34. Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Three
Archer
Isoria looked all wrong. Briar had swept into the dining room where I’d been finishing up a late lunch and immediately gestured dramatically to Isoria like she was showing off a new piece of shiny jewelry she’d found. The fish turned in my stomach, and any remaining appetite I’d had vanished.
“What did you do to her?” I bit out, shoving my plate away.
“Siren’s Allure,” Briar announced proudly.
“One of the finest potions that Plumeria crafts. It enhances the features, that’s all.
Isn’t she absolutely stunning now? She actually looks like she could someday fill the role of queen appropriately.
There’s a genteel air about her that I’m afraid her humble roots lacked before.
” She tossed her auburn hair over one shoulder, smirking with delight.
My eyes swept over Isoria’s face again, an odd, twisting sensation in my chest. She still looked like herself, but her lashes were thicker, her nose and face were thinner and sharper, and her lips were fuller, as if an artist had studied her features and carefully altered them.
I stood, something like rage igniting in my heart. How dare my vain sister touch my fiancée and imply she hadn’t already been stunning?
“I can’t believe you magicked her like you imagined I didn’t think she was good enough.” I spat the words as if they were poison on my tongue.
Isoria had already been breathtaking, and—
My mind tripped over my thoughts, a bolt of fear darting down my spine. This didn’t feel like an act anymore. This indignation was all my own.
I didn’t just think Isoria was beautiful.
That wasn’t a new realization, and not exactly earth-shattering.
Even deadly predators could be beautiful—that didn’t mean their prey grew attached.
But this was different. I was offended for her.
Worried that she’d assume everyone, including me, thought she was somehow lesser.
Though Briar’s smile had faltered, she stood her ground, hands settled on her hips.
“Like I said, all it does is enhance beauty, Archer. And it’s not as if I did anything to alter her permanently.
It’ll wear off by evening.” She huffed. “I thought you’d be thrilled to know she could use it before your birthday celebration to look her best.”
Swallowing thickly, I stared at my sister in disbelief. “Her best? She doesn’t look like herself. Do you honestly think I wanted you to change her? That I didn’t think she was already beautiful? That I ever thought she wasn’t enough?”
She rolled her eyes. “Whatever. You don’t understand beauty.” And with that, she flounced from my quarters.
Pulse pounding, I strolled across the room, oddly desperate to be near Isoria.
Tenderly, I lifted a strand of her hair. “At least this is the same.”
Isoria’s gold eyes watched me warily, as if she suspected I was wanting to trick her.
Something like regret curdled in my stomach when I recalled the way I’d laughed at her when I’d almost kissed her, trying to play it off.
You are my ruination. I’d wanted her to think I was only attracted to her, only tempted in a moment of weakness, not that my walls were crumbling or that she was making me rethink my worldview.
That her face had infiltrated my dreams and every muscle in my body tensed when she was near.
That my heart skipped whenever she walked into a room, and I was increasingly aware of everything she did or didn’t do.
A part of me resented her, questioned her and still searched for ways she might be manipulating my feelings. But even if she was, I feared I was a lost male, aching for her like I’d never ached for anything in my life.
When I’d said she was my ruination, I’d meant it with every fiber of my soul.
“Why pretend to be angry?” she asked. “You should have told her how pleased you were, acted like a besotted fool, and been done with it. Your sister wouldn’t have questioned you for that.”
“Why would I want everyone to think I’d engage myself to someone I didn’t find beautiful already?
” My voice came out embarrassingly husky, and I realized I was still holding her hair, standing close enough I could smell the scent of her soap.
I had a sudden, ridiculous urge to lean forward and breathe her in, to kiss her neck.
She glanced up and tension thickened the air as the weight of last night’s almost-kiss hovered over us. For a wild, dizzying second, her eyes flicked down to my lips, and a flutter of hope made me feel reckless.
I leaned closer. Maybe if I kissed her, really kissed her instead of doing it for a public show, everything would make sense. I’d know if I truly wanted her, or if desire was clouding my thoughts and the revulsion that was now strangely absent.
But before I could span the distance between us, Isoria sucked in a shaky breath, her chest heaving with the effort of it. “If my presence is not required any longer, Your Highness, I’m going to go read.”
The spell shattered. I plastered that familiar smirk onto my face like armor as I stepped back. “No,” I drawled, “feel free to relieve us both and be on your way.”
Isoria
Days passed without much event, which was both relieving and foreboding.
No messages from Liana about revenant attacks or where that growing army was heading.
Archer was often gone in meetings or—though he didn’t demand I tag along or share information—what I feared were phoenix shifter hunts ordered by the king.
Overall, we managed to avoid one another in his vast quarters.
When I wasn’t poring over books trying to find out more about the phoenix curse or our blood bond in the castle’s main library, I tried to research necromancy.
After hours of fruitless searching, I’d return to his rooms, frustrated and longing to stretch my wings.
Instead, I either curled up with a mug of tea and a leisurely book, Onyx curled in my lap, or spent time baking.
Occasionally I ventured outside to run through the gardens and enjoy the sunlight on my skin and the fresh air, the closest I could get to flying on the ground.
Whenever she had free time, Lily joined me in Archer’s quarters or around the castle.
Since she was often busy training with her father or helping him with the social events he was required to attend due to his status, she didn’t have much time to venture out into the capital with me.
“One day when I have more time, I’m going to start to teach you to ride a horse,” Lily proclaimed.
“I go out every morning, usually with Father, but riding lessons are a whole different endeavor.”
I’d merely smiled, not fully understanding her love of riding. Horses seemed like fine enough animals, but nothing could compare to the wind in my wings and the freedom of flight. Not that I could explain that to Lily, ever.
Instead, I taught her how to bake cookies, making sure I took care to use the mitts stocked in Archer’s kitchen whenever I removed anything from the oven.
I’d become far too comfortable when sealed away in the prince’s quarters, using my magic to light my own candles or fire, handling flames or hot items with my bare hands, and, when I felt especially desperate, even shifting into my half-phoenix form with my flaming wings to stretch them and feel that hint of freedom.
I didn’t care if it annoyed Archer, and lately, he’d hardly been around to catch me in any of those acts anyway.
And then the wedding plans began. Servants flooded Archer’s quarters one morning when he was away, disturbing Orchid’s quiet, graceful way of preparing me for each morning with their chaos.
“Set out the coffee and breakfast in the dining room,” Briar ordered the servants as she swept into my bedroom, sniffing at the way Orchid had plaited my hair into a crown.
“Isoria, we have so much work to do and so little time. Even if Archer still hasn’t given me an official wedding date yet.
” She studied me accusingly, as if it were my fault.
“He’s been busy and distracted with hunting for the escaped death-lover,” I said, forcing my tone to remain even and my tongue not to stumble over the derogatory term.
“Anyway, we know it must happen after Archer’s birthday celebration, and that’s only a few days away. It’s time we start this now. Join me in the sitting room as soon as possible. We have much to do!”
She hurried out, leaving me feeling rather harried. I met Orchid’s gaze in the mirror.
“You’ll be a beautiful bride,” she said gently, encouragingly, as if she could sense my mounting panic. “I’m sure Her Highness just wants to ensure you find the perfect cake and a wedding gown all to your liking.”
My smile felt weak. “Thank you.”
For days, Princess Briar stormed in every morning or summoned me to her own quarters.
Sometimes I had the mercy of Lily’s presence, but others, she was not available.
It honestly felt grueling, the way Princess Briar demanded answers about every small detail.
Perhaps if it was a wedding I had actually wanted to plan and Princess Briar’s presence was slightly less insufferable, it would have been enjoyable.
Instead, I had to inspect every shade imaginable for table linen options, give opinions on lace patterns, and spend far too much time agreeing with Princess Briar’s decisions for how I needed to do my hair, which colors would work best with my skin tone, and how I should do my makeup.
In some ways, it was a relief that I didn’t care, or I had a feeling the princess would have tried to override all my opinions on the matter.
Sometimes Lily tried to interject, but when she saw the tired expression on my face, she stopped.
She misread my weariness, for when she caught a moment alone with me later that day, she touched my arm and said, “I have a hard time with the excessive celebrations too, knowing how the rest of the kingdom suffers.” I smiled and nodded along.
Worrying about the revenants was bad enough. The nightmares that plagued me of the revenant army and the burden I felt to protect Emberglade was heavy. Especially when I knew they would harm my own kind as much as they would any other fae.
But my concerns were only multiplying. I’d still found no answers. No way to break Archer’s and my blood bond.
If something didn’t change soon, this farce of an engagement was going to become a very real marriage.