Chapter 4
Chapter four
Zara
Isleep most of the day and spend what’s left of the daylight curled up in my bed.
My head pounds in time with my pulse and my stomach churns with nausea.
The thought of meeting my future husband looms over me, making me feel even worse.
Alix didn’t even try to lecture me this morning, and Emlyn didn’t come by at all today, which I’m thankful for.
I’m not in the mood for chatting. Or moving for that matter.
What did I even do last night? Bits and pieces of my outing slowly run through my mind. Sex, secrecy, and sin…opium and hookahs, the beautiful blued-skin fairy with hands like velvet trailing up my thighs…Alix hauling me out of the tavern and—
Oh no.
I groan.
I rub my upper arms remembering how he effortlessly lifted me from the handsome fairy’s lap and tossed me on my ass in the alley.
The lecture. My tantrum. The crowd. Damn.
I’ll be on lockdown for the rest of my life if Alix tells my father where he found me and about the drunken spectacle I made in front of the townsfolk.
I hope Alix takes pity on me and keeps this little indiscretion between us. Just this once.
A quiet knock comes from the door and Emlyn slips in. “How’re you feeling?”
I groan again and throw my arms over my face.
“As I expected after last night. I brought you your dress for the party later.”
“How did you manage to snag it from Gila?” I roll onto my side on my bed, resting my head in my hand. It throbs with the movement, and I shut my eyes to ward off the dizziness.
“I’m your ladies maid. I’m allowed to help my lady, am I not?” A sly smile spreads over her lips, and she skips over to the bed and lays out a golden dress next to my pillow. “I picked this one out myself. It’ll make your eyes pop.”
I watch as she smooths out the delicate fabric of the skirts, her amber eyes glittering as brightly as the dress in the low light of the candle near the bed. She’s as poised and cheerful as ever, smiling down at the gown and bouncing excitedly on her toes.
Emlyn and I were born on the very same day and were raised pretty much as sisters.
Her parents were best friends with mine all of their lives, just like Emlyn and I are.
Unfortunately, her father died in battle along with so many others and her mother fell ill a few years after.
I’m still amazed at Emlyn's unwavering optimism and joyous personality even through the tragedy that has surrounded both of our families since we were born.
I beam at her. “Thank you.” I stand and admire the gown on the bed.
It’s a floor length dress with a bodice that shimmers with tiny crystals sewn along a plunging neckline.
The bodice extends down below the waist, and the skirts flow in waves beneath it.
I stroke my hand along the fabric. “It’s perfect.
It’s too bad I’m no longer a single female.
I could definitely get into some trouble wearing this. ”
Emlyn makes herself comfortable on the blue velvet window seat across the room and lights a candle on the sill. It flickers, forming dancing shadows over her brown skin. “Well…technically, you’re still single.”
“Technically. But I might as well be sitting at a table with the matrons at this point. I don’t think there’s a way to get out of this marriage with my stepmother pulling the strings. She’s hell bent on me being sent far away from Masseda.”
Emlyn rests her head against the windowpane.
“That woman has been jealous of you since she got here. She just wants you gone so she doesn’t have to compete with you for your father’s attention.
Not to mention, you’re who everyone thinks about when they think about the ‘beautiful royal lady of Masseda’”.
She holds up her fingers to make the quotation marks in the air.
“You’re the fairest in the land.” She waves her hand dramatically and tosses her head back laughing.
I chuck a pillow at her, narrowly missing her head with a giggle, “Stop.”
She throws the pillow back, but her aim is much better, and it strikes me on the cheek.
“It’s true. Elara hates that you’re your father’s favorite girl, and she hates that you’re a thousand times prettier.
You know how vain she is. She’s always staring at herself in that tiny mirror she carries around. ”
“If that’s true, then I definitely don’t have any chance of backing out.”
“Unless…” Emlyn stands and moves toward me, one finger tapping at her chin.
I recognize the scheming look. “Unless?”
Her eyes brighten and she glances around the room as if someone might be eavesdropping. She lowers her voice. “Unless you don’t show up tonight.”
“What? Of course I have to go. My father would be furious. And Elara would have my head!”
She lifts a shoulder. “It’s only a suggestion. It won’t stop the wedding from happening, but it could delay things for a few days. Besides, I’m sure we could find some more appealing entertainment out in the village.”
“You’re insane.”
“Or a genius,” She says and makes her way back to the window seat.
I just laugh and ignore her comments, running my fingers over the silk and tulle of the dress. What if I didn’t show up to the dinner party this evening? No. I can’t do that to my father.
Then again…
I shake my head. It’s a crazy idea. There’s nothing I want more than to run as far from this alliance as possible, but I can’t.
I know what’s expected of me, and of this marriage.
Even if I avoid the party, I’ll eventually have to return to court.
Either from hunger or from Alix dragging me back kicking and screaming.
I sigh in resignation. “Okay. Let’s go get me a husband. ”