Veil of Mist Page 2

  That rumor, at least, seemed to be true. The seamstresses fluttered around me, taking measurements and holding different shades of fabric in velvet, lace, silk, and brocade. Was this a display of King Verdian’s wealth? To show I was in debt to his goodwill? Whatever the case, I could do nothing but accept the attention.

  A sound of disgust came from behind me. I turned to see Lurel pulling my dusty, grime-covered cloak from the wardrobe. My heart fluttered at the sight, delivering a rush of memories: Roije offering me the cloak the night I’d found Valorre; sleeping beneath its warmth during my travels; meeting Teryn; cutting the hem to wrap his wound at the battle at Centerpointe Rock.

  “She’ll need a new cloak,” Lurel told the women.

  “That’s not necessary. It will be good for my journey home,” I said.

  “We can make you a much better one, Your Highness. One without…whatever this is.” She pointed to a stain that was unmistakably blood.

  My throat constricted at the thought of discarding it, but I couldn’t think of a convincing argument. “At least let me keep it until my new one has been made. I’ll leave it behind when I depart.”

  Lurel widened her eyes both at me and the cloak before she returned it to the wardrobe. “As you wish, princess.”

  When the women were finished with their work, they repacked their things. “We will return with your new garments with haste,” one said.

  “It’s no rush. Take your time.”

  The women exchanged a look. “King Verdian says with haste." And with that they scuttled out of my room.

  Lurel pulled a dress from the wardrobe and brought it to me. “Until your clothing has been made, you’ll have to wear another one of Princess Mareleau’s dresses. This one is from when she was eleven, so it should fit you even better than the last.”

  I examined the gown in gold and cream taffeta with ivory lace at the hem and sleeves. “You’re saying I have the body of an eleven-year-old?”

  Lurel hid her laughter behind a hand. “An eleven-year-old Mareleau. This one is quite modest compared to the last, but it should suit you for the day.” She pulled the gown over my head and secured the buttons and tightened the laces. She was right about it being more modest. It was simple and high-cut at the chest, but the length was perfect. She placed a pair of brown slippers before me.

  When I looked in the mirror, I was satisfied with what I saw. Modest or no, at least I looked like a princess.

  “Now you’re ready,” Lurel said.

  “For what?”

  “For the meeting, of course.”

  “Meeting? I was never told of a meeting.”

  Lurel seemed unperturbed. “King Verdian announced it this morning. Everyone will be there.”

  “Who’s everyone?”

  “The king, the queen, Princess Mareleau, Queen Bethaeny, and the twin princes. Oh, and your brother, King Dimetreus.”

  My heart felt warm when she mentioned the twin princes, but it did a flip at my brother’s name. I hadn’t seen him since we’d left Centerpointe Rock. “My brother will be there?”

  “He’s waiting outside your door to accompany you.”

  A grin stretched over my face, and I all but ran to the door with Lurel hurrying at my heels. Flinging the door wide, I found Dimetreus and was struck by his change in appearance. Last I’d seen him, he’d been worn and aged with hollow cheeks and thinning hair. Even though he’d been in a dungeon for the best part of the last few weeks, color had returned to his flesh, and his eyes shone with their bright green hue. His hair still bore more gray than it should have for his age, but it had been nicely combed. The beard sprouting from his chin reminded me of our father.

  My eyes filled with tears as I ran into his arms. “Dimi, I’m so glad to see you are well.”

  Dimetreus patted me gently on the back. “So am I.” His voice held a hoarse quality, as if he’d lost some of it to Morkai’s torture and control. Yet, his tone was far gentler than it had been during that time.

  We parted, and he offered me his arm. I brushed the tears from my cheeks and placed my hand in the crook of his elbow. As we walked, I felt like I was floating on air; engaged to the man I desired with my brother at my side, I thought there was no way my morning could get any better.

  I was right. It was about to get worse.

  3

  The Meeting

  Teryn

  I stood outside the Royal Study, trying to keep my composure despite my foot’s insistence on tapping a tune on the marble floor.

  Movement caught my eye, and I turned, smiling as Larylis and Mareleau strolled toward me, arm-in-arm. As much as the sight warmed my heart, they were not whom I was hoping to see.

  Larylis cocked his head as they approached me. “Do you know what this meeting is about?”

  I shrugged. “King Verdian, Queen Helena, and our mother are inside.”

  Larylis pointed his thumb at the closed door. “What are you doing out here then? Are you trying to force us in first?”

  I laughed. “I’m waiting for Cora. We can wait together. They can’t remove our heads all at once.”

  Larylis’ shoulders relaxed while Mareleau remained unreadable as always.

  “How was your…um…wedding night?” I asked, trying unsuccessfully to keep a straight face.

  Larylis landed a playful punch on my arm, and Mareleau scowled, color rising in her cheeks.

  “That good?”

  “Is this what brothers are like?” Mareleau said under her breath.

  I was about to execute a witty response when all thought was stripped from my mind; Cora rounded a corner, walking with Dimetreus. My breath caught in my throat as I tried to keep myself from grinning like an idiot. Memories of our first—and second—kiss flooded my mind. My legs begged me to run to her, but I forced them still, admiring her from afar as she drew near. It was almost comical how tiny she looked next to her towering brother. He loomed even larger than before, now that he was no longer stooped beneath the control of a sorcerer. Being in good health proved him to be wide-chested and well-muscled, looking nothing like the man I’d watched cower beneath Morkai’s demands.

  Dimetreus offered us a bow as they approached, and Cora gave us a tight-lipped smile. She too, it seemed, was trying to keep her composure. Dimetreus released her hand from his elbow and kissed it. “How about you let Teryn walk you in?”

  She blushed and came to me, barely meeting my eyes as she took my arm. It was strange how much one day had made all the difference in the world between us. The woman who had once held me at her mercy by knife-point was now blushing at my side. The air surrounding us felt like it was sizzling. We locked eyes, and I knew she could feel it too. I wanted nothing more than to bend down and kiss her like I had last night. Later. We have all the time we need.

  “Shall we?” Larylis raised his brows and looked at the double doors. Mareleau bit her lip.

  “I suppose,” I said.

  Larylis tapped on one of the doors, and they swung open. Guards greeted us and nodded for us to enter. The heavy silence made it seem dark in the study despite the daylight streaming in through the windows, illuminating shelves of books, lavish chairs, and an immense, mahogany desk. King Verdian sat behind the desk and motioned for us to sit as well. Queen Helena and my mother, Queen Bethaeny, sat to the right of Verdian.

  “It is time to make plans moving forward,” Verdian said in his gruff voice. “The death of King Arlous makes it imperative that Crown Prince Larylis,” he annunciated each of the last three words with clear disdain, “be crowned as king as soon as possible.”

  Mother nodded. “Coming from war, we must secure our kingdom.”

  “I understand,” Larylis said, sitting high in his chair, Mareleau’s hand clasped tightly in his. “We can prepare to leave at once for Dermaine.”

  “And, of course, Princess Mareleau will be crowned as queen.” Verdian’s words were laced with venom.

  “Agreed,” Mareleau said, reflecting her father’s ton
e.

  “You will depart for Dermaine tomorrow morning.” Verdian turned his gaze from Mareleau to Dimetreus. “Of equal importance, King Dimetreus must return to Ridine and bring strength back to his kingdom. He will sign the Tri-Kingdom Peace Pact of Lela, securing our long-standing alliance. As allies, Sele and Mena will provide him members of Royal Council and Force, as well as household staff. We are going to great lengths to return peace to our land.”

  King Dimetreus bowed his head. “You have my deepest gratitude.” Perhaps it was my imagination, but I thought I heard a hint of mockery in his voice.

  Verdian continued, “Princess Coralaine must secure her position as well and return to Ridine. My brother, Lord Kevan, will serve as your Head of Council. Tomorrow he will accompany you and your retinue on your journey to Ridine. You will be given horses, a traveling coach, and several guards from my Royal Force, as well as two more men from my household to serve on your council. One of these men will be my other brother, Lord Ulrich. However, before joining you, Lord Ulrich will accompany Queen Bethaeny, the two princes, and Princess Mareleau to Dermaine. The day following the coronation, he will escort Mareleau, additional guards from Dermaine, and three more men for your council to Ridine.”

  Mareleau flung herself forward in her seat. “What? What do you mean I’m going to Ridine? My new home is Dermaine!”

  Verdian stood and fixed his daughter with an icy stare. “You will go where you are needed. Princess Coralaine is returning to a role she hasn’t held since she was a child. Since Kero has no queen, the princess will also need to serve as Lady of Ridine. She knows nothing about running a royal household and needs to learn her duties both as princess and future queen. Considering your upcoming coronation, you will have plenty to share with her.”

  “That’s absurd,” Mareleau said.

  “That’s not necessary…” Cora began, her voice decreasing in volume until it disappeared beneath Verdian’s gaze.

  “You children think you know best,” he walked to the front of his desk, “when you know nothing at all. Arlous and I had decades of experience, and yet…”

  And yet he still died, was left unsaid.

  Verdian’s fierce expression faltered for only one moment. “Being king and queen isn’t a game. It’s a duty. It isn’t about love and romance. It’s about protection, obligation, and strategy.”

  Mareleau swallowed hard. “Will Larylis be coming with me to Ridine?”

  “Of course not. His place is at Dermaine.”

  “When will I return to him?”

  “When Lord Kevan and Lord Ulrich give word that you’ve done your job.”

  “But I’m pregnant! I can’t travel.”

  “No one knows you are pregnant yet, remember? Every person in this room is sworn to secrecy. Until it is proper for you to announce your condition, you will act like any other woman.”

  My heart raced as I sat forward and cleared my throat. “King Verdian. I’d like to go to Ridine as well. Since Cora and I are engaged—”

  “No. You’ve thought it so wise to abdicate your duties to your untrained, unprepared brother. Now he’ll need you to guide him.”

  My mouth felt dry. “For how long? Cora and I have only a year—”

  Verdian slammed his fist on the desk. “Did King Arlous teach you it’s acceptable to argue with a king? You will do your duty. You will see to it until it is done. I don’t care about weddings, engagements, and babies. I care about the strength of our land.”

  Cora and I exchanged a glance. The disappointment in her expression mirrored my own.

  Queen Helena went to her husband’s side and placed a hand on his shoulder. “My love, they are young. They don’t know any better. They will learn, just like we did.”

  Verdian growled a curse under his breath.

  Helena shined her glowing smile at him. “You have yet to mention what we will be doing. Will we be present for our daughter’s coronation?”

  Verdian looked at her with disgust. “I don’t have time to watch Mareleau play dress-up.”

  Helena pursed her lips and put her hands on her hips. She looked as if she were about to argue but seemed to think better of it. Her eyes lighted on her daughter for a moment before she returned to her seat.

  My mother was the next to speak, her apprehension palpable. “What about the arrangement you’d made with Arlous? When Mareleau and Teryn were promised, it was agreed that you would make Mareleau your heir. Upon inheriting their thrones, our children would rule Sele and Mena together as one kingdom. Does this agreement still stand with Larylis in Teryn’s stead?”

  Verdian put his arms on his desk, eyes unfocused. Then he raised his head and looked at Mareleau. “If I die before naming a proper heir, yes, my rule will go to my daughter. And our kingdoms can go to the wolves.”

  * * *

  Larylis

  “It isn’t fair.” Mareleau stomped to the bed and fell upon it. “He’s clearly punishing me. He’s punishing us."

  I closed the doors to the Wedding Chamber and stood in the middle of the room, eyes heavy, mind empty. It wasn’t that I was surprised; I’d known there would be a price to pay for our marriage and for Mareleau’s lie. It was a price I’d already accepted. I just hadn’t realized we’d have to pay it so soon.

  Quiet sobs brought my attention back to the bed where Mareleau laid with her hands over her eyes. Her tears woke my heart from its brief reprieve, and I went to the bed and pulled her into my arms. For all her ferocity, she was surprisingly fragile. I was beginning to learn how much she hid behind her bold, beautiful mask. Would I ever truly know her at all?

  “We just found each other. I don’t want to leave your side ever again.” She raised her head, and I saw a hint of fierceness return to her eyes. “I am to be Queen of Mena. What right does my father have over a queen?”

  I kissed her forehead. “I don’t know, but he is your father. Right now, he’s the most powerful ruler in Lela. Mena and Kero are broken. We need an alliance with Verdian.”

  “So, you’re on his side?”

  I tried not to laugh, recalling when she’d called me the dramatic one. “Of course not, but the best thing we can do right now is keep our heads down. Prove our worth. Prove our marriage is strong and our kingdoms are stronger. Then figure out what is expected of you at Ridine. When the time is right, we’ll make a plan and get you home.”

  Mareleau groaned. “It’s so cruel. How could my father send his pregnant daughter to the other side of Lela?”

  My hand froze in the midst of rubbing her back. “You know you aren’t pregnant.”

  Mareleau rolled her eyes. “But they don’t know that. If I were, I’d deserve the utmost care.” She turned her chin up, looking much more like her usual self. “Thank goodness, though. I don’t know what I would do if I had to birth a brat at Ridine. It’s probably infested with rats.”

  “Let’s…not talk about that.”

  “About what? Rats?”

  “No. About…the pregnancy.”

  She frowned. “Lare, you promised you’d try to forgive me.”

  “I am trying, but I still feel raw about it.” I hesitated, wondering if I should say what was really on my heart. “I don’t like hearing you speak so carelessly about it. I want a child with you someday. It’s important to me.”

  “I’m sure we will. Someday.” She turned her face toward mine, a sly smile playing on her lips. “In the meantime, we only have a few more days together to practice.”

  My heart quickened as I leaned my lips toward hers.

  Knock, knock, knock.

  “Who would visit us at our Wedding Chamber?” Mareleau scowled at the door.

  The visitor knocked again.

  I groaned and dragged my feet to confront our intruder. It was Teryn. My mouth went dry, and desire drained from my body at once. “Brother.”

  Teryn smiled. “I hope I wasn’t disturbing anything.”

  “Not at all.” I shifted from foot to foot. It had been easy
to joke with him earlier that morning, but that was before my mood had turned sour. Now, seeing Teryn standing outside my Wedding Chamber, I could think of nothing but the debt I would forever owe him. “What brings you here?”

  Teryn looked past me into the room. “I actually wanted to speak with Mareleau.”

  I turned and saw Mareleau pause in the middle of smoothing her dress to cock her head. “Me? What do you need from me?"

  I wasn’t sure if I felt guilty or delighted about the edge in her voice. Could I still be harboring jealousy about my brother’s former interest in my wife? At least I knew how Mareleau felt about him. I suppressed a smile and opened my arm to welcome him into the room.

  He approached Mareleau. “I have a favor to ask.”

  “Another one?”

  Teryn smiled. “Yes. First, thank you for helping me with the directions in the servant’s hall last night. They worked perfectly.”

  “And I thank you for what you did for me and Larylis.” It was clear in her tone that she considered them even now. How wrong she was. We could never make up for what Teryn had done for us.

  “Would you help me with something else? I want to do something for Cora, but I’m clueless when it comes to these things. It’s our last night together for who knows how long, and I want to make it special.”

  Mareleau’s jaw moved back and forth while she considered his request. “I’ll see what I can do.”

  4

  Pawn

  Cora

  I paced along the far wall in my room. I’ve gone from prisoner, to princess, to pawn, all in the span of a day. It wasn’t anything I hadn’t seen coming. I’d known that even though the rulers of Mena and Sele were allowing me and Dimetreus to reclaim our kingdom, they wouldn’t do so easily. Verdian didn’t trust us. But I never would have predicted the level of control he’d shown over our lives today.

  Teryn and I have just been engaged, and already we have to part. My shoulders fell, remembering our kiss, remembering the plans we’d made to go to Dermaine and Ridine together. Why was Verdian so intent on keeping all of us separate? He seemed to have a particular disdain for his own daughter. And she was somehow already pregnant! There was obviously much I didn’t understand.