To say I wasn’t aware I could be surveilled every hour of every day was naïve of me. My father kept a close eye on us and had protections against my magic, but he let Nova and me have our space. Our bodyguards were close, but not within hearing distance, so we could have private conversations.
Here, there were always royal attendants or handmaidens close by. The gilded cage I’d been in had transformed into gilded shackles. The constant chatter between them, while peppering Nova and I with questions, made it impossible to reach out to Faolan. Even when I was spared a minute from conversation, one of them seemed to have a sixth sense for when I tried to reach out to him because the second the idea popped into my head, she engaged me.
I waited until I could be alone in bed to speak to him, but I was not allowed to even sleep by myself. A handmaiden pulled the curtains on my bed and told me she’d be right outside them all night in case I should need anything.I was just grateful she hadn’t climbed in with me.
Still, at least alone before sleep, I could reach out to him, I’d thought. But the second I lay my head on the pillow, I was asleep. When I woke, I was bemused. I wanted to believe I’dbeen drugged, but maybe the stress and overstimulation from the day had finally caught up to me.
I’d been introduced to Arkyn, and he seemed—annoyed, maybe—possibly disgusted. Off-put by something about me, and maybe it was for the best, since the feeling was mutual.
He’d made his feelings about me being missing, unchaperoned with an unknown male, abundantly clear. I was left in no doubt that he was just looking for a reason to take Faolan to task, and I’d tried to warn Faolan to leave yesterday, but he’d hinted at staying, which terrified me. Kol had been right, Arkyn would never accept our ryder bond, to say nothing of the other. So Faolan would only be safe far away.
It had been a full twenty-four hours since I’d heard from Faolan, and any second I wasn’t made to be sociable, I was drowning in worry.Where was he? I’d known staying would be too dangerous. He should have just left immediately, like we agreed. Perhaps he had gone quietly and was just too far away by now for me to reach?
My skin crawled with the suffocation of it all.
By the second morning, I was sick with overstimulation and fear.
“Have you thought about your wedding dress?” Cora, the attendant who seemed in tune with my mind speak, asked.
“Not at all.” I smiled softly, playing my part as best I could.
“How is that so?” another attendant, Viella, asked. “I’ve been thinking about my wedding since I was a youngling.”
“I wasn’t sure what the customs and style of the Night Kingdom would be. I didn’t want to get my heart set on something I could never have.” I lowered my eyes, acting bashful, when in reality sorrow filled my chest at all the things I’d never have with Faolan.
“Do not feel bad!” Viella came over and sank to a seat at my feet. “We will help you and you will be the prettiest bride the First Kingdom has ever seen.”
I nodded, holding back tears.
The chamber door slammed open suddenly, making half the handmaids gasp and jump. I didn’t move except for lifting my gaze.
Arkyn stood in the open door. “Leave us,” he demanded coldly. “All of you.”
The females hurried out of the room.
Viella stayed by my feet, seemingly defying his order.
“I said all of you.” Arkyn’s voice became low and sinister, sending a shiver down my spine.
“But her modesty—I was ordered to never leave her side, Your Highness…”
“I said out,” he roared.
She shakily got to her feet and hurried out. He slammed the door behind her before turning on me.
I clasped my hands in my lap, refusing to let him see them shake. “To what honor do I owe your presence, Your Highness?”
His gaze swept over me as his jaw flexed. “The King wants to hear you claim to be a ryder. You are to come with me.”
Stunned, I got to my feet and waited for him to lead. He made me wait, and I wished I could read what was behind his eyes. They were nothing like Alaric’s, who carried so much kindness in his. They were sinister.
“We don’t have all day.” He turned on his heel and swiftly exited my chambers.
I half ran to keep up, which in the dresses they’d provided me was not easy. They were too poofy and restrictive at the same time.
I walked into a council room where the King sat at the head of the table, joined by Nyx, Kol, Alaric, and another male I didn’t recognize.
Arkyn took his seat at the King's right hand, and I curtsied awkwardly before sitting next to Nyx.
