W
hen 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 would be alone.
“Since the king is in his early meeting with his advisors,” Amity said, “the Lady Glennis thought this would be a good time for you to get settled. We’ll arrange your new quarters and have breakfast there.”
“My new quarters,” I repeated. I was still waking up. But of course, I’d have new quarters. I couldn’t stay in the guest quarters now that I was queen.
I invited the girls inside, and they walked briskly toward a door at the edge of the main quarters, on the same wall as the one to the king’s bedroom. I hadn’t paid it any mind before, assuming it was to a study, or a closet. But Amity fit a key into the door, and then pushed it opened and welcomed me inside.
“The queen’s quarters,” she said. “It shares a door with the king’s, of course, so you’re never too far apart. But when you are not with the king, this space is yours alone. Rue and I have been decorating it for days—I do hope it suits your taste.”
Irritation rose like bile in my throat. It wasn’t my handmaidens’ fault, they’d been nothing but kind to me. But did I get no choice in any of this at all? No one had even asked me what I might like for my own private quarters. And now all my private things had been moved without my permission. I realized it’d been done to ease my transition into my new role, but just once I wanted someone to ask me if it was okay. Just once.
The last thing I was going to do was take that out on my handmaidens, though.
“Oh, wow,” I said as I stepped into the room. “You did a wonderful job, both of you.”
I meant it, despite my frustrations. The room was beautiful. It was one big room, with the sleeping area separated by a tall, elegant dressing screen decorated in a forest scene. The walls were papered in pale blue, decorated with elegant pale flowers shimmering faintly in the dim light. The hearth was pale stone with a plush white couch and gold accent table stacked with books. The door to the king’s chambers was beside the hearth. Behind the dressing screen, the bed was a sleigh style, with blue sheets and a white comforter. It was colorful, but cozy.
“You like it?” Rue asked quietly, shifting her weight foot to foot.
“It’s gorgeous,” I said. “I really do like it. Thank you both for working so hard on this.”
Both girls bit back their grins. Amity bounced on the balls of her feet. “There’s more, milady,” she said.
“More?”
Opposite the door to the king’s room, there was another, narrower door. I’d assumed it was the ensuite, but it was more than that. It was the ensuite bathroom as well as a large walk-in closet, and a vanity with a fine lacquer box on top of it. All my clothes had already been moved into the closet, and my trunk closed and set in the back.
“These all belong to you as well,” Rue said. She opened the lacquer box gently. Inside, it was filled with jewelry: fine rings, delicate pearls, golden earrings and ruby bracelets. Some matched, some didn’t. “This isn’t all of it, either,” she said. “There’s more in other boxes in the drawers. These are the queen’s jewels. The king has been collecting them for his bride since he was young. Aren’t they beautiful?” Rue sighed dreamily.
“It’s so romantic,” Amity agreed. “He’s been wanting a bride for so long. We’re all just so happy for you both.”
I hummed in affirmation and traced my finger over the edge of the lacquer box. I couldn’t muster up the strength to agree in words, or to say anything different. Better to let the girls maintain their fantasy of who the king was.
“Now,” Amity said, “after breakfast, there’s the official sendoff for your father and escort. Would you prefer to wear the colors of Daybreak or of Nightfall?”
Neither, I wanted to scream. I didn’t want to be relegated to representing the men in my life. I wanted something of my own. I wanted to be my own person for once, instead of a prize for the men to fight over.
“I’ll wear something simple,” I said. Before Amity could make a suggestion, I stepped into the closet and smoothed my hands over the fine gowns hung up for my perusal. There were so many, for so many occasions. So beautiful and well-made, and none that I had chosen myself. I’d have to change that—if I were to be queen, at least I could get some more fine trousers to wear.
I pulled out a fine dark gown from the ones provided. It was simple, with a high neckline, long sleeves, and a full skirt. When I moved, the black fabric of the skirt revealed the under-layer of rich purple. The colors of Nightfall, but also less ostentatious, a little more modest than the gowns I’d worn in the past.
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
Ducking my chin, I gazed down at our feet. His presence always grounded me—made me remember that there was more to life than the political demands of the court.“What is it?” he asked. “What’s wrong?”“The duke summoned me to his study today.” I looked up, meeting Griffin’s eyes.He raised his eyebrows. “The duke? He hasn’t asked for you specifically in… Gods, in years.” “I know,” I said. “He got a dispatch from Efra.”“From the king?”I nodded. “He’s holding a King’s Choice.”Griffin was silent. He set his hand at my waist and squeezed like he knew where this was going.“Reyna… You don’t mean…?”“Yes.” Somehow saying it to Griffin made it more real. Anxiety curled in cold in my chest. “I’m to go as the representative from Daybreak.”Griffin stepped back and pushed both hands through his hair. “You can’t. Reyna, you can’t go to the Court of Nightfall.”“I don’t exactly have a choice here,” I said. “I’m a Lady of the Court, and the duke has ordered me to go.”“Fuck the duke,” Griffin s