2. Chapter 2
Chapter two
T he two large doors to the room opened without warning. Erendrial stood to his feet as the King of Doonak entered … my father. I turned on the couch to look at the male who sired me. The male who I had so desperately wanted to know about for so many years. The male I had hoped would come and save me from a life of starvation and loneliness.
The king stopped as we made eye contact. I stood slowly, my heart racing, and my nerves on edge. He looked no older than thirty, with white skin and a flawless complexion. His face was strong and sculpted: high cheekbones, a straight and dominant nose, and familiar lips. His eyes were a vibrant green, just like my own. Long, straight, black hair trailed down his back. His frame was lean and muscular.
A gold crown sat on top of his head. He wore a black suit and vest with satin detail work covering the canvas of his attire. A black cape lined with gold trim and fur fluttered behind him. Veins popped from his forehead and neck, and his jaw tightened as he took in the sight of me.
I looked back at Erendrial for instruction on what to do or how to act, but all he did was smile at me before bowing his head. I began to play with my hands, uncomfortable by the awkward silence. I had imagined this moment for so long and now that it was here. I didn’t know what to do.
“Ambassador Lyklor, how did the trade go over with the Queen of the Light?” asked King Drezmore.
Erendrial stepped forward, taking a deep breath in. “Not as planned, your majesty,” he said, holding up my left wrist to show the king the sigil that controlled Otar. I pulled away, uncomfortable. King Drezmore’s eyes widened.
“You rose Otar? You’re the reason King Lysanthier is dead?” he asked.
I nodded, still unable to find my voice.
He turned away from me, back to Erendrial. “I expect there was conflict?”
“Just a little, but everything was handled without an ounce of bloodshed, your majesty. The queen was also branded as requested with your house sigil,” smirked Erendrial.
“And where is the creature now?” asked King Drezmore.
Erendrial laughed lightly, shaking his head. “He has been offered a room, next to the princess’s, per her request. The situation with Otar is more than we could have expected. Though, she won’t reveal many details about the resurrection or the bond with the creature,” he said, shooting me a side glance, “the creature follows her commands and seems complacent to do so. ”
The king tilted his head towards me with interest. “Is that so? A very interesting development indeed. One we can use to our advantage in the future, I hope. Thank you Erendrial. As always, you serve our kingdom and your king with honor. Please, wait outside until I call for you,” instructed the king.
Erendrial nodded, taking his leave from the room.
Once the doors were closed behind him, the king slowly approached me. I didn’t realize how tall he was until he stood towering above. He examined my face, my figure, and then my hair. I couldn’t read his expression. I couldn’t tell if he was pleased with me or not, but I still was hesitant to say a word. He reached out his hand slowly to a loose curl that dangled near my ear. He rubbed the curl in between his fingers gently before dropping his hand back to his side.
“You look so much like her. You even smell like her,” he said in a deep voice.
I brought my eyes up to his, seeing the same shades of green flicker through them as my own. “You … you remember her?” I asked shyly. I still didn’t know what type of relationship my parents had.
He smiled, for the first time as he dropped his eyes to the floor. “Yes, I remember her. Every detail,” he said, gesturing to the couch for me to sit.
I did as he requested, never taking my eyes off him.
He took off his cape and sat down next to me, leaving a cushion between us. “After I found out about you, I sent my people to your town to look for her. They said she passed eleven years ago.” He paused for a moment. “How did she die?”
“I don’t really know. I went out to the market and when I returned home, I found her dead in our bed. The healers said she was perfectly healthy. They couldn’t find any evidence of illness or disease.”
He sat silent for a few moments. “I didn’t know she was with child. If I would have, I—” He stopped, putting his hand over his mouth.
“What … what was she … to you?” I asked. I had a long list of questions, but I needed to know what type of alfar I was dealing with first.
He turned to me, straightening his back, sitting tall and elegantly. “You mean to ask if I raped her?”
I dropped my eyes, not wanting to think of my mother enduring that kind of pain.
“I didn’t,” he said shortly. “She wanted me as much as I wanted her. There was consent.”
“And how do I know you’re not lying to me? Humans are nothing more than cattle to your kind, am I right? Why allow yourself to sink so low for a messy human?”
He studied me for a moment. His face gave away nothing of his thoughts or feelings … if he were capable of experiencing them, that was. “I can see trust with you will need to be earned,” he said, matter-of-fact.
I took a deep breath, gathering my thoughts. “Did she live here with you?”
That question seemed to take him off guard. “She told you nothing of me?” he asked.
“No. I tried to ask when I was young, but she would always change the subject. At night, after she would put me to bed, I would hear her crying softly at the kitchen table. I thought you may have died by the way she acted, but no, she never said a word.”
His eyes flickered to the fire. “She never lived on this side of the border. I met her in town one evening. I was hurt and she showed me kindness. I was captivated by her. After that night I couldn’t forget about her, no matter how hard I tried. I went back just to watch her at first and then eventually I made contact. She accepted me for who and what I was.”
“Then, why did you abandon her?” I asked.
“I had no choice. If certain members of this court had discovered her and what she meant to me, they would have done awful things to her. Just because I am king does not mean I am untouchable. I had to end our relations, which meant leaving her.”
“I understand,” I whispered. A dark alfar doing something selfless. Hell must have frozen over, I thought.
“Did she … did she ever marry another?”
“No. She focused on raising me and helping the people in our town. That was her life. ”
“After she died, how did you survive?”
“I learned to steal. Begged for scraps from people I knew who were sympathetic to what I was. Eventually, I was taken in by a nun. She clothed me and provided a place that kept me safe.”
He rubbed his hands together, dropping his eyes uncomfortably. “I’m sorry you had to go through that. I’m sorry you had to endure everything you’ve experienced, but I can promise you, your suffering is over.” He reached out to touch my arm, but I recoiled from him, afraid of another king’s touch. Even if he was my father.
He stopped, taken aback by the reaction.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I’ve just … been through a lot in the past few months.”
“Understandable. I must warn you: I don’t know how to be a father. My own father was a cruel and violent man when it came to children. I try to be better, but the fact that you are sitting here next to me is still hard to wrap my head around.”
“I don’t expect anything from you. I had a mother, that was enough,” I replied.
He stiffened. Did my honesty make him uncomfortable?
“Is what Erendrial told me the truth? You have announced me as your heir?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“Why? Why a half-breed? Your court must think you’re mad.”
“Some do, others are loyal to me and my judgment. You are as much a part of me as any other child I would ever sire. ”
“And … if you do sire a child with the queen … what happens to me then?”
“Nothing. You will still be the rightful heir to the throne. I have publicly announced and claimed you. Your position is safe.” He stood. “We have much to discuss, but for now, I am sure you would like to rest.”
He held out his hand to help me from the couch. I took it reluctantly. His grip was soft and gentle. I stood in front of him for a few moments as he took me in one more time. He slowly cupped my left cheek with his hand, rubbing my face endearingly. I was taken back by the kindness of this dark alfar. His eyes were locked on mine. I wondered if he was thinking of my mother.
“Erendrial,” he yelled, without removing his eyes from me. The doors opened as Erendrial re-entered the room.
“Yes, my king?” Erendrial said with a small bow.
“I will escort my daughter to her rooms this evening. In the morning, you will assist her with a proper tour of her new home and anything she needs or desires. You will make sure the court treats her with the utmost respect and no harm comes to her. Am I clear?” he said firmly.
“It would be my pleasure, your majesty,” Erendrial said, standing off to the side of the doorway.
The king … my father held out his arm to escort me out of the room. I gave him a small smile before sliding my arm through his. He placed his hand on top of mine and grinned. I could tell smiling was a foreign thing to him, but he was trying.
We walked towards the door, passing Erendrial on our way out. He kept his head down, not making eye contact with either of us. As we ascended the hall the groups of dark alfar and humans stood and bowed towards us. Some of the court members had black hair, others dark shades of brown. A few dyed their hair vibrant colors like purple and blue. They wore revealing fashions, makeup dramatically contouring the features of their faces.
My father held his head high, ushering me along beside him. We passed two large red doors as we entered the residential wing.
“These are my chambers,” explained my father. “If you need anything, feel free to come to me. The white doors are Queen Nora’s chambers. The four blue chambers belong to my brother and his children. These are yours,” he said, stopping at a set of purple doors. “Ambassador Lyklor mentioned you like lavender. I thought the color fitting.”
“Thank you,” I said, forcing a small smile.
He nodded, pushing the doors open. The room was broken up into three different compartments. The chamber we entered was a seating area. The walls were smooth and flat compared to the rest of the castle. White wallpaper adorned the surfaces, bringing a lighter feel into the room.
Two couches and four chairs were placed around a low table. A massive fireplace greeted us as we walked in. Rugs covered the marble floor, providing some warmth .
The second room off to the left was a study. There was another fireplace behind a large rich brown desk. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves covered the walls. A few extra seats were scattered around the area along with a meeting table.
The room to the right was my bedchamber. A deep purple comforter and gold pillows were scattered over a massive bed placed on the far wall. A wardrobe sat in the corner, along with a vanity and another seating area. A third fireplace was next to the bed. Another entrance that I presumed was the bathroom was off to the back of the room. The chambers were beautiful and lavish, but there wasn’t a window in sight. I guess that shouldn’t come as a surprise since we were in the middle of a mountain.
Candles were mounted to the walls. Gold accents were placed throughout the room. Artwork brought color and movement into the space. It was truly beautiful, and it was all mine. I wouldn’t have to share the room with anyone. For the first time, I had a bed to myself.
“Are you pleased?” asked my father.
“It’s wonderful. Thank you,” I said, still taking in the space.
“I’m pleased you are happy. Atalee,” yelled my father.
A young female came into the room behind us. She was wearing a charcoal grey dress. Her hair was long and draped around her shoulders. She was a simple beauty, with brown hair and eyes. Her cheeks were pale, and her lips were covered with a light shade of pink .
“Yes, Your Grace,” she said in a soft voice.
“Atalee, this is my daughter, Genevieve. Genevieve, this is Atalee, your lady. She has the gift of telekinesis. Anything you need on a personal matter she will assist you,” he said.
I smiled at the young girl. “Nice to meet you,” I said.
She curtsied. “It is an honor to be in your service, Your Grace,” she replied.
All this still felt so odd. My father turned back to me.
“If there isn’t anything else you need this evening, I have matters to attend to before I retire,” he said.
“I think I am good. Thank you,” I replied.
He walked towards me until he had to bend his head to look down at me. “I am glad you are here, Genevieve. I will do my best to do right by you. That is my promise.”
I smiled at him and nodded. He left, closing the doors behind him. I looked at Atalee uncomfortably. “So, what’s next?” I asked her.
“Anything you wish, Your Grace,” she responded.
I laughed at her. “Please, just call me Gen.”
“As you wish, Gen.”
I walked over to the young girl. She was taller than I was, but somehow seemed like a child.
“If we are going to be spending a lot of time together, I would just like you to look at me as another alfar or human, whatever I am. No formalities, please. It will make this whole situation a lot more comfortable for both of us.”
She smirked, nodding her head. “Are you hungry? Or would you like to bathe?”
“Actually, I think I am good for tonight. Can you just show me where all the clothes are?”
“Your dresses are in the armoire. Pants, shirts, and your nightwear are kept in the tall dresser. Are you sure you don’t want me to turn your bed back or run you a hot bath?”
“I am sure. It was nice to meet you, Atalee. Have a good night,” I said, ushering her to the door.
When she was finally gone, I exhaled, relieved to finally be alone. I went to the dresser, pulling a silk nightgown from the drawer. I made my way to the massive bathroom. The tub could fit five people easily. I ran the water and undressed slowly.
Even though my body was healed from my last encounter with King Lysanthier, I could still feel the residual pain of his affection. I slid into the tub, pondering on how crazy this all was. Even though I now had seen Lily with my own eyes, a part of me still felt incomplete. I missed Levos, Madison … even Gaelin. I wondered what he was thinking at this moment. Was he mad, enraged, or hurt?
I had to try and put the light court behind me. I had to focus on the dark court now and figure out how to survive this place. If Lily could do it, then so could I. I just didn’t know what was expected of me. And how was I ever going to be queen? The thought was so foreign and yet it was now my future. Me … the heir to the dark alfar kingdom. I snickered at the thought. Gods, how things had changed.
I got out of the tub, dressed, and headed to the bed. I stopped before removing the pillows. The bed was so big and intimidating. I was in a foreign place, surrounded by alfar who the humans had told horror stories about. Even though everything had gone smoothly thus far, I still felt unsafe. I looked back at the armoire behind me.
I removed the dresses from the hooks and then grabbed a pillow and blanket from the bed. I shut myself in, imagining I was back in the linen closet at the light court. My secret safe place. I closed my eyes, trying to force from my mind the memories of what used to happen to me at night. King Lysanthier was dead. Gaelin was miles away. My body was safe. My body was my own for the first time in what seemed like forever. I cried myself to sleep.