went on about how handsome my husband-to-be was, but how strange, and how they hoped I would be happy in the magical realms, and that I could handle a massive cock. I guess the 1000s was before prudery was invented. I wasn’t sure how Lady Hulda should act so I just laughed nervously and said, “I’m sure I will manage.”
I realized I was starting to get tingly all over, nervous and excited, thinking that I would soon see Byron the demigod, whatever that would mean.
“You are all ready. Your lady mother will see you now.”
“Oh…thank you.”
My lady mother? Shit. I didn’t want to deal with someone who knew me—or rather, Lady Hulda—that well.
There was a hand mirror on the table, probably the best mirror available for Lady Hulda at this time in history. I looked at my reflection, with my long braids bound with ribbons, and pearls and jewels adorning my hair and throat and ears.
I looked like my own distant relative. My hair was lighter and my face powdered so my blue eyes stood out intensely. I looked a little more inbred, maybe. Not the European blooded mutt I was in the real world, with ancestors all the way from England to Romania. But I wouldn’t be surprised if I was related to Lady Hulda. A thousand years is a long time.
“My daughter.” A woman opened the door, in a dominating way, and swept in to sit beside me. The woman was tall and beautiful but in a very stern way. The family resemblance was strong, although the mother’s hair was swept up into a cloth that covered her head. A wimple, I think. She still didn’t look very old, but despite her utter lack of wrinkles, she had an authoritarian personality. I trembled a little when she walked in and she wasn’t even my real mother.
Although…there was definitely a resemblance there, too.
I immediately sensed that I didn’t have to worry about a close family bond. Hulda’s mother seemed too distant to notice if her daughter had been possessed by a 21st century girl. Besides, I could summon royal manners.
“My lady mother,” I said, bowing my head a little.
Her cold hand forced my chin up. “You look beautiful. I hope you’re prepared for what is to come.”
Oh, like demon dick? Yep. I can only hope this dream lasts that long. “I believe I am,” I said.
“I’ve brought the poison,” she said.
Wait—what? “The…poison.”
“If you slip it into the beast’s cup tonight, then you should only have to stall for a brief time before he perishes, so you must ask to see the map and as soon as he dies, break it apart. Your uncle’s army will arrive at midnight.” She pressed a tiny glass vial into my hand.
Hold up, Lady Mother. So you married me to Byron ‘the beast’ just so I could get close enough to him to assassinate him? And break apart the map?
I realized what was going on here. I was supposed to separate the three realms by separating Pandora’s Box. Byron probably needed to marry a human girl, like demons often did to keep power. But the girl’s family wanted to betray him. So was Lady Hulda’s uncle’s army the men who were killing demigod Byron and sewing his mouth shut?
And here I was, in the shoes of the girl who was expected to lead him to his death and the shattering of the magical realms. It was a super secret plan, I would guess, judging by the way the servants went on about how hot the wedding night would be. They seemed clueless.
“Oh, Mother.” I looked toward the window, trying to look stoic and brave, but also like a compassionate young woman who might need just a tiny bit of assurance (and detailed information). “This is not how I imagined my wedding night…to take a man’s life. I know I must be brave, but…”
“You must remember what is at stake. If you do this, we can keep our magic safe. We can keep the demons out forever. And you shall have your pick of husbands! I know he is a charming half-beast, but it’s what he protects that we must have. This is our only opportunity to get ahold of the Ethereal Paths. You know what careful diplomacy it took just to convince Lord Adras’ei to come to our realm for the wedding.”
“I understand…”
Well, I did. So that’s it. They must have been trying to steal this map for a long time and they used