The guests throughout the room bowed one by one as their names were called, a litany of lords, ladies, and council memberswho had come to pledge their support—or at least their hope—in her cause.
They couldn’t help but stare a little too long, as if she wasn’t real and had to take an extra moment to confirm it really was the long-lost princess.
I didn’t blame them. I couldn’t look away from her either.
Every smile she gave, every polite nod, every soft “Thank you for coming,” sent a fresh pang through my chest. I knew what she was doing—she was performing, playing the role she’d been thrust into. I had to wonder about the lessons my sisters had bestowed upon her since I saw her last. Because of this, she did it so effortlessly that I felt a swell of pride, followed swiftly by something far more dangerous.
She should be mine.
My fists clenched at my sides.
I should be her Resonant. Surely the burning in my gut, the need to touch her, protect her, fight for her, fuck her until she stopped thinking and fell asleep in my arms…surely that all meant something.
Cock buried balls deep, I’d demanded the truth from her last night, asked if she intended to claim me.
Again, I’d been denied. My heart twisted to a black, charred mass in my chest. Seeing her like this, with the wealthiest, most powerful leaders on the planet bowing and fighting for her attention, I realized the truth. She was so far out of my reach now that it hurt to breathe.
Everyone would want a piece of her until there was nothing left to give to me.
I shifted uncomfortably, hyper aware of the blue of my uniform. The color marked me as a soldier of the transport station, nothing more. I may have been a high ranking general, but I was the lowliest plebe in comparison to others in this room. To others she would now be surrounded by.
I didn’t wear the deep black of my family. I did not wear a color that would match her gown perfectly, make it clear that I belonged at her side. No, I was the only one in the room wearing military blue. I should have listened to Catriona and worn black as my mother and father did. Instead, I’d chosen military dress, not noble. The contrast only made me feel more isolated. More out of place.
I was a soldier, not a royal.
Not her Resonant.
Nothing.
“Princess,” Lord Lorient’s voice carried through the room as he and his wife, Lady Iressa, approached. “You look just as your mother did the first time she addressed the council.”
Paige smiled, but there was a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes. I doubted anyone else noticed it, but I knew her well enough to see the cracks beneath her polished exterior.
“Thank you, Uncle,” she said softly. Of course she remembered the name, realized who this man was to her.
“You look like your mother, but I see your father’s spirit in you,” Lord Lorient added, his tone warming. “He was a great leader—strong, fair, and wise beyond his years. He was the youngest ambassador ever chosen. And you, Princess, carry that same strength. Combined with your mother’s spirit and ruling prowess, you will be formidable. It is an honor to stand by your side.”
Paige’s lips parted, as though she meant to say something, but all that came out was a quiet, “Thank you.”
“Your mother and I were dear friends, Princess. I loved her.” Lady Iressa stepped forward, taking Paige’s hands in her own. “I want you to know that. I loved her. Loved your father, too. You are not alone, my dear. Not now, and not ever.”
I expected Paige to falter, reveal her emotions, perhaps even shed a few tears. She did not. She lifted her chin, and for amoment, I saw not the confused female I’d brought into my family’s home, but the queen she was destined to be.
“Your support means more than you can imagine,” she replied. “I say this to all of you.” Her gaze swept across the room. “I know this is an unexpected and difficult time for all of us, but together, I believe we can build a better future for Insuri. A future that honors my mother’s legacy—and my father’s strength.”
Pride swelled in my chest, pushing back the ache. She was remarkable. A force unlike any I’d ever known. Perhaps a force too powerful and perfect to belong to a simple soldier like me.
She didn’t know from experience how Queen Alienor ruled. She had no traditions or understanding of Insuri culture and how the past two-plus decades had changed all of that. What she did assume–with strong validation–that the queen was most likely the one to orchestrate her parents’ murders and the coup to take over their rightful roles.
This gave Paige motivation to transform, to become someone other than the woman who suffered profound loss, not only of her parents, but of her planet. The poor, struggling young female living alone on Earth, unaware of who she was, until now.
“Indeed,” a new voice said, smooth and sly. Lady Kaelthra of the Zyr Council stepped forward with cautious steps, aided by a gold cane, her golden hair cascading over her shoulders in intricate waves. She wore a deep crimson gown that matched the striking red jewels embedded in her cuffs and collar. She was nearing a hundred years old, but her mind, and her tongue, were as sharp as ever. Her gaze lingered on Paige before shifting to General Niemini and my mother. “A bold vision, Princess. Though some might say boldness requires more than words. I hope you are not relying too heavily on others to see it realized.”
The room tensed.
Lady Kaelthra smiled at Paige, the expression sharp as a blade. “Of course, the general’s and his wife’s loyalties are commendable, but loyalty does not always translate to influence. I trust, as we are being asked to participate and support your claim to the throne, you understand the complexities of the game, Princess.”
What was this old fucking bitch trying to do? Intimidate Paige? Scare her? I reached for the weapon strapped to my side, relieved when my palm curled around the hilt. I couldn’t shoot the old ass, no matter how badly I might want to. I would protect Paige even from verbal attacks.
