For the second time that day, my claws emerged from my fingertips as my heart rate picked up speed. I didn’t often lose control like this, having learned from a young age how to subdue my emotions and keep my more animalistic instincts at bay. It was something all Shifters had to master, or else become a menace to society.
But these last few months had tested my patience.
“You knew they were planning this?” I hissed at my mother once the door shut behind her.
“I only just discovered it. I had breakfast this morning with Ladies Leighton and Cabot before I came to your office. They mentioned hearing their husbands discussing it two nights ago.”
I threw my hands in the air. “For Fates’ sake, how long has the council known? Why would they agree to this without asking me?”
“You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to, sweet girl.” She took a step closer. “They cannot make this decision final without your consent.”
“Yes, they can. I’m not the empress yet.” Gritting my teeth, I took a deep breath. “Why does this Galen Grimaldi evenwantto marry me? He’s never met me, never metanyonefrom this empire. We’ve been estranged for three centuries. Whodoessomething like that? Marry a complete stranger?”
“Well, your father and I did,” my mother said softly.
I blinked. “I—well, yes, I suppose you did.”
I often forgot how my parents met. My father was in line for the throne, andhisfather had arranged a marriage for him to the daughter of a wealthy Shifter lord in the capital, a woman he’d barely known the name of. My mother, Evadine.
“But you two fell in love,” I pointed out. “A once-in-a-lifetime kind of love. That’s not something I can guarantee, Mother.”
“No, it’s not,” she agreed. “But it’s something you canhopefor.” She cupped my cheeks and forced me to meet her gaze, those hazel eyes as sharp as when I was a child. “I’m not going to lie to you and promise a fairytale future, my dear. You knew when you fought for this role that life was not going to look the way for you that it does for others. Your father and I had to make many sacrifices during our time in power. It doesn’t make it easy. It doesn’t make it fair. But it’s always yourchoice. Don’t let them take that away from you.”
I was no stranger to sacrifices and difficult decisions. My twin brother and I grew up secluded from the world, isolated after my father abdicated the throne and was run out of the palace by people who believed he sparked the sleeping curse that once ravaged our empire. One Gayl was behind all along. My father died over a decade before we were able to clear his name. We’d lived in secrets and shadows, confined to our little cottage in the woods, recluses in our own home while the world spurned the Aris name.
We were hated. Spat upon. Ran from in anger and fear.
When he died and Mother fell sick, Leo and I went through adolescence and early adulthood with nothing but ourselves, our inadequately trained magic, and a couple of close friends. We made difficult decisions on a daily basis. And once we formed the rebellion, sacrifice became as easy as breathing. Time, energy, resources. Whatever I had went to our vision of a better future.
I would giveanythingfor my family, my friends, and my Sentinels without a second thought.
I supposed a part of me…
A part of me believed one day I wouldn’t have to. One day, the rest of my life would begin. One day, I’d be able to take something for myself simply because I wanted it.
Like love, for instance. Marriage. A family of my own.
But perhaps a life of responsibility, ofduty, would always look the same. My people first. My empire first.
I closed my eyes. I could live with that.Ifit was truly for the good of them, I could live with it.
“Fine,” I said. “Let’s go back inside.”
My mother furrowed her brow. “So you’re agreeing to it? To this marriage?”
“Right now, I’m agreeing to hear them out.” Reaching for the door handle, I added, “And they better have a good reason.”
3
Clarissa
The murmurings of the council dimmed when I entered the chamber once more. As I took my seat, Lord Stryker opened his mouth, but I spoke over him. “Tell me the terms of King Grimaldi’s request.”
Again, Lord Cabot was the one who answered. “You’re invited to Mysthelm in one week to tour their kingdom and meet the people in the hopes of improving relationships with them.” Stryker grunted at that. “You’ll be gone for approximately five weeks. King Grimaldi has told us he’s already lined up celebrations in your honor in his four territories. But he—he believes a visit is simply not enough to strengthen our bond.”
“What does he want then, a pair of handcuffs?” I muttered under my breath.
“What was that, Your Majesty?” Cabot raised an eyebrow.
