This was a wardrobe. In comparison, what I’d been given was a fucking cupboard masquerading as one, stocked with nothing but the essentials, even before the fucking switcheroo that Ava’s demented shadow brother was going to pay for.
They let me roam and pick out whatever I wanted while they sat on Ava’s bed, chatting.
The red mini dress called out to me. I dropped my pyjamas onto the floor and slipped it on, forgoing underwear altogether. It hugged my chest, hips, and arse to perfection.On its own, though, it was a little much. I paired it with a dark brown blazer and ankle boots.
If I wore it, it was mine; I wasn't going to give it back.
This was what I was talking about. This screamed confidence and power. This was me.
I walked out, shutting the door behind me, and glanced in their direction. ‘Thanks.’
‘No worries,’ Ava said quickly, looking me over. ‘Are you off to do that training?’
The whole thing was stupid, but I didn’t want to start anything now that we’d managed a sort of truce. ‘Well, I need to go soon, but I don’t know how I’m going to get there.’
Ava looked at Monica, who sighed and stood up. ‘Miriam will take you.’
Shit, was that her name? ‘Thanks.’
The word felt foreign and strange on my tongue. Like it didn’t belong in my vocabulary. Still, it was time for some changes in the name of becoming a ruler.
It was what people expected, wasn’t it? Expressing appreciation was something Lilian bitched about a lot during her training to become a queen. It was so long ago, I couldn’t remember much else she mentioned.
The red-eyed girl neared me and covered me in darkness that didn’t feel quite as suffocating as her brother’s. Was the dickhead doing that on purpose too?
We landed at the entrance to Sycamore University, and she dematerialised before I even had the chance to thank her.
I guessed she didn’t care, not judging by how utterly fucked up she looked from crying. I wondered what that was about, but not enough to ask. The whole shadow family wasn’t really up my alley. Well, I wasn’t quite sure where Ava fit into that anymore, but that wasn’t a problem I needed to solve anytime soon.
I pushed open the door I would normally have opened with witchcraft, feeling strangely out of place and useless.I’d expected a crowd and plenty of staring, but there wasn’t a living soul in the over-accessorised foyer.
Stepping past the elaborate floral centrepiece displayed on a marble table large enough to host a small party, I was greeted by a short, nerdy-looking girl who smiled the moment she noticed me.
Not a regular smile. Like I made her entire week by showing up. What a little weirdo. I liked her. ‘Hi, I’m Willow.’
‘I’m pleased to meet you, Your Majesty.’ She bowed, and I had to admit the surge of dominance was oddly addictive.
‘No need for that; I haven’t even been crowned yet,’ I said quickly.
The girl giggled like what I said was funny. ‘My family is very excited about your rule, Your Majesty. We come from the west lands by the Water Kingdom, but my mother said we might relocate closer if…’ She paused. ‘I’m glad to see you.’
‘If what?’
Her face lost colour. ‘I’d rather not say. I apologise for being too forward; it’s just my inability to shut up when I’m nervous. I didn’t mean to disturb you–’
‘It’s fine. Just say what you meant; I won’t be angry,’ I encouraged.
The girl’s eyes widened as she weighed her options. ‘It’s just that my mother didn’t have the best relationship with Your Highness’s mother, our former queen.’
Interesting. ‘How so?’ I asked after instructing her to lead the way to the dean.
‘It was over a man.’
I couldn’t help but laugh. ‘Say no more. Did my mother want your father?’
‘How did you know?’ Her eyes widened beyond what, I thought, was physically possible.
I smiled. ‘Just a hunch.’
