“Interested indeed,” Lady Reaux added, rapping her nails on the tabletop.
“Well, they’re certainly excited to meet their future queen,” Lord Sadim said.
Future queen.
The words took me off guard. They pounded through my skull, making my hands clammy with sweat. Of course, I knew what I’d agreed to with this proposal—but hearing him say it was something else entirely. Calling metheirqueen. I imagined meeting this kingdom and feeling responsible for yetanotherland full of people—ones who evidently weren’t sure if they were going to hate me or not.
It all slammed into me at once. This wasn’t a vacation. This wasn’t a task to check off a list. Once I married Galen, these would bemypeople too, even if from afar. My life. My purpose. I didn’t know how I ever thought I’d be able to come here and then go back to my old life without bringing a piece of this with me. Without letting it change me.
I wasn’t even sure I could lead myownempire. And on top of that, I was about to add this kingdom to the list.
I squeezed my eyes shut and took a huge gulp of the sweet wine, feeling it burn down my throat and settle in my stomach.
When I opened them again, Thorne was staring at me fromacross the table. His eyes flicked to Galen, who seemed to notice my silence and the food barely touched on my plate.
“I think that’s enough business talk for now,” Galen said, his hand coming up to rest on mine. I fought the urge to flinch at the supple leather of his gloves. “Would you like to take a walk with me through the gardens?” he offered.
I cleared my throat and nodded. The night had always been my solace, and I needed a moment away from the planning and scrutiny. Everything was happening so quickly. Without my fox half to put my mind at ease, the world was spinning faster than I could keep up.
I took his hand and let him lead me across the patio, down several granite steps to two lion statues that marked rows of beautiful flowers. Swinging lanterns were lit every few feet, allowing enough light for us to see over the stretch of land. The same wisteria that lined the entrance door to the palace climbed down the lantern posts, with a backdrop of violets, daffodils, larkspur, and roses blooming in the moonlight.
We walked in silence for a moment, and my heart slowly went back to normal, no longer thumping through my ears. I took three deep breaths, letting them slide from me and carry the lingering anxiety away.
“I apologize for Lord Sadim’s comment,” Galen finally said. “The ‘future queen’ bit. I know we haven’t had much time to discuss that particular part of the agreement.” I glanced over to see his gloved hand rubbing the back of his neck. “I fear this dinner moved a little too fast. I’m sorry I didn’t give you more time to adjust.”
Maybe it was because we were away from the others, but the king seemed…softer than before. More genuine. A little unsure, which I found rather endearing compared to the lazy smiles and forced charm.
“I should’ve expected it,” I admitted. “I know what I agreed to by coming here. It’s just a lot to take in all at once.”
He nodded. “You were appointed empress at the end of last year, correct?”
“Yes. Well, technically I haven’t been sworn in yet. I’m in what our law calls a ‘provisional period’ for a year, since I’m not a direct descendant of the last emperor, and my father before him abdicated the throne. Nobody’s managed to take it from me yet, though,” I said with a soft snort. “Not for lack of trying.”
He chuckled. “It’s nice to hear I’m not the only one facing challenges. Let me guess—poison in your wine?”
“Dagger to the pillow. And arrow to the hand.” I held out the hand that was shot the night before we left Veridia City.
“Impressive,” he said with a low whistle. “I suppose it’s a rite of passage. You’re not doing your job if someone hasn’t tried to kill you.”
“Well, let’s hope your people don’t feel that way while we’re on this tour.”
“Oh, don’t worry about what Lord Sadim said. He’s always a pessimist,” Galen said, waving a hand in the air. “Mysthelm is going to adore you. How could they not?” He paused, and I came to a stop beside him as he turned to face me, taking my hand again. “A beautiful, brave woman who took down a power-hungry tyrant and his wicked curse, leading her people out from under his hold.”
His gloved thumb rubbed against my wrist. I swallowed, forcing myself to look into his hazel eyes, to feelsomesort of…of warmth or magic in the moment, with the moonlight shining down on us, the soft hum of insects in the garden, the gentle curve of his lips as he smiled at me.
This was how the fairytales went. A young, handsome king sweeps the princess off her feet with his sweet words and dazzling eyes. He makes her his queen and whisks her away to his grand palace, where they live happily ever after.
But I wasn’t a princess. This wasn’t a fairytale. And I felt nothing. No warmth, no flicker of attraction, no butterflies.
Nothing except duty to my people and an obligation to follow through on my word.
“You make it sound larger than life.” I slipped my hand from his, and we resumed our stroll down the grassy path. “I can tell you’ve done your research, Your Majesty.”
“I admit, I had my advisors make some inquiries with your council over the last few months,” he said. “My correspondence team managed to find out quite a bit.”
“It seems I’m at a disadvantage, then, since I don’t know much about you beyond your father passing away late last year and you taking the throne in his place. Is your mother still with us?”
He rolled his lips, taking his time responding. “She’s alive. She lives here in the palace, but her health has been declining. She finds social gatherings to be a bit taxing. But she’s very much looking forward to meeting you.”
