But after a decade of being in Luciena, in this castle, Airess had mastered the ability to bite her tongue. To sit quietly. To not speak unless spoken to.
It was the only way she could survive this place.
“There.Perfect,” Melanth said sharply, her chair scraping against the tiles as she came to an abrupt stand. Attendants scrambled to straighten the train of the queen’s dress as she prowled towards Airess. The queen looked her up and down and assessed Airess for any damage, as one might do when inspecting property they might buy. Melanth’s thin lips curved up in a smile as she regarded the seamstress, nodding in approval as she clasped her ring-adorned fingers together.
“You’ve outdone yourself, Esper, truly.” Melanth’s beady eyes finally met Airess, regarding her for the first time since she arrived in the room.
Perhaps in another life, Melanth would have been beautiful. Her porcelain skin, a common Elven trait, was flawless. Melanth’s ebony hair shone in her tight updo as her head cocked to the side.
Yes, Melanth would have been beautiful, but there was no beauty that could be seen beyond her wicked soul.
“Only two more days until you marry my son,” Melanth drawled as she stepped closer to Airess, brushing her cold fingers against her skin, pretending to make adjustments to Airess’ bodice. Airess blinked, fighting The Sight that threatened to overcome her vision at the contact of Melanth’s skin.
“Yes, my queen,” Airess replied as she successfully blocked out The Sight. The power had a mind of its own, pushing itself to the surface of her eyes when a threat was sensed, as if yearning to expose the bright color of a poisonous energy. Airess often stifled the rare geneticability, adefense mechanism that allowed her to physicallyseea person’s energy and sense their feelings and truths. It was a power she used to her advantage often, and awell-kept secret from the royals.
Melanth stood behind Airess and met her gaze in the mirror, stroking Airess’ long, flowing locks. “Such prettywhitehair. It almost blends in with your wedding gown.” Melanth stroked her hair, her fingers soft, yet the energy that buzzed around her screamed anythingbutsoft. She felt, rather than saw, Melanth’s cool jealousy.
Melanth snapped at one of her attendants. “The necklace.”
She lifted Airess’ hair as an attendant fastened a necklace onto her neck. Airess fought a frown as she brought her fingers to the gilded chained necklace, a sapphire encrusted snake at the center of her throat. The necklace represented everything about House Lucien, from the chains, to the coiled snake.
“Ah, the gold matches your eyes perfectly. Don’t you agree, Lady Haeleth?”
The queen mentioned Airess’ last name casually, but hearing it out loud brought up unwanted memories of her childhood she would rather forget. Memories of her father, Lord Haeleth, being slain before her very eyes.
“Yes, my queen,” Airess repeated subserviently, always choosing her words carefully before she said them.
The queen stared at Airess in calculation, her gaze void of any warmth. Airess inwardly relished the queen’s obvious jealousy of her beauty. At least, this, she had some control over.
Airess’ hair reached down to her waist. Dark lashes framed her glowing golden eyes, freckles adorning her nose and cheeks. Airess’ complexion was tanner compared to thefair-skinned Elves here in Luciena, indicating her halfling status. She was not a pure Elve. She was also half Human.
Her ears were pointed, but were not as long and lithe as pure Elven ears tended to be. The Elven people favored slender features, their elongated ears contrasting against the shorter length of Airess’ half-Human ones.
“You will be my daughter soon. It’s time you wear the family emblem.”
The words struck a chord deep inside Airess that she actively pushed down into the depths of her mind. Airess’ brows drew together in distaste at the words before forcing herself back into her usual docile mask.
But it was too late. Melanth saw her emotion, and smirked subtly at Airess’ reaction.
This was the nature of their relationship. Melanth was both fond and resentful, always pulling a power play move to dig into Airess, to show her who was in control.
From the time Airess was ten years of age, she had been betrothed to Prince Arzhel Lucien. Melanth resented that Airess would eventually become queen, replacing her. Outranking her.
But she loved her for it, too.
Melanth, above all, craved power. She respected it. She sought it out everywhere she could. As if the queenneededmore power, being one of the few Shadow Wielders left on the continent. Well, besides Arzhel, that is. Melanth’s son harnessed a power of Death so strong, so lethal, it hadn’t been seen in ages. The prince was rumored to have power akin to a God.
If Airess could scoff out loud at the thought, she would. If any of the citizens actually knew their queen and prince, they would surely compare them more to demons than Gods. She had learned as much during her decade long confinement in the capitol.
Melanth clicked her tongue. “So quiet today. Soon you will bear a prince or princess into the world. Are you not happy about that?” Melanth asked as she began to pace behind Airess slowly, drawing out her words.
“Of course I am.” Airess inwardly grimaced, her words falling flat despite her attempt to sound genuine. She didn’t want to become a mother, not withthatasshole of a prince. Arzhel didn’t want love, or a marriage, or even happiness. The prince and queen only wanted Airess for hersupposedpower, and to breed it within their familial line. That was the only reason she had been brought here as a child all those years ago.
Melanth’s eyes narrowed and ordered her ladies in wait to leave. They filed out slowly, Airess thankful for the clacking of their heels overshadowing the pounding of her heart.
“Have you made any progress on your abilities?” Melanth asked, cutting to the chase. Airess expected this question, as it was asked of her every few months.
Reluctantly, Airess inhaled. She drew her breath deep inside, brewing it into power within her mind, sending the sensation down her arm, then to her hand. The surface of her skin buzzed, glowed. A golden orb faintly hovered over her palm, twinkling like a night star.
