Page 51 of The Princess of Nothing
Kiros leaned forward, his voice charged with hope. “Are you happy?”
“So happy,” I cried. “I’m so grateful, Kiros. Truly. I...” I paused. My heart softened to him, only slightly. He was ignorant, arrogant, and damn right self-absorbed, but deep down, he had a good heart, one I was close to breaking. “Kiros.” I slowed my breathing, wiping my tears on the white sheets. “No matter what happens, I want you to know I’m thankful to you for this.”
He arched an eyebrow. “No matter what happens?”
“I mean, you know, marital fights.” I laughed. “That sort of thing.”
“Right.” His eyebrows pointed down, but his smile quickly replaced his frown. “I’ve not slept. I was up all night doing this for you.” He yawned and stretched his arms. “It was worth it,” he said, finishing his stretch, and placed his hands on my bed. “To see that perfect smile of yours.”
I blushed for the first time since being here. “You should go rest. Thank you, again.”
He closed the distance between us and ran the tip of his nose against mine, closing his eyes with a deep inhale. “You never need to thank me, darling.” He pulled away, squeezed my hand, and stood. “I’ll see you later today.”
“Wait,” I called, before he could leave. Perhaps it was guilt or gratitude, but I knew in his bleary-eyed stare I couldn’t let him go. “Sleep here.” I pointed at my bed. “I’m going to bathe anyway, then get dressed and go for breakfast. Besides, your room is so far from mine.”
A smile spread over his face. “I’d love that.”
I waited for light snores to leave his mouth when I stepped into the warm water. Lilies floated on the water’s surface, and the smell of honey and vanilla filled the space. I breathed it in, my eyes rolling to the back of my head.
My stomach did a flip when I thought about Morgana, bringing me out of my relaxed state. I couldn’t stop thinking about her being alive, being free. I thanked the ancestors, in my head, over and over. I wished I could get a message to her, tell her to run before I did so she wouldn’t be punished for me. I wondered if she already knew. She was skilled at foresight. She’d use her cards. I had to believe she would find a way out knowing what was to come. I begged destiny, an unseen force, to reveal to Morgana the future so she could make the best decision.
I inhaled deeply, then exhaled, sending tingles through my body. Cedric was coming tomorrow. He was close—we were so close—to being together and going home. I had so many fears that niggled; how would I take back my throne and go against Berovia, who would surely attack me once I escaped, then Edgar and his army? He needed to die if I were to rule again. He’d been a king, and there was no going back from that. Loyalists who preferred his rule would always call him the rightful leader and never accept me. After all, kings and queens were anointed by the ancestors and creator, and Edgar had been given that power, even if temporarily. Some may see it as it was meant to be and it happened because I wasn’t fit to rule, or whatever aligned with their desires.
There was Blaise too, and the dream of him. The memory was hard to ignore, ingrained into my subconscious. It was too much to think about. I needed to focus on one day at a time. For now, it was getting through the day, then tomorrow, my wedding.
I would have had two wedding days without having been married. The irony made me chuckle softly. Staring up at the mermaid mural, then trickling my gaze to the sandstone pillars, I relaxed my shoulders, drooping my arms, and floated into the water until it reached the bottom of my lip. I closed my eyes, finding comfort in the darkness. Every knot untangled in my body.
Morgana was saved. Cedric was coming. It was all going to be okay. I felt the ancestors with me when I heard Edna open the door to the room and call for me. I shushed her, hoping she’d hear me from the bath.
She appeared in the large doorway, holding a dress bag. My wedding dress. Her smile bunched her cheeks. “I’m sorry, miss. I didn’t know His Highness was asleep in your bed.”
“We can try it on later,” I told her as I eyed the dress, the final link in the chain.
***
It was early afternoonwhen Kiros finally awoke. He went to his room to dress, then joined me in the dining room for desserts. They ate them with some rich drink made from grounds of dark beans before their evening food.
He sat at the round table with me. No one knew of our engagement yet, but he did little to hide his affection for me. “Tomorrow is the day. Everyone will be shocked. We will tell our people in Berovia today, then the official announcement will come after we are wed, to Magaelor. The king wishes to arrange battle plans first.”
I was simply pleased that he no longer required guards to follow me wherever I went. “Yes, and I understand. It’s not an easy undertaking.”
“Your people do not know you’re alive, no? How happy they will be.”
I pulled a small plate with a slice of chocolate cake and blueberries in front of me, then sipped on the drink. It was hot and bitter, but it smelled sweet and nutty. “Finally, a dessert that’s normal.” I beamed down at my cake. “And yes, I’m sure they will be,” I told him, not wanting to discuss anything resembling politics with the man who would one day be the rival king. Still, when I looked at him, I saw him as the person who’d saved my friend. It overwhelmed my negative emotions—not entirely, but mostly, and that was a problem. I didn’t want to feel guilty.
“I love this one.” He pointed at a raspberry tart with a crumbling crust. It reminded me of the ones Cedric would make. He would be on his way here now, on horseback, the wind in his hair, his gold crown flashing in the sun.
“It looks good.” I pointed my fork at his and took a bite. He did the same with mine.
“The southern dancers will be dancing at our wedding dinner,” he announced after swallowing. “I asked for them specifically. I know you liked them.”
My stomach twisted. “Thank you.”
“Anything for you.” He leaned in and planted a kiss on my cheek. “I want to tell the world you’re mine now, but I can’t.” He frowned. “I despise these other women looking at you as if you are just a mistress, a fling of mine. Later today they will all know you as their future queen, and my wife.”
I rubbed the side of my neck. “I can’t wait.”
He stood and led me out to the dance floor. “For now, they’ll have to know you as this.” He wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me much closer than was appropriate when dancing. He kissed my neck. People’s eyes were on us, watching as he ran his fingers down my side, then pushed me out into a twirl. My waves bounced around my shoulders as I caught a glimpse of Neoma looking at us from the far corner. Her arms were crossed over her chest. Her dress looked as if it were made from spun silk. It stopped at her knees and pulled tight over her curves. Thin, soft net, the same color, hung around the dress loosely. I wished I got a chance to get to know her as the real me, but it was not meant to be.
