Page 50 of Splintered Shadow
“Since arriving, she has bonded with a void beast,” Vekele said. “Which makes her of noble standing.”
A murmur went through the crowd.
Ghost pressed against Sarah’s legs. She reached down, touching his head to soothe him.
“Impressive. How did this happen?” Baris asked.
“It was unexpected, Your Majesty,” she answered.
“And you intend to claim her as your mate?” He directed the question to Vekele.
“Yes.”
“How did that happen?”
Vekele’s brow furrowed, unsure how to answer. That was not part of the script.
“A male’s reasons are his own, as is his heart,” Baris said. He turned his attention back to Sarah now. “You bear the royal crest. Was that unintentional?”
She rubbed her arm with the mark. “It’s based on an Earth animal, an owl. I’ve had it for a few years now.”
Murmurs rolled through the crowd.
Councilor Raelle, an older female sitting a few seats away from Baris, leaned forward. “Your Majesty, this is most unusual, yet I cannot help but feel this is a sign from the fates.”
Vekele disliked the councilor, largely because she kept to a rigid viewpoint that considered anything other than tradition to be spurious. She disliked change, and she was the principal opponent to the treaty with the Starshades.
A younger Vekele would have been surprised that such an elder would be so thirsty for battle. Now, he found the female aggravating.
“I concur,” Baris said.
More whispers in the crowd. Very few believed in the fates. It was a superstitious concept that had fallen out of favor. However, the savvy in the audience—and the majority of those invited to the banquet were politically savvy—recognized how this alien female with a near -mythical bond and the royal crest could be a valuable political symbol.
The rest of the guests, the gossips—and Baris had made sure to invite the biggest gossips at court—would spread every gritty detail.
Sarah reached for his hand and squeezed. The gesture was unanticipated but comforting. He craved more touches. As much of her as she would allow.
And her claws marking his skin.
“Sarah Krasinski of Earth is a gift from fate, given to us in times of great change,” Baris said.
Raelle looked pleased with herself. “Then you agree she must be bound to the royal house, honored as a mate of the king. To do less would be an insult.”
An insult to whom?
Joie Starshade sat silently beside Baris. Her expression was blank, betraying no hint of her true thoughts, but fury burned in her eyes. The restraint she displayed was admirable. She’d make an excellent queen.
Corde Starshade had no such restraint. He stood, knocking his chair back from the table. “We came to negotiate peace. If you will throw away the treaty on this… novelty, we will have no part of this farce.”
“Please, calm yourself. I fully intend to settle the terms of the treaty and bind my hand to Joie. There is another in the Shadowmark house who wants to properly honor this gift,” Baris said. “The fates brought Sarah Krasinski of Earth to Miria, for Prince Vekele. He felt the call to journey to Miria and discovered her there.”
“Rescued me,” Sarah added. “For the record. I was attacked by a pack of void beasts.”
“Your Majesty, you cannot ignore the fates,” Raelle said.
Baris held up a hand to silence the councilor. “I agree. I cannot ignore the fates. Vekele, brother, shall you honor this gift and treasure her as your mate?”
“I shall,” he said, his throat suddenly dry.
