Page 23

Annalise

T he king has opened the gates for the merchants of the kingdom, allowing them to set up a marketplace in front of the palace. According to Joan, it is a tradition that hasn’t been done for years since the war began. But now that the war is over and Cyrus has settled into his new role as king, peace can now be afforded to the beasts of the kingdom.

“There will be humans at this event, Annalise. You cannot let their state distract you. You are always being watched, especially by the beasts. After today, the merchants will go home and tell their friends and families about you. Word of the woman the king has chosen will spread like wildfire. Make sure it is good. This is where your history begins among the people.”

Joan smiles at me as she speaks, as if she is truly pleased with the possibility of me being loved among the people. I watch myself in the mirror as Prim, and my other servants get me ready for the day. Once again, they have passed me off as nobility, but after last night, I feel more like an imposter than I ever did. Not only was I approached by beasts who openly had disdain for me, but I was also marked by a beast that Felix referred to as “Majesty.” And if that’s not the end of it, Cyrus’s lust, as a result, was overwhelming.

“Annalise.”

I look away from my reflection, my thoughts affecting hearing Joan speak to me. She’s watching me with a concerned expression, and I look back at myself once more before speaking.

“Can we have a moment?” I ask.

Joan watches me hesitantly before motioning for the servants.

“Wait outside,” she says.

The servants all bow, making their way to the door. Once it’s closed, I finally feel like I can breathe. I make my way to the chair in the corner of my chamber, sinking into it.

“Are you alright?” Joan asks.

“I just need a minute,” I say softly.

I drop my head in my hands, trying to relieve myself of some of the stress that I feel. But with each breath, my chest grows tighter. None of the emotions I feel can be talked about, as it is seen as weakness. And Cyrus won’t even bother to put himself in my shoes. He wants me to embody being a beast so much that I can somehow make him forget I am human. But it is overwhelming. And I am alone with these feelings.

“Will it ever get easy?” I ask.

“I don’t know, Annalise. You are the first of your kind. You have problems queens before you have never faced. But I’ve seen how resilient you can be. You can do this. You’re already doing it,” she says gently.

I look up from my hands and Joan is kneeling in front of me with a soft expression. She’s changed a lot since she was first placed by my side. She’s kind and more understanding and for some reason, believes in me.

“Why do you believe in me so much?” I ask.

My question shocks her for a moment but she quickly recovers a small smile forming on her lips.

“I’ve been told everything about your past with the king. You are brave, intelligent, and beautiful. You have faced odds much worse than this and come out on top, even if your victory was short-lived. Why wouldn’t I believe in a woman who left as a slave and returned as a queen?” she asks.

My eyes widen as she studies me. She says it as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world, and I see now that the advice she’s offered me was because she sees me in a way I can’t even see myself.

I release a laugh, shaking my head.

“I don’t know, Joan. Even if I do everything right, there always seems to be something waiting to go wrong. And I don’t know how much longer I can take Cyrus’s obsession,” I say softly.

“What is the problem, exactly?” Joan asks.

She’s watching me with a serious expression.

“Do you remember what I told you? Before you entered the estate? As long as you have the king in your bed, you are invincible. He is yours. No one else’s. Use that to your advantage,” she says.

I laugh bitterly, looking out the window.

“He doesn’t see me as anything other than something to fuck,” I say bitterly.

Joan roughly grips my face, whipping my gaze to meet hers. Her expression is livid as she glares at me.

“Then use him, Annalise. Show him you are more than something to fuck. Make him see you as more than that,“ she says sternly.

“I don’t know how,” I say.

“The king fell for you, not because of your body. It may have drawn him in, yes. But to keep him? He was enamored by your intelligence. I have heard him on many occasions speak of it, and if he hasn’t realized that by now, it is your job to show him. Do you want to live your life as his puppet?” Joan releases me as her words seep in.

“Stop being frightened of him. No matter what he does, you have his heart and his ear. Make something of that. Build a relationship with him, Annalise. Or all you’ll ever be is something to fuck.”

The weather is pleasant. Summer is coming to and, so the air isn’t hot any longer, but it isn’t cold yet either. It’s the perfect in-between with a slight chill in the breeze. I silently make my way down the steps of the palace with Joan behind me. I can see the market from this distance. It looks very festive as we approach the neat courtyard filled with vendors ready to sell to the nobles of society.

There are already many nobles in attendance, much more than were at the ball. It almost reminds me of busy marketplaces I would set up shop in across the sea. Joan says the events for the rest of the week are more open to those who aren’t of strict nobility. I can only pray that my luck doesn’t betray me today by allowing the foreign king to run into me again.

Joan’s words from earlier weigh on me heavily as I descend the palace steps. I must form a relationship with Cyrus. I know she is right, but the thought of even attempting to strike up a conversation with Cyrus makes my stomach twist in discomfort. I’ve never truly conversed with him. It’s always been responses to his questions. But especially after last night, I need to form a relationship with him. He needs to see me as something other than a calculating human he needs to keep in place.

Cyrus is waiting for me at the bottom of the steps, his gaze heavy as he watches me descend. I shudder to think about last night with him, even as I take him in now I can feel the intimidation. He seems different since last night, but according to Joan, I must use this to my advantage even if he terrifies me. I have to remember that I do have a son by him, and he has shown me thus far that he adores our son. There is a place for compassion in Cyrus’s heart. He showed me in our final days together. I must find that place again.

A smile forms on his lips as he takes me in, and I bow.

“Your Majesty,” I murmur.

Cyrus takes my hand in his bringing it to his lips, his eyes slightly sharpening as he looks into my own.

“Annalise.”

When he’s satisfied with his greeting, he stands tall, gesturing to the market.

“Anything you want is yours,” he says.

I note the pride in his voice as he speaks.

“You’re too kind, Your Majesty,” I say softly.

Cyrus chuckles at my words, placing his hand on the small of my back.

“Perhaps,” he murmurs.

We silently stroll through the market, and each beast that notices us, noble or peasant, bows as we pass. Cyrus’s people truly admire him, no matter who is on his arm. I silently look back at Joan, who makes a face while mouthing her earlier advice to me. So, I turn back to Cyrus, hoping to change his perception of me.

“Joan says this was a tradition before the war,” I say.

“Yes.”

“Did you ever come?” I ask.

Cyrus shrugs next to me.

“I did,” he says simply.

“Did you—”

“Is this you making small talk, Anna?” I pause, looking at Cyrus.

He’s watching me with an amused glint in his gaze.

“You don’t need to know everything about me to do your job. You only—”

“But I want to,” I say.

Cyrus’s gaze narrows slightly, placing me on alert. Thankfully, my practice allows me to keep my heart at a steady rhythm and not let my emotions get out of hand.

“I want to know you, Your Majesty. I want you the way you were before… before you sent me into the hunter’s camp,” I say softly.

Cyrus studies me intensely. His gaze is unwavering as he makes a silent assessment, and I don’t know what to think.

“Before I betrayed you,” I add, hoping to soften his stoic expression.

If there’s one thing I do know about Cyrus, it is that he is hurt by my ‘betrayal.’ If I am to get his guard down, then I must admit to it. Finally, Cyrus reacts. He smiles. It’s chilling.

“You have so many demands lately.” He leans to my height, his gaze boring into mine. I don’t know if he’s doing it on purpose, but his eyes shift into that terrifying shape that comes before his beast forms. And that makes my knees weak with fear. Fear that I cannot hide.

“Fine. I will play along. But do tread carefully, Annalise. Very carefully,” he says in a lowered voice.

I slowly nod my head until he finally stands to his full height, placing his hand against my lower back.

“Come. I will show you why I came to the market every year,” he says.

We walk through the market as the bustle of the vendors fills the air. It’s a somewhat calming atmosphere, just seeing peace at work. I’ve never seen such an array of beasts interacting as if they were human. They smile, showing off each of their individual items they brought for sale, some peering at us in hopes that the king will stop at their stands.

But we keep our pace until we reach the stand Cyrus planned for. The vendor’s eyes light up, and he bows profusely as we approach.

“Your Majesty, it is an honor! I was curious if you would be coming to see us this year,” he says, grinning.

Cyrus smiles next to me, his demeanor uncharacteristically friendly as he speaks to the old beast. They speak of Cyrus’s childhood and how it was his mother and him who discovered this stand, Cyrus forcing his mother to return every year. And even when the market stopped, Cyrus visited the man’s shop once a year as well.

Cyrus steps aside after a moment, pushing me forward to introduce me. “Allow me to introduce the Duchess, Annalise,” he says.

I offer the beast a smile.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” I say.

The vendor eyes me in shock, his face turning bright red as he takes me in, bowing.

“Might I say, the rumors just don’t do you justice, Your Grace? I see why the king is so captivated with you,” he chuckles offering me a wink.

I smile, offering my thanks as he goes about his job, creating the concoction Cyrus is so fond of. I silently study him as he drops a sticky substance into white powder and begins halving and pulling it knowingly. To anyone who wasn’t aware of the differences between beasts and humans, you would think he was a normal old man. He’s kind and playful while taking pride in what he does.

But humans know all too well that while he may look the same on the surface, even this old man would have no difficulty crushing a young, strong human’s spine with little effort.

I’m pulled out of my thoughts as he finishes, handing us a bowl filled with a stringy, pale concoction. I’ve never seen anything like it. Cyrus takes the bowl from him, pulling a piece of the stringy food to put in my mouth.

“Open,” he says.

The command may seem innocent to any stranger passing by, but to me, it holds a much deeper meaning. Especially since, in the past, Cyrus placed more than just food in my mouth. But I follow his command, his eyes twinkling in knowing amusement as he sets it in my mouth.

Shock crosses my features, and my hands fly to my mouth as the concoction melts into a chewy substance that tastes sweeter than anything I’ve ever had. The vendor’s laugh pulls me out of my trance.

“You look just like the young king the first time he tried it,” he says with a grin.

When I look back at Cyrus, he is watching me with a smile as well, popping some into his mouth.

“Delectable as always, Stephen.”

I still have my hand over my mouth as Cyrus guides me away from the vendor.

“What is that?” I ask.

Cyrus quirks a brow at me.

“It’s sweets.”

Cyrus studies my reaction, his interest captured.

“Have you never had—”

“No, nothing like that. The sweetest thing I ever had was fruits my father would sometimes bake with the bread. That was… magical,” I say softly with a smile.

The taste was delightful, and the effects of the sweet breaking down in my mouth altered my state of mind. Cyrus laughs next to me, pulling another out of the bowl to hand to me to eat.

“My mother brought me here a lot when I was a child. It was my father’s gift to her to have the market brought within the palace walls. It was her favorite place as well. And when she died, I continued the tradition. Though recently I was unable to due to the war your kind started. Now, however, it is nice to have it back. I’m glad Stephen did well through the war.”

I shift my attention to Cyrus in shock, but his attention is focused on the sweets in his hand as he speaks. I don’t know if he is aware he is speaking to me, but he seems at peace as he enjoys a memory he and his mother shared.

I gently place my hand on his arm.

“If you would allow it, I would like to take some for Ciel later,” I say.

Cyrus looks at me, his eyes shifting over my face as a genuine smile forms. My cheeks heat up from the beauty of it.

“Of course,” he says.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“Your Majesty!”

We both look up, and the moment between us is broken as Felix approaches. He has an intense expression on his face, and he doesn’t do the formal greeting usually accustomed with beasts. He quickly murmurs something to Cyrus, stepping back as Cyrus comes to a decision.

Cyrus’s gaze shifts to me as he hands me the bowl.

“Unfortunately, duty calls. I will have more treats sent from Stephen’s stand.” Cyrus pulls me into him, his lips grazing my ear as he speaks. “Do not let what happened last night happen again, Anna.”

His words are cold, sending a chill down my spine as he steps away, not offering me another glance as he disappears with Felix. I look back at Joan who has her head down, handing her the bowl.

“Do you want some?” I ask.

She looks at me with a strange expression.

“Your Grace, I can’t—”

“Joan. This is the kind of Queen I want to be remembered for. Don’t fight me,” I say.

She slowly takes the bowl from me, passing the sweets to each of my servants. I note that each of their faces lights up in excitement as they try the concoction reserved for the upper class. It’s eerie this kind of action that brings others joy is seen as weak in beast society. Now that Cyrus has revealed to me what makes him king, it stands out to me just how frightening it must be to be a servant. To be seen as the inferior of your race, with no hope of proving them wrong.

I take in a deep breath, turning away from them to continue my stroll through the market. The vendors of the kingdom have beautiful items to offer, and I take it upon myself to get whatever I can. That includes items for Cyrus. If I am to mingle my way into his heart, I must do things I once dreamed of doing with Dimitri. Each vendor is kind to me, beaming as I give them service, and I can feel the eyes of nobles on me even though they only greet me, keeping their distance for the most part.

As we finally make our way to the edge of the market, my footsteps falter. For the first time since my return, I see a human. Joan’s warning before we entered the market suddenly makes sense. The woman’s hair is ratty, and her eyes are sunken. Her clothing, though clean, is too big for her frail form.

“Joan…” I trail off as I study her.

There’s a brand on her throat. Nausea washes over me as I take it in. Is this what has become of humans outside of the palace? My ears roar as blood rushes through them, my chest constricting, and my dress suddenly feels too tight.

“Your Grace. You are being watched,” Joan murmurs as she comes to stand next to me.

“Look at me,” she says when I don’t respond.

I do. Slowly.

“You have time to mourn later. Right now, you are the future Queen. Think of your son,” she says firmly.

I nod as a feeling of numbness washes over me.

“Now, give me a command, Duchess,” she says.

I know she’s compensating for the eyes of the beasts on us at this moment. So, I swallow my emotions, thinking of Ciel. Ciel is a part of two worlds, more so Cyrus’s than mine. If I want him to survive Cyrus’s, I must be strong.

“I would like to return to the palace for lunch with the king,” I say in a strong voice.

Joan’s expression is comforting as she nods, turning to the servants.

“The Duchess would like to return,” she says loudly.

My servants bow as I step past them, making my way back through the market. As I put distance between myself and the market, I lower my head slightly to catch my breath.

“Your Grace!”

I hear Joan’s warning seconds before I crash right into someone.

“Oh! I’m sorry, I—”

I trail off as strong hands steady me, holding me tight and I realize with dread I am looking into the eyes of the beast from last night. I quickly step back, ripping myself from his grasp, and he notices.

He smiles, revealing his dimples.

“That’s quite alright,” he says gently.

I once again feel paralyzed as I look into his gaze. I see nothing but danger in it as he calculates how to win me from Cyrus. Or worse.

“It’s wonderful to see you again,” he says.

I take another step back, placing better distance between us, pulling his amusement, his smile widening.

“The market is buzzing with your name on everyone’s lips. I must admit, the only reason I showed up today was in hopes of seeing you again. But it’s disappointing knowing everyone else had the same idea in mind,” he says.

“I’m flattered,” I say.

His gaze shifts, and he takes in the surrounding beasts, his eyes lingering on the humans who stand near their masters with brands on their throats.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it? How one beast can control the masses all the way down to the ones that rebelled against the natural order? I admire the king of this country. He had the strength to do what I could not,” he says.

His gaze shifts behind me, his smile dropping as he studies Joan.

“Could you give us some space?” he calls.

“I am the only one who can tell them what to do,” I say, strongly pulling his attention.

“Oh?” He studies me intensely for a moment before laughing softly. “I only wanted to tell you about my kingdom. Across the sea. It had a market just like this one.”

He watches me knowingly, his words suddenly putting me on edge.

“Joan, can you check on the orders from Stephen,” I call out.

I know by the way she hesitates that she disagrees with my decision, but follows it nonetheless. The beast before me watches her, smiling as she moves away, leaving me alone with the beast.

“As I said, there was a market like this in my kingdom. I discovered it by accident when I sensed the presence of a powerful adversary while on a scouting trip. But when I tracked it down, I didn’t find a beast. I found a woman who wore a necklace that reeked of this presence’s blood. But she wasn’t a threat. If anything, she seemed on edge. Anxious,” he says.

My eyes widen as he speaks and he enjoys my discomfort, his desire clear on his face.

“It was very clear she wasn’t from the area. But she disappeared, reappearing in different regions before I could track her down. Until one day, she disappeared completely, right after I received reports of beasts on my land.”

He laughs, standing tall as he takes in Cyrus’s palace.

“It’s been a pleasure to finally meet you, Your Grace. I am excited to see what else this kingdom has to offer.”