Page 4 of The Dragon King's Bride
We stare at one another for a moment, both of us at a loss for words. I should be pushing her off of me, but instead, I’m awestruck. The glow I thought I’d imagined earlier has returned with full force, and there’s no doubting it this time. It’s real. It’s real and it’s beautiful; one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. I want it.
She stumbles away from me with a flush to her features, stammering out an apology. I can barely hear what she’s saying. Every inch of me is taken with her, and all I can think about is how I want to do anything and everything to make her mine.
“I’m s-so sorry, Your Highness. Please forgive me. I’ll leave. I’ll just collect my things from the front entrance and—”
“No.” I cut her off with a wave of my hand. I can’t let her leave. Not after this. Besides, I still need to investigate her strange behavior. “It’s fine, Miss Havenbrook. You won’t be needing to collect your things.”
“B-but, sire—”
“You won’t be needing to collect your things,” I interrupt, “because you’ve passed, Miss Havenbrook.”
“What?”
“Congratulations, Ava Havenbrook. You’re still in the competition to become my queen.”
Chapter three
Ava
I can’t believe I’m still alive. Several moments have passed since I left the throne room, yet I still can’t seem to calm myself down.
I was certain I was dead the second I felt myself trip. My whole life flashed before my eyes in the time it took for me to land on top of the king’s thighs. Being a little rude was one thing, throwing myself into the man’s arms was another thing entirely. I can’t believe I wasn’t tossed into the dungeons.
And what was with that strange glow? I’ve never seen that before in my life. Was that a fairy thing? Clearly, I don’t know enough about my own kind. Though, that’s not exactly surprising, considering my circumstances.
I barely notice when I’m given several dirty looks upon my entry to the dining room. It’s not surprising. No one, including me, expected a serf girl to make it this far. Which begs the question, why am I here? Even if the king decided to show me compassion over my accidental tumble, nothing about our conversation should have allowed me to move forward in this competition.
Does the king know what that glow meant? Does he perhaps know I’m half fairy? No. That doesn’t make sense. I’d have definitely been killed if that was the case. Everyone knows about the late king’s death at the hands of the Fae. If Kaiser knew the truth, there’s no doubt he would be the first person to come for my head.
The rest of the evening passes in a blur as I try to figure things out. It’s as though I’m watching it happen through a pane of frosted glass rather than experiencing it myself. I’m dimly aware that the food is by far the best I’ve ever had, but I’m not in the right mood to enjoy it. No one speaks to me as I consume my food. They’re deliberately ignoring me, which is probably for the best.
After dinner, we’re shown to the dormitories. They don’t let us up yet, as the winner of the amulet still has to be announced. The girls around me break out into excited whispers as we’re left in the entrance hall. I seat myself with a long sigh. It’s been a long day. I don’t know which of the noble girls is going to be gifted this stupid amulet, and I don’t care. I just want to get to my room so I can go to sleep.
The advisor called Wilcox enters the room and we all go silent. He clears his throat.
“Good evening. I’m sure you’re all eager to get settled into your rooms, but before I let you get on your way, I have an announcement to make. His Highness King Kaiser has chosen who will bear the Amulet of Tarragon. Congratulations Ava Havenbrook. You may come up and receive your prize.”
My ears start to ring from the moment Wilcox calls out my name. What…did he just say? Is he serious? Why me?
All of my many questions spin over and over in my head. I have to bite my tongue to contain them. Dimly, I’m aware of how silent the room has gotten. Not that it wasn’t quiet before, but now it seems like everyone has forgotten to breathe.
I am one of them, I realize. Black spots fill my vision and I have to remind myself to suck in a gulp of air. It barely helps, but now I’m at least aware enough of my surroundings that I notice everyone is still waiting for me to get up and accept the amulet. I stand up with shaky legs and wince at the sound of the chair scraping against the marble floor.
I am dead. I am so, so dead. Kaiser may not have ordered my execution, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t killed me himself. This is going to put such a large target on my back; I’ll be surprised if I live to see morning.
Is there any way I can politely refuse the amulet? I shake my head at myself. No. There isn’t. From what I heard earlier, it is a tremendous honor to receive this heirloom. Everyone will know I don’t want to be queen if I refuse it. And why would a serf ever turn down such an opportunity? They’ll start digging into me, and unfortunately, I know what they’ll find there.
“Congratulations,” Wilcox says to me as I approach. I don’t dare answer. There’s no way to know what will come out of my mouth right now.
The thought of being branded as a spy pushes me to accept the amulet willingly. Its weight feels similar to an anchor as it drops into my palms. My smile is thin, but at least I manage to wear one. Now I really can’t wait to be out of here. In fact, I think it’s in my best interest to return to my room as quickly as I can.
I practically run out of there as soon as we are dismissed. No footsteps follow after me, but I do feel several furious stares boring into my back. My feet reach the stairs just as the entrance hall erupts in outraged whispers and shrieks of despair. I assume that means that Wilcox has let himself out. Which means I have very little time to get myself out of sight.
My heart races and my breaths quicken as I race up the steps. The walls surrounding me feel as though they’re closing in. It’s too late. Everyone’s got their eyes on me now and I’ve missed mychance to quietly escape from this competition. What am I going to do now?
The walls are getting too close now. Soon I feel I’ll be enclosed in their stony grasp, and I won’t be able to escape. I round a corner and spot a balcony on the other side of the hallway. I immediately make a break for it.
It feels like I can finally breathe again the moment I step outside. The summer air is crisp but comfortable. Crickets chirp in the distance. My pounding heart begins to slow as I take in the beauty of the stars in the night sky. I’m finally beginning to calm down.
