And his bright blue eyes were already locked on me.
“Princess Asteria.” He smiled widely, and I was taken aback by how delighted he was to see me. The fact that he may know more about me and what role the gods had given me was a constant itch I couldn’t shake. I hated other people knowing things I didn’t, but even more so when it wasaboutme.
“King Calix.” He nodded to my mate and then turned, surprised. “Prince Altan, we certainly weren’t expecting you.” He raised a brow, and Altan shot him a smirk.
“Well, in times like these, King Tieran,” Altan winked, “I find it important to stick to those walking the right path.”
Tieran raised a brow at him but watched him with a speculative look on his face.
“Father, perhaps we can discuss Prince Altan’s presence later. They’ve flown a good distance; I’m sure they’d appreciate a rest before we meet.” The youngest prince, Zakat, said. I remembered that he was actually the heir, not the eldest son, Vesper.
The two stood next to one another, but they looked like they’d rather be anywhere else. Zakat was all his father in looks, sharing his dark black skin tone, while Vesper was more of a mix of his parents. Queen Eveleen stood beside them, with olive skin and green almond eyes. She had a long, luxurious mass of dark hair that made me suddenly wish for more volume in my own.
Vesper’s curly hair was shorn close to his head, while Zakat had braids that fell to his shoulders. Their only similarity being the bright blue eyes they got from their father. Their sister, Princess Dysis, had her own braids in an updo, leaving some of them down to frame her face. She had delicate features, with hazel eyes and tawny brown skin. She seemed to take half her features from each parent, even more so than Vesper.
As King Tieran nodded to Prince Zakat and began to lead us in, Princess Dysis came up beside me. “It’s wonderful to meet you, Princess.”
The strangeness of being called Princess would never fade. “You as well, Princess Dysis.”
“Please, just call me Dy.” She smiled, and I looked her over. She seemed strangely genuine.
“Asteria, then.” I insisted, already sick of all the titles. She took my arm with hers, leading me forward, and leaned into me slightly.
“Father has been so excited since we learned of you,” she whispered, and my eyebrows flew upward.
“Why?” I whispered back, and she giggled, shaking her head.
“He’d never forgive me if I spoiled it.” I sighed at her response, resigning myself to waiting.
“Princess Asteria.” Prince Zakat came up beside me, and I could feel Calix’s discomfort from where he walked beside King Tieran. “What are you doing hanging around with these fools?” He smirked, head tilting toward Altan, who huffed.
“Fool? Have you seen yourself recently?” Altan gave him a look up and down before scoffing, but his eyes definitely lingered a bit on the prince’s exposed chest, his loose shirt hanging open down the middle to expose dark, shining skin. Had I not had Calix, I may not have been able to help lingering myself.
“Oh, don’t be jealous, Altan.” Zakat cooed at him. “I’m sure we can find a way to make people take you seriously.”
“Ha!” Altan barked. “That’s rich coming from you.”
Zakat turned to him completely, stepping closer so he was eye to eye with Altan. The two stared at one another intensely, and I raised a brow as the tension between them rose. I wasn’t sure if they were about to kill each other or kiss.
I was personally voting on the latter. Because hey, I might have the sexiest man in Celesterra all to myself, but a girl could always appreciate hot men together.
“Keep flirting, Zakat,” Vesper murmured as he walked past. “I’m sure that will go down well with your suitors.”
Zakat groaned, his head swinging toward his brother. “Don’t remind me.”
He shuddered, turning back to face me and whispering in horror, “Father wants me to find a bride to continue the royal line. Can you imagine? Sleeping with a woman?”
He shuddered again, and I instantly felt for him. I couldn’t imagine being required to marry, let alone to a person I didn’t prefer. The thought of being forced to have a child was equally reprehensible to me.
Children were something I never really considered. As a slave, I didn’t want to continue the cycle, despite the way the women of my village complimented my “birthing hips” and tried to convince me to settle down once I was placed in my new kingdom.
But things were different now.
Calix and I actually loved each other, for one. He was also very close to his family, and I imagined he’d want a family of his own one day. A little babe who was a piece of both of us. And wewouldneed an heir.
But I was only twenty-one, and we had centuries for all of that. I needed time to adjust to this life, to learn to live and love and rule.
Babies were centuries off, at an absoluteminimum.
