Chapter 4 #2
When Mama died and I knew for certain what tore through my veins, a terror greater than her loss struck me numb.
A few months later, I lay shattered and broken after Matthias dared me to make the fateful jump.
Those intertwining tragedies shattered any dreams I’d held of becoming a worthy Anomaly.
I’d been hiding from the repercussions of Mama’s death and Matthias’s betrayal ever since.
The mere thought of his name stabbed my already damaged heart, and I focused back on Enfys.
She tugged on her silver pendant, and my gaze wandered to her slender fingers.
My chest tightened as I imagined the ring Matthias would slip on when the engagement was officially announced.
I swallowed as she tilted her pretty head, her blue eyes tethered to the page as she read legends of the Gods.
I should offer her my congratulations, bitter as they were, but every time I opened my mouth, the words died.
I closed my eyes, fighting back the tears.
Gods, what if she and Matthias invited me to the wedding?
I refused to shed tears over that man. But how could I sit there primly while they exchanged vows?
Would my own husband sit beside me? The gruff Cai or the sickening Seth?
I gripped my skirts, a dead weight settling where my heart should lie.
I wasn’t wed yet. There was still time to discard my shackles.
Staring across the carriage, the king’s face appeared through the fog of shadowy blotches. He had a myriad of papers spread out, combing his fingers through his neat beard, his brow furrowed as he read.
I leaned forward, peering through the small window.
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d woken up without Pablo wrapped around me, and I missed his warmth.
What if he left the safety of our well-guarded caravan to hunt?
There were rumours of rising numbers of oversized, mangled diafols this far north, and my guts churned at the thought of Pablo running into hunters out seeking glory.
No matter how much I twisted, I couldn’t spot the wolf through the filthy smear of the carriage window.
‘Sit still.’
Enfys and I froze as the king barked his order. His eyes scrutinised the papers, a dark scowl on his face.
I steadied my breathing. ‘But Pablo—’
‘You’re distracting me. Sit.’
I opened my mouth, releasing a tiny cry as Enfys tugged me back into the seat next to her.
‘I’m sure he’s fine, Sorrow. Let me read you this passage. It’s one of my favourites.’
Any sane woman would have placed her hands on her lap and obeyed. ‘Apologies,’ I said, pushing past her and laying my face against the window.
‘Enough,’ the king cried, shoving me back and tugging the curtain across the glass. ‘It’s not as though you can see much, is it?’
Enfys gasped. Her father didn’t even bother to glance our way. Romero sighed deeply and rifled through his papers, his lips pressed tightly together.
I closed my eyes as I sat down. If I lost my temper now, no matter what boons my intended had offered in return for my freedom, I’d be sent back as Tribute.
‘I’m sure I heard Pablo earlier,’ Enfys whispered. ‘And I’ve definitely heard the guards talking about him. I think they may be a tad scared of—’
‘Enfys.’ Romero’s tone softened as he reprimanded his daughter.
‘It’s a wolf. It can take care of itself.
I knew I should have sent Danté instead.
We’re to pass the site of a new mine we’ve discovered.
A rich source of Vyrium could sway the fate of this war.
I’d like to take the chance to personally thank my engineering master for all he’s done. ’
I clutched the seat, dug my nails into the soft velvet.
‘My liege,’ I said, ignoring the king’s long exhale, ‘would that be the site my research indicated?’ I braced for his bitter words. As if he’d ever credit my research.
The king snorted. ‘There’s a reason you were a Tribute, Sorrow.
’ He leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees.
‘As a favour to Queen Mercy, bless her memory, you were provided with the gilded opportunity to prove your worth. After the… accident, after Evella stripped you of whatever gift you should have possessed, I thought you could still have some use in this world.’
‘Father. This isn’t charitable. Sorrow has gone above and beyond to help you in your search for the fabled site.’
‘Hah. You would think that. It’s lucky your brother will take the throne and not you. You haven’t the backbone for the crown and all it entails.’ He turned his sharp stare back to me. ‘And without your sight, your pace has been useless.’
I swallowed, praying the colour on my cheeks wasn’t as visible as I suspected.
‘I can still see… most things.’
He moved forward swiftly. Biting my lip, I lowered my head, as I’d been taught to do as a child.
‘You’re still rude, rebellious. Evella knows why he chose you for a wife.’
‘Father!’ Enfys’s voice cracked.
‘Enough, the pair of you.’ The king sat back and picked up a yellowing parchment.
‘You seem unaware that the empress is poised to invade our shores. I’ve meetings to prepare.
An Alliance to organise, and I need to concentrate.
You, go back to your book of Gods.’ He nodded at Enfys, then sneered as he glared at me.
‘And you, ensure you don’t embarrass me or my throne as a bride.
I don’t want to hear another word. We should reach the inn at Stalmire soon.
I can get some rest from your incessant chattering. ’
I dug my nails into my palms. Tears pricked the back of my eyes as I steadied the tremors working through me. Was I supposed to merely sit here, accept days of this abuse, while he delivered me to my husband?
I lay my head back against the carriage, allowing the gentle sway to lull me back to sleep. A smile tugged at the corner of my mouth as I wondered if I could sneak Pablo into Romero’s rooms, leave a little present on his bed? As I drifted off in a dreamless sleep, a tiny giggle rippled through me.