Page 2 of The Crimson Princess
Almost.
When morning arrives, I blink awake to an empty bed and the hum of a body,my body, owned by my king. While this idea once aroused me, it humiliates me now. But there is no time or allowance that forgives me for wallowing in self-pity, especially by myself. I was an orphaned commoner when I met Killian, and my life has been blessed in ways I will not take for granted. I am the queen, no matter how disgraced I may be in the eyes of myself and others, and I will hold my head high and flex the magic my commoner upbringing declares impossible for me to possess. I am an anomaly in every way, and my connection to the lesser class lifts them up and tears down walls.
I might not have earned Killian’s undying devotion, but I know I have his respect.
I throw away the silk blankets and push to my feet, naked where I stand, as Killian would have it no other way. I scoop up my robe from the corner chair and slip it into place. That’s when I hear the door to my room open, and a few moments later Satima rather sullenly appears in my view. Killian would complain that knocking is a proper and polite skill to acquire, but considering I’m now decent, I don’t mind.
“Morning, mama,” she greets, her long dark brown hair pulled back at her nape.
“Morning, honey.” I tilt my chin down and study her. “What’s wrong?”
“Today’s the day,” she says, her eyes filled with apprehension. The glorious rich emerald of her eyes declaring her ancient, royal ancestry. Her father’s eyes. She perches on the edge of the mattress, “My first Challenge ever. The day shadows and guardians are chosen.”
In this moment, more than most, I miss the days of her bursting in here and jumping on the bed, while I scolded her to stop. They were simpler times, safer times. Times that she was naïve and untouched by war. “Indeed, it is,” I say, sitting down next to her, waiting for her to reveal what is really bothering her.
“Why can’t we just shut all eight portals? Why do we have to risk gale lives to protect them? And most of them are in the human world. Why can’t they protect themselves?”
“So many questions,” I say. “Third World runs parallel to the human realm which is why they ended up with all the biggest problems. We can’t shut the portals because there are cracks between Earth and the Third World that were created from the druid king’s abuse of dark magic. And we don’t want all the evil things in Third World tormenting the humans who played no part in creating the problem, nor do they possess magic to defend themselves.”
“I guess that would be bad. I remember when Dad used to tell me he’d send me to the Zombie Pit if I didn’t behave and then all the criminals there would eat me.”
“Of course, you know, he would never do that.”
“I know, but he loves to ground me.”
“Because you sneak out to the forest.”
“Maybe sometimes,” she says coyly. “It leads right to your old village, and I love that bakery there, the same one you love.”
“Wait on me and I’ll take you. And it will be our secret. Deal?”
“Yes,” she says. “Deal.” But there is no light in her eyes, and she’s back to the day’s events. “How many invitations went out for the Challenge?”
“Hundreds.”
“And who decides who gets the invitations?”
“Their names appear in the Book of Life for your father to read. He hands the names to the council and invitations are sent out.”
“How does the book pick?”
“That is a mystery I’m not sure even your father understands.”
“What does it mean if the invitation has a number nine on it?”
It’s an unexpected question and my brows dip, “Where is all of this coming from?”
“I hear things,” she says. “I want to know things, too.”
“The book assigns the numbers. That person will be the ninth to compete. What is this really about?”
She twists the fingers of both hands together in front of her, her gaze dipped low. I slide in front of her and settle on a knee, catching her chin. “What’s wrong, honey?”
“Raven is number nine.”
My heart sinks. Raven is her best friend. She’s also only fifteen. Damn Killian. I know he knew she was chosen. I know he knew she was the fifteen-year-old. He just didn’t want to tell me. She’s also young for her age. She has no siblings to train her, and her parents are no warriors. She will enter the Challenge poorly prepared.
“She’s gale and all sages and highborns have inherent magic. She’s highborn. Her magic is inherent,” I remind her. “She doesn’t need to train to use it. Instinct will kick in.”
