“No, no, wait.” King Gerald’s face crumpled. “You win. He will marry your daughter.”
“Excellent.” Mother smiled, and I shivered. I’d learned early on that her smile did not necessarily mean good things.
“When shall we arrange the wedding? Next spring?” he asked, pulling over a spare piece of parchment and inkwell, preparing to write down the new date.
Mother walked over to a table set with a vase of dark red roses. “Why waste a perfectly good celebration? After all, the guests are already here.” She turned and raised a dark eyebrow. “Why not tonight?”
The king sat down roughly on the cushioned chair, the legs scratching against the floor. I heard his low groan, followed by my mother’s twinkling laughter and I cringed.
Less than six marks later, I was married.
I sighed and wandered the library’s shelves, looking for a romance book I could sneak back to my room, when I heard the door open in the front room. Thinking it to be Gaven, I peeked out to find Xander had entered, King Gerald on his heels.
“What are we to do?” King Gerald hissed angrily at him and closed the door to the hall, cutting off my escape.
“I did not murder that man, Father,” Xander growled out.
“Then who did? What other explanation do we have?”
“There’s something out there, hunting beyond the wards, taunting me to find it. I can smell its stench.”
“It’s because of the daughter, isn’t it? She probably did this, and now Florin is here. What do we do?” King Gerald groaned.
“Keep them occupied,” Xander said. “Distract them from finding out the truth.”
“This is all my fault. I did this to you.” King Gerald waved his arms in the air.
“I swear on my crown and my life that if there’s a way to undo what’s been done, I will find it. Even if it means making another deal with the witch.”
Xander shook his head. “You did what you needed to save my life. I’m the one who will live with those consequences. This should be my decision, but the question is how do we protect the queen and our country from Florin’s emissary? I swear that man is like a hound dog. He’ll find out all of our secrets.”
“If the hound dog wants a scent trail, then give him something to hunt. Take him beyond the wards and fin—”
“No,” Xander cut him off. “I will find a way to solve all of our problems without resorting to violence.”
King Gerald’s voice deepened in warning. “Violence is the only way Florin knows how to solve their problems. If you don’t strike first, they will—with a knife to your gut. You have a gift.”
“It’s a curse,” Xander growled. “And a prison sentence.”
“Not if you go beyond the wards.” King Gerald walked up to his son and poked him in the chest.
The doors opened.
“Apologies, Your Majesty, Your Highness. I did not know you were here,” a deep voice interrupted them. Peeking around the corner, I saw Gaven had entered and stumbled upon their argument. “You haven’t seen a most rare beauty pass through here, have you?”
Xander shook his head. “There’s no one here.”
King Gerald turned back to Xander, his voice low and threatening. “You will take care of this inconvenience. I will figure out the rest.”
Xander and his father left and headed down to dinner, and I stood alone in my hiding spot, angry at what I’d overheard.
Am I the inconvenience?
“Rose?” Gaven called softly into the library. His footsteps came up behind me, and I felt myself stiffen. “Here you are. Are you ready?”
Smoothing my dress, I gave him a forced smile. “Yes.”
Chapter Six
On Gaven’s arm, I felt like a glittering diamond as we walked side by side, but my heart was as bitter and burnt as coal. Was it only yesterday that the prince was kissing me in the darkness? I dared not face Xander for fear my burning anger and hatred would give me away.
Thankfully, the tables were spread out among the main hall, and Gaven took me to the lower table below the prince. Taking a seat, I couldn’t help but look up at the high table where I should have been sitting to see a surly Prince Xander. His face was a mask of pain as he reclined in his chair, his boots crossed and sitting on the tabletop, directly in the spot where my own plate would be. His eyes were buried in his hand as if he had a headache, and he gave very little care to