“And I will tell you the same thing I did last night, Princess. It is us or the Blades. Your choice.”
I frown. “What is the occasion? Not another wedding, I hope?”
“Baev’kalath thrives at night and Queen Lanneth holds formal dinners every evening, whether it’s four people or four hundred and she cannot stand anything that is…”
“Soiled,” I finish. “Yes. I’ve learned that,” I say with surrender, pointing a stern finger at her. “But only I touch the sponge.”
The maids giggle into their hands and Solena nods. “As you wish. We will fill the tub.”
I sit on the edge of the bed, but I’m not waiting long before Solena signals to me from the adjoining room that my bath is ready. I can smell the same sweet herbs and flower petals that float atop the water, and after the day I’ve had, they put me at ease almost immediately. The maids remove my green dress and their jaws agape when they discover I am not wearing a corset. You’d think I had another head growing out of my back.
Solena holds up a towel when I climb into the tub, which is more courtesy than Queen Lanneth gave me, and as soon as the water hits my skin, I breathe out a long, blissful moan and sink myself to the bottom. I stay in the tub as long as I can until my fingers crinkle and the water turns tepid. When I climb out, I’m handed my black robe, and the maids follow me to my bedchamber. They present the new dress they have chosen and I hate to admit that I am already adjusting to this routine. Guards and maids. Baths and glittering gowns for midnight dinners. This dress is not as horrific as my wedding gown, but it has a plunging neckline that makes me blush even before I’ve put it on.
“You will look stunning, Princess,” Solena assures me.
The maids descend upon me, tugging the dress over my head and adjusting it meticulously until it clings perfectly to my hips. I catch the word "corset" muttered more than once, and I don’thesitate to cut them off, announcing that it’s been tossed out the window, never to be seen again. They dust my face with pale powder, then circle my eyes with a shimmering black paint.
When I glance in the mirror, the plunging neckline of the dress highlights the delicate curve of my collarbone while revealing a generous swath of skin down to the soft swell of my cleavage. The way the fabric clings to my figure draws attention to the contours of my body. I barely recognize the woman staring back at me, draped in these extravagant clothes. What would my sisters think if they saw me like this? My eyes settle on the intricate braid the maids have twisted my hair into, and their whispered words return to me.The prince favors a braid.
Solena opens the doors as I stand from the dressing table. I turn and find Arax standing tall and stalwart, his eyes staring blankly ahead.
“Are you ready, Your Highness?”
I wriggle my toes uncomfortably and screw up my face at him. “They’re making me wear shoes.”
“That is unfortunate, Your Highness,” he replies. He bows his head. “Follow me.”
I leave my chambers and turn right as Arax leads the way. Through the arches I observe the crescent moon high in the pitch black sky, its sliver of light almost too bright to look at. The rain falls steadily and the ocean crashes fiercely against the rocks that surround the black fortress. I close my eyes for a moment, to recall the birds whistling amidst the rustling leaves, the wind whispering soft secrets in my ear, the sound of sunlight dappling upon my skin. A warmth takes hold of me, like the embrace of an old friend.
“We are here, Princess,” Arax states.
When I open my eyes, I pray the sounds linger, that the warmth does not leave me. But as I stare at the giant wooden doors of the dining room, I realize that my dreams and wishescome to nothing here. My throat tightens and I stumble forward, but Arax is quick to take me by the elbow and steady me.
“Princess. Are you alright?”
I nod as I try to settle the rhythm of my heartbeat. “Fine. I’m fine.”
He releases me, and I draw back my shoulders to strand straight. It is as if being the prince’s wife is not enough for Baev’kalath. It wants to drain the life from me as well.
Arax pushes the doors open, revealing a grand, elongated hall with stone walls covered in tapestries and high above, arched wooden beams stretch across the ceiling like the ribs of a great beast. In the center stands a long, sturdy oak table, its polished surface gleaming darkly under the dim light, and high-backed chairs with deep crimson velvet cushions surround it. Silver goblets filled with dark red wine catch the flickering candlelight while candelabras scattered across the table cast dancing shadows on the walls, and a grand chandelier hangs above, its twisted framework adorned with melting candles.
Silken black drapes billow in the howling wind that pours over the balcony, allowing the moonlight to bathe the room in an unsettling glow that makes my hosts appear as ghosts at the opposite end of the table. The king sits at the head, his narrow face and hooded eyes turned towards the queen at his side, whose deathly pale skin is almost translucent. She brushes her hand against his cheek and speaks to him, his gaze consumed with every subtle movement of her lips. The exchange is so intimate that I feel I should look away, but I can not.
“Grotesque. Isn’t it?” Daedalus whispers to my ear, and every muscle in my body tightens. He presses against my back. “Be grateful you have not had to witness them entangled beneath the Lover’s Eye, wearing nothing but moonlight.”
“What?” I gasp as his lip brushes my earlobe.
“The moon goes through different phases, and each one holds special significance for us. When it reaches its fullest, we call it the Lover’s Eye. During this time, we Mordorin celebrate with feasts, wine, and offerings of flesh. Only the king and queen are expected to take the lead in the ceremonies, but when the air is thick with the scent of carnal pleasure, it's hard not to get swept up in the festivities.”
“What are you talking about?” I snap, jerking my ear away from his mouth.
Suddenly, I feel his hand cup the back of my neck. “Are you that innocent wife?” I can hear the smirk on his lips. “They make love before the entire court, beneath the Pale Eye. We watch for a time, but it is not long before all bodies intertwine.” He exhales, and my skin prickles under his breath. “I wonder what your body would look like dressed in nothing but moonlight.”
“Son. Daughter.” Lanneth rises from her seat and beckons to us.
Daedalus steps out from behind me, and I fall under his towering shadow. He wears a black suit cut close against his toned physique, and when he adjusts the cuffs on his sleeves, I notice the silver rings on his fingers and rune tattoos on his hands.
“Come, wife,” Daedalus coughs, clearing his throat. “We must not keep the king and queen waiting.”
