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 be equals if you keep pushing me away.” He set his hand at my waist and then smoothed his palm toward my hip. “Trust isn’t only developed through reason. Your wolf trusts me. Listen to her. Our wolves are our foundations.” Then his hand bumped against the knife in the pocket of my robe. His touch stilled. “What’s this?”
“What do you think?” I whispered. My voice was steady despite the cold fear crawling into my throat. “A lady should be able to defend herself if necessary.”
“You thought that would be necessary against me?” he asked. “You would draw a knife on your husband?”
“If I thought I could not trust him,” I said.
He released me. He stepped back so suddenly I nearly fell forward, but I caught myself, then whirled to face him. I ignored my wolf’s whining, and the present curl of desire low in my gut. I had more arguments on the tip of my tongue but they melted away when I saw his expression. He looked angry—but more than that, he looked hurt.
I crossed my arms over my chest. “The first step to building trust between us is for you to apologize,” I said. “I won’t be a trophy or a prize. My husband must take my feelings into account for this marriage to work.”
He stomped back to the chairs and poured himself another finger of brandy. “I won’t apologize for protecting my pack and my kingdom,” he said. “I will always do what is best for my people, even if it comes at my own expense.”
“I’m not asking you to renounce what you did!” I said. “I’m asking you to apologize for hurting me.”
“You want me to apologize because you miss your treasonous boyfriend?” he asked.
Hot tears prickled behind my eyes. “No, Elias,” I said. My voice quivered. “I only want you to care that it hurt me. Is that so impossible for you to understand?”
“And I want you to understand the risk he posed to my kingdom,” the king said. “I want you to be grateful that I spared Frasia from war.”
I turned my gaze toward the crackling fire. My throat tightened as I held back my tears. Why was I so disappointed and hurt? Why was I even surprised? This entire competition, the king had done nothing but show over and over again how he chose to rule. He cared about his kingdom, and not at all about me. I was a prize to be won, a challenge to be overcome. Not a partner. Not an equal. I’d gotten so caught up in the beauty of the ceremony, and the vows, and the elegance of the party, that I’d allowed myself a sliver of hope that maybe he’d be different.
I was such a fool. Such a desperate fool.
“I understand,” I said curtly, and made my way toward the door.
Again, he caught me by the wrist. “You’re leaving?”
I pulled my hand away and crossed my arms again. “Yes,” I said. “I’d like to sleep in my own chambers.”
“These are your chambers now,” he said.
“I don’t want to be here!” I exclaimed. It sounded childish even to my own ears, but it was the truth. “I never wanted this.”
“Little wolf,” he said, low, “I will not force myself on you. I would never do such a thing to any woman, royal or not, Nightfall or not. But I cannot allow you to leave the royal chambers on our wedding night. There will be talk, and I can’t afford such talk right now.”
“Of course your concern is still about your reputation,” I spat. “Fuck your reputation! This isn’t royal politics. This is my life.”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” he said. “Even if you deny it, those ‘royal politics’ you denounce are your life now. For better or for worse, we are a unit now. Our power as leaders is affected by our reputations, both separate and together. In this moment of transition, after a Challenge, my reputation cannot waver. Now go get ready for bed.” I blinked. “What?”
“If we aren’t consummating our marriage” –somehow he made those words sound deliciously erotic— “I’ll be going to sleep. I’m tired of this conversation.”
A lump rose in my throat, and the prickling behind my eyes worsened. This entire affair was degrading enough. I wasn’t going to make it worse by letting him see me cry. I rushed into the ensuite bathroom and slammed the door behind me. In the immense, luxurious space, I cut the hot water on and let the steam fill the room, surrounding me with warmth like an embrace. Only when I was certain the king wasn’t going to barge in with me did I let the first tear fall.
I was trapped with him.
I’d married a monster.
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
I paused and glanced at my reflection in the mirror hanging above the fireplace in the library. My father preferred not to look at me at all, but when he did, it was easier if I looked presentable. I tucked the strands of white-blonde hair that escaped from my long plait out behind my ears and removed my reading glasses, meeting my own sharp blue eyes in the mirror. There were ink stains on my fingertips, but luckily I hadn’t gotten any on my white linen shirt and long brown skirt. My father would’ve preferred if I’d worn a bit of jewelry to show my rank. But that was his fault for summoning me on a day when I didn’t have any court responsibilities scheduled.Vuk cleared his throat.“I don’t need an escort, Vuk,” I said.“It’s my duty to ensure you make this appointment safely,” Vuk said. This meant he thought I was going to run off to the market square by the docks instead of to my father’s study. Which was, honestly, not an unreasonable assessment. I sighed and followed Vuk out of t
“Constantine held the Choice because he already had a handful of fine suitors to choose from—the packs were scrambling to join ranks with Daybreak. The Choice was seen as a fair way for the king to choose between them. Elias is attempting to bring back what was a joyous affair for Constantine, but he lacks the Daybreak charm and panache.”King Elias isn’t the only one lacking that, I thought to myself as I glanced around the dim study.“The king knows the packs are losing faith in his ability to lead Frasia. If he doesn’t stabilize his court and kingdom, it won’t be long before another pack attempts to take the throne by force, just as Drogo did.”“He dug his own grave, then,” I said. “I say let him lie in it.”My father shook his head. “You should realize the opportunity we have at hand.”“You don’t mean to say we will be participating in this Choice?”“Of course we are,” my father said. “If we don’t send a suitor to the Choice, we will be openly insulting the king. And you know Elia
The contesting women would be the center of it. Not only would we be competing for the king’s affections—we’d be competing to win the hearts of the pack and all the wolves the king ruled over.Diplomatically, it was a good idea. If I were to take the throne, Daybreak would gain a muchneeded boost in power, and my skills would benefit Nightfall in softening their reputation as bloodthirsty, savage wolves.I huffed and shoved the letter in a drawer. Unfortunately for my father and for the king, I wasn’t going to be winning this competition.Even still, there was a tiny chance that this could work out in my favor. If I went to the King’s Choice and lost, without a doubt, my father would lower my status. I’d have substantially less responsibility in the Daybreak Court. One of his advisors would step up and complete the traderelated duties I usually took care of.I’d no longer be tied to Daybreak. If everything worked out—maybe, possibly, I could leave Frasia and travel the world like I’d