Page 19

Annalise

I don’t know what Cyrus is thinking. He’s returning the three of us to the palace, although it is blatantly clear that I am not ready to be a part of his society. The only thing I have mastered is the way to present myself and my knowledge of the kingdom. But things like strength and the ability to protect myself are still lacking. There must be something more going on that he is keeping from me. Something that has him in a time crunch and me at the mercy of it.

Contrary to what I thought would happen, Cyrus has already returned with Ciel before me. I am set to arrive at a later date under the guise of staying in the palace as an honored guest of the king. In the past, the beasts that were chosen to be queens arrived under this same guise. So the entirety of his kingdom will know the woman arriving today will more than likely be the future queen. How they will react will depend on me.

I inhale a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. The last time I was at Cyrus’s palace, Marzia overstepped her bounds, and as a result, I was beaten within an inch of my life by the king himself. But according to Joan, in the year I’ve been away, Cyrus has purged the palace of humans. No human is allowed the honor of serving the king. I pull back the curtain as we make our way through the streets. My stomach churns in discomfort as I take it in. I never thought I would be back here.

These are the same streets that Dimitri and I were separated on, our lives forever on different paths. I mentally note that the kingdom itself looks different. There have been walls built that weren’t here before.

“Do not be nervous. It is the others who should be nervous. You are the future queen. And they will be fighting for the king’s attention,” Joan says, watching me with a soft smile.

I know her words are meant to be comforting, but they only add to my nerves as we pull through the streets. Marzia’s “fight” for the king’s attention left me with scars on my back that not even Cyrus has been able to heal. Part of me hopes the beasts won’t be as blatant about their feelings, but another part of me knows they will the moment they learn I am human. Beasts are primitive and territorial.

The women of the court will not only be powerful in the hierarchy, but according to Cyrus, they can shift to that demonic form. And I have little to no kind of combat against it. I do wish my father had taught me combat or anything about this world. I hate how sheltered I was from the realities that awaited me beyond our village. Especially now that I’ve been thrust to the front of it.

“Why is the king so eager to make me queen?” I ask.

“A queen symbolizes stability. An heir is the continuation of a line and a kingdom. The kingdom needs that now more than ever, especially since losing the late king in the war and the number of years the war stretched on,” she says.

I release a humorless laugh, pulling Joan’s attention.

“How is a human queen and halfbreed son, stabi—”

“Do not say that!” I tense from Joan’s tone, and she leans forward in the carriage with a serious expression.

“Do not ever say such a thing. Your son is no halfbreed. He is the son of the king. He is a beast. I thought since seeing the king’s true form, you would understand that by now,” she says, clicking her tongue in disappointment.

“Is that not how society will see him?” I ask.

“How many times must I tell you? Society will see him as you allow him to be portrayed. You are history in the making. You will be watched before he is seen. It does not matter that you are human. The king who so famously hates humans chose you to be his queen. Society will know from that alone something about you is magnificent. This is your opportunity to show them what. You cannot show weakness,” she says.

I study Joan silently as she watches me, her expression serious. She’s been at my side since the beginning of this, helping me behind the scenes. She’s the reason Cyrus’s anger toward me has finally subsided. Without her encouragement, I never would have had the nerve to approach him and offer him myself. And now, thanks to her, I am out of the kill zone.

“Why do you help me so much? Wouldn’t it be best for you if I failed and the king found a beast like Marzia? Someone willing and able to lead your people?” I ask.

Joan doesn’t respond immediately. She seems to be contemplating something before responding.

“The king’s wish is my wish.”

Now, it’s my turn not to respond. The loyalty of the beasts runs deep, and I won’t push the issue, especially with someone like Joan, who is so deep-rooted in her beliefs.

The carriage dips slightly, giving me an indication that we are close to the palace. I release a deep inhale, looking once again out the window of the carriage to see the palace looming overhead. My stomach dips in discomfort as I take it in. So many horrible memories happened in this palace. So many innocent human lives that unluckily were caught up in this war were ended by the king I now willingly lay with. But I will not be their queen. I will be the beast’s queen and a tyrant to the human race.

“Isn’t it beautiful?” Joan says next to me.

I release a scoff.

“Yes,” I say softly.

The closer we get to the palace entrance, the more guards I see standing to await our arrival.

“No other guests get this kind of attention upon arrival. The king is already showing the people that you are special to him,” Joan says in excitement.

It takes all my willpower to keep my heart rate down the closer we get to the front of the palace. There are more guards, and to my utter horror, there are beasts standing behind them, hoping to get a look at the newest duchess. I once feared every single one of these creatures because, at any moment, they could end my life. And now, I am above their rule.

The carriage slows as we reach the front of the grand palace that stretches beyond my peripheral. There are servants lined up as well as guards, and the king himself stands at the head of it all. Cyrus is dressed in the finest clothing his kingdom offers, with even his crown atop his head as he waits for my arrival. Shock overcomes me as I take him in. He never said he was going to greet me this way. I thought I would come in quietly. Out of pure instinct, I look to Joan for comfort. She shakes her head at me, gesturing to the king.

“You have his heart, Annalise. Remember that.”

She smiles at me, and before I can respond, a servant pulls the door open, offering his hand to me. Joan nods her head, and I take a deep breath, placing my hand in the beast’s. The high body heat is a stark reminder of the vast difference between them and me, but I push it to the back of my mind as I step out of the carriage.

Cyrus himself decided what I would wear and how I would be accessorized on this day. I’ve never seen a noble wear this kind of gown. The jewels themselves shine like a thousand suns. Unlike the noble gowns in the past, this gown is fitted to my frame. The top is low cut, and the dress opens up around my legs, but thankfully, the fabric is thick and layered. My arms are bare other than the cape-like material that is jeweled and attached to my shoulders, the length touching the ground beneath me as I walk. My hair has been held out of my face by jeweled pins, allowing it to flow freely past my waist as I walk.

I keep my chin up and my eyes level as I approach the king. I’m thankful when all I hear are murmurs, the beasts around me trying to figure out what exactly I am. Thanks to Cyrus’s vigorous training, it would seem that only if they are close enough to pick up my scent will they be able to tell what I am. I vaguely hear my title being announced the closer I get to Cyrus.

His eyes shine in excitement as he takes me in, though his expression is as stoic as the day I met him. He finally moves, making his way down the steps to greet me. I do as I was told, stopping at the bottom of the steps. I look him in the eye until he is standing over me, and as per my training, I place my left leg slightly behind me, dipping to bow to him.

“Greetings, Your Majesty,” I say firmly.

I keep my head lowered and my eyes down until his hand comes into my line of vision, and I gently take it in mine, pressing his knuckles against my forehead. The heat from his palm fills my body, and to my shock, I can feel the heat of his seal on my ribs growing. But I don’t let it affect me.

His grip tightens around my fingers, and I slowly rise as he pulls my fingers to his lips, his deep blue gaze boring into my soul as a faint smile plays at his lips.

“Your Grace.”

When I left this palace, I was on the brink of death with the thought of never having to return upon my awakening. Now, I return with so many memories haunting me of this place. The walls seem colder as we make our way through them. I am slightly thankful that my arm is in Cyrus’s to help me remain standing as we walk by so many areas that hold the memory of death.

My stomach dips as we make our way through the familiar halls that lead to Cyrus’s chambers.

“You will be staying in my wing. All the other guests will be residing in the East wing, furthest from my own,” Cyrus says as if reading my thoughts.

So he’s isolated me. I should be pleased with this news. It means that he is going to keep his promise even within his kingdom. But I know it truly means he will have access to me whenever he wishes with no prying eyes.

We continue to walk through the halls until Cyrus stops, turning to my servants. He specifically addresses Joan.

“We will no longer require your presence. I will have someone sent when the duchess needs to get ready for the night,” he says.

Joan bows, facing the servants, all of whom I notice are beasts. She gives a command to them, and they all bow, following her in the opposite direction. Cyrus doesn’t wait before pulling me along the hall, approaching his chambers. The large golden doors stand tall as they once did, mocking me with their presence.

“You will have plenty of time to see your rooms later,” he says quietly as we enter.

I don’t have time to take in the room as a familiar voice fills the air.

“Mama!”

My heart leaps into my chest as Ciel’s joyful squeal fills the room. He rolls over, standing on his own, as he makes his way to where I stand with Cyrus. His eyes beam in delight as he takes us both in, holding his hands out to me. I note that Cyrus presses his hand gently against my back, silently giving me permission to move, and I do, pulling Ciel into my arms.

His body is warm, and I can immediately tell that he’s gotten heavier since I last saw him. A part of me grows sad with this news. He’s grown, and I was nowhere around to witness it. But I don’t let this affect me as I hold him close, taking in his wonderful scent. I place my fingers through his soft hair, noting that it has grown much longer as well, holding him close to my chest.

“I missed you,” I say, pulling back to look him in the eyes, eyes that are similar to his father’s, more so now than they ever were. His small hands lightly grip my cheeks, and he pulls my face close to his, pressing his forehead against mine. It’s a new action he hasn’t done before, but I allow him, watching him curiously as he closes his eyes during the process.

Ciel releases my face, leaning against my chest silently. When I look at Cyrus, his guard is down, and he is watching the both of us with a peaceful expression. Upon realizing he is being watched, his face darkens, and he gestures for me to take a seat.

I silently place Ciel on the ground, following Cyrus to the table in the corner of the room. I take note that there is a small setup waiting. Once I sit, Cyrus gestures to the spread.

“Pour.”

I reach for the teapot, pouring both of our cups.

“Drink.”

I silently bring the cup to my lips, and Cyrus does nothing to stop me. The tea is soothing, the flavor faint as it fills my stomach. I place the cup back on its plate, and Cyrus is watching me with a strange expression. He doesn’t say anything as his gaze roams over me, making me nervous.

“Your Majesty?” I gently call to him, and he finally shifts, reaching for me. His fingers gently linger under my chin, lifting my lips so that they are angled with him. His eyes linger on my lips before coming back to my face.

He says nothing else as he leans into me, gently placing his lips over mine.