Chapter 31
Elara
Marry me.
Was I really about to marry Cai?
We stepped back inside, where people were talking and dancing, completely unaware of us. “I need to find Anesta. I need to get changed.” I was still holding Cai’s hand.
“Why? You look perfect.”
I looked down at my provocative neckline. “I’m not getting married in a dress like this. I’m still a queen.” I smiled, as if he needed reminding. “Who’s going to officiate?”
“Well, I was thinking Jack could do it.”
“Great. You go find him and I’ll find Anesta.”
I searched through the crowd of bodies until I spotted Anesta, dancing with one of the Argonian men. If I hadn’t known any better, I would think he was one of the young soldiers. Anesta was dressed up herself, looking elegant in her gold-trimmed gown.
I took hold of her arm. “I need to tell you something.” The music was loud and blaring. “Can we please talk outside?”
“Sure.” She nodded. Her partner seemed disappointed that I pulled her away, but I didn’t care very much for him in that moment. I walked until there were fewer people around.
“What I’m about to tell you is quite serious, so please remain calm,” I started.
With a gasp, she exclaimed, “You’re with child?”
“What?” I looked down at my stomach and then back up at her again. “No! Cai and I are getting married in secret tonight.”
“Oh, phew.” She blew out a breath. “I don’t know how I would have handled that.”
“Why would you think I was with child?”
“Not important.” She grabbed my arms in excitement. “You’re getting married!”
She took a step back and clasped her hands together. “We have so much work to do.”
* * *
Anesta meant what she said and took her job very seriously. She sat me down in front of my dressing table and proceeded to redo my hair and the makeup that had been applied earlier.
“It’s a shame we didn’t pack any white dresses.” She placed her hands on her hips after digging through my trunk of clothes. “Do you want me to borrow an Argonian one?”
I shook my head. “I’d rather wear a dress of my own.”
“Who’s going to officiate?” she asked while helping me into one of my dark blue dresses. It had a square neckline, which I found the most flattering, and the sleeves flowed out from my elbows.
“Cai said he was going to ask Jack to do it.”
“Oh, this is so exciting,” she said, clapping her hands. I pressed my own to my sides — mostly to keep them from shaking. Why was I so nervous? I’d wanted this alliance for what felt like for ever. But I knew I couldn’t kid myself into believing it was merely about an alliance. I was about to marry Cai.
Married.
Me.
The masked bandit from Fairfrith camp who used to steal food from aristocrats and wear hand-me-down clothes.
You’ll ruin him . Aries’ words ran through my head. I tried to shake them out. I couldn’t believe him. He was only trying to use me to his own advantage. But Cai was kind-hearted and caring and sweet. He looked out for me and trusted me. We made a good team.
We decided to meet on the palace rooftop that overlooked the city.
Downstairs, the party was still going in full force. Normally, guards would be stationed on the rooftop, but Rhen found out that they had been moved to stand guard at the dance.
Cai, Cordelia and Rhen were waiting by the time Anesta and I got there. I’d never seen Cai smile so broadly.
“Where’s Jack?” I asked.
“He’s on his way.” We interlaced hands. “You’re breathtaking,” he whispered.
“This old thing?” I moved the skirts of my dress side to side with a grin before meeting Cai’s eyes again. “This is really happening, isn’t it?”
His expression remained unchanged. “Sure you don’t want to run yet?”
“I think I’d like to stay.”
Five minutes passed. Jack didn’t show up.
“Do you think he’s lost or something?” I asked no one in particular. The longer we waited the more nervous I was getting, and the more Aries’ words crept inside my mind, no matter how hard I tried to push them out.
“I’ll go and look for him. He probably took the wrong staircase or something.”
Cordelia hurried off.
I let out a long breath.
“Nervous?” Cai asked with a grin.
“Should I be?” I teased back.
“I don’t know. I have a pretty intimidating grandmother, as you mentioned.”
“Have you met my family?” I snorted. “I have Lance and a sister who can’t even speak to me.”
“I’m assuming you’re going to take her home?”
I nodded. “She’ll be safest in Everness, I think. And then Lance can spend all his free time taking care of her.”
“Do you think he’ll ever settle down, get married?”
“I don’t know. Somehow, I have trouble imagining him in this scenario.” I gestured to the two of us standing there. “Do you think if you hadn’t been enemies then maybe you would’ve grown up friends?”
“Perhaps when we were younger, but I doubt we would have been friends now.”
“Ironic that he’s going to be your brother-in-law.”
“As you keep reminding me.”
“The holidays are going to be chaotic, aren’t they?” I wanted to laugh. The things we were talking about seemed so far-fetched. And yet, there I stood, about to get married.
Ten more minutes passed. No sign of Jack.
“Something’s wrong. Where could he be?”
Cai was looking worried by now too. “We’d better go looking for him and Cordelia.”
We turned to leave, my mind running through every possible worst-case scenario. Just as we reached the stairs, Jack came around the corner.
“We have to leave right now,” he said, panic in his voice.
“Why? What’s going on?” I asked, but he’d already started escorting us down the stairs. I pulled up the hems of my dress to keep from falling.
“I wasn’t supposed to find out. It was an accident. I overheard someone talking.”
“Find what out?” Cai questioned.
“Aries is dispatching an army tomorrow. They’re going to march on Norrandale.”