It was all up to me now. “Don’t worry, I can fix this.”
* * *
Cora
“What are those bells?” I asked Lurel. The bells resounded, too many to count, louder than anything that would have marked the hour.
Lurel looked up from her place beside me on the lounge, head cocked to the side. An excited smile stretched over her face. “I’ll find out, Your Highness.” She skipped out the doors before I could say another word.
I went to the window overlooking the garden and saw figures below pause their strolling along the paths, their composure excited as they exchanged words with their companions. I closed my eyes and extended my power past the glass of the window, down past the shrubs, and onto the garden path.
Before I could catch a word, my doors flung open. With an irritated sigh, I turned toward Lurel, who was prancing into the room, squealing with excitement.
“Princess Mareleau has been married!”
“Oh?” My voice came out like a croak.
“It was a secret wedding. How romantic is that? She and the prince will soon return to Dermaine for their coronation. There is a celebration dinner tonight in the Great Hall, followed by the procession to the Wedding Chamber. Would you like to go? I can have you re-dressed in no time. And your hair still looks lovely, so hardly a moment’s work is needed there.”
I swallowed a lump in my throat and pulled my robe tightly around my shift. “No thank you, Lurel. I’m not feeling well. But you should enjoy the festivities.”
Lurel’s brow furrowed. “If you aren’t feeling well, I will stay. I’ll get you whatever you need—”
“Don’t worry about me.” I forced a smile. “I’m tired and would prefer to be alone to rest. Be excused and send my congratulations to the happy couple.”
“As you wish, princess.” Lurel grinned and fell into a deep curtsy.
Once she left, I reeled back toward the window and pounded my fist on the wall beside it. The air in the room felt too thick to breathe, and I wished I was anywhere but within the stifling palace walls.
I could leave. I could run away.
Yet, the fate of Kero still lies in my hands. And the fate of my brother.
I slid down in a heap and leaned my head against the wall, wondering why I ever agreed to come to Verlot. Perhaps I should have fought the Royal Guards on the battlefield. I could have stolen away with Dimetreus to the Forest People.
The thought of the Forest People brought thoughts of Salinda, her warmth, her comfort, and her wisdom. I could almost hear her voice, telling me my fears and worries would not serve me. Stop fixating on your pain. Focus on what you can do right now, she would have told me.
The words rang true. I’d already made my choice. I took the risk to get my kingdom back, to get Dimetreus back on his throne. Things didn’t go the way I’d hoped, but there was hope. There was a choice to be made by me alone, and in my heart, that choice had already been made. I could accept it, or fight against it.
I will do what it takes. I will marry Larylis.
I closed my eyes and let the tears flow.
37
Renewal
Cora
Eighth bell rang, and I still hadn’t moved from my spot on the floor against the wall. I opened my eyes and found daylight had vanished. I stood and stretched my limbs, cramped from sitting so long, and then made my way to the lantern on the table. Once lit, it filled the room with a soft glow. My eyes felt heavy, sore from tears, yet my heart was at peace.
I pushed away a stray thought that threatened to shatter that peace—Teryn and Mareleau proceeding to their Wedding Chamber—and instead thought of Valorre. I smiled, imagining how quickly I would see him once I’d been freed from this prison. All I had to do was sign a marriage contract. Valorre was probably just beyond the palace walls, waiting amongst the trees.
A sound from behind one of the walls startled me from pleasant thoughts of freedom. I brought the light of the lantern toward the rustling tapestry. A moment later, the unseen door opened, and into the lantern light walked Teryn.
I gasped. Anger, hatred, and confusion followed. Breathe. My heart pounded, yet the fury slipped away. “What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be at the festivities?” Or in your Wedding Bed?
“I…had to see you,” Teryn said.
“Why did you come through the servant’s hall?”
“You’re still considered a hostage. The guards posted at your door would never let me in without permission from King Verdian. Besides, it wouldn’t be proper for you to be seen receiving a male visitor at this hour.”
I raised an eyebrow. “So, you thought it would be more proper to sneak into my room?”
A hesitant smile played at the corner of his lips, sending a ripple of irritation through me.
“How did you know about the servant’s hall in the first place?” I asked. “It’s a maze in there.”
“Mareleau told me how to get here.”
The irritation grew from a ripple to a wave. “Why in Lela would your wife send you sneaking into another woman’s room on your wedding night?”
Teryn laughed, making my hands clench into fists.
“It’s not funny!”
“Mareleau is not my wife.”
My jaw dropped open as I tried to form words from my frazzled thoughts. “What?”
“She’s married to Larylis, the new Crown Prince of Mena, and soon-to-be king.”
“But…why? How is this possible?”
“I renounced my claim as crown prince so Larylis could wed Mareleau.” Teryn shook his head, laughing and smiling wide. “It sounds crazy to hear myself say it out loud. But who am I to get in the way of love when I have the power to bring two hearts together?”
“I still don’t understand.”
Teryn sobered. “It’s a long story, and it’s not what I came here to tell you.”
I set down the lantern and took a step toward him. “Then why did you come?”
“With the newest developments, I was able to renegotiate your terms to reclaim your title. I wanted you to hear it first from me. I never want to cause you pain again, or for you to be surprised and hurt by anything I do on your behalf. So, I will share the terms with you now, and if you don’t agree, I will counter them before you even have to hear another word of them.”
I bit my lip. “What are the new terms?”
Teryn led us to my lounge, opened his hand for me to sit, and then pulled up a chair across from me. He took a deep breath, hands clasped and elbows propped on his knees as he leaned forward. “Now that Mareleau and Larylis are wed, King Verdian and my mother have agreed for me to marry you.”
My mouth moved soundlessly, yet no words came forth.
“We don’t even have to marry at once. They have agreed to let us wait a year for you to settle into your title, and for your brother to strengthen his kingdom.”
Relief attempted to lower my defenses, yet I halted its flow. The thought of marrying Teryn brought me much more joy than the thought of marrying Larylis, yet it didn’t alter my feeling of being a pawn. And it didn’t change that I was Teryn’s second choice.
“I am committed to my cause.” I kept my voice level. “I will do whatever it takes to get my kingdom back. But I won’t pretend that I enjoy these terms. I know you don’t love me, and you must be upset about losing Mareleau. Neither of us wants this. Perhaps that is what can bring us together.”
“This isn’t what either of us had in mind.” Teryn moved to the edge of his seat. “But I never loved Mareleau, even you could see that. Marrying her became a duty, a promise I thought I had to keep, and I was relieved when I found a way out. And marrying you is by no means simply a way out. I want to. If fighting tooth and nail for your safety and title isn’t love, then I don’t know what is.”
Warmth flowed from my chest, radiating down to my fingertips and toes, heating my cheeks and turning my lips upward.
Teryn stood and reached for my hands, pulling me up
with him. As I tilted my head to meet his eyes, I realized how much taller he stood above me. We’d never stood so close.
Teryn brushed a hand along my cheek. “I don’t know everything about you yet, but I want to. I know a forced marriage isn’t something you would ever desire but I think, with our friendship and what I believe is the blossoming of love, we can make this something we both enjoy.”
Tears stung my eyes, but they were no longer tears of sorrow. “I think so too.” My breathing quickened as I placed my trembling arms around his waist.
“Does that mean you agree to the terms?” he asked with a smile.
I answered him with a kiss.
What about Mareleau?
You know what happened with Cora and Teryn at the end of Shadows of Lela. But what about Mareleau and Larylis? What really happened during the meeting with King Verdian? How did Teryn end up abdicating his crown? Find out by downloading your FREE super secret bonus chapter! My special gift to you. Download it now by clicking this link: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/ydw7w0pwvr
Veil of Mist
Shadows of Lela is just the beginning of the adventure for Cora, Teryn, Mareleau, and Larylis! Continue the journey with Book Two in the Lela Trilogy, Veil of Mist. Available for pre-order now! Click here to unleash the magic: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CKS1645
Thank you
Thank you, lovely readers, for reading this book! I love you all so much. Please consider leaving an honest review on Amazon and/or Goodreads. Reviews help other readers decide if a book is right for them, and I appreciate everyone who takes the time to give their heartfelt feedback. It means a lot!
I also want to thank everyone who has supported me in my 15+ year journey through writing, self doubt, procrastination, and inspiration. Family, friends, coworkers. You have all been amazing and encouraging.
Dustin, you have been my love, my motivator, and my biggest supporter. I couldn’t have done this without out. Well, maybe I could have, but it wouldn’t have been nearly as fun.
Nova, like I said in the dedication: always follow your dreams. No dream is too big, baby girl. Thank you for bringing so much love and laughter into my life.
Mom, thank you for giving me your entrepreneurial spirit which has carried me through this crazy adventure of writing and publishing.
Thank you Merilliza Chan for your amazing cover illustration. I seriously can’t stop looking at it. It’s beautiful!
Thank you Kristen Portillo from Your Editing Lounge for your awesome editing skills.
Thank you to my beta readers, Katie, Rachel, Ashley, and Charles for your incredible feedback. You’re all rock stars and I’m so grateful for your input.
Thank you to my Shadows of Lela Street Team. You guys are amazing!!!
Thank you to everyone in my Facebook group, the Inspired Writer’s Tribe, for all your support and for allowing me to be part of your writing journeys. I love you creative badasses!
Thank you to the members of the Indie Author Life Facebook group, especially Janell. You guys helped me with so much feedback, and have proven that fellow authors can truly have each other’s backs. Thanks Katie Cross for your awesome group!
I could go on forever thanking all the resources, podcasts, books, and mentors I’ve had, but I’ll end with this…
GIANT THANK YOU AND VIRTUAL HUG.
Love, light, and all the magic,
Tessonja
About Tessonja
Tessonja Odette is a young mother living in Seattle. Young, meaning 30-something. It’s the new 20, right? Tessonja has always loved to write. Her wild imagination and fascination with the great unknown led her writing into the realm of fantasy. She writes books that inspire and expand the imaginations of others. When she isn’t writing, she’s watching dog videos, having dance parties with her daughter, or pursuing her many creative hobbies.. Find out more about Tessonja by visiting her website at www.tessonjaodette.com
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