Bride of Ashes (Kingdom of Shadow and Ruin #1)

6. Reyla

6

REYLA

T his dress mesmerized me. And Lore, broody Lore, had crafted it for me. I was stunned that my feelings about my appearance had mattered enough for him to bother.

Leave it to him to ruin my happiness by snarling about me wasting his time immediately after, however.

But I wasn’t marrying Lore. I was about to wed King Merrick.

Because touching Lore earlier had ignited something inside me I preferred to deny, I strode around him and over to the captain waiting to perform the ceremony.

It was an anticlimactic experience at best.

I spoke my vows in as strong a voice as I could muster, while Lore spoke the king’s vows with a voice tinged with the arrogance I’d come to expect from this infuriating man.

It was all I could do not to squirm, though surprisingly, it wasn’t because I wanted to avoid this. I was hyperaware of the tall man beside me, his deep voice, and the way electricity thrummed through my body with each word he spoke. Lore would never be my husband. I’d meet the king tomorrow, and this unsettling episode would be over. I’d soon find myself in the king’s bed, where I could put all thoughts of his compelling bodyguard behind me.

“By the power vested in me by the realms of sea and sky,” the captain finally said with a flourish. “I hereby pronounce you, Reyla Jarrn Weldsbane wedded to His Majesty, King Merrick Aelion Eldric Damaris Evergorne. May your bond be forged with unyielding strength and majestic grace. Step forward with him as one, onto a path where hope and love may thrive.”

Yeah, sure. I had no interest in love. Hope, I’d take. Peace between us would be even better, both with the king and Lore.

“If you’ll come this way,” the captain said, waving to a small table that had been placed near one of the masts. “As the king’s proxy, Lord Lorant will sign the official documents, and you, my dear, will sign as yourself, of course.” He smiled benignly at us both as if this was a true wedding between me and this wicked fae lord.

Why hadn’t the king come early enough to do this himself? I planned to ask him, and he’d better have a good answer.

I signed with a flick of my hand and stood nearby, trying not to scrutinize Lore’s signature too closely, though I did. Lorant Thorne Shadowhart, proxy for King Evergorne . He was shadowy alright. And like a thorn under a fingernail already. With luck, I could avoid him for the rest of the journey .

I gave both him and the captain a wan smile and turned, nearly bumping into Lord Briscalar hovering behind me.

“I’d like to rest now,” I said grandly. Queenly, actually. An attempt at it, that is.

Wear glamour until true magic takes its place, a friend had said once, and it fit.

“Yes, we’ll travel all night.” Lord Briscalar released a stuttered smile. His gaze slanted briefly to the sailor still locked in ice before returning to me. “I’m sure you’re exhausted from your endeavors, my lady, though I do hope you’re excited for the repast I set out in your suite during the wedding.”

“Repast?” How had he had time to do more than bring wood chips and food for the nyxin?

“Yes, a wedding feast.” He nodded toward Lore. “Will you be joining us, my lord?”

“I will not,” Lore wrangled out as if he chewed on the words rather than spoke them.

I held in my sigh. I doubted he was capable of displaying even a hint of kindness.

Except . . . I wore a gorgeous dress he’d crafted with moonlight. I couldn’t wait to see my hair in the mirror. And the jewels felt soft and precious entwined around my throat and secured in my ears. He’d gifted these to me.

Oh, wait.

“Do you plan to take back the gown and jewelry from me, my lord?” I drawled, watching his face, not his eyes. Meeting his eyes made everything inside me quiver.

He stared at me with a bemused expression before his cutting arrogance retook control. “Do you wish to walk naked across the deck of the ship, my lady ?”

“I do not.” I, too, could let anger rip through my words.

“Keep them, then.” He strode past me, aiming for the front of the ship. “I have no use for dresses and jewels.” A flick of his finger released the sailor, who collapsed on the deck along with a whoosh of water. He shivered while shooting wild looks Lore’s way.

“Is he always like that?” I asked Lord Briscalar.

The lord’s gaze flicked from me to Lore and back again. “Like what?”

“Brooding. Surly. Rude.”

“I heard that,” Lore called out as he rounded the front of the cabin.

“It’s all true,” I yelled after him.

The captain’s eyes widened, and his breath came in startled gasps. He must not be used to a lady bellowing on his ship, or any lady on his ship, for that matter. I appeared to be the only female on board.

Time to retreat.

“If you’ll excuse me, sir,” I said, giving him a deep curtsy.

“Oh, um, yes. Well.” The captain blinked at me for a moment. “Of course. Please enjoy the repast. I believe I must decline. I have pressing matters to attend to on the ship.”

“Thank you for the lovely ceremony. You did an amazing job.”

“Thank you , my queen.”

Fuck. I was now the Queen of Evergorne. That would take some getting used to .

Lord Briscalar led me below deck again and into my suite, where the nyxin leaped around in front of me as if I’d left him for weeks.

I leaned forward to pat him, making sure I gave his ears solid scratches.

“Your meal waits.” Lord Briscalar waved to enough food to feed the entire ship’s crew, spread out on a high table.

“Would you like to join me? There’s no way I can eat all that.”

“It’s quite kind of you to offer, my lady, but I’ve already eaten.” He patted his belly and edged toward the door. “I took care of everything for the nyxin.”

“I appreciate it.”

“You’re very welcome.” He bowed and slipped out the door, shutting it behind him.

I didn’t feel like eating, though I knew I should. I picked at a few things until I’d taken enough to satisfy Lord Briscalar, then sat on the sofa, fingering the skirt of the gorgeous gown. I’d never worn anything like it, not even to my friend’s wedding when I was outfitted in the finest Lydel Court could provide.

Lovelier than the moonrise, it sparkled with flecks of stars. Sadly, I’d have to remove it and hang it in the closet soon. Perhaps I could wear it again another time. Although Lore gave it to me. Many would consider it inappropriate for me to wear a gown gifted to me by one man while married to another.

Yet I wasn’t sure I could throw it away.

The nyxin hopped up on the sofa and sat beside me, whining, and I stroked his soft fur. Catching a whiff of him, I scrunched my face. “You, my sweet little guy, need a bath. ”

I swore he scowled.

Rising, I removed the gown and dressed in a tunic and pants, returning to my usual self. No need to get fur and water all over the pretty gown. I hung it in the closet and stared at it for a long time with all sorts of emotions swirling through me, ones I was determined never to analyze.

I closed the closet door to shut the gown out of my life.

After filling the tub halfway, I lifted the nyxin and placed him in the water.

“Would you like me to add a sweet scent?” I asked him, teasing.

He truly did scowl.

“I thought not.” I grabbed a bar of soap and lathered it between my hands, working it into his fur while he stood, twitching in chest-deep water. He tipped his head back and released a low howl, and I joined in, baying at the moonlight slanting through the porthole along with him. Thuds rang out overhead. The nyxin cut off his howl. I yelped some more before deciding I’d better stop too.

Once I’d finished rinsing him, I lifted him out of the water and while he shook, spraying water everywhere, I grabbed a cloth and rubbed him all over.

“Much better,” I said, smiling at his cuteness. His fur puffed out in every direction like a fluffy danderlist flower ready to burst. His wet, gleaming eyes blinked up at me with an indignant expression that only made my smile deepen.

He clattered around the bathroom, his claws clicking on the floor and his bushy tail wagging, and I’d bet anything he was grateful to be clean .

“What should we name you, little one?” I asked.

Coming over, he sat on the floor in front of me, his tail sweeping a damp pattern across the wood. He cocked his head one way, then the next, his gaze intent on my face, almost as if he understood what I was saying.

Tempest’s pet crow had shown an uncanny understanding of whatever was going on around him. Maybe faerie pets possessed their own version of magic.

As I strolled into the bedroom, I called out potential names, watching the nyxin who trotted beside me. “Thadius? Astra? Fiero?”

He wrinkled his nose and sniffed the air.

“Jasper, Rowan, Kieren? Nimbus. Farris—”

He yipped.

I squatted down in front of him. “Farris?”

His bark rang out.

“Alright, Farris, it is.” I ruffled his fur and climbed up onto the bed. A small, gaily wrapped package lay on the pillow, and I lifted it. “Where did this come from?”

I tugged a tiny scroll from beneath the bow, and after setting the package on the bed, I unfurled the note.

To my queen,

I’m sorry I can’t be there with you for our wedding. Perhaps, once we’ve gotten to know each other better, we can speak our own vows to each other. You can let me know your thoughts about that once we’ve reached Evergorne Court.

I can’t wait until tomorrow when we’ll finally be together.

I imagine you’re scared. Nervous, even. But I assure you that I only hold the kindest thoughts for you in my heart .

I look forward to knowing you, dearest Reyla.

Merrick

“How sweet,” I said, warmed that he’d taken time to have someone deliver this during the wedding. Lord Briscalar? It must be.

This spoke well of the king; someone I’d thought of with a touch of fear. Maybe he was nothing like my dead father. I’d reserve judgement until I knew him better, but this gesture on his part impressed me.

I dropped the note and unwrapped the gift, sighing when I lifted the lid. A beautiful gold bracelet with stones as red as ripe blood nestled against the velvety fabric inside. I lifted it out and marveled at how the stones gleamed in the lights.

Then I fastened it on my wrist, covering the odd, delicate vine pattern that had appeared on my skin when I touched Lore.

A pattern I was convinced was not a fated mate mark.