Chapter Twenty-Six
Annalise
T he room is silent as always as my servants dress me for dinner. For once, Ciel is in my room. He is silent in the corner as he studies me with his fist in his mouth. It’s as if he’s enamored by the process happening in front of him. Although he is young, according to Cyrus, he focuses on and understands what’s happening around him.
Does he understand that his mother is human? Does he know that half of what he is, has no place in his father’s world?
I was surprised when Cyrus allowed him to come with me to my room. Ciel’s existence has been kept strictly a secret among the palace. But as I study him in the mirror I can’t help but wonder if this is a tactic of sorts to remind me what is at stake. My words about humans and hunters did not sit well with Cyrus. In the past, I may have been beaten for it, but instead, he merely threatened me. And although I will be a human queen, he does not expect my people to be a part of my reign. He expects me to pretend I am not a part of them and understand that Ciel is more beast than human.
As I take him in from the reflection, I can already see that he has inherited the traits of Cyrus and his mother. Even at his young age, he doesn’t pass for human. It was another reason I was forced to be cautious across the sea, never taking him in public or to the markets with me.
Cyrus’s comment about his mother being “purebred” stood out to me. As far as humans know, the beast society is similar to the human society when it comes to their hierarchy. But I find myself wondering if beasts come in different shapes or forms, especially since the foreign king has different eyes than the beasts of this region. And Cyrus and Ciel have different hair colors that I have never seen on any other beast in this area. Cyrus has even revealed to me that only beasts of nobility have the ability to shift.
There are many mysteries to the beast empire we know nothing about, which I am sure led to the downfall of the hunters. Maybe that’s why Cyrus is so intent on me learning. I know nothing of my son’s people, and that is the side he takes more after. The more I try to ignore that fact, the more I harm him.
I’m pulled out of my thoughts as the servants finish their tasks, and Joan slowly circles me, ensuring they did their jobs properly. I want to ask her about the possibility of different species of beasts, but I find myself hesitant. She reports everything I say and do back to Cyrus. She is fiercely loyal to him. In the time she has been by my side, she has urged me to mend what was broken between us.
I’ve always suspected her of having Cyrus’s best interest at heart, but after she told him I asked about his mother before I had the chance to bring it up, I’ve grown wary of her presence as I try and navigate this new world I am to live in. Though I’ve seen her as almost a friend, I know she will always choose Cyrus’s best interest over mine.
Ciel pulls me out of my thoughts as he rises from his corner and begins taking steps toward me. His cheeks are rosy from him smiling so hard as he holds his hand out to me, hoping that I will pick him up. My servants step back with their heads bowed as I move away, lifting him up. He giggles in my arms, pulling my face into his small hands as he presses our foreheads together.
Cyrus said this is his way of being vulnerable.
I smile at him as he pulls away from me.
“You’ve grown a lot since we arrived, huh?” I ask softly.
His dark blue eyes roam over my face for a moment as he listens to what I’m saying. It once made me nervous, but it fascinates me now. I place a soft kiss on his forehead.
“I hope I can be a good mother to you,” I murmur.
I smile at him before setting him down on the bed.
“Will you be here when I return?” I ask.
Ciel nods his head vigorously, a smile on his lips. It shocks me for a moment. But I force myself to remember beasts are different from humans. Ciel’s development is different. So, I plaster on the best smile that I can, kneeling to his height.
“I look forward to it.”
I anxiously make my way to the banquet hall. Joan and Prim follow closely behind me, the rest of my servants trailing. When I first met Marzia, she had servants surrounding her like this. Now, it is my new normal as I make my way to the dinner, which will probably end terribly.
I don’t know what this beast’s motive is. So far, it seems that his motive was to locate me. But he has done so and has seen that I am off-limits, and that doesn’t seem to affect his reasoning for being here. I hope I haven’t unknowingly brought a threat into Cyrus’s kingdom.
“Don’t be nervous. The king adores you, and you have done marvelously at portraying one of us. This is merely a dinner to welcome a guest,” Joan says behind me.
Joan is once again trying to reassure me, but I know this dinner is more than that, especially now that Cyrus knows this beast is aware of my past across the sea. This beast has not only provoked Cyrus but also ignored this kingdom’s etiquette. And yet, Cyrus handled it with the grace of a king.
Who Cyrus is for his people and who Cyrus is for me are two separate entities.
We reach the banquet hall and I nervously begin smoothing out my dress as I hear my name being announced to the room. I release a deep breath, holding my head high as the doors are opened, and I enter the dining hall. As I step in, I use the opportunity to take in my surroundings. The beasts in attendance are all familiar to me. They are nobles that I have met before. But this hall is different than the one I served Cyrus in the past. It is much larger. And there is a table sitting atop the elevated floor. There is another separate table that sits on the floor with more seats as well; I assume this is for the guests.
I bow to the beasts in attendance as they bow to me, and I immediately recognize one in particular. Felix is standing near the hearth with a female beast. I recognize her as well. She was in the hunter’s camp. She is the beast Liam tormented and who helped Dimitri escape. But she stands tall at Felix’s side as if nothing ever happened to her.
Joan and my servants bow, making their way to silently stand against the walls of the room, leaving me alone. But not for long. Felix and the beast on his arm are the first to approach.
“Duchess,” he says mockingly.
He even bows, gripping my hand in his before bringing it to his lips.
“Allow me to introduce my betrothed, Lady Calista. She is the fiercest warrior you will ever meet,” Felix says.
My eyes widen as she steps forward. Her dark hair is pulled into a bun, accentuating her sharp features. She’s as terrifying as she is beautiful. She’s as tall as Felix, her expression confident as she stands over me, bowing. Her dark gaze roams over me, and she hands off her glass to Felix, who takes it with a smile.
“We’ve met before,” she says, eyeing me knowingly.
The way her eyes rake over my form makes me feel vulnerable. She reaches for my hand, holding it firm in hers as her thumb runs over the top in a comforting motion.
“I never got the opportunity to thank you for what you did in the stronghold.” She places her hand on Felix’s shoulder as she speaks, her smile widening to reveal deep dimples. “This one may be loyal to the king, but you have earned my loyalty wholeheartedly, Your Grace.”
My eyes widen as she places her hand over her heart, bending slightly at the waist.
“I look forward to your reign,” she says, looking up at me through thick lashes.
I blink in shock at the striking beauty of this beast as I try and respond.
“I should be the one thanking you. If not for you, Dimitri…” I trail off as I realize Felix referred to her as his betrothed, and I find myself wondering if she’s aware of Dimitri’s existence in Felix’s life.
Felix chuckles, pulling me out of my thoughts.
“You’re making her nervous. Maybe we should think about hosting the king and his future queen once we are married?” he asks, his eyes twinkling in amusement.
I shift my attention to him in shock. He is nothing like the beast I am used to interacting with. He is polite and humorous, endearingly complimenting his betrothed’s presence.
“I look forward to it,” she says gently.
Felix hands her back her drink before stepping closer to her.
“Would you give the Duchess and me a moment?” he asks.
Calista once again nods, bowing to me once more before moving away from us. I watch in awe as she moves about the room with a presence I could only dream of having. As I follow her trail, I notice the presence of an unwanted guest. The king from across the sea is here as well, standing near the windows. He raises his glass, a devious grin on his lips as we make eye contact.
“Calista and I have been betrothed since we both could walk. Don’t concern yourself with Dimitri. Calista and I are one and the same. We understand each other’s tastes and what needs to be done to continue our lines. She is a fearsome warrior, and I am lucky to have been chosen as her equal,” Felix says.
When I look at him, I see admiration in Felix’s gaze as he watches her from across the room.
But once he looks at me, it is gone.
“We both understand the duty to our kingdom comes above all else. Is that something you can do?” he asks.
I don’t have time to respond as the doors to the banquet hall opens.
“His Majesty, the King, has arrived.”
My heart beats much faster as Cyrus enters the room. The entire time I’ve known him, fear has always been dominant. But a heavy sense of deja vu washes over me as he enters the room with his head held high, his stark white strands held back by his crown. He’s dressed in his formal attire as king, and with the scars wrapping around his form, he looks intimidating.
Cyrus stands tall at the front of the room looking among us as we all bow in greeting. His dark gaze roams over the room, lingering on me for a split second before he continues. He holds his hands up, gesturing for the room to take their seats.
“Please.”
Once again, nausea washes over me. The words ring out the command in the air as they did the first time I ever served him. The night, he anchored me to the ground with a sword. So much has changed since then, and yet, so little. His eyes meet mine as the room moves to their assigned seats, and he holds his hand out for me.
“Come,” he says softly.
I slowly make my way up the steps, placing my hand in his as he helps me. The moment our hands touch, heat spreads from the tips of my fingers, settling onto the seal that sits on my flesh. The warmth is as comforting as it is terrifying. It reminds me that he is here, but it also reminds me of what he is. Cyrus leads me up the step and pulls out my seat for me. As I take my seat, I watch in awe as Felix does the same for Calista below.
The foreign king takes a seat at the top of the table below, across from Felix, his gaze drifting to where we sit. Cyrus remains standing next to me as he addresses the room.
“King Elias. It is a pleasure to finally meet you. Up until your letter, we had no idea beasts existed across the sea. But now that we know, I hope this can be a path to a new friendship and coexistence for our kingdoms,” he says firmly.
Elias stands, smoothing out his clothing as well. He is dressed in formal attire that is different from this region and I notice there are beasts surrounding us that are his guard and servants wearing similar clothing. So he finally arrived as himself, no more skulking about.
“Thank you, Your Majesty. You have a beautiful kingdom and a sharp eye for the finer things in life.” His gaze twinkles in excitement as he glances at me briefly before continuing. “I have enjoyed my time here so far. I hope I can bring some of these pleasures back and share them with my own.”
I watch in astonishment as Cyrus remains cordial with the beast that has been provoking him behind the scenes. As they end their greetings and Cyrus motions for the servants to begin serving, the night begins.
Each servant does their duty knowingly, placing plates and filling glasses. When the servant reaches my glass, Cyrus subtly holds his hand up to prevent her from giving me the wine. The servant understands his silent command, bowing before moving away from us. Even as his queen, I am still being controlled.
I look around the room, watching the beasts interact with one another in curiousity. But when my gaze lands on Elias, he is watching me intensely. His expression is terrifying as he tries to figure me out. His gaze shifts between Cyrus and me consistently before a beast interrupts his inner thoughts.
“So, King Elias, what brings you to our kingdom after all this time?” a beast asks.
I breathe a sigh of relief when Elias looks away from me to address the beast, his expression unreadable.
“I was always aware that our port brought in humans. Outside of my kingdom, all the inhabitants are human. So naturally, I assumed it was only humans who lived across the ocean. It wasn’t until beasts arrived instead of humans that, as king, I had to investigate,” he says politely.
“And what do you think now that you’ve seen an entire kingdom of our kind?” Another asks.
“It is magnificent, for sure. Most beasts in my kingdom don’t live so lavishly. We have land and resources that we must share. We live within our own community, of course, away from humans, but we never thought of… eradicating them from our land,” he says,
Cyrus chuckles next to me. “Neither did we until they waged war.”
Elias’s eyes widen slightly.
“Humans waged war?” he asks.
Cyrus nods, and I try and keep my head down.
“My father’s ideals were my own until his untimely death by the humans. They cut off his head and put it on a spike after they tested a weapon on him. It was then that we felt it was time to end the war and no longer allow integration of them into our society in any form,” Cyrus says.
Elias’s eyes hold an emotion that I do not understand. He once again looks at me, the questions running through his mind apparent as he studies me, but for whatever reason, he holds his tongue.
“My father told me of the beasts of old and the wars they waged among one another. We thought your kind was extinct. It is shocking to see that you still exist. But still a privilege, nonetheless,” Elias says.
I try to hide my shock as Elias uncovers more truths for me. My hunch was correct. Beasts are not as simple as we thought. And if what Elias says is true, Cyrus is a rare form of beast. That includes his mother and Ciel. They are beasts thought to no longer exist. But I don’t dare voice my opinion at such an event.
“Yes, well, I look forward to understanding just where your kind lies in our plane of evolution,” Cyrus says.
All eyes fall on Elias, and I quickly understand the power dynamic in the room. Elias is a different kind of beast, and I think everyone is aware of it. What kind, however, I do not know exactly. But it’s enough to welcome Cyrus’s open disdain. And the longer I see them interact, the more confident I feel that Elias isn’t here for diplomatic purposes.
The dinner progresses surprisingly cordially for the rest of the evening. The beasts in attendance discuss politics and everyday life as Cyrus silently watches over them. I am grateful he has barely acknowledged me for this dinner. Elias, however, listens intensely to the conversation around him, rarely chiming in or offering up information of his own.
Once dinner ends, the beasts slowly migrate to the neighboring hall for drinks and dessert. Even Felix and Calista join them, leaving me alone with both kings. Cyrus is gentle as he helps me from my seat, his hand remaining in mine as he guides me down the steps to where Elias waits, watching us interact with that terrifying expression once again, trying to understand the dynamic between us.
“Shall we join them?” Cyrus asks.
Elias looks past us, gesturing to the guards he brought with him. His eyes shift back to us, and he smiles.
“Actually, I have a gift for you, Your Majesty,” he says.
Elias turns his attention to me as the door opens, and my heart sinks into my stomach as a human is brought in. She’s in chains, gaunt and shivering, with a brand on her neck, as per Cyrus’s law. They drag her in, barely able to stand, tossing her before our feet, and she scrambles to her knees, looking between us with tears in her eyes.
I hold her gaze, paralyzed, as Cyrus speaks next to me.
“Why have you brought this filth into my palace?” he asks.
His tone is deadly yet calm as he studies the woman. But Elias steps past us, a grin on his lips as he uses his foot to lift the woman’s chin.
“Filth? She’s in much better condition than when I found her,” he chuckles, releasing the trembling woman.
Cyrus steps closer to Elias, a chill filling the air as his patience disappears.
“I do not allow humans in my palace,” he growls inches from Elias’s face.
Elias’s expression shifts to confusion, and to my horror, he looks past Cyrus to me.
“Really? Have I been mistaken, then? Is the duchess you parade on your arm not a human?” Elias steps closer to me. “Dress her up as much as you like, but she is no different than this slave. Her scent may be masked by yours, Your Majesty, but it’s still quite human.”
Cyrus steps between me and Elias, a low growl erupting from his chest as he looks down on the beast. I look around the room in a panic, praying that Felix will meander in as he always does during these moments, but there is no one except for the remaining servants and Elias’s guards.
“I am curious how you came to be so close to her when you have banned their existence within a hundred feet of your palace. Yet you would place one on the throne? What makes her so special that you would encroach on my territory to bring her back—”
“Do not mistake my hospitality for weakness. I do not play games. I do not answer to you. And I will not shy away from war. If you wish to start it now, then so be it.” A gasp leaves my lips as black smoke slowly mists around Cyrus, accompanying his gripping words. “I am ready.”
The tension in the room is suffocating as the two beasts assess one another, and for once, I see hesitance in Elias’s expression. He pushes Cyrus too far. His gaze shifts to me, his frown deepening when he sees the terror on my face.
Then, he smiles.
“I wouldn’t dream of starting a war, Your Majesty. My deepest apologies. I seem to have overstepped,” he says.
His words are a lie. He has every intention of stirring up trouble. I see it in the way he continues to watch me, gauging my reaction to the situation. He’s testing the relationship between Cyrus and me. Seeing just how equal Cyrus sees me.
“Get her out of my palace. Or you will be the one in chains,” Cyrus growls, stepping past Elias.
Elias walks to the nearest guard, pulling out a blade.
“No need. I will get rid of her right now,” Elias says with a wicked grin.
The woman’s pleas fill the room as Elias approaches her with deadly intent. His eyes meet mine in a silent challenge, knowing I am the only one who can save her now. And like a fool, I fall right into his trap as the blade comes down.
“Stop!”