Chapter 11
In order to prevent any subsequent devastating loss of life, the rulers of each of the ten northern lands pledge to form an Alliance. An Alliance that will enable all nations to prosper and flourish, ensuring future generations thrive in a world of harmony.
— A DECLARATION OF PEACE IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE DRUFAERAN ADVANCE, ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY-SIX YEARS AGO
Though I had devoured text after text about the history of The Alliance in Romero’s library, a tight knot writhed in my guts as the double doors to the debating chamber were thrown open.
Two hundred years ago, one of Romero’s ancestors had waged a devastating war in her quest to possess every last fleck of Vyrium.
The ten nations of the two northern continents – Shutera and Vlanael – had been drawn into a war unlike any before.
The decimated lands had been littered with corpses, civilisations razed.
Thus, The Alliance was formed. It was, the monarchs claimed, the path to peace, harmony, prosperity and collaboration.
The ideals behind The Alliance’s conception were so wholesome that it was a crying shame the current Alliance considered the majority of them bullshit.
Nations jostled for the all-elusive prime spot (or with Drufaera holding all the gilded keys, the secondary position).
But sometimes, just sometimes, The Alliance came together as it had been intended.
Carush had once been part of The Alliance.
It had been a land of towering rainforests, and hidden temples steeped in myths.
All till King Edvard arranged the marriage of his second daughter.
His spare. Allegedly, the old gods had talked to her, spoken of a new path – and so she’d poisoned every living soul in the palace.
She’d grown bored with being a mere queen of her own land, and quietly worked her way through the neighbouring monarchies of Vlanael, further reducing the number of kingdoms in The Alliance. She’d created her empire.
The stories coming out of Carush and Vlanael were fractured, piecemeal, but the sparse details were terrifying.
In three short years, she’d decimated centuries-old monarchies.
Her bloodthirsty gaze was now cast across the sea, towards us.
And so, the remaining members of The Alliance gathered, presenting a united front to keep their frail hold on their own crowns.
They had no choice other than to cooperate.
If they failed, they risked death, or worse – bowing down to the whims of a merciless empress.
And now, I found myself among their dwindling number. A fledgling queen, burning with the desire to prove to Romero I was more than the bastard stepdaughter he couldn’t abide.
I brushed a clump of white fur from my sleeve and let out a breath as I blinked away the shadows. Matthias’s fingers found mine. A shiver raced through me as they threaded through my own, tugging tighter when I tried to pull away.
‘Romero has already taken his seat,’ he whispered into the shell of my ear, heat rising up my neck. I’d permitted a maid to put my hair into a loose knot at my nape. ‘We can’t give him any reason to question our situation.’
I let my fingers loosen, fighting against the urge to curl them around his comforting warmth.
‘I’m here to prove I’ve got some use in this world, not that this sham you’ve dragged me into is a proper marriage. If you think I’m about to sit on your lap, you’re incredibly mistaken.’
I huffed at the wicked light igniting in his gaze.
‘And here I thought I was pushing boundaries by holding your hand. In case we do need to put on a show’ – he flashed that damn smile – ‘I’ve no qualms whatsoever with you placing yourself in my lap.’
Gods, the flames ignited across my cheeks. ‘A marriage in name only.’ I scowled, breathing easier as the glint died. ‘Your words, Matthias.’
He inclined his chin a fraction, before taking my hand once more.
‘He was determined, Sorrow. If he suspects anything other than a true union of man and wife, he’ll take back his Tribute.
I’d be powerless to stop him; but I promise you, they’ll have to drag you out of my stone cold fingers before I give you up. ’
I pretended my heart didn’t hammer as I stared into his forest-green eyes.
‘Are you saying I need to be on my best behaviour?’
He tucked a stray lock of dark hair behind my ear, my pulse thundering a breath away from his fingers. He searched my face, his brows furrowed.
‘We’re fucked then, aren’t we?’
I huffed out a laugh. I gripped Pablo as we entered the chamber. Even the change of light and dapples swimming across my eyes couldn’t hide how the air within changed as Matthias led me and the wolf through.
The chamber was a warm space, filled with freshly polished wooden panels, illuminated by the golden glow of oil lamps.
I suspected they’d been filled with a mix of Vyrium and oil – an expensive act to keep them burning longer – but this was The Alliance.
A lush carpet muffled the clip of my boots as I approached a curved seating area where the remaining leaders of The Alliance sat.
A number of chairs were empty – the absence of the empress and the three monarchies she’d displaced were clearly felt.
Only six of the ten seats would be filled today.
I peered at the hazy form of my stepfather who had somehow taken the centre spot, ensuring all eyes would be on him.
My husband, the king of Asmar, the second largest Shuteran nation, held the second seat.
We were joined by the elegant Amala of Ostos, who by all rights should be in the centre.
After all, the seat of The Alliance lay within her lands.
The only other queen here was Sarus of Motresh, Asmar’s closest neighbour.
I stifled a shiver as my gaze skimmed over rough King Cai of Trespia, the land where most of the lumber hailed from, and the snivelling, atrocious Seth of Itoras in the North.
Vyrus’s balls, my marriage could have been so much worse.
Most of the rulers stood as Matthias pulled out a plum velvet chair for me, inclining their heads. Romero lounged further into his seat. I don’t think he even lifted his gaze from the paper he read.
‘Ah, so you can’t bear to be apart from my sweet Sorrow, Matthias? This is no place for your wife though.’
‘Sorrow is my queen now,’ Matthias said as a clerk hastily placed some papers before us. ‘This is the perfect place for her.’
‘She’ll be a distraction.’
Matthias snorted. ‘We may be newlyweds, but I’m able to keep my hands off her for the duration of this meeting.’ He placed his fingers gently on my chin, turned my face towards him and winked. ‘At least I think I can.’
Pablo yipped as my fingers accidentally dug into his skin, a blush raging across my face. Vyrus damn him.
Romero regarded us, a whisper of a sneer on his face. I took a settling breath. I had plans, ideas. Ideas I’d need to bite back till exactly the right moment.
He sneered. ‘Asmar’s wolf queen. You realise you’ll spend half the meeting reading her those notes? You are aware of your new bride’s limitations?’
The other rulers stilled, and I became aware of the intense focus of their attention.
Matthias tensed beside me, a muscle ticking in his freshly shaved jaw.
I placed my hand on his arm, shaking my head.
As much as I’d adored Matthias as a child, he’d been quick to temper, especially when it came to anyone who’d ever wronged me.
I opened my mouth ready to speak, when a hand settled on his shoulder.
‘I haven’t had the chance to congratulate you both.’
I spun around as Matthias stood, embracing the woman before us.
‘Sarus!’ he cried, stepping back as the queen of Motresh turned her gaze onto me.
‘Your Highness,’ I said, dipping my head.
‘None of that bowing business, Queen Sorrow.’ My breath caught at the sound of my title. I was as regal as a slice of dried toast.
Matthias grabbed my hand and tugged me up, and for a moment, as the light hit his eyes, I saw an echo of the boy I’d known.
‘Let me introduce you, Sarus. This is Sorrow, my wife.’
The queen held my hands, and I focused on her smiling face.
If memory served me right, Queen Sarus was in her early fifties.
Her blue eyes shone with sincerity, matched by a warm grin sweeping the years away.
Her red hair was arranged into a neat, intricate knot, highlighting her long neck.
I glanced down at her flawless teal dress, and my eyes widened at the sapphires and silver decorating her slender wrists and hair.
I released an embarrassed breath as I smoothed down my own plain dress.
If I dressed the part, would I feel more like the queen I was supposed to be?
I suspected I would merely look like a child playing dress up.
‘It’s lovely to meet you, Sorrow. Now,’ she said, narrowing her eyes, ‘let me get a good look at you. My eyes aren’t what they used to be.’
‘That’s something we have in common then.’
She threw back her head and laughed. It was easy to see why Matthias liked this woman. She lay a soft hand upon Pablo’s head. For a moment, my heart lurched, but Pablo closed his eyes, relishing the affection.
A short man, a mass of scarlet finery and golden buttons, coughed from the centre of the room.
‘If you would please take your seats, the meeting of The Alliance will commence in a few moments.’
Sarus raised a brow. ‘Don’t go rushing off after this meeting, Matthias. I’m eager to learn how my ward is getting on.’
‘Skye is forever grateful to you,’ he replied, pulling my seat back while I scowled.
‘I bet you wish you’d been sent to Motresh instead.’ I nodded towards the blurry, elegant queen as she sat the other side of Romero.
‘She’s certainly a better monarch,’ he whispered. ‘She also treated Skye like one of her own. But… I’d never have met you.’
My scowl increased as the figure in the centre coughed and dived into his opening statement.