Page 16

Clarissa

T he bumpy carriage ride was made even more intolerable by the fact that my clothes were still soaked, and the water had combined with sweat to create a layer of brine on my skin. The roads nearest the port were the worst. The storm had blown tree limbs and other debris onto the path.

Every jostle, dip, and turn made my knees bump against Lord Reaux’s across from me in the enclosed space of the carriage.

I tried angling my body to stay out of his personal bubble—the polite thing to do—but he simply sat there, his long, solid legs stretched wide and proud.

How very masculine . Not even bothering to give me more room.

Every time I caught his eyes and narrowed mine, he seemed to be on the verge of smirking.

My mother was none the wiser to this silent war between him and myself. Her elbow was propped delicately on the carriage window as she gazed outside.

I took a deep breath and glanced out the other window to my left, willing myself to let go of the foul mood the trip had put me in. For now, I wanted to take in these first moments in the new land.

Evidence of the storm faded as we traveled farther inland.

Unlike the forests of Veridia City, with their massive trunks and broad-leaved trees that spread out above you and blocked out the sun, the trees here were much thinner.

Palm trees, I knew they were called. Similar to ones I’d seen in portraits of Iluze, the most tropical province of the empire.

Tall and gangly, with bright green leaves that fanned from the top of the trunks and blew in the breeze.

The road we were on was elevated, and as the carriage continued rolling along, I looked out the window behind us to see the shoreline growing more and more distant.

Blue and white waves lapped against the tan sand near the port, and seagulls' calls echoed through the carriage doors.

On the ground near the path were patches of blooming flowers—it was difficult to focus on them at our swift pace, but I caught glimpses of tall blue larkspur mixed with vibrant violets and golden daffodils.

This place was undeniably beautiful. And hot .

I supposed that explained Lord Reaux’s attire.

I was used to guards and court members in the capital wearing their usual heavy silver uniforms or stuffy cloaks that spoke of wealth and grandeur.

But Thorne Reaux was casually dressed in loose brown pants rolled once at the ankles and a thin white shirt with the first couple of buttons undone at the top, exposing tan skin and a smattering of dark hair at his chest that matched the brown locks flowing to his shoulders.

I had to admit, the long hair suited him.

My eyes moved down and rested on a gold chain hanging around his neck, bearing what looked like some kind of flower dangling at the end.

You're staring at his chest .

Emperor’s tits. I ripped my gaze from him and back to the window, but not before I caught his lips twitching upward.

“How much longer till we reach the palace?” I asked, a bit sharper than I intended.

“Eager to meet your future husband?” Lord Reaux responded lightheartedly.

Fates, this man either had no sense of self-preservation or was entirely too confident.

I’d wager the latter, given how I’d seen his hands all over that maid at the port before I stepped off the ship.

It shouldn’t surprise me that he’d started openly flirting with me not five seconds later.

“As enjoyable as your company has been, Lord Reaux, I find I’m ready for a change of scenery,” I said.

He chuckled, which grated on my nerves even more. “Lord Reaux was my father. Just call me Thorne.”

“Appropriate.” I shot him a saccharine smile. Since you seem intent on being one in my side .

“We’re nearly there,” Thorne answered. “I’m not sure how much the two of you know of our kingdom, but we’re split into four territories.

The one we’re in now is the northern, then farther south is the Mid Territory, and below that is the southern one.

To our east is the Island Territory, the only part not connected to the mainland.

We sometimes refer to the territories by the name of the current regent family in each one. ”

“Regent family?” I asked.

“Families in charge of a specific territory. A couple of ranks below the king but still incredibly powerful. Regents have to answer to the crown, although they can also make decisions for their territory if the king is found unfit. There’s Zeloria out on the island, Penworth to the far south, and Silenus right below us. ”

“And what about this territory?” I asked, although I had a feeling I knew the answer. “Who’s the regent family here?”

He smiled, and the twisting in my stomach at those ridiculously perfect teeth made me want to punch something. “Mine is.”

The carriage came to a halt. A few seconds later, there was a tap at the door before it opened. Thorne descended first, then helped my mother climb down the steps. I paused when my eyes hit the bright sunlight to take in the sight.

I hadn’t known what to expect when coming to this new kingdom.

My only frame of reference was the palace in Veridia City, with its multiple tall, gilded spires raised like a beacon.

Our dark stone walls and rich rugs and tapestries lining the corridors came with an air of formality I’d never thought twice about—not until seeing the Mysthelm palace.

I couldn’t explain it, but it had the same feeling as Thorne. Casual and sun-kissed but majestic at the same time.

The carriage stopped at the end of a road opening to an enormous lawn of swaying green grass and tall palm trees.

On the opposite end of the lawn stood the palace on a raised incline.

It was made of granite, a stunning shade of cream that almost glowed in the sun.

Two sets of stairs extended from either side of the entrance, leading to matching granite columns that formed an open-aired walkway to the front doors.

From the distance, I could see men and women traipsing around the lawn and giant stairs, none of whom wore the gaudy gowns and robes I was used to seeing at our palace.

The men were dressed in a similar fashion to Thorne, and many of the women wore shirts that reached their midriff and linen pants or skirts that billowed loosely in the humid, tropical air.

Bands and bands of bracelets and other jewelry lined their arms, ankles, and necks, glinting like freshly shined metal.

“This way, Empress,” Thorne said, his deep voice rolling over me and breaking me from my observations.

He held out his hand, and I only hesitated for a split second before I took it.

His rough, callused skin pressed into mine, his thumb briefly skating across my knuckles as he helped me down.

When he released his grip, I felt the lingering ghost of his skin against mine.

I squeezed my hand shut to banish the feeling and followed him as he and a couple of guards escorted Mother and me over the sandy pathway and up the granite staircase.

On instinct, I reached out to take my mother’s arm as the steps grew steeper, and to my surprise, Thorne did the same.

“By the Fates, I’m not dead, you two,” Mother said, her words trailing into a laugh. “I can walk up a set of stairs.”

She hated it when I coddled her. But after watching her waste away for almost sixteen years in a bed, it was hard not to feel an innate sense of protection around her .

Thorne chuckled but still kept my mother’s arm tucked into his. “Then humor me, for if my mother caught wind of my terrible manners, she’d?—”

“What would I do?” a new, clipped voice said from around the corner at the top of the stairs.

As I took the last couple of steps, I saw a woman who appeared to be in her late sixties waiting for us, her lips quirked into a smile.

The sight was at odds with her stern features, her sharp jaw, arched eyebrows, and dark brown hair streaked with gray coiled into a tight bun atop her head.

Her green dress reminded me of the clothing the wealthy councilmember’s wives back in Veridia City would wear.

Thorne straightened at her voice, then smiled back at her. “I didn’t expect to see you here, Mother.” Gesturing to the woman, he said, “This is Lady Azura Reaux. My mother.”

“His Majesty invited me to come welcome our new guests. I couldn’t very well miss this momentous day,” the woman, Azura, said.

Her eyes shifted to me, and I could see the similarity to Thorne—they had the same clear, light blue gaze.

She tilted her head, that tight smile still plastered across her lips.

Something about it made my hackles rise.

But I couldn’t dwell on the feeling long before footsteps reached my ears, coming from behind Thorne’s mother.

The most beautiful man I’d ever seen stepped into view.

Bright hazel eyes scanned the scene, a dimple appearing on golden-brown skin when he smiled at us.

He ran his gloved fingers through short, wavy brown hair, stretching the sleeves of his gray button-down shirt.

With his high cheekbones, perfectly shaven face, and chiseled features, he may as well have been carved from stone.

“You must be Empress Aris,” he said, his voice smooth as he held a gloved hand out to me.

I looked up at the stranger and smiled politely. “Clarissa is fine. And you are…?”

His grin widened. “Oh, forgive me. My name is Galen. Galen Grimaldi.”

I schooled my face to mask my sudden surprise. This was the king ? He was…not what I expected. Emperor Gayl had always paraded around in his royal apparel, his thick, dark cloak making him seem all the more ominous. Not to mention the guards and advisors who flocked at his heels.

This man…he looked rather like Thorne, actually. Carefree and casual, with his linen pants and loose shirt. And not a guard in sight.

My mother glanced at me and raised an eyebrow. So, this was my future husband.

Not bad.

For an arranged marriage, at least.