Chapter 42
Once the hall was changed to a room fitting for guests to eat, drink and be merry, Ornella and I sat in our thrones under the archway. I’d had hers commissioned a few weeks ago, made from white marble with gold veins. A bright contrast to my obsidian stone.
She seemed pleasantly surprised by the way the room was decorated. I’d lost count how many times she complimented my flower choices. I had some hidden romantic talents.
Vanessa sat next to her in one of the smaller chairs while April sat at my right hand. Morgana surveyed the room, listening intently to the conversations amongst the other courtiers. One of her many hidden talents was heightened senses, she could hear something a mile away if she truly tried. My perfect, innocent looking spy.
Ornella put her arm out as a footman came bearing a jug filled to the brim with wine. I watched as he topped up her chalice. I was unsure how many drinks she’d had already and made note to cut her off after this last one. I needed my bride to have her wits about her as our royal dance was coming up soon. Not to mention that I wanted her awake for what I planned to do to her later.
The floor space was filled with young and old couples alike as they danced along to whatever music the bard and his group were playing. I’d paid no attention to them once we sat down after having our fill of the food, the feast far greater than I expected. April already suggested the remaining food would be sent to the poorer houses within the city, to which I agreed. It would be a gift from their soon-to-be queen.
Sipping slowly at my chalice, I kept my eye on Morgana as she sent word through her mind that there was nothing to report yet, but she would continue to listen in for a while longer.
“And then, dear brother, I am dancing my shoes off and taking one of the beautiful Fae men back to my quarters. Or maybe I will take two.”
Shaking my head and laughing under my breath, I watched as she wandered off into a group of males. They surrounded her, all smiling and bowing to her. Morgana with her siren ways always had men falling at her feet wherever she went.
“What does my dear husband find funny?”
Ornella already sounded dazed as she leaned into my chair and lightly touched my hand with her fingertips. Her eyes glittering under the ceiling as it changed to a moonlight sky.
“How do you do that?” She pointed to the ceiling.
“That’s not me, that’s Morgana. She has many talents. One of which is the power of illusion, but only the royal family knows about it.”
I leaned in close to her ear to whisper. If such a secret were to fall into the wrong hands Morgana would become a great prize to be won. I’d made a promise to her that she would never be shipped off to marry. That also meant she couldn’t be used for political gain or a method of war by anyone but me.
“That’s incredible, what a gift to have.”
She took another sip of her wine, and I took the glass from her hand then passed both of our glasses to the footman. She scowled at me as she swallowed the last drink in her mouth and began to pout.
“Ladies don’t pout, and they most certainly don’t get intoxicated.”
She rolled her eyes at me and huffed into her seat.
“Ladies also sits up straight and tall.”
“Well this lady does, and for now I am going to sit next to my king and looked pretty.”
“Which you do very well, but I’d also like one who has some decorum and makes a good example to our court.”
She sat up straight then as my words hit her. Hopefully with some lessons from April, who had leaned forward to look at Ornella, she would be fine at council meetings and other events.
“May we dance soon?” she asked, looking up at me with her beautiful hazel forest eyes, as she fluttered her long eyelashes.
“Let’s give you some water first, I don’t want you falling over your own two feet.”
She laughed, a sweet and gentle sound as she waved over the footman again and asked for water this time, which pleased me. I knew before she admitted to me she didn’t wish to be some form of slave, that I would never treat her as one. While some men may want that in their wife, I wanted her to be her own person. I thought she would fight me on everything tonight, but she was just happy and relaxed tonight.
Tomorrow, maybe a different story.
The light shifted in the room as Ornella finished her glass of water, the pianist began to play soft and gentle tones on his keys. The harpist joined in, plucking delicately at her strings as a sweet tune echoed throughout the room.
The candlelight glowed beautifully against Ornella’s olive skin. My hand found hers and I pulled her towards the dance space, smiling down at her with each step. Already our guests were standing around the space, waiting for us to take our first waltz as husband and wife. She looked more radiant than I could have imagined, even with the noticeable amount of wine in her system. Her cheeks flushed as she raised her eyes to mine.
Taking her by the waist, I pulled her in close and could feel the heat rising between us. She sighed tenderly, licking her lips as I pulled her into my arms. We took our first steps, slowly at first, allowing us to enjoy this moment.
My mother always insisted I learnt how to dance. Always stating that the heir should be able to waltz the ladies across the floor, gliding them as if they were flying. Had she known the woman I’d dance with on my wedding night would be the girl I saw crying in the forest, she’d probably laugh and roll her eyes at me. Reminding me that I always did get what I set my eyes upon, and Ornella was just that.
Twirling her in a circle and then back into my arms, she let me lead her into every movement gracefully. We’d danced before but nothing compared to this. All those dances we had in the lilac meadows were just practice. Now, here was the real thing. It was just us. She was and always would be my dance partner, for the rest of my days.
I would only ever dance with her.
“Are you happy, husband?” she asked, looking up at me under hooded lashes.
“I am as happy as a king is allowed to be.”
I smiled back at her, spinning her outwards and then twilling her back in towards me, being careful not to tangle ourselves in the vow string. Both her hands grasped mine as we turned together. Before placing my hand back on her lower back, I raised her free hand to my lips, kissing her knuckles tenderly .
“I will be even happier when we can get back to our bedroom,” I whispered against her skin.
She laughed as I pulled her in once more and placed a small, light kiss on her lips. I didn’t mind that my entire court saw the affection I gave my wife. At that moment I only saw her.
“Then we will head to that room shortly.”
Winking at me, she pecked a sweet tender kiss on my lips as we finished off our dance.With the happiness and the applause of our guests, we were then able to retire to our marital bed where we bathed together and explored our bodies even more.
By the end of the night, we sat on the balcony enjoying the warm spring weather, feeding each other deserts, feeling each other’s skin any chance we could, and talking about anything and everything.
Waking up to find her back pressed against my chest, I wanted nothing more than to ravish her and take her again. Before I had a chance to act on my desires, I sensed April on the other side of the bedroom door.
“The council wishes for a meeting, brother.”
She sent a message via our mind channel and a sigh escaped my chest. I would have to wait until later this afternoon once I found Ornella—my wife—and do unspeakable things to her.
Leaving her to sleep the rest of the morning away, I kissed her on her hairline and slipped out of bed. I begrudgingly put on clothing fit for a king. The past two days I’d been in comfortable cotton trousers and was under strict instructions not to wear a shirt.
Laughing under my breath at the newest memories Ornella and I had created, I questioned why I’d been so reserved at not wanting to become more than friends. We were meant to be companions and to build a life together. We were two sides of the same coin. Both with responsibilities placed on us from birth. Both longing for those days back in the woods running through fields and sharing with each other our deepest darkest secrets and brightest dreams.
Taking one more look at her, I stepped out of the room where April waited. A frown pressed against her lips and her brows were pulled in close. The bubble I’d been creating within that bedroom, was now popped. I wasn’t Nicholas out here. I was the shadow King.
“You best have a good reason for pulling me away, sister dearest.”
She side eyed me as we walked beside each other down the corridors and made our way to the council room. Followed by my guards, they kept an eye on most of the goings on through the castle.
“I wouldn’t dare dream of pulling you away from your dear wife if it wasn”t an important matter, my king,” she replied as the doors to the room were opened.
Each lord stood from the table, including Nora and Percy who again seemed to have weary expressions on their faces. I hoped to make this meeting quick and head back upstairs, but judging by the mood in the room, it was going to be a long one.
“Our apologies, your majesty, for disturbing you during your celebration period. We wouldn’t have if it wasn’t urgent.”
Percy slipped a few pieces of parchment in front of me as I took my seat at the end of the table with April sitting beside me to the left. Only then did everyone return to their seats. Glancing at the parchments below, they mostly featured writings, notes, and maps of movements. Movements of Ornella’s father’s army.
“What is all this?”
“King Sirius’ army has made advances closer to our borders, we believe it’s because of the wedding.”
Percy pointed out on the map, as if I didn’t know how to read it and I shot him a look which made him cower somewhat. Looking closer then, there wasn’t much to go by unless I myself went to the border and saw how many of Sirius” men had arrived.
“And what are we doing about this?” I asked, looking at Nora at the other end of the table.
“I have sent more men to protect the outskirts of the borders as well as to show strength to our people in the villages surrounding the barrier.”
Nodding in agreement, I didn’t need to question Nora as she’d been doing this job a lot longer than I’d been king. Why however this required a meeting of the council I did not understand. When I was busy or indisposed, April dealt with things as she was next in line. Only being removed if and when Ornella and I had children, which was a conversation for another day.
“And if that is so, why have I been called here?”
“We, sire,” Lord Wallace began to speak.
“We?” I interrupted.
“We, all of us,” Wallace gestured to the entire room.
“For the record, Lord Wallace—Myself, her highness and Lady Nora are not included in this,” Percy spoke, clearing his throat and making sure I heard him.
“Yes, yes, Lord Percy we have all heard you voice your opinions many times already. Now, sire, my king.”
My eyes turned back to Wallace as he stood from the table, obviously trying to make his presence and voice seen and heard. His grey hair poked out over the top of his pointed ears and his eyes appeared to have more wrinkles around them. Fae aged slowly once they hit adulthood but there were always still little signs that showed time was slowly catching up.
“My king, we believe if you were to just hand over Princess Ornella this act of war would leave our shores.”
Pinching the tip of my nose in frustration, I slammed my other hand palm against the table, rattling the crystal glasses. I was definitely not entertaining this idea again.
“Wallace, I have already had this conversation with both you and Lord Foster. I will not be sending my wife anywhere. She is to be protected at all costs.”
“Even if the cost is you and your family”s lives? Our lives?” Foster spoke under his breath and a snarl escaped my lips.
“If only you’d listen to reason.”
Another lord spoke this time, Lord Berwick, one of the newly appointed lords. Who’d recently inherited his lands after his father passed a couple of years ago. We’d been the same age when our parents had died. Although kindred spirits in our job roles, I despised his face and if I was able to dispose of him, I’d have been happy to have done so years ago.
“Lord Berwick, the man who only watches, listens but never says a word unless it will benefit him.”
“Never to benefit myself, sire, always to benefit this kingdom. Now I must speak up. I believe you may well have doomed us all with your actions.”
I couldn’t help but laugh, and loudly in fact to which April shot me a glance of confusion and annoyance. She’d known of my plan for years, never once questioning my choices. She had wanted to help Ornella, get her settled in and befriend her.
“My king, please, you must send her back,” Forest begged.
I stopped my laughter and rolled my eyes at them all.
“Or at least treat her so she wants to leave of her own will. The blood bond will hold, neither of you will break it now that you have been married in the eyes of the Goddess. Many people live apart.”
I’d promised Ornella I’d stop acting as harshly towards her. I hated hurting her and refused to do so again.
“Nicholas,” April addressed me, placing a hand on mine. “For once I agree with this council, which you know is very rare. And I adore Ornella, she has brought so much joy to you already, but they are right. If she stays here, and King Sirius believes she’s being forced to remain, then he will continue bringing his armies. I know we have an advantage with our magics, but do you think Ornella will forgive you if you harm her family?”
She squeezed my hand and I felt a pinch in my chest. I’d become so hellbent on revenge and taking Ornella as my own, I barely thought of her family”s reactions. How her sister felt when she found Ornella gone or when Norok woke up and heard Ornella had vanished.
“I will take everything under advisement, but for now, Ornella is no longer up for discussion. Lady Nora has stationed more men at the barrier, and we will increase the number of guards in the local villages to make our people feel safe.”
Standing from the table, they all followed suit.
“Percy, send word to our neighbouring kingdoms and ask them for aid should we require it. Our cousin Empress Genu will happily help if it means crushing the ones who murdered her auntie.”
Genu’s mother, my father’s other sister, Adelaide, was married off to the Empire of Nadrolan. An almost barren wasteland turned oasis by Adelaide’s magical gifts. They’d become an empire once their lands grew wild and lush, their people blessing Adelaide as if she were a Goddess herself.
Genu became the Empress once Adelaide and her husband, Emperor Ashra, passed across the gate. She’d been extremely close to Delphine before she died. I knew, if I called for aid, she would show up with more than enough soldiers and ships to take over the entire world.
“Of course, your majesty, I will send word at once.”
“For now, my wife and I are to be left in peace. I will resume my duties tomorrow.”
They bowed low as I left the room, storming back towards Ornella. I was angry at how quickly my mood had shifted from the peaceful bliss I woke up to.