Chapter 19
Regardless of your feelings for her, regardless of her position within the royal family, you must be aware you cannot fail to produce an heir.
Your first breath coincided with your mother’s last. Skye (or whatever name she’s chosen these days) cannot physically provide the heir we require to ensure our titles, deeds and lands remain with our family. So my answer is quite simply, no.
— LETTERS FROM LORD JAMES ROSSING TO HIS ONLY CHILD, CAPTAIN ASHER ROSSING
A blush spread up my bare shoulders as Matthias tugged at his dark navy tie, his eyes locked on mine in the gilded mirror.
‘Now, please don’t forget, this is a formal dinner.
Many dignitaries will be dining with you this evening.
Lord Rossing and his son, Captain Asher.
The Duke Lommond who’ – Matthias’s secretary sighed deeply – ‘may I remind you, will be reporting back to King Romero. The pair of you need to act with decorum, diplomacy.’ Francis grimaced, straightening Matthias’s crooked tie. ‘Dignity.’
I rolled my eyes. ‘We’re truly fucked then,’ I said, earning a warm chuckle from Matthias as I took a last warped look in the gilded mirror.
Francis rounded on me, his thin lips pursed together as he peered at me through his round glasses. Although he was at least a head shorter than myself, the man was fierce and obviously held a lot of affection for Matthias.
‘That is the sort of language you must not use, Your Highness.’
I sighed. ‘Sorrow,’ I replied for what must have been the hundredth time.
He scowled, shaking his bald head, his jowls wobbling.
‘Not this evening, you’re not, Your Highness.
’ He admired the scarlet and gold satin gown Skye had selected for me.
Begrudgingly, for once, I agreed with her.
I ran my hands down the strapless fitted scarlet bodice, hesitating over the diagonal splash of glimmering gold.
The dress flared slightly from the hips, which was rather fortunate.
If the skirt had been as tight as the bodice, I’d be shuffling around as regal as an injured duck.
I smiled at my reflection. My dark brown hair lay over my shoulder in an elegant fishtail braid.
A maid had fussed over me, delicately inlaying actual rubies and flecks of gold within the strands of my glossy hair.
A simple gold chain with a single ruby lay above my breasts.
Raising a brow at my reflection I decided I might allow Skye to choose my dresses more often.
Despite the warmth of the evening, I shivered, suddenly aware Matthias was a mere whisper away from me.
My traitorous breath hitched as our gazes met.
It was obvious from the way his eyes darkened I wasn’t the only one who approved of this different look.
With his eyes locked on my reflection, he loosened the tie.
A wicked smile curled across my ruby lips.
I spun around, my breath catching as I found him even closer than I’d thought.
Somewhere, in the gloom beyond us, Francis continued with his warnings, his words lost as Matthias raised a playful brow.
His grin faltered as his gaze flitted towards my lips.
The candle flickered, burning brighter, illuminating the smooth planes of his cheekbones, flecks of amber glinting in his eyes.
As we’d grown, as the boy changed, there had been moments when he’d been so beautiful it crushed the breath from my lungs. I blinked, my own eyes tracing his lips and I swallowed down the ache. As close as we were becoming, was I ready for whatever was happening between us? We’d never kissed.
I reached up. Up towards his torturously perfect mouth, my fingers hesitating.
His green eyes widened, his sweet breath warming my palm.
I raised my chin and clutched the silk instead, tilting my head as I straightened his tie yet again.
As I turned to get one final glimpse of my reflection, he caught my wrist, his fingers wrapping around my thundering pulse so damn slowly.
With his gaze locked on mine, he brushed the whisper of a kiss across my knuckles, my skin flaring at the tender touch.
Reluctantly, I tugged my hand away, turning back and pretending I couldn’t see the satisfied smirk playing on those damned lips.
We’d only spoken about important things since the fire.
He’d sat beside me, scowling at maps and asking questions.
He’d called for tea and hot buttered crumpets.
I’d batted him on the arm when he almost smothered an important fragment with butter.
Pablo took advantage of us, gobbling the remaining crumpets.
For a while, we were young once more, up to mischief.
But I’d broken the fragile familiarity when he tried to take my hand and I’d stood, calling the wolf, feigning tiredness.
I’d come to the conclusion I’d been his friend all those years ago as he had no other option.
Yet now. Now, when he stared at me like this – as though I were a marvel created solely for him – it caused too many swirling emotions, more frantic thoughts and questions than my mind could comprehend.
I didn’t know what was going on in my own head, let alone his.
As he stared back at me, his hair slicked back with one rebellious tendril threatening to spill down at any moment and a glint in those green eyes, I knew what I needed to do.
Though the thought terrified me more than anything else I faced right now.
We needed to talk. We needed to be honest. Open. True.
The smile faded from my face as I moved from the mirror and held Pablo. I was as adept at baring my soul as I was at flying.
But, I was also a grown woman. An actual queen. I could talk to my own husband. Couldn’t I?
My peripheral vision was practically non-existent, and I constantly fought the urge to turn and stare at Matthias as we walked hand in hand to the head of a long table, encased with candelabras and fruit carved into the constellations of the Gods.
The dignitaries around the table gave us a standing ovation.
Normally I’d despise this sort of thing, but at least Matthias might mistake the blush on my neck and the nervous trembling of my hand for the audience and not the effect he was having on me right now.
I sat to his right, with Lord Rossing on my other side.
As the guests raised their glasses in a twinkling cheer to their king and his new bride, I turned to greet Asher’s father.
There was no mistaking him. He had the same handsome onyx face as his son.
His long coils were tinted with salt and pepper.
Where Asher’s eyes glinted with mischief and mirth, his father’s expression was firm, his full lips pulled down in a grimace.
Asher’s high cheekbones gave him a warm smile, but appeared cruel and sharp on the man who’d sired him and still maintained control over his son’s life.
I peered over the flickering candles to where Asher was about to sit, his expression lost in the hazy amber glow.
Wincing, Danté took his place next to the captain.
Looking down the table, my heart lurched at the blurry form of Skye halfway along, sitting next to a miserable Ifan, muscles ready to burst out of his obsidian uniform.
By the time we were on the dessert, I decided I’d ask my husband for one of those shiny medals kings gave out for noble or brave behaviour.
I hadn’t stuck any cutlery into either Rossing or Danté once, despite being tempted to every time either of them opened their mouths.
Matthias had given my knee a gentle warning squeeze when I asked Asher if he was sure he hadn’t been adopted.
Matthias leaned in close. The guests would think he was whispering sweet sentiments to his new bride.
‘I get it. The man is about as odious as they come, but he’s Asher’s father and Asher would face Vyrus himself to win his approval.’
I shivered at the feel of his warm breath on my neck. He raised his hand, taking my braid and playing with the ends.
‘Plus, I really need the lord’s guards. He’s amassed a rather impressive collection of Anomalies. We need to be on our best behaviour.’
He tilted his head, a smirk playing at the corner of his mouth. I toyed with the silver spoon, holding it over the fruit tart before me.
‘Do I get a reward for being good?’ I said, without thinking.
His smile turned wicked. Matthias dropped the braid and moved his fingers so they caressed mine. I froze as he leaned in even closer.
‘And what… reward would my wife enjoy?’
I sucked in a breath, realising the trap I’d so happily fallen into. Gods, we needed to sort this out. Straightening and focusing on my tart, I increased the space between us.
‘I deserve a shiny medal,’ I said, rolling a blueberry around my plate. ‘One of those big ones on a satin ribbon. I’ll even let you place it round my neck.’
‘Your wish is my command,’ he said, turning his own tart so he could scrape the blueberries onto mine. I smiled, recalling the fights we’d had over who would get the most as children. He leaned in one last time as I savoured the fruit bursting on my tongue. ‘As long as that’s all you wear.’
As much as I disliked Lord Rossing, it turned out he was rather adept at slapping a choking queen on the back.
Tears streamed down my face as I glared at a smirking Matthias.
I downed some cooling water, another little choking cough rising out of me.
Wiping away the damp from my cheeks, I took a settling breath while placing the sharp heel of my stiletto on Matthias’s shoe.
He instantly straightened and stared wide-eyed at me, trying to tug his foot away.
‘My thanks, Lord Rossing,’ I said, turning my attention away from a red-faced Matthias.