The next morning I’m getting ready to head to the laboratory when I hear Rinni’s distinct knock.
“May I come in?”
“I’m decent,” I call back.
“What are those clothes?” Rinni asks the moment she lays eyes on me.
“They’re something Willow helped me find.” I run my hands over heavy canvas trousers. “Don’t tell me, the day I finally dare to not wear a dress, Eldas wants to meet with me?”
Rinni smirks.
I groan. “It’s true, isn’t it?”
“It is, but you have until this evening to change.”
“He accepted my invitation to dinner?” I can’t tell if the flapping in my stomach is the wings of butterflies or hornets. Am I excited or nervous? Both. There’s a whole war of the winged bugs going on in there.
“He did, finally,” Rinni mutters. She raises a hand to her mouth and coughs, as if trying to hide the fact that the last word escaped. I do her a favor and don’t comment. “Yes, he has. You’ll dine in the East Wing tonight.”
“Ooh, the mysterious East Wing.” I wiggle my fingers in the air. “How exciting and illustrious.”
“It is; only the royal family is usually allowed there.”
It’s not lost on me that I’m not considered part of the “royal family.” I may keep Midscape alive, but I clearly don’t deserve the honor of being seen as one of them. My thoughts wander to Harrow. I still haven’t seen him since healing him. Which I should be grateful for, but I’m oddly worried.
While Eldas didn’t seem too worried about Aria, I can’t help but think she might be up to something… No, that’s just my fear surrounding the horned man coloring my opinions of her.
I push the thoughts away. Harrow is just another reason why I’m glad to not be a part of that family. I’m leaving in two months and counting.
“Thank you for letting me know. What time should I be ready by?”
“Eldas expects you at eight.”
“Oh good, I can get a full day in the laboratory then, and still have time to change.”
“Would you like me to help you get ready this evening?”
I think about taking her up on the offer. There are definitely dresses that I can’t reach all the clasps of by myself. “No, thank you,” I ultimately decide. If Eldas is going to get to know me, he should get to know the real me—not whatever hairstyle or dress Rinni thinks is appropriate.
“Then I will return at seven forty-five.” Rinni gives a bow and leaves.
The day is an odd mix of too long and too short. The hours seem to drag on while I’m in the laboratory. Every time I look at the grandfather clock, I’m certain half the day has passed and it’s been five minutes.
I can hardly concentrate.
But all too soon, I’m back in my room and Rinni is knocking once more.
“Enter,” I call.
She appears at my bathroom door. “You chose that to wear?”
“It’s non-negotiable,” I declare. “He meets with me in this or he doesn’t meet me at all.”
“Very well.” Rinni has the ghost of a grin as she leads me away. Luckily she doesn’t comment on Hook following. He’s become my shadow in the castle since I’m much more at ease with him around. At this point, getting to know me involves getting to know Hook.
We cross through the throne room to get to the East Wing. I assume it was a more direct path than going down to the main atrium. Rinni leads me through the door Eldas usually disappears into. She traverses silent halls, cramped with intricate suits of armor, pointed stones on pedestals, tapestries, and portraits. There’s less open space here than in the West Wing. Less ballrooms, dining rooms, rooms for the sake of having rooms. They’re replaced by spiraling staircases and an infinite amount of doors that block my prying eyes.
Finally, we reach our destination, a door that looks much like any other. Rinni gives a soft knock.
“Your Majesty,” she says. “Your queen is here to join you.”
Chapter 22
I freeze slightly at the words, “your queen.” I worry the labradorite ring around my finger, suddenly aware of its presence once more. I don’t want to be anyone’s. I don’t want to be owned. I nearly break out running, but manage to keep myself in place.
A sense of ownership is not what those words were intended to imply. I came here of my own volition. I wanted this to see if the kind man I’ve caught glimpses of