Page 7

A fter the long, tiring walk back to my rooms, all I wanted to do was curl up in bed and sleep the remainder of the evening away. Maybe I’ll wake up from this nightmare , I thought, almost hopefully.

Yet the moment I carefully slid the bookshelf back into place behind me, Dimitri stormed in looking as frustrated as ever. His hair was disheveled, as if he’d been running his hands through it often—a nervous tell of his since we were kids—and his clothes were wrinkled, which Father never allowed.

“You look as rough as I feel, twin,” I said to him, trying to lighten the dark mood I could feel looming over him like a shadow as I began crossing the room toward him.

“You have to go along with it, Viva,” he blurted out abruptly.

I stopped dead in my tracks the instant his words hit my ears. I met his stare from where I now stood, my breathing starting to quicken as I asked, “What did you just say?”

“I’m so sorry, but I’ve spent this whole time trying to think of a way out of this, and I can’t find one.

Even if you were to run away, Father would hunt you to the ends of the continent and even beyond it.

You know this to be true. I even tried talking to him again, but he’s dead set on this.

I don’t know what he’s planning, but whatever it is depends on this,” Dimitri explained, taking a step forward.

Dimitri had spent years unofficially assisting Father with war plans—if he couldn’t come up with a way out of this, nobody could.

I took a step backwards in response, making Dimitri pause in shock. Even though my body was betraying me, my voice didn’t waver as I said, “Dimi, I don’t care what Father wants anymore. I’ve always done what he’s wanted of me, and where did it get me? In an arranged marriage to our enemy! ”

Dimitri’s emotions were plainly painted on his face—pain, frustration, guilt, sadness.

He was always an open book with me, which I generally appreciated, but not this time as his voice softened and he spoke gently, “Viva, this is bigger than just you now. If this works and Father’s intentions are true, our people could finally know peace .

Our males would no longer have to die in a nonsense war, our females would no longer have to learn how to provide for their families as widows, and so many of our children would no longer have to be raised as orphans.

Aviva, if this works, it would change history .

” As he spoke, he slowly walked towards me, hands raised and palms facing me—as if I were a wild animal.

Maybe a part of me was, the part I kept locked away, deep inside my chest, hidden away from him.

The part that wanted to run free, the part that wanted to take what was mine, the part that wanted power— but that also simply wanted justice for all the wrong that had been done to me and what had been taken from me.

This time I didn’t back up, feeling myself slowly giving in as I retorted, “What about what I want?” I tried, and failed, to ignore the way my voice cracked as I spoke.

His face fell, and for just a moment, it was like he was already grieving me.

He quickly covered it up, looking remorseful instead as he said softly, “I’m sorry, Viva.”

My bottom lip quivered as I realized what this meant. I truly didn’t have a choice in the matter. Father would make me go by force even if I tried to refuse, and if I attempted to run away, he’d just drag me back by the wings. Either way, the end result was the same.

Yet, in the back of my mind, a small sliver of me held onto the hope that maybe, just maybe, I’d be able to get away from the South and escape back to the North after the marriage. I’d have to be thoughtful and play it safe, but just maybe .

That small hope was the only thing that kept me from breaking completely as I slowly dropped to the floor, the physical and emotional exhaustion hitting me all at once.

Dimitri was there in a wing-beat, sliding his arm under my legs and behind my back.

He carried me to my bed where I curled up and quietly sobbed, grieving the life I thought I’d have.

The one where I got to be with Dimitri and Aurora every day, where I got to spend dawn to dusk helping my people, and where I got to eventually master my own zirilium in public.

Now, I might never see my brother and best friend again, nor my people.

Not to mention, nobody in the South is to have information on Northern zirilium or how to control it.

All of the elementary pleasures I had envisioned for my life were gone, just like that.

Simply so I could fulfill my purpose as a pawn in Father’s game.

I don’t know when, but at some point Dimitri departed. In his place I found Aurora stroking my hair and murmuring comforting, yet empty, words until my tears ran dry and exhaustion overcame me.

***

The next morning I woke up alone, the sun slipping through the drapes and landing directly across my pillow. I used a hand to shield my eyes and sat up, realizing it looked to be about mid-morning. Father and Hugo would be here soon for my daily elixir.

I quickly scrambled out of bed, aiming straight for the washroom.

After washing up in my in-ground bath, I headed for the closet with the intent of picking out my clothing like armor.

Father always wanted me to look the part of a princess, but considering he was about to sell me out to be a queen instead, I figured I could start dressing how I wanted for a change.

Standing in front of the mirror of my vanity, I looked upon the clothing I had donned.

I wore a white corset top that hugged my torso nicely, and which had small pearls sewn into it in swirling patterns.

When the sun hit the pearls just right, a small rainbow sheen was visible in each one.

Soft, gray trousers that flowed at the bottom hugged my hips, and white heels with the same pattern of pearls adorned my feet.

I slid my arms into a long, dark gray fur cloak that matched the color of Aurora’s wings, in order to shield the cold air of the crisp morning away.

I tugged on my moon stone necklace, settling it beneath my top, and added a white leather belt, which held a total of six of my daggers—perfectly crafted for my hands.

I had a total of a dozen on me today, the other six tucked away in hidden pockets along my clothing.

Dimitri and I had gotten a handful of these sets of clothing made for me in secret, just in case I ever needed it.

For the final touch, I wove my snow white hair into a circlet around my head, placing my mother’s tiara perfectly on top.

As I put on each piece of clothing and braided each lock of hair, I added a mental wall in my mind to block out my anxieties, emotions, and irrational thoughts.

I built each wall brick by brick, minute by minute.

I could see the walls of dark stones in my mind, making ivy and vines grow over the walls, fortifying them with thorns.

I will not let my father get the best of me today.

Without even a chance to second guess my decision to not wear one of my normal dresses, a series of four timid knocks on the door to my chambers let me know that Hugo had arrived.

Letting out a small sigh and pushing my nerves back behind those mental walls, I walked across the room and allowed him in.

The moment Hugo saw me, his eyes widened as he took in my change of appearance. He didn’t stumble long, though, and quickly dropped into a bow before straightening again.

He was a short man, barely taller than me, with a wild, white beard and long, gray hair pulled back into a low ponytail.

He wore the usual royal trokav attire—a long, black coat with the Heartshire family symbol on the back, along with black pants and a plain, gray shirt.

They weren’t meant to stand out, but the outfit always looked professional.

Plus, the black coat hid any blood or gore they got on it.

Hugo had always been skilled and respectful, and he did his job well.

He’d been a great trokav throughout the years to me and Dimitri anytime we got hurt, always patching us up with his gross yet efficient elixirs and potions.

Aside from that, he was also Aurora’s mentor.

Usually trokavs in the North didn’t wield zirilium, but despite the fact that Aurora can wield water, Hugo saw great promise in her and decided to make her his protégé when she was sixteen.

She’d been learning from him ever since, and although I never mentioned these daily visits to her, she’d quickly figured out something was off after studying with Hugo.

Now, nobody but her, Hugo, and Father knew about these visits. Or what, exactly, they meant.

Not even Dimitri.

“Good morning, Princess. I’ve brought you your elixir this morning.

I added peppermint to it this time, to try to mask the taste a bit,” Hugo said, looking slightly sheepish.

I’d been complaining of the taste for as long as I could remember, but no matter what he added, it only made it worse.

I never told him, though, because I appreciate that he thought to add anything in the first place.

My face must give me away each time, unfortunately, because he kept trying new things.

“Thank you, Hugo. I appreciate your efforts,” I said, taking the glass bottle from him and popping the cork off. I took a small sniff of the liquid inside and was surprised to find that it didn’t smell quite as horrible as usual.

I put the bottle to my lips and took the liquid in one great swig, barely registering the taste on my tongue. I felt myself grimace behind my mental walls, but put extra care into making sure the disgust I felt didn’t show on my face.

Hugo smiled, as if he were proud of himself for finally finding a combination of added ingredients that didn’t make me gag.

I handed the now empty bottle back to him, then cocked my head to one side as the liquid sat heavily in my stomach. “Where is Father?” I asked. Father only misses elixir time if something very important was happening.

Hugo’s smile instantly dropped, and he suddenly looked nervous.

Although he refused to meet my eyes, he responded, “Ah yes, well, about that… he’s requested your presence immediately in the throne room, Princess.

And before you ask, no, I was not informed as to why.

” Before I could respond, he quickly leaned in and grabbed my hand, whispering, “I saw a messenger bird with the Southern symbol on it fly in not too long ago. I’d assume it has something to do with that. ”

I gaped at the small male, realizing how much he just risked to tell me that.

If Father didn’t want me to know, Hugo shouldn’t have told me.

Though, I suppose I’ve always held a soft spot in the old male’s heart, as he’s watched me grow up since I was a babe.

I shouldn’t be this shocked that he’d go out of his way to warn me, and yet I was.

Not being completely, totally loyal to Father could cost you your life in the North.

Before I could even respond he took a step back, bowed, and said, “Good day, Princess.” Then he excused himself from my chambers, leaving me alone with my raging thoughts.

Why—and how—was there a Southern messenger hawk here already, when the dinner was just last night? What was Father planning? What does the message say? How long did I have until I had to leave everything I’d ever known behind?

I braced my hands on the tabletop of my vanity and took in a shaky breath. You can’t spiral. Get it together, Aviva.

Looking into my own eyes in the mirror, I took one moment to allow myself to be frightened.

To worry about my future, to be anxious about what I was about to face.

Then I cleared my throat, the sound bouncing around my quiet chambers.

Straightening my spine, I rolled my shoulders back and pushed all of my nerves back behind those fortified walls in my mind.

Envisioning those walls once again, I imagined a large lock sliding into place at the very front wall, holding those gates together as a final piece of defense against the outside world. Then, I headed for the throne room.

My heels clicked against the smooth, black stone floor as the throne room doors shut behind me and I walked towards my father. My jaw hurt from the effort it took to keep my mouth shut.

“Ah, daughter. I’m glad you made haste. I have great news for you,” Father said as I stopped in front of his throne. Oddly enough, I noticed that it was only us in the great room made of smooth cobblestone, black tiles, and crystal chandeliers. No guards, no advisors, no servants—not even Dimitri.

I knew relaying this information in the throne room was intentional—to remind me that he was not only my father, but my king.

That he held all the power here. Well, in every way except one, but he’d never acknowledge the fact that I could potentially be a greater zirilium wielder than him someday if I only had the practice.

And free reign to even admit that I was a wielder in the first place.

I bowed before him, giving him the submission I knew he wanted, while in the same breath defying his wishes with my attire.

“Good morning, Father. What news could be so great?” I asked innocently, not even bothering to point out my state of dress. Under normal circumstances, he’d have reprimanded me immediately, but today was bigger than that. And surprisingly, it seemed we both understood I knew what this was about.

“The King of the South, family head of the esteemed Thorntier line, has agreed to the conditions laid out to Princess Teagan. An entourage from the South will be arriving shortly to collect you and a single chest of your things,” Father said, his usual amused look having faded from his clean shaven face.

Only one chest? I asked myself.

Even though I was confident this would be the result of his demands, I still felt his words like a physical blow. My chest ached, but I simply dipped my head in response. I wouldn’t let him have the satisfaction of seeing how hurt I truly was.

“And when am I scheduled to leave?” I asked, making an effort to keep my voice light despite the heaviness weighing in my gut.

An unsettling smile slowly crept over my father’s expression as he said, “Oh, did I forget to mention? You’re to leave within the hour.”