Page 9

9

The Glaring Bride

A storia wished she had run away last night when Jasper didn’t show up, instead of returning to marry Silas. Emmett would have helped her, and she could have come back after her father’s death.

In fact, she shouldn’t have let pride or fame cloud her judgment in the first place.

Now, as she danced in her new husband’s arms, all she had were regrets. She should have taken the chance when she had it; now, she could never have the freedom she wanted. She was bound to a man for the rest of her life. Even if she did run away, he would find her. The magic binding them would lead them to one another.

“You know,” Silas’ quiet voice snapped her from her thoughts, “brides are supposed to blush on their wedding day, not glare. Is my beautiful bride determined to set a new trend of being a glaring bride instead of a blushing bride ?”

Astoria turned her gaze on him, sharpening her glare. “What did you mean back at the altar when you said you never wanted the magnification to begin with, but only me?”

Silas’ lips twitched at the corner. “My, my, Little Dragon, are you interested in my thoughts?”

Irritation gnawed at her chest at the nickname, and she ground her teeth to keep from making a retort. Getting into a verbal spar with him wouldn’t get her answers. She should play fair.

“Maybe just this once.” She softened her glare but maintained the ire in her voice. She didn’t want to make it obvious that she was putting on an act to get his answer.

He raised a dubious eyebrow. If he saw through her facade, he didn’t say it. “Very well.” He sighed. “You’re not going to like my answer, but since my thoughts have garnered your interest this once, who am I to deny you the pleasure?” He leaned towards her ear and whispered, “How about I tell you when we retreat to our bridal chambers?”

Astoria gulped from both his breath brushing her ear and the mention of the bridal chambers. The ‘talk’ Marcia gave her against her will that morning came to her mind. Her stepmother had apologized that her biological mother wasn’t here for this talk and that she was honored to take her place because she had always considered Astoria her own.

Astoria, though she remained silent during the ‘talk’, shoved Marcia’s hand away whenever the woman tried to give her a reassuring touch and scowled when she gave her a motherly smile.

The moment Marcia left her alone, she swore to herself that if Silas were to touch her unnecessarily that night or any other, she would glue his hands together.

Astoria clenched her jaw at the recollection and gave him a little push. Silas took the cue and leaned away, leaving as much appropriate space between them as the dance allowed, and smirked down at her.

Oh yes, she would wipe off that annoying smirk from his face too.

When the dance ended, Emmett approached them for his turn. Astoria freed herself from her husband’s arms and practically fell into her brother’s embrace in relief. She didn’t spare Silas another glance as she buried her face in Emmett’s shoulder and his arms came around her.

His familiar scent and the warmth radiating from him gave her the sudden urge to cry, but she willed herself against it. She wouldn’t cry. She wouldn’t let her tears show. She would not break.

Emmett asked her if she was alright, and she told him she just needed him to hug her. Their dance was a waltz, so it allowed him to hold her close if not exactly hug her. He then asked her if she was thinking about Jasper. Astoria told him she only regretted not running away when she had the chance. Emmett sighed heavily and didn’t say anything for the duration of their dance.

Silas, her brother, took his turn after Emmett. Astoria jested that she couldn’t remember the last time they had danced together, just so she could keep her mind off her thoughts. Silas challenged her to recount all their dances together. Astoria told him this was their eleventh dance and the only one he had danced with her willingly. The other times, she had been his escape to avoid the daughter of Earl Henry whenever the girl attended the royal balls.

They shared a laugh at the recollections, and Astoria felt a little free at heart. She also embedded this moment into her memory; her first laugh shared with her middle brother.

After Silas, it was her father. Astoria’s stomach churned immediately.

His grim expression said everything. He wanted to talk with her about something. And she was not going to like it.

“You must fulfill your wifely duties to your husband tonight. Only then will the magnification work.”

No greeting, no asking about her well-being. Straight to business.

Astoria struggled to keep her facial expression neutral. This man was never her father. After today, she would never address him as such. He didn’t deserve it.

A storm brewed inside her. It raged wild, stirring up all her emotions. Astoria felt her soul crumble bit by bit. Nothing she did to shove away the feeling worked. But she refused to break. She wouldn’t break. She was the Unyielding Princess.

“Do you hear me, Astoria?” her father hissed when she didn’t respond. “You have one duty to your kingdom. You have married a powerful Mage, now you must fulfill all the marital rituals to magnify your powers. If you won’t, you know what’s at stake.”

Both Astoria and her father were surprised that he was able to speak without being cut off by her usual retorts. She might be too tired to fight him, but that didn’t mean she would give him the satisfaction of getting at her.

“And if it doesn’t work?”

“It will work,” he gritted out. “You have to make it work.”

“And if it’s just a myth?”

The king glared at her and opened his mouth to respond—

“Excuse me, Your Majesty. I would like to cut in.”

Astoria’s gaze snapped to her left and met her husband’s dark eyes. She blinked and stopped dancing, stopping herself from dropping her jaw in astonishment. Did he just tell the king that he wanted to cut into the dance?

The king seemed to be thinking the same. “Son, I’m afraid—”

“You are making my wife uncomfortable,” Silas snapped, his eyes narrowing the slightest bit at the king.

The king gaped at Silas for a moment before he stepped back with a too-forced smile. “Of course, son.”

Silas didn’t even acknowledge him with a simple thank you as he stepped forward and gathered Astoria in his arms. His gaze penetrated hers. “Are you alright?”

Astoria blinked at him. What kind of game was he playing?

“Darling, talk to me,” he prodded when her answer was delayed.

“Like you care,” she snapped with a glare.

Silas merely raised an eyebrow. “Why else do you think I am right here?”

“Because you clearly want something from me,” she retorted. “I don’t know what game you are playing, Silas, but I won’t fall for your facade.”

Silas released an exasperated sigh. “I was watching you, Astoria. I saw how relieved you looked with Prince Emmett, how light-hearted you looked with Prince Silas, and—pardon me if I’m wrong, but—how defeated you looked with your father. Why?”

Astoria stared at him wildly. How did he know all that? “Why do you care?”

“Because you are my wife,” he said like it was obvious. “And I promised you that your father won’t have a shred of victory from our union.”

Astoria shook her head. Without thinking, she blurted out, “You are the most confusing man I’ve ever known.”

His lips twitched at the corner in a smile. “And you, my Little Dragon, are the spunkiest princess I have ever known. Though spunk is not a princess trait, I adore you for it.” He winked.

Astoria shook her head again, but this time, her lips twitched helplessly. And she didn’t reprimand him for his nickname. There would always be a next time now that they were stuck together.

* * *

Astoria held back a wince as Silas led them towards their bridal chamber. Her feet were sore from dancing and walking around greeting guests all day in heels. She had never been so exhausted in her life. And thinking of what might await her in the chambers, dread pooled in her stomach.

The king and queen had offered to escort them, probably to make sure Astoria made it in with her husband instead of sneaking off to her own room on the other side of the wing. But Silas refused them.

He was silent all the way, and that strangely built up her anxiety. Why was she sweating, and why were her knees trembling?

Why was she scared?

Suddenly, Silas stopped and stepped in front of her. He looked down at her with scrunched-up eyebrows. “You are not alright.”

Astoria blinked in surprise before putting on her mask of nonchalance. “I am fine.”

“I can tell you are lying.”

“Fine. My feet are sore,” she admitted, too tired to fight. She was saving the strength to fight him later. “If I could just take off the slippers…” She trailed off as he bent down and reached for the hem of her gown.

He looked up at her. “May I?”

“Of course not,” she snapped, exhaustion forgotten, and narrowed her eyes at him.

Silas shrugged and stood. “It was worth a try.”

Astoria watched him suspiciously as she grabbed onto his arm for support and took off her slippers. He held her steady. When the slippers came off and her sore feet touched the cool marble, she sighed in relief and closed her eyes. That felt so good.

“Can you walk?”

Astoria nodded. “Just a moment.” She reveled in the coolness of the marble, counting to ten before opening her eyes. “I can walk now.”

“Good, because you won’t need to.”

“Wha—” A sharp gasp escaped her lips as Silas bent down and swept her into his arms.

“Silas! Put me down!” She clung to his neck, one hand still holding her slippers.

“Did you really expect me to let you walk on your sore feet?” Silas continued towards their chambers. “Aren’t men gifted with a strong pair of arms so they can carry their women?”

“Stop flattering yourself and put me down this instant, you cad!”

“Cad?” Silas widened his eyes in disbelief. “I am your husband . I am allowed to carry my wife.”

Astoria snorted. “Oh, I am well aware of all the things you are allowed as my husband. But what makes you think I would let you touch me?”

His amusement dropped instantly. “Astoria, I’m not going to touch you unnecessarily.”

“And what makes you think I believe you?” she spat.

“I don’t expect you to. But I am a gentleman and a man of my word. Tonight, I’m going to prove that to you,” he replied, just as fiercely.

That somehow calmed the storm inside her, just the slightest. She pressed her lips together and looked away, every other retort dying out.

When they reached the bridal chambers, Silas shifted her slightly in his arms to flick his wrist. The door opened and the scent of roses reached Astoria’s nostrils when he walked in.

“You can put me down,” Astoria said as soon as he kicked the door shut and locked it with another flick of his wrist.

“Not here.” He walked into the bedroom and towards the bed. Astoria’s eyes widened. He must have seen it because he rushed to add, “I’m only going to set you on the bed, alright? No need to panic.”

“Oh, I’m not panicking.” Astoria forced a snort. “I would simply use my powers if you dared try something roguish.”

Silas laid her on the bed, which was covered with rose petals. His lips twitched as he straightened and looked down at her. “I believe defense is an exception to our vow of not using our powers against each other. But too bad you will never find out, because you are not going to find yourself in such a situation.”

He winked, leaving her gaping at him. She didn’t understand his game.

“Would you like me to massage your feet?”

Astoria glared. “Is that your next excuse to touch me and claim it’s not unnecessary ?”

He gave her a crooked smile. “So you didn’t miss my implication.”

“I’m not stupid.” She flung her legs to the side and rose from the bed. “And I’m not fragile. I can walk to the changing screen and back just fine. So if you try to carry me again, I will not hesitate to defend myself.” She shook a finger at him before pushing past him and grabbing the silver nightgown her maid had laid out over the trunk of the bed.

Silas chuckled behind her. “As you wish, Little Dragon.”

She held back from reprimanding him again and went behind the screen.

“If you need any help…” Silas called out in a singsong tone when she was in the middle of unbuttoning her gown.

Astoria scoffed. “What makes you think I need help when I have magic? I can beat my suitors in a duel but cannot undress myself?”

“I didn’t think you couldn’t. But what husband would I be if I didn’t offer my wife help, in case she is struggling and is nervous to ask me?”

“Well,” Astoria huffed, unlacing her corset and shedding it on the floor. “Fortunately for you, the wife you’ve got is a woman who can manage herself quite well without your help.”

“As you wish, Little Dragon.”

Ugh! Astoria clenched her jaw and yanked the nightgown over her head with a forceful tug. That annoying nickname!

Once she was properly dressed, Astoria gathered the wedding gown and her undergarments from the floor and marched out from behind the screen. “Your turn.”

She tossed them onto the chair in front of the dresser and began taking off her jewelry. In her peripheral view, she saw Silas walking towards the screen with a change of clothes on his shoulder. When she saw him turn to her, she averted her attention to her reflection in the mirror, illuminated by the enchanted candles in the room.

Astoria breathed a little easier when he disappeared behind the screen. She took out the pins from her hair and began to unbraid it. She combed her fingers through it, the golden magic untangling the knots and weaving through each strand. When she was done, her hair was smoother and shinier than anyone could make it with a brush and some oil.

Sighing in approval, she began to braid it again.

“Why not keep it down instead?”

Astoria nearly jumped out of her skin and turned. Silas was leaning against the wall at the opening of the changing area. His white nightshirt was unbuttoned at the top, exposing a glimpse of his chest. Though in the dim light of the room, there was only little she could make out.

“You—”

“I had no idea my wife had such beautiful hair,” he continued, staring at her hair. “So long it reaches past her waist, so shiny it glimmers against the candlelight like the ocean in moonlight.” He shook his head.

Astoria’s eyes narrowed. “Are you reciting a poem?”

Silas shrugged and met her gaze, his lips twitching at the corner. “One that is in progress, I believe; it was born only a moment ago.”

Astoria rolled her eyes at the ceiling and turned back to the mirror, continuing to braid her hair. “You are being ridiculous.”

Silas chuckled and walked towards her. Astoria tensed, her eyes widening as he appeared behind her in the mirror. He met her gaze, winked, and dropped his clothes on top of hers on the chair before walking towards the bed.

“You can sleep on the bed. I will take the—”

Astoria turned towards him as he paused and saw him glancing around the room with a baffled look.

“Why is there not a single couch or an armchair in this room?” He met her gaze.

Astoria hadn’t noticed this either. She groaned. “I think you should ask my father that.”

His eyebrows rose. “He expects us to sleep together, doesn’t he?”

Astoria was grateful there wasn’t enough light in the room so he couldn’t see the colour of her cheeks. “As a matter of fact, he needs us to.” She turned back to the mirror and continued braiding. “He thinks that’s what is needed to fulfill the rituals to magnify our powers since it didn’t work after the ceremony.”

“Do you want the magnification?”

She pivoted back to him. “Of course not.”

His lips twitched. “Good, because it’s a myth.”

Astoria’s fingers paused in her hair. “ What? ”

“Power magnification is a myth. There’s no way one can magnify the powers they have been given already, unless they embrace dark magic.”

“Which, I wouldn’t recommend to anyone even if it claims to be a great aid against the Emperor,” Astoria added.

Amusement danced in his eyes. “I am sure you wouldn’t, my darling.”

She narrowed her eyes again. “Don’t call me that—or any Dragon or feisty nonsense.”

“I cannot help it,” he said with a smirk. “You are my darling now; my Princess Feisty when you are exceptionally feisty, my Little Dragon, my beloved, and my wife. My one and only Astra; whether you like it or not.”

“Astra?” she parroted incredulously.

His smirk widened. “I’ve been thinking up nicknames for you, and Astra stuck out to me more than Stor or Storie.”

Astoria opened her mouth to retort but realized that if she responded now, it would take them off course from the topic she wanted to discuss with him.

“I shall deal with you about your nicknames later, but I want you to tell me why you said the magnification is a myth, and what you meant by never wanting the magnification to begin with but only me.”

Silas’ smirk dropped into a neutral expression. “Because I knew it was a myth.”

“How?” she demanded.

He spread his arms, gesturing towards both of them. “Well, aren’t we the living example?”

“But what if the king is right, and it requires every marital ritual to be fulfilled?”

“I don’t think you are willing to try that, are you?”

Heat flooded her cheeks. “Of course not!”

He shrugged. “That’s what I thought, too. Which is why we are going to tell the king that we completed our parts but the magnification still didn’t work.”

Her jaw slackened. “We are going to lie to him?”

“Don’t tell me he doesn’t deserve it.”

“No.” Astoria composed herself and shook her head. “It’s just…”

“Just what?”

She hesitated. “I didn’t think you would—you would be—”

“Astra, I promised you he won’t have a shred of victory from our union, and I will uphold that.” He took a step forward, holding her gaze despite the dim light and the distance separating them. “This is just the beginning.”

But he still refused to answer one question. “What did you mean when you said you wanted only me?”

His lips twitched into a cocky smile. “Isn’t that obvious, my darling? I wanted you because marrying you would make me the son-in-law to the king and brother-in-law to the future king. It would upgrade my station. I would be a lord. Blast, I am a lord now.”

He winked.

He winked! The audacity of the man to say this to her face!

She might be unable to use her powers against him, but nothing prevented non-magical payback.

Astoria grabbed the first thing she found—a hairbrush—and hurled it towards him. He made a surprised noise and jumped out of its way.

Silas gaped at her. “Did you just throw your hairbrush at me?”

“Oh, you deserve more than a hairbrush thrown at you for that dirty mouth of yours! You must count yourself lucky that I have nothing less precious and throwable around here.”

He smirked again, slowly this time. “Did I touch a nerve?”

“You know what? I’m tired!” She stomped towards the bed, pushing him out of the way and climbing atop it. “I want to sleep, and I would really appreciate it if you would let me. We have a long journey to your family’s house tomorrow.”

She grabbed the blanket and covered herself with it before glancing at Silas. He stood unmoved, looking around the room again as though a couch would pop into existence.

“What are you doing?”

“Wondering where I should sleep since the only chair in the room”—he gestured to the chair with their clothes in front of the dresser—“is hardly fit for one to sleep on.”

Astoria sighed. She wouldn’t ask him to sleep on the floor even with all the blankets they could find in the cupboard. He might be a travelling street performer who had spent countless nights on the streets, but she couldn’t let him sleep on the floor. Not while she slept on a bed.

She might be an arrogant princess, but she had always despised the way nobles treated commoners like the mud on their boots. If she made her husband sleep on the floor, she would be no better than them.

Besides, the bed was large enough to fit four of her. They simply had to take each side and stay out of each other’s proximity.

“We can share the bed,” she said wearily. “It’s large enough for us. Just don’t even think of crossing the line.” She narrowed her eyes to make herself clear.

Silas’ eyebrows rose. “Here I thought you were going to ask me to sleep on the floor.” He walked to the other side of the bed, not taking his eyes off her. “You’re not entirely heartless, I must admit.”

“Well, I did consider dumping you on the floor. The vote was rather close, but you’re right. I’m not entirely heartless.” Her lips twitched at the corner.

Silas returned it and climbed under the covers. Astoria flicked her wrist and the candlelight went out. They both lay down.

A heavy silence hung in the air. Astoria was wide awake. She was well aware he was too.

After a long moment, Silas’ voice broke the tranquility. “You would make a great queen, you know?”

A light snort escaped her. “What made you say that?”

“You could’ve told me to sleep on the floor, but you didn’t. Most princesses wouldn’t share their bed with a commoner even if he’s their husband—especially a loathsome, arranged one.”

That elicited a chuckle from her. “I am not most princesses,” she said, then added as an afterthought, “And in that case, most men wouldn’t be as decent as you are tonight.”

“I am not most men.”

She smiled in spite of herself.

“And I stand by what I said. You would make a great queen, Astra.”

Astoria rolled her eyes at his nickname. “Then too bad you don’t have a kingdom where I can be one.”

He chuckled at her sarcasm. “Such a shame. You would’ve made history.”

“Stop making me regret marrying you. I already do so at such great lengths.”

“Let me make you rephrase that when I take you to my homeland tomorrow and make you my queen.”

She shook her head. “You are delusional.”

Silas laughed, the deep and soothing sound making her heart race. “Good night, Little Dragon. Dream of me.”

Astoria rolled her eyes so hard her temples hurt. “Bad night, Big Dragon. Dream of making me a queen.”

“I already did.”