“King Drachen was pleased too when we informed him last night of the marriages,” Empress Emmeline said.
What the fuck?
Did the empress forget that their kingdoms functionedas a constitutional monarchy? She did not have the right to make a decision and go ahead with it without the approval of the council! But from the smiles and nods from the twenty councillors at the table, he knew none would oppose her.
Matteo might. Or at least he’d be displeased with his mother’s failure to go through the correct process of their kingdoms.
“And what is your opinion, Prince Elias?” the empress asked.
All eyes fixed on him. Well, all except his father’s.
Elias took a deep breath. He straightened. He smiled.
A flicker of uncertainty flashed through the empress’s eyes.
“I, too, am pleased with this marriage.” Elias’s voice rang out. “I would be honoured to marry such an esteemed and honourable man. The dragon warrior, aprince.” He threw a glance at Beau. “He is known for his strength, intelligence, and bravery. To stand beside Prince Gerard in public, to be associated with such a man, would be my greatest honour.”
The chamber filled with applause. The empress’s smile fell. Beau scowled, not even trying to hide his feelings.
“Wonderful! Wonderful!” His father clapped the loudest, as if he knew Elias would be pleased to marry Prince Gerard, as if Elias hadn’t a week ago spoken of how he did not wish to marry Prince Gerard.
“It was the empress’s idea.” His father smiled at him. “She knew it would be best for you.”
Elias looked away. He met the queen’s stony gaze. Her lips puckered, as if she’d drank off milk and was trying to hide it.
Well, I did it. I stopped Prince Gerard from marrying my snivelling, shitty half-brother.
And he’d managed to get himself married to the man instead. Elias sipped his glass of water as a lightness spread through his chest and limbs.
I am going to marry the dragon warrior. He will be my husband.
Unfortunately, Prince Gerard didn’t seem to want to interact with Elias, if him fleeing from Elias that other night was any indication.
How will he react when he discovers that we are to marry?
Chapter
Fifteen
“I’ll be marrying who?” Gerard’s stomach dropped into the bottoms of his heavy boots.
“Prince Elias. He is a coward and a pathetic lightning sorcerer, despite his excellent pedigree.” King Drachen’s nose wrinkled, as if he could think of nothing worse than weak offspring. “But at least he is pretty to look at. Focus on that, Gerard.”
Obviously, the lightning prince was pretty. Everyone knew that. But Gerard did not necessarily see that as a positive. Someone plain or unattractive might be able to tolerate Gerard’s appearance.
And how will he behave on the wedding night?
Gerard sat silently beside Senta in one of the sitting rooms. The chair they sat on had been stuffed with horsehair. It stabbed through the chair’s fabric and through Gerard’s trousers. It itched.
His father stood in the middle of the room. “At least the marriage contract does not state that you must regularly converse with Prince Elias. Unfortunately he takes after his father in terms of intellect.” He waved a hand in the air. “Just avoid talking to him or being around him outside of bedding him.”
The king’s brows drew low. “Of course, he will reside in Draconia. So we will all have to tolerate his senseless nattering. Perhaps we can lock him in a tower so we don’t have to interact with him and hear his foolish thoughts.”
Gerard’s mother’s ring hung heavy around his neck. He doubted Prince Elias would wear the battered trinket. Would Gerard even want him to?
“At least Senta’s bride will be a decent addition to the Castle of the Dragons. Lady Elizabeth Juniper is prettyandan excellent nature mage.”
Senta’s face remained almost completely neutral. But the corner of her lips tugged up in a slight smile. Lady Juniper had been the woman Senta had been dancing with at the betrothal ball for Princess Dorothye and Shadow Lady Nocturna.
