Chapter 25 #2
I have always resisted and tried to hide my femininity but my curves always gave me away.
I prefer to be covered in dirt rather than polish and jewels, but after meeting Oleander I’ve come to realize femininity can mean many different things.
Her wildness is uniquely feminine and her curves do not speak of softness or weakness, they speak of freedom and strength.
Perhaps I can grow to love mine as well… but just preferably not in dresses. I hope I am reunited with her soon. Her closeness brings out a version of me that I feel has been hiding away behind the aloof mask I had mastered back in Easthelm.
“Any chance there are some dinner appropriate trousers or overalls?”
“What is an over-all?” Lillian asks as she tries to tame my wild hair into a braid. I blow a breath through my lips.
“Never mind. I think that is as good as it is going to get Lils. I should probably get going.” I am sure it is nearing midnight and despite the dread I am feeling at seeing The Wolf and facing what may come, my stomach is still gurgling away and I swear I could smell chocolate wafting in from the hallway earlier.
Lillian nods and gives me a quick hug. She gives me such a pitying look when she pulls away that it is making me wonder if I should just try and escape through the window now and face a pack of vargs hunting me down rather than facing The Wolf.
Surely I am not walking into my certain death if something chocolatey is on the menu…
She opens the door and the vargs go to grab my arms again but I step back and raise my chin, holding my hand out to them in protest.
“Surely that is no way to treat a lady. Look how I am dressed! You will ruffle my tulle.” I channel my best Marissa impression and the vargs look at each other and bow their heads, allowing me to pass. I know she would be proud.
The Palace is a maze of tight domed hallways and grand open courtyards with marble columns lining the edges.
I have no idea where I am within this place and am sure I would die of old age before I could figure out how to get out.
Eventually, we end up in a grand dining hall, with a long wooden table that could fit fifty taking up the middle.
The sides of the room have high arches with doors behind some and statues of fae and the Divine Mother behind others.
Another enchanted chandelier of vines and branches hangs above the table, offering the space a warm glow.
The whole table is set with gold and silver and decorated with massive pine cones, beautiful logs with mosses and bright red and orange fungi growing out of it, and little globes with suspended flames dancing with them.
Upon closer inspection the little flame in the globe closest to me looks like it has legs and arms and is frantically waving at me.
Imprisoned fire sprites? Why would he imprison sprites when a fire wielder could just create flames in those globes instead?
This is a show of power. I suppress the urge to run down the length of the table smashing all the globes and freeing the sprites when I see the only occupant of the long table grinning at me.
Those green eyes pierce me.
The Wolf is sitting at the farthest end of the table dressed in an impeccably tailored, dark green velvet suit with black lapels and little golden leaves embroidered on the cuffs. It nauseates me that we are matching. Am I now his little play thing? Like a doll to dress up and parade around?
“Nuria, please join me.” He gestures to a seat beside him. I go to pull out the chair that is the absolute farthest from him instead but a varg growls at me and shoves me in The King’s direction.
“Such a stubborn little one, so like your mother. Come sit and eat. You must be absolutely ravenous.” The Wolf laughs as he raises his goblet in the air.
Did he say I’m like my mother? His casual mention of her has me fuming. Of course he must have known her if she was a member of court. Were they friends like she and Pyralis were? I sure bloody hope not.
I pull out the chair that is two over from him, refusing to be that close, and he does not object.
The food in front of us is modest, which is not at all what I expected.
I thought he would have curated some elaborate banquet in which there would be no earthly way two people could consume, just to prove his wealth and power.
Instead there is a small roast chicken with some potatoes and a leafy green salad in which I recognize more than a few edible weeds.
I am guessing my facial expression has my confusion written all over it because The King laughs, a laugh that crinkles the corners of his eyes; not reserved or forced, but one of unabashed amusement.
He gestures with his fork and knife for me to help myself.
The Wolf King has dimples when he smiles…
“I know what you were expecting of a king, but contrary to belief I live in reserve. I could not possibly exploit my position when we are all facing drought and food shortages together.”
So you condone slavery but share your food… Asshole.
“Noted.” I dig in because I truly am quite hungry and I am too angry to engage in conversation.
We eat in silence for a long while, or at least it feels uncomfortably long to me because I am tensely awaiting my punishment, but none comes. He seems unconcerned with my being here and even hums a little when he eats.
The suspense is becoming too much, I have to break the silence.
“So, what am I here for? I’ve been told numerous times you have been searching for me.
Well here I am. Can we get on with it?” I drop my silverware and cross my arms. He is leaning forward, mid-bite when I see it, the glint from the necklace I had noticed before.
As if in recognition my necklace responds by heating and levitating up off of my chest like it had in the crystal cave.
In reply his necklace lifts itself out from under his shirt and reaches towards mine.
“What on Earth? Why do you have the twin necklace of mine? You do not deserve to wear that! It belongs to my family!” I grab my necklace and press it back into my chest.
Mine! This is all I have of my mother. Panic that he is going to steal this one too begins to set in.
It is astounding the value one can place in an object when it represents a lost loved one.
This piece of metal and crystal ties me to my heritage and to a life I could have had.
I know the rage I feel about someone also having a piece of it is irrational but in this moment I find myself grasping my dinner knife in my hand and pointing it at The King, as if this tiny steak knife would be any match against a larger than life wolf.
No one will take her from me!
He calmly places his silverware down and softly presses his necklace into his chest.
It is of my family as well, his voice echoes in my head.
“What…what do you mean?” I can feel my whole body start to shake. No, no, no!
“Nuria, your mother gifted this to me on our wedding night. This is why I have been searching for you, my child. I am your father, and now that we are united we can finally begin our work.”