Page 2 of Her Royal Blood

“I don’t want to go back to Brahman’s Peak. I can’t live that life again,” she started sobbing as her tears continued to flow.

“It’s going to be okay,” I said, wishing I truly believed it. “I have a plan. First, are you still under Amadeus’ truth spell?”

“No, it wore off a few days ago,” she said as her face brightened with a glimmer of hope.

“Okay, then I’m going to need your help with something. It’s really risky, but it might be the only thing that will save us,” I said, looking at Gabrielle whose brown eyes were bloodshot and swollen though she was still lovely.

Gabrielle had such a kind and pretty face to match her curves and ample body. Her bouncing golden hair framed the comeliness of her shape and her pleasant smile somehow made even the worst of situations feel brighter

“I’ll do anything. I haven’t felt like I’ve been of much use to you and Onyx Rah. I’m just a silly servant girl,” she was about to go into a pity spiral and I couldn’t have that if we were going to succeed.

“No, you’ve done what I asked of you and did it with so much grace and determination. We all have done what was needed to create a great land and you are no exception. We’ll do it again, I promise.” I looked around the room to find something that I could conjure magic into. “This, however, will be your bravest and most important task," I told her when a small box of polished stones caught my eye.

The stones were a gift from a merchant who I remembered wanted to make Onyx Rah home for him and his family. They came with the migrants who joined us from every kingdom in Tobran, but were not Midnight Moon pack and so to prove hisloyalty and devotion he gave me a box of precious jewels, one of the few he carried to sell.

“I can’t take these from you,” I recalled telling him, feeling guilty for not just allowing his family to stay. “Is there anything else you can give us to prove your fealty?”

“These stones are precious and rare, use them to make a necklace to put around your neck and I might tell the people looking for similar stones and jewels, that the queen herself wears a necklace with my product,” he said as he bowed his head to me. “It would be my honor to have you wear them.”

“I will,” I told him as I took the box from him and bowed my head. “Welcome to Onyx Rah.”

I shook the memory from my head then walked over to the dresser and picked up a sapphire blue stone from the box of five stones the merchant gave me, noting that I would make the rest into a necklace for myself. The stone was small but swirled with blue and white hues. With magic I wrapped gold twine around it to fashion a pendant, and knotted a gold chain to hold it around Gabrielle’s neck. I then put the necklace on her.

“What is this?” Gabrielle asked, touching the soft stone at the center of the necklace.

“This is your mother’s necklace. It was given to you after your mother died when you were just a baby. You’ve been holding on to it all of this time because your grandmother told you to start wearing it on your wedding day and never take it off. It symbolizes your commitment to love and marriage and is the same necklace your mother was going to wear when she married your father.” I told her, crafting elaborate lies.

“It’s beautiful,” Gabrielle seemed entranced by the simple stone necklace.

“Polonius will know that my mother never married my father, however, you can tell him that she intended to wear iton her wedding day but never got the chance. Leave the story at that,” I instructed as I readied myself to cast a spell.

“But my mother and father are still married,” Gabrielle gave me a confused look. “Why would I have to lie about that?”

“Because you are going to be me,” I said quietly as I cast a transmutation spell over the necklace and Gabrielle became my exact copy.

I fashioned a mirror portal with my hands and put it up to Gabrielle’s face. She gasped at the sight of my image in her place.

“I look exactly like you,” she said quietly.

“Yes,” I leaned over and took off the necklace and Gabrielle returned to her normal form. “This necklace has the magic that will transform you. Tell Polonius that it means a lot to wear your mother’s commitment necklace because it will help you remember to be obedient to Polonius. This way he will understand that you’re trying to appease him and hopefully won’t make you take it off. If for some reason you must take it off, keep it with you. The magic should transfer as long as the necklace is near you. Think of it as heat. You need to have it close enough to feel the warmth. You changed back to yourself when I took it off, but if you concentrate on holding my image, you can keep it as long as the necklace is near.” I had altered the magic from the ring Amadeus gave Lex just in case Gabrielle was ever forced to take off the necklace for any reason. “Do you understand?”

“I do and I promise, I won’t take it off.” She smiled with pride as I handed her the necklace.

“There is one more necklace you’ll have to wear.” I took the pendant that had belonged to Polonius’ mother from the dresser and handed it to Gabrielle. “This necklace belonged to Polonius’ mother. Don’t be too amorous or he’ll know it’s a lie. Do tell him, though, that you like wearing both necklaces as they represent your mother and his. He’s not very sentimental about things, butI believe he might be about this. I think Polonius is legitimately in love with me, or what I represent. So tow that line. You hate him, he’s stolen you from your true mate, but you understand he has feelings. Just think of him as a sick puppy I guess. He’s had a pretty messed up life.” I laugh a little, not wanting to think too much about Polonius and the myriad of trauma he’d navigated to become a tyrant.

“Sick puppy. I like that. I’ve laid with Polonius and he talked to me some when I shared his bed as part of his harem. He didn’t sleep with his other wives, but did with me. I can handle him, don’t worry. When are you leaving?” She looked at me with sad and timid eyes.

“I’m not going to leave until I know that you’re safe, I promise. Are you okay doing this? Pretending to be me? If Polonius discovers you in a deception, he could kill you. Halo will do her best to stay near you to create magic, but she can’t always be with you. There are going to be times when you’ll be alone with him. You’ll have to make an excuse as to why you won’t be able to perform magic for him. I think it might be best to remind Polonius that you’ve only just become a mage and stay away from him as much as possible. You’ll have to share his bed again on your wedding night are you going to be okay with that?” I hated setting her upon the task but she was the only person I trusted who could actually pull off being me authentically since we grew up together.

“I’ve slept with Polonius, he’s no worse than Ulryk was. They are only men, no matter how powerful they are, in bed a man’s needs are the same,” she laughed, lightening the mood. “At least now I will be sleeping with Polonius for a good and righteous cause. I’ll do anything you ask of me. I want to do my part and be of service to you and the kingdom,” Gabrielle said with unwavering conviction. “I’m fully committed,” she assured, standing taller. “It is my honor.”

“Okay,” I sighed. “Thank you. Polonius will ask about you and you’ll tell him that when you woke up, Gabrielle was gone. Talk to him about how you didn’t want to return to Brahman’s Peak and voice your fears that Gabrielle may have run away during the chaos of your hasty wedding.”

“I can do that,” Gabrielle said with a smile. “I mean, a girl can dream right?”

“She sure can. You’re taking a tremendous risk, but I want you to know that I appreciated you before, but I am indebted to you now.” I bowed before her and kissed her hand. “I owe you my life for this. When Onyx Rah is safe and ready, you’ll hold a great place of honor in my court. One day I will find the most dashing prince to marry you and make you infinitely happy.” I said, feeling tears choke my throat.

“Your Majesty,” Gabrielle countered. “You owe me nothing, especially not your life. It is I who owe you mine. A handsome prince would be nice,” she giggled, still being the sweet girl I grew up with, “but the honor of playing such a vital role in this fight against Polonius is all I need.”

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