“Don’t know what you’re talking about,” Maverick said. He didn’t even glance at this chair— probably because he was sick of looking at it after working on it so much, I knew.
“Um, yes you do, because I know your work, and this is your signature,” I said, pointing to the owl brand. “You always engrave an owl on every project you finish. You’re not skilled enough to build this all by yourself, but you helped.”
He shrugged. “I might’ve helped build it, but I ain’t telling you who came up with the idea.”
He didn’t have to, because I already knew. Charlie and Maverick were really close. They’d bonded in little ways over the years, and Charlie had told me he was heading out to hang with Maverick every few days once we’d gotten to Ilamanthe, though I’d never asked what they’d been doing. Now I knew.
I was shocked that Charlie had bothered to give me a Christmas present after everything that happened, but I figured I was the only person who could use this chair, and he wouldn’t want Maverick’s project to go to waste.
I lowered my voice. “Well, thank you. It means everything that you put so much effort into this. It really does.”
I turned my chair, but Maverick added, “You should thank him. He was really excited about giving it to you.”
My teeth cut into my lower lip as I bit down. “I know.”
I spent the rest of Christmas Day with my family. We had dinner, exchanged gifts, and they sang me Happy Birthday after bringing out my favorite chocolate truffle cake, topped with twenty-two candles. Even though we kept all the family traditions, something was achingly missing.
I wanted Charlie to be here. And I hated that he wasn’t as much as I was relieved he was out of my sight.
I missed Oberi, too. I hadn’t had a Christmas without him since we’d bonded. I’d erased my old life, forgotten it to step into a new one.
I did my best to slip away the minute the festivities were over. I wanted to be alone. The Ladies’ Court would be empty, because everyone in the palace was spending Christmas with their loved ones, so I’d have the whole place all to myself. Not even Eldin was behind me. I’d given her the day off to celebrate with her family.
I didn’t need, nor want, a guard on this painful day. As I went to round a corner, I heard raised voices. The yelling was coming from one person— Cameron.
“Was it really too much to ask that you demand your wife make an appearance this evening?” Cameron hissed, sounding half-drunk. Did this man do anything without a drink in his hand?
“I won’t force her to see me.” That was Charlie. I remained hidden, leaning in to listen closer.
“Oh, really? That’s adorable, after your actions of the previous month.”
“I don’t want to be that person anymore!”
“Your sudden change of heart is conveniently antagonizing to my rule. Is that why you’re doing this? To aggravate me?”
Apparently it was a big problem I hadn’t shown up for the royal Christmas dinner.
“What’s going on between Ava and I has nothing to do with you,” Charlie hissed.
“There has never been a divorce in the history of the Elvish monarchy, and there won’t be! I refuse to allow this to happen!”
“I'm going to do what's best for her. If this is what she wants?—”
“My father is dead. The royal family has to present a united front; otherwise, we look weak. We can’t afford to show The Mission there are cracks. I suggest you do something to keep her in this family. Otherwise, you’re even more useless than I thought you were!”
I felt immense rage at Cameron. Me loving my spouse was never the problem.
I realized the immense pressure Charlie had to be under. He needed to keep us together, not just for the sake of our marriage, but for the good of the Elvish empire.
I wouldn't stay with him out of duty. Whether Charlie and I were together or not depended on what we wanted, not what was best for the monarchy.
I rounded the corner. Poor Oberi had shrunk beside Charlie, his ears pinned back. I think that pissed me off the most. It showed how Charlie truly felt, and I’d be damned if Cameron acted like such a brute in my palace.
“It was my decision not to come to dinner,” I announced, looking Cameron in the eye. “I know you think you have full control over everything, but since I don’t have any Elvish blood, I’m not forced to do as you say. In fact, it’s pretty convenient for me to do whatever I please instead of dancing to your every whim, like everyone else here.”
Charlie was petrified at my arrival, like he was ashamed I’d caught his father yelling at him. Cameron, though, appeared insanely irritated.
“Princess,” Cameron grumbled. “So polite of you to show your face now, after snubbing us so cruelly.”
