you’re married to Prince Griffin, they will take my land and all the other kingdoms.”
My heart beats harder. “You must help me.”
“I will find an answer.”
“We could run.”
“Run?” His eyes narrow. “What would that do for your people or mine? Seven Rivers may not be a large kingdom, but my people expect me to rule when my father is gone. My brothers are mostly dead as are yours. Andrew and I are all that is left. We cannot run. Leave this with me, I will save you.”
He has honor. He is a good man.
I have never been envious of my brother, not for one day, but I do wonder how it would feel to have a man like Edmond love you. I savor one more second of the sense of safety Edmond gives me, before turning and making my way into the hall with my head held high. It is as fake as my smile.
My chest aches seeing the court of liars before me, but my self-pity is interrupted by my father’s voice booming across the great hall, “The sun is about to set. When the moon rises, the naming ceremony will begin. I welcome you all into my home and to our celebration. Please enjoy the refreshments and the evening as we name our future ruler!”
Everyone claps and beholds me. Suddenly Griffin is close, radiating in the attention we, as a couple, are receiving.
If only I had a sword.
Order the rest here - In the Fading Light
Other Books by Tara Brown
ROMANCE
The Serendipity Series
Fling Club
He Loves You Not
Blood and Bone
Blood and Bone
Sin and Swoon
Soul and Blade
The Puck Buddies Series
Puck Buddies
Roommates
Bed Buddies
Baby Daddies
The Single Lady Spy Series
The End of Me
The End of Games
The End of Tomorrow
The End of Lies
The Lonely Duet
The Lonely
LOST BOY
Standalone novels
Ophelia
Castaways
My Side
The Long Way Home
For Love or Money
Lost in La La Land
Erotica
Sinderella
Beauty’s Beast
The Club
YA BOOKS
Stones of Amaria
Sword of Mist
Sword of Storms
Sword of Kings
Sword of Stone
The Roses Academy
Cursed
Bane
Hyde
&n
bsp; Witch
Death
Blackwater
Midnight Coven
Redeemers and Betrayers
The Royals Series
A Royal Pain
A Royal Affair
A Royal Wedding
Crimson Cove Mysteries Academy
Pretty Girls Die First
The Little Crimson Lies
Third Time’s a Charm
Four Crimson Corners
When The Lights Fade
The Born Series
Born
Born to Fight
Reborn
The Light Series
The Light of the World
The Four Horsemen
The End of Days
The Last City of Men Series
Imaginations
Duplicities
Reparations
The Blood Trail Chronicles
Vengeance
Vanquished
Valiant
The Seventh Day Series
The Seventh Day
The Last Hour
The Earth’s End
Standalone YA
First Kiss
Sunder
In the Fading Light
The Reverse of Everything
About Me
I believe growing up in a really small town gives a person a little advantage when it comes to the imagination. You need one or you go mad.
Needless to say, mine saved me. After it got me into trouble first, that is. That's the problem with a vivid imagination, all the lies you tell.
According to my age, I am meant to be a responsible adult, but it isn't going well at all. I would still head off to Hogwarts tomorrow and I suspect there isn't a single wardrobe I haven't crept into, hoping to find the door to Narnia. And don't even get me started on the King's Road, I get lost.
