“Just something special for our wedding day,” the king said, obviously pleased by my reaction.
The guests in the main hall applauded as we walked in, cheers and hoots filling the room. The king laughed, loud and booming, and waved at the guests with his free hand as he hitched me a little closer. I hid my smile behind my hand. It was a strange feeling, being here like this, the center of attention—it almost didn’t feel real. Like I was playing a role, which I supposed was true. Finally, I felt like I was free from the judgmental, assessing eyes of the council and the court. The Choice hadn’t ended the way I’d wanted—but at least it’d ended. Small favors.
The band began to play, and the king led me toward the floor. “I still don’t know the Nightfall dances,” I whispered.
“Don’t worry about that,” the king said. “The ceremony was for the rituals of Nightfall. The rest of the day is about us.”
He squeezed my hand and then pulled me close, in the center of the dance floor. The other guests watched us as they circled around with warm smiles on their faces and champagne in their hands. The king held me close with hand at my lower back, holding me nearly flush against his body as we danced to the slow, romantic song. Our first dance. We were married.
I closed my eyes and let him guide me through the waltz.
The rest of the day was about us.
The day, and the night.
I’d be moving quarters. Somehow, in all my anxiety about the ceremony itself, I’d forgotten about a key part of a marriage.
Consummating it.
His hand burned like a brand on my lower back. When he touched me, my wolf leaned into it, wanting more, more, more, and my own body betrayed me with desire. I was drawn to him like a moth to a flame, leaning closer and closer until I was burned. I’d let myself get too caught up in my desire once, but that was before Griffin had shown up at the gates of Efra.
We were married—but we weren’t in love. No matter what the king said. He couldn’t expect me
to give myself to him, not tonight, not when the loss of the man I’d thought I’d marry was still so fresh.
But somehow dancing with him under the glittering snowflakes still made my heart beat a little faster.
The song ended, picking up into something a little faster. The king smiled, then took my hand and led me off the dance floor as other couples filled it, eager to dance to the high-energy music the band began to play.
“Eventually I’ll teach you the jigs,” he said with a smile. “Just in case. They’re not my favorite, either.”
“Seems like they might be a bit dangerous after a few drinks,” I said. On the dance floor, a young court member picked up his partner by the waist and lifted her so high she squealed with delight.
“That’s part of the fun,” the king said. “Come, let’s take a rest.”
He led me to the dais, and we took our seats on the thrones. Servants swept in immediately and offered us fine hors d’oeuvres and thin slices of cake—cut from the immense cake under the window, which I hadn’t even noticed until now. We each got a glass of champagne, and then the congratulations started. Guest after guest appeared to offer greetings, gifts, teary smiles, long-winded stories. The king thanked everyone graciously. Finally, we’d spoken to most of the guests, and then the king led me back to the floor alongside the court members. I even danced with a few others, including Cyran and Roth. My father lingered near the edges of the room, watching hawk-like, often by the duchess’ side.
I was dancing with Roth and quickly losing ideas of conversations to have, when Barion tapped
Roth on the shoulder. “Pardon me,” he said, “mind if I cut in?”
Roth looked just as grateful as I did to be relieved of our awkward conversation. Barion swept in easily, taking my hand in his and setting his other at my waist to lead us in a slightly stiff waltz. He looked handsome in his soldier’s dress uniform, in the tan colors of Daybreak with teal stitching along the collar. I pressed my lips together.
“Congratulations, Reyna,” he said. “You’ll be a fine queen.”
I sniffed. “The duke seems to think so.”
Barion sighed. He squeezed my hand gently. “You know,” he said, “it’s my duty as a soldier of
Daybreak to remain loyal to the duke.”
My heart sank. I knew that, of course, but it still made me ache to hear it. I cut my gaze to the side. The king lingered near the edge of the dance floor as he waltzed with Lady Marin. He raised his eyebrows at me but I shook my head minutely. I could handle this myself.
“I never thought otherwise,” I said.
“Yet,” Barion said, “I trained you well, Lady Reyna, and now that you are a wolf of Nightfall, you must make your own decisions. And I trust you will make the decision best for you.” l glanced up at him, surprised. He was watching me carefully, the corners of his lips downturned. Only then did I realize that Barion may feel just as trapped as I did—between the duty he had to my father, the wolves of Daybreak, and my safety here in Efra. He’d practically raised me, and he’d wanted me to win this Choice. Maybe he hadn’t known about my father’s plan until it was too late.
I couldn’t ask; I’d never know for sure. But it was a relief, a balm, to know that maybe he didn’t want my father’s plan to succeed, either.
“Thank you,” I said. “And thank you for suggesting Fina and Adora stand with me at my wedding.”
His concerned expression melted into his usual jovial smile. Maybe he felt the same slight relief I did. “I’m glad it was a good decision,” he said. “It’s lovely to see you with some real friends, instead of that worm Griffin.”
I laughed, suddenly surprised. “I suppose I didn’t know what I was missing.”
The song ended and Barion stepped away with a bow. “Thank you for the dance,” he said, “and good luck, Lady Reyna.”That was his way of saying goodbye.Outside, the sun had dipped down below the horizon, and the evening edged into night. The wine and champagne flowed, the band sweated through their clothes, and the cake was served down to the glass stand. I was still on the dance floor with the king, exhaustion beginning to nip at my heels like a pup.A bell sounded from somewhere in the room. The king pulled me close to his side. “That’s our cue,” he said. His voice was low, rumbling from all the talking he’d done to the guests. He looked just as tired as I felt, with his crown a little askance and sweat gathered at the collar of his fine shirt.I leaned against him, like my body was about to give up standing on its own since he was here to hold us up. “Cue?”The crowd began to hoot and shout out their well wishes. Scattered throughout the crowd, guests held sparklers, passed out by
My wolf urged me to move closer, to kiss him, to bury my face in the crook of his neck and erase all my reason and logic in the delicious familiar scent of his sweat. I wrestled her into submission.“We should talk,” I said.The king pulled back with an interested smile on his face. “Sure.” He moved toward the crackling fire, then gestured toward the armchair across from his own. He hadn’t changed his clothes, but did roll up the sleeves of his fine shirt, revealing the tanned muscular curve of his forearms. He poured us each a bit of brandy, then offered me the glass. “Let’s talk.” “I know it’s our wedding night,” I said.“You have a keen eye.”I ignored that. “And I know what is—customary.”“Right,” he said, that wolfish smirk reappearing on his face as his warm eyes tracked over my body.“But I—I can’t forgive as quickly as some might be able to,” I said. “I need more time.”The pleased expression dropped off his face. He raised his eyebrows. “This is about that traitor of yours?”
Before I made it, though, he caught up and caught my wrist in his hand. “Where do you think you’re going?”“Outside,” I said. “I need space.”He kept his hand around my wrist as he stepped close. “The last thing we need right now, Reyna, is more space.” He pressed his chest to my back and ducked his head closer, nosing behind my ear and inhaling. “I know you yearn for me.” His voice vibrated into my bones from the intimacy. “I can smell your desire.”I pressed my thighs together. It was no mystery that I wanted him. I’d made that clear the last night we’d spent together in this room. “My body and mind have two different opinions of you.”“Perhaps that’s part of the problem,” he said. “You’re so caught up in your mind that you ignore your body—and your wolf.”“I don’t ignore her,” I huffed, even as my wolf protested. Then I snapped my mouth shut. I didn’t need to justify myself to the king. I wasn’t an animal like the wolves of Nightfall. I had more selfrestraint than that.“We cannot
29When I woke up the next morning, it was to a brisk series of knocks at the door of the king’s chambers. I was asleep in his immense bed, but there was no indentation on the mattress next to me, nor any trace of the king’s scent on the sheets. He’d never come to bed at all.Last night, my exhaustion had overwhelmed my turmoil and I’d passed out nearly as soon as I’d hit the mattress beneath me. I’d never expected the king to give up his quarters to me though. It made my chest ache.I pulled my robe back on and stepped out into the main quarters to answer the door. Amity and Rue were on the other side, cheerful as ever despite the early hour. “Good morning, Your Highness,” Amity said brightly.“Wow,” I murmured. “Can we stick with Lady Reyna? At least until I’m a little more used to it?”“Sure,” Rue said. “This is a big change. I think you’ll love it, though.”I nodded. She had no idea how wrong she was. But, at least with Amity and Rue with me, it’d be a bit more bearable than it w
I wasn’t eager to draw too much attention to myself if I could help it.“Lovely choice, milady,” Amity said.We had a quick breakfast in my quarters, brought in by the kitchen staff, and then the two of them dressed me in the fine gown. Rue tied the laces at the back of the dress, while Amity brushed my hair into a plait resting over one shoulder. When she was done, she pulled another lacquer box from the drawers of the vanity and opened it. Inside was a plain, delicate crown, a simple band of gold like the one the king wore for most everyday ceremonies. She set it on my head with the same care and attention she did when she’d dressed me in the tiara that represented Daybreak during the Choice. But this crown, despite its simplicity, felt so much heavier.“Gorgeous,” she said with a smile.“Thank you,” I said. I didn’t feel gorgeous. I felt tired.Amity led me to the door. “We had best go send off the guests before the hour gets any later.”Outside, it was an icy cold day, with the s
My father sucked his teeth, then turned wordlessly and climbed into the carriage. Barion lingered for a moment, gazing at me. Then he nodded and walked toward his own wagon.With my heart in my throat, I strode back into the manor. Before the doors closed, the horses’ whinnying filtered in, and the familiar strike of hooves on the road as they began to move.With the carriages went the last vestiges of my life in Daybreak.I paused in the foyer, unsteady on my feet as that realization washed over me.Amity and Rue trotted in after me, then shifted back into their human forms. “Are you all right, milady?” Rue asked.I brushed a loose strand of hair out of my eyes and nodded. “Yes,” I said. “Perfectly fine.” I was the Queen of Frasia, and I was alone.30n my new quarters, I dismissed Amity and Rue and then stood by the window, gazing out over the snowy tree line. I needed space. I needed somewhere to sit and read and think—I had a couch in these quarters, but why not a desk? Did a quee
“You see what you want to see and only that.” I flattened my hands on his broad chest and shoved him backward; to my surprise he acquiesced and took a few steps back. “You barely know me. You only think you know me. Love me. I won’t bow to your desires just because you’ve forced me into this role. From now on, no one controls me, even if that means this marriage is in name only.”The king’s expression became suddenly, strikingly hurt—like I’d hit him. Then just as quickly as the pain had appeared, it was gone, replaced by a stony anger so powerful that when he bared his teeth, it made my wolf whine internally. I’d pushed him too far this time. I’d gotten cocky, and now the Bloody king was going to make his title known to me, just like he’d done to the traitorous Lord, and then to Griffin.Then, the air crackled like an oncoming storm.The king’s wolf burst forth.He shifted effortlessly, the clothes tearing from his back and landing in shreds on the shining floors of my quarters. He s
1“Y ou’re not going to believe this,” I said. I leaned towards the map I had spread out on the oak desk. We were in the library, a round stone room with high ceilings and books lining every wall. I loved to read, sure, but the court cartographer had uncovered this map from deep in the archives just for me.Barion sighed dramatically and looked up from the novel he was thumbing through. He sank deeper into the overstuffed armchair.“What now?”His lack of interest didn’t deter me. I was used to this kind of reaction from Barion — he’d been my tutor in sword fighting and strategy since I was knee-high. He’d been the one to first encourage my burgeoning interest in cartography when I was a little girl. Now he had to deal with the consequences. I smoothed out the edge of the parchment and traced the faded ink with the tip of my finger.The map didn’t look too different from the ones I was familiar with. My country, Frasia, looked similar to its state today. The capital of Efra was still