I was embarrassed that my hand was shaking when I took his, but Qian didn’t seem to mind. He brought me to the edge of the box, where I could see the packed arena. People in the stands jumped and cheered for me, rippling like the surface of water in a storm. They waved their arms or waved flags, crying out my name.
“Queen Mahalina!”
A rush of something, perhaps pride, filled me up, and it took my breath away. All these people relied on me. But they would never really know me enough to truly love me. How could they? Tears pricked my eyes, and I waved to them, and the air buzzed with their voices as they screamed louder.
Qian leaned in close to me, his breath tickling my ear, so he could be sure I heard him over all the noise. “I am the luckiest man alive to have you at my side.”
A blush rose to my cheeks, and I couldn’t help but smile. Though beneath the veil my fangs caught on my lip and pricked my skin. My breath hitched the moment I tasted my own blood.
Horns blasted, and the champions filed out from a tunnel on the far side of the arena, escorted by pages carrying flags and flowers, dropping them at their feet like a red carpet.
All the champions were tall and strong, and they wore thesame high-necked sleeveless tunic and formfitting pants, ensuring that the competitors were evenly matched. Competitors from both Jade Mountain and the different courts of Biringan were mixed together, men and women encantos alike, all of them looking as tough as the next. Among them was Lucas. He walked with his shoulders straight, his head held high. My heart fluttered when I saw him. His eyes scanned the arena, taking in everything and studying the landscape for the best tactical advantage. I couldn’t help but feel a little biased. I wanted him to win.
Qian and I stood at the front of the box while each knight presented me with a gift. Some of them gave me tokens from their own person, like handkerchiefs or necklaces, others gave me flowers, and some gave me fruit. Each of them pledged an oath to me.
“I will win for your honor, Your Majesty.”
“I will win for your beauty, Your Majesty.”
“I will win for your grace, Your Majesty.”
Variations of that continued as the gifts piled up, and I thanked them all for participating.
Heng, broad-shouldered but light on his feet, stepped forward and presented me with a dagger. Qian accepted it and passed it along to me. The blade was cold to the touch.
“I will win for your future, Your Majesty,” Heng said. His smile was sharp and confident.
“Excellent, General,” Qian said, grinning.
When it was Lucas’s turn to come to the box, he bowed. He had nothing in his hands; they were clasped tightly at his waist.
“Do you have a gift for your queen?” Qian asked, mostly amused.
“I have nothing that I can give that would be adequate,” Lucas said. “I ask for a gift instead.”
Murmurs flitted around the arena. Qian looked at me, then back at Lucas. The crystals zoomed in on Lucas’s face, but he remained stoic and unfazed. If he was embarrassed, he didn’t show it.
“What do you want?” Qian asked.
“To see Queen Mahalina’s eyes.”
The arena fell silent, and then murmurs and whispers curled around the stands. The other competitors shifted anxiously, knowing that he was breaking a social taboo.
“You wish to see my bride’s face the day before our wedding?” Qian asked, sounding more curious than offended.
My heart pounded so hard, I was afraid I might collapse.
Lucas nodded. “To have her look upon me is the only thing I desire.”
Qian turned to me, brows drawn together as if trying to find a reason to say no, but I squeezed his hand.
“Of course, Sir Lucas,” I said.
Slowly, I lifted my veil, and the crowd gasped. Not because I was a horrible monster, at least. I could see Lucas clearly now, and I pressed my lips together tightly so they wouldn’t tremble. I wanted him to see me, get one last look, before we couldn’t do this again.
Lucas’s face didn’t betray any of the emotions I knew he was feeling. His shoulders rose and fell with each breath, but he looked at me so steadily, it was like I was the only thing in the universe.His eyes shone with warmth, and all the history we had together was captured between us. Every feeling I had for him welled up inside me like a dam about to burst, but I stood strong and tall. I wanted to tell him how sorry I was, and he seemed to understand that.
With a slight nod of his head, a small smile lifted the corners of his mouth. It was a sad one, though.
