Chapter 32
Theo
Theo halted in his path, startled. “I’m sorry. Did you say Adelaide’s betrothed?” he questioned.
Genevieve’s smile didn’t falter. “But of course.”
“When was this decided? Does Adelaide know?”
“The arrangements have been in preparation for seasons but were finalized tonight after meeting with the prince.”
“Prince?” Theo asked. “Who are you intending to marry her to?”
“The prince of Mensnet,” she said.
Luke Gavell? Theo immediately loathed the tall and lanky man standing with such despicable poise. He bowed and kissed Genevieve’s hand, his dark eyes attempting to enchant her. It worked, because her cheeks blushed a shade darker than her hair.
Prince Luke was younger than Theo expected. As the sole heir to the kingdom of Mensnet, he was the talk among members of society. Apparently, his age had merely been passed by. He couldn’t have been any older than twenty.
A smile tugged at the corner of the prince’s lips as he offered a brief bow of his head to Theo. It was as if all color drained in his presence. The prince wore an entirely black ensemble, and even his hair was a shade of midnight settling to his shoulders.
“It’s an honor to finally meet the great Captain Theodoric Fastrada. I’ve heard of your valor during the war. I must say I’m impressed that, at such an age, you’ve accomplished what you have.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.” Theo returned the prince’s gesture with a bow of his head, as it was only proper.
“Please, Luke will do fine.” He smiled. “As we’re to become family soon enough, I see it only fitting. Helen, a pleasure to see you again.” Luke nodded to Helen instead of kissing her hand, already seeming to know she had an aversion to court formalities.
“Your Highness.” Helen smirked, taking a sip from her goblet.
“Have you met my sister?” Theo asked, knowing full well he hadn’t and the wrath that would ensue.
“I haven’t had the pleasure. I hear she is a remarkable woman, and I look forward to it,” he said.
“Any man would consider themselves lucky to have the honor of simply knowing my sister.” Theo’s voice was cold as his eyes narrowed on the prince, watching his expression grow cautious.
“Adelaide is indeed—” Genevieve began.
“She is intelligent, cunning, brave—”
“I don’t doubt those things,” Luke interrupted Theo. “I’ve heard of her…skills.” He hesitated.
Theo wasn’t fond of such implications. Hardly anyone knew of Adelaide’s skills with a blade or her ability to gather any secret she desired. He contemplated further questioning the young prince but thought better of doing so in Genevieve’s presence.
“She’s more than that,” Theo snapped. “She’s a better person than anyone in this room, including you.” The thrumming of his pulse reverberated toward his ears, drowning the party around them.
“Mensnet is known for their fierce warriors and courageous leaders. She’ll do well by my side,” he calmly stated, but Theo saw the shadows brewing within his navy eyes.
“I thought they were known to hide within the Dark Mountains. Many would call that cowardly,” Theo snipped.
Genevieve threw him a glare, but Theo persisted. He couldn’t stop, not when it came to Adelaide.
Helen turned and pressed her lips together to contain her laughter. She played the part of Duchess of Ebonmaw well, but occasionally, her true self showed. She would prefer to be sipping swigs of kusu out by the stables and having a betting match at who could throw their dagger the farthest.
“That was my father’s choice to remain neutral in the war,” Luke replied, his voice still unwavering.
Godwin and Mensnet have had a treaty regarding peace and trade for resources for the last several hundred years, but it didn’t speak to aid in times of war. The kingdom had elected not to assist Godwin or Soyenia in the Trade War.
“Do you envision a different future for Mensnet?” Theo asked. If Luke thought he could come into his home and steal his sister, he was mistaken.
“I do,” he answered. “My father, as most know, is unwell. I’ll be assuming the throne sooner than expected.
But I’ve prepared for the moment and decided what I’ll do differently.
The Duchess of Ebonmaw and I are already in discussions regarding reopening Mensnet’s mines.
I intend to begin mining the onyxbone and using the resources Ebonmaw offers to begin trade negotiations for the material. ”
“You refused to come to our aid and now wish for our trade resources? The mines haven’t even been operational for hundreds of years.
Is there any onyxbone left?” Theo had heard rumors of the strange material but had never seen a piece of armor or weapon fashioned from it.
If the mines had been closed hundreds of years ago, it would have been for good reason.
He shot a look of disdain toward Helen, but her smirk faded, and she returned his glower.
“Luke and I are excited for this new venture to bring our kingdoms closer together, and the kings have already bestowed their blessings,” Helen stated.
“Your father’s people won’t allow change as easily as you presume they might,” Theo threw at Luke. “It takes years to build trust.”
“As his heir,” the young prince finally snipped, “I’ve been by his side my entire life, and I’ve gained my own following. This, however, is a celebration. We should be enjoying the festivities instead of squabbling over politics.”
Theo turned to Genevieve, ignoring Luke’s attempt to sway the conversation. “When are you planning to tell Adelaide?”
She waved him off and emitted a nervous laugh. “Oh, Theodoric, there are always formalities to deal with first. We’ll inform her when it’s time. I would like her to get to know Prince Luke first.”
“You don’t plan to tell her?” Theo sent her an accusing glare. Their betrothal was nothing more than a political stunt to strengthen the ties with Mensnet for the onyxbone.
“When the time is right.” Genevieve smiled, like a queen knowing full well the implications it would cause for all of them.
Theo would either be forced to keep it from Adelaide, knowing she would be walking into a trap set by their parents, or he would tell her and risk further retribution from his father.
“If you’ll excuse me,” Theo muttered.
He was going to be sick. The mere thought of hiding the betrothal from her was unbearably nauseating.
Once she wed the prince, she’d venture to Mensnet and become his queen.
His stomach lurched. He couldn’t fathom what Luana Bay would be like without her.
He’d always hoped, one day, she’d finally stand beside him as a soldier, but now that dream might never come to fruition. But she’d be a queen.
Lost to his thoughts, it took him a moment to notice Adelaide standing beside him after he’d stormed to a nearby corner in an attempt to bring himself back to reality. He jumped once he caught sight of her.
“She’s over there.” With a knowing smirk, Adelaide pointed to Amaris, who was in the unfortunate company of Alan. Theo turned, but Adelaide placed a hand on his arm. “I don’t think Alan knows it’s her.”
As neither of them had a knife pulled or fists balled, he could only presume Alan didn’t. “Thank you,” Theo said, but his voice wavered.
“Is everything all right?” she asked.
The moment had come to decide—defy his parents and tell Adelaide everything or face the consequences later. His back throbbed at the thought of another lashing. “Yes. I was only forced to face the absolute boredom of meeting some of Genevieve’s friends.”
It could wait for one night. They needed to see to their plan to smuggle Amaris out first, and then he’d deal with the betrothal situation.
He’d never killed someone out of pure enjoyment, but he didn’t think Adelaide would mind if her betrothed ended up missing after the Conjugation.
Bennet already claimed treason once, what was another accusation?
“In that case, here.” She handed him a glass of kusu.
He hadn’t the charisma to thank her properly, so he answered with a simple nod before taking a long drink.
“I’ve been dodging Mother for the last hour. I have no doubt it’s to see if I find anyone suitable. Do you think she’ll be annoyed or see it coming when I roll my eyes and flatly decline anyone she sends my way?” Adelaide laughed.
He almost spit out his drink. His chest ached at her laughter, knowing the situation was unlike the other parties Adelaide had been forced to attend to see who she deemed a likely husband. The wheels were set in motion, and Adelaide was about to be dragged into a rough political landscape.
How could he get her out of it? It wasn’t like he had any true power against his father. Would he be unable to stop it? What if none of them truly had a say in the matter of their lives? His shred of hope for something different when Luther riled him up last week slowly seeped away.
What life did he want? Did he want to be chief or to even pick up his sword again? His eyes trailed to Amaris, who bit the edge of her thumb as she appeared more bored than angered in her conversation with Alan. What did he want?
“Theo?” Adelaide’s sharp elbow landed between his ribs. Even through the makeup and wardrobe, he knew what Adelaide was, a warrior. She likely had a few weapons strapped underneath her dress. Once she was married, her dream of becoming a soldier would be gone forever.
He took her hand, as he once did many years ago. Back then, he’d pulled her from her bed late in the night. He’d been thirteen at the time and had been in the awkward stage of beginning puberty. His voice had broken, but Adelaide had been most eager to follow him.
“Where are we going?” Adelaide had asked.
Theo slinked around the next corner but turned over his shoulder and gave his sister a wide smile. “Your first training lesson.”
A shrill escaped her as she clapped her hands.
Theo cupped her lips and darted his head back and forth. “Keep quiet.”
“Why?” she whispered.
“Father can’t know about this.” He kneeled before his sister and wound a loose hair clinging to her rosy cheek behind her ear. “If you truly want to learn to fight, I need you to keep this a secret. No one else can know.”
“Alright.” She grinned, eager to begin her first training session.
“Swear it.”
Adelaide’s eyes widened and her shoulders slouched. “You mean…” She pointed above them. Swearing to Zias was no mockery. The God of Oaths took them as binding. “I swear by Zias himself to keep our secret.”
Theo pulled his dagger from his belt, and Adelaide extended her palm. “I swear by Zias to oversee your training.” He slid the blade across her palm.
She winced as her tiny hand dripped with blood.
“To come to your aid whenever you should need me and to never let harm befall you.” He grunted as he dragged the dagger over his own palm. They clasped hands. “By witness of Zias himself, I pledge as your older brother to do everything in my power to always protect you.”
Theo rubbed at the thin scar across his palm as he stood before his sister, now fully grown and stronger than he ever thought possible. She’d always been a fighter at heart, a cunning, brilliant, and smart woman. “Would you care to dance, Addie?”
Adelaide’s playful expression softened. He hadn’t called her that in so long, partially because she’d said she’d destroy him if he ever did. This time, she didn’t threaten to gut him or pierce his eyeballs. She took his hand and pulled him to the dance floor.