Page 20

Annalise

S omeone insistently knocks on the door, pulling me from my deep slumber. I open my eyes just as the warm body behind me stirs, rolling out of the bed. My heart leaps into my chest as I take in my surroundings, my immediate nightmares hitting me with an intensity that makes it difficult to breathe. I recognize the room immediately. It’s Cyrus’s room, his bed, and himself as he makes his way to the door.

Before my fear can get out of hand, a small body stirs in my arms pulling me back to my true reality.

It’s Ciel.

He’s fast asleep, his small fist gripping my hair as he huddles closer to me. We fell asleep in Cyrus’s chambers. I release a shuddering breath as my fears subside. I am not a slave. I am a duchess. I haven’t been forced into the king’s chambers late at night and I don’t have to sneak to the slave’s quarters now that the sun has begun to peek over the mountains in the distance.

Cyrus’s deep voice pulls me out of my thoughts, and I silently take him in. The door is cracked as he speaks to whoever is on the other side of it. Last night was strange. Cyrus spent time with Ciel and me, his mannerisms completely out of character. He left me to interact with our son while he silently worked in the corner, although at times, I would catch him watching the both of us with an unreadable expression.

I still find it strange that he allowed Ciel to remain with me. This is the first time I’ve slept with Ciel since Cyrus forcefully separated us. I gently pull him closer to me, enjoying the natural scent that clings to him. My father once told me that babies have a specific scent, and I never believed him until now.

“Annalise.”

I look up to see Cyrus watching me, his expression somewhat guarded. A servant steps into the room, bowing slightly before Cyrus comes toward me. His eyes remain focused on Ciel and me, and just as he reaches the bed, he kneels, placing his hand on Ciel’s head, lightly pushing his hair out of his face.

“It is time to say goodbye for now,” he murmurs.

My gaze shifts to Ciel. It feels painful each time they take him from me, but I cannot cry. I can no longer show weakness—not to anyone within these walls, especially the beast standing before me. So, I close my eyes, inhaling his scent before placing a soft kiss on his forehead. To my shock, Cyrus gently pulls him from me, and I watch him interact with Ciel as I sit up in bed.

Ciel stirs slightly in his father’s arms, and Cyrus places a soft kiss atop his head before handing him off to the servant. I watch in sadness as she once again bows with Ciel in her arms, taking him out of the room. Cyrus still has his back to me, closing the door before he decides to speak.

“Don’t worry. You will see him more often now that he is in the palace. But his existence must remain a secret for now,” Cyrus says, watching me carefully.

My arms instinctually wrap around myself as I suddenly feel the loss of my son’s presence.

“I am not worried, Your Majesty,” I murmur.

Cyrus’s eyes roam over me in silence.

“This is an important week, Anna,” he says.

“I know,” I murmur.

Cyrus comes to stand in front of me, reaching out to push my hair out of my face.

“You know?” he repeats, watching me. There’s a glimmer of amusement in his gaze as he studies me.

“And what is it that you know?”

“I must win the hearts of your people,” I say.

“You make it sound like such a task,” he says, stepping away from me.

I watch him silently as he removes his shirt. He has the confidence that comes with being the most powerful in a kingdom, a confidence that I must mimic.

“I know it will be difficult to defend myself from the jealous beasts in court,” I say earning a laugh from Cyrus.

“Oh? And why is that?” he asks.

“If their cruelty is anything like Marzia’s, then I will be fighting for my life the moment we meet,” I say, watching him.

Cyrus turns to face me, leaning against the table as he does so.

“Just as you couldn’t then, I know you cannot interfere. I must fend for myself,” I say.

Cyrus still doesn’t speak, his gaze narrowing slightly as he comes toward me. I keep my breathing level and my gaze steady as he looks into my eyes. We remain like that as he pulls my dress from my shoulders, pushing it down until it rests around my waist. His eyes drop, focusing on the seal that’s been embedded into my flesh while his fingers gently caress the mark.

I flinch when it suddenly heats up, and Cyrus’s gaze meets mine.

“You will never be as helpless as you were with Marzia. You have my seal, Annalise. My power is yours. You need only call for it.”

His hand gently presses against it just as the heat grows. His eyes meet mine as he gauges my reaction.

“I know you’ve felt it. I’ve been feeding it to you slowly over the past few weeks. So now, you are able to withstand more than you did in the past. You will use my strength to destroy any that dare get in your way should it come down to it. Do you understand?” he asks.

My eyes widen as his piercing gaze remains level with mine. And I can no longer control my heart rate as a smile forms on his lips.

“You are my queen. Mine . By any means necessary.”

I don’t recognize the woman who looks back at me in the mirror. I was never this clean and pampered. My hair was never so shiny and styled. And my clothing was, more often than not, dirty, especially when I became a slave in the palace. But now I am a noble. A human noble. As Cyrus said, the first of my kind. My stomach clenches in anticipation as his words to me at the estate repeat in my head. He and I both know I am not ready. I am not ready to face his world or his people. But he has no choice. And I know in the days to come, I will find out the reason he has forced me into this position.

I silently make my way to the balcony, watching the nobles who have begun to arrive one by one in their carriages, ready to impress the king and other nobles around them. This is the time when each member of their society finds a suitable match, but according to Joan, all female beasts will have their sights set on the king.

Apparently, Marzia’s tragic fate wasn’t enough to deter these women. But after seeing Cyrus’s true form and understanding the amount of power he controls, I understand much better now. The beast society thrives on power. Securing a place at the king’s side is more than a power trip. It’s ensuring their survival. I release a bitter laugh as I watch them exit the carriages. These beasts are here to make the life I didn’t want even more miserable. And according to Joan, I have to be able to handle it myself. The king cannot get involved.

But his words this morning, though out of character, were encouraging. And I have yet to see him since.

“Your Grace?”

I turn away from the balcony to see Joan standing in the doorway. She has a smile on her lips as she takes me in, coming to stand next to me. She silently holds her hands over her mouth as she takes me in before gently pulling at the train of my dress.

“News of your unrivaled beauty has spread throughout the kingdom. The people are saying it is your beauty that enchanted the king,” she says with a grin.

“Everyone is excited to see the woman that brought a king to his knees with this face,” she says.

She studies me for a moment, a frown finding its way onto her lips when she realizes my sour mood.

“This is good news. The kingdom is receiving you in a positive light. You have done well,” she says reassuringly.

“And when they find out I am human?” I ask.

Joan is silent for a moment, her disappointment in my mood showing.

“Once you show them who you are, they will see how you captured his heart,” she says softly.

I turn back to the window, taking in the beasts once more.

“Were you here when the previous queen ruled?” I ask.

I expect Joan to answer immediately, and when she doesn’t, I look away from the balcony. She’s watching me with a strange expression.

“Why do you want to know about the previous queen?” she asks.

“The beasts knew when she arrived that she would be taking over the kingdom. I want to know how she handled herself in court. What kind of beast was the king’s mother?” I say, voicing my thoughts.

“That is something you must ask the king about yourself. I cannot speak to it,” she says.

I watch Joan in confusion.

“But surely you remember her ruling—”

“I cannot speak of her. It is forbidden.” Joan’s eyes look desperate as she watches me.

Her expression causes a chill to ripple up my spine. Cyrus forbade his own mother from being spoken of within these walls? Joan notices my concern and quickly covers up her desperation by straightening out pieces of my gown as she speaks.

“I won’t be able to attend the ball with you tonight. It’s an opening ceremony, so only nobles and serving staff will be in attendance, not personal servants. This will be a busy week for you, but you’ll have plenty of opportunities to show them why the king chose you,” she says.

She offers me one more comforting smile as she gestures to the door. “Shall we?”

Joan walks with me through the halls of the palace to the ballroom. I have yet to see Cyrus since my departure this morning. I know from my time as a slave by his side that his duties as king keep him busy throughout the day when he is in the palace, which means everything from this moment forward is on me. I look around the familiar halls, fighting the discomfort I feel at each crevice and corner. I even recognize the hidden entrance of the slave passage so that the beasts never had to be bothered with seeing us.

Cyrus was true to his word. All the nobles staying as guests in the palace have been moved to a wing separate from mine. So, we only encounter servants on our way to the ballroom. But not one human. He was true to his word in that regard as well. There are no humans within this palace.

“The king will already be in attendance. It is his duty to greet each guest who arrives and is announced. Among them shall be you. The king will also open the ball with a dance, and you shall, of course, be his choice. Remain confident and remember the training you have had up to this point,” Joan says behind me.

I keep my chin raised as she speaks, already pushing my fear into a dark corner of my mind. All the pain and torture I have suffered no longer matter. I think of Cyrus and the level of confidence he exudes naturally. That is how I must be. This is for Ciel’s future. No one else matters.

“From the moment he chooses you, you will be a target,” she adds.

I don’t falter in my steps as guards push open the doors to my wing, revealing the populated region of the palace. The sounds of beasts talking and music in the distance fill the air, as does the sound of the carriages just outside. This is what I have trained for, and I am now here.

I pause, turning to face Joan. Just as she said, she has not moved past the doors of my wing. Instead of waiting for her words of encouragement, I feign my own confidence.

“Do not worry, Joan. I will be fine.”