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DURING THE NEXT THREE days, Asha had Kurtus escort her through the palace while she waited for the night of her supposed bonding to Corvine to arrive. They traipsed through all five levels, avoiding the private bedrooms of the courtiers. Her keen hearing picked up on the sounds of trysts going on behind the doors. She had no desire to see any of the fairies naked together.
There were many gardens and courtyards that she would have liked to see up close, but the storms made that impossible. The basement level was beginning to flood and the brownies had called in some gnomes to set up a drainage system. Whispers were spreading that magic was becoming harder to use. It hadn’t affected the brownies yet, but the gnomes had had to set up pipes and pumps rather than using spells to fix the problem.
On the night she was supposed to become bonded to Corvine, Asha stood in front of the mirror. She gazed at her reflection without seeing it. She’d met with her intended husband a few times now and none of their conversations had gone well. He was vain, arrogant and clearly not very intelligent.
He’d been chosen to rule because he was easily led, but he was too dumb to realize it. Corvine believed he was worthy of the crown and therefor was worthy of her. She was just a lowly half-dryad, half-goblin after all. She’d overheard him say that to one of the guards just yesterday. He’d even had the audacity to suggest she should be grateful a fairy of his breeding and caliber would lower himself enough to bed her.
Anger rose inside her and a hint of silver glinted in her eyes that the advisors to the throne were putting her through this charade. Her father had left just minutes ago after warning her to submit to the warrior. He’d cited that the realm would continue to suffer and it would be all her fault if she didn’t go along with their plans.
Looking down at the creature that had barely came to her chest, she’d held in her contempt, but only just. They all thought she was going to meekly allow Corvine to steal her innocence despite the warnings she’d given them. She knew it wasn’t her fate to wed that brute. If Jake hadn’t told her he’d foreseen she would eventually be happy, she might have succumbed to the pressure.
“Are you sure you want to wear that dress, your majesty?” Olsa asked timidly. She and her husband were perched on Asha’s shoulders, peering at the gown doubtfully.
Dead black and without a hint of embellishment, it suited Asha’s mood perfectly. They’d made it to her specifications despite their misgivings. Her blonde hair and pale skin made a stark contrast to the dark fabric. “I’m sure,” she replied. She wasn’t going to pretend to be happy about this farce and everyone was going to know it.
A knock sounded at the door and she strode over to open it. Kurtus stood on the other side. With one look at her dress, he took a cautious step back. It was the first time he’d seen her wear that particular color and he knew it didn’t bode well. “The banquet is about to begin, my lady,” he told her.
Usually, servants came to retrieve her for her meals. The fact that they’d sent an armored warrior instead meant they weren’t sure she was going to be compliant. Not that Kurtus could force her to go if she didn’t want to. He wasn’t stupid enough to put his hands on her after what he’d seen her do to the unfortunate servant a few days ago.
Olsa and Unwin patted her on her shoulders comfortingly, then vanished. “Let’s go,” Asha said grimly, then pulled her door shut and preceded Kurtus down the hall. Just as he’d said, she’d learned how to navigate her way through the building. While she didn’t know every room well, she could at least find the banquet hall and some of the libraries and sitting rooms.
All conversation stopped when they entered the hall. Everyone else was already seated. Their expressions were a mixture of malicious amusement and weary contempt at her choice of attire. Holding her head high, Asha nodded her thanks at Kurtus and made her way to her throne.
Corvine didn’t bother to stand for his would-be bride. He eyed her black gown insolently while holding a glass of wine. Lord Nicolaia politely stood and Lord Vanse copied him. King Lod remained seated. His expression was crafty and his silver eyes were alight with anticipation. He was all but rubbing his hands together in glee that his daughter would soon be bedded, then wedded.
Feeling sick to her stomach, Asha sat down and conversation resumed. Food appeared on her plate as the banquet began, but she didn’t have an appetite and merely pushed it around with her fork.
“You should eat,” Corvine told her. “You’re going to need your strength when I have you in my bed.”
Raucous laughter rang out. It was a reminder that everyone in the room had exceptional hearing. Corvine leaned back in his chair with a pleased smile that he’d managed to humiliate her yet again.
Pushing her plate away completely, Asha crossed her arms to signal her refusal of not just the meal, but of him as well.
Studying her, he pointed at the dress. “Did you think wearing that ugly thing would make me refuse to bed you?” he asked.
“I’m sure nothing will stop you from trying,” she said without looking at him. “I’ve heard you’ll sleep with anything that has a heartbeat.” Now that he was intended to become their ruler, he’d become more attractive to the courtiers. Ignoring the rumors that he was too rough with his women, he’d apparently worked his way through at least ten fairies so far, or so the brownies told her. Looking around the tables, Asha saw some of the females flinch and look away when their gazes strayed to the man sitting beside her. She had no intention of becoming his next victim.
“After tonight, you’ll be the only woman I’ll be able to join with,” he said with a sneer. “Not that you can really be classed as a woman. You’re half animal, after all.”
Shocked titters sounded and King Lod leaned forward to glare at the man past his daughter. “I’m not sure I heard you correctly just then, Corvine,” he said in his guttural language. “Surely, you’re not suggesting goblins are akin to animals?”
Paling that he’d managed to put both feet into his mouth, the warrior back-peddled. “Of course not, your highness,” he said. “I was referring to her dryad half.” It was a lie and everyone knew it.
“Dryads are fae, just like fairies,” Asha pointed out in a bored tone. “I guess you think all fairies are animals then. Frankly, I’m not sure I disagree from what I’ve seen of your kind so far.”
The room went silent that they’d all just been soundly insulted. Corvine mustered up another sneer, but he couldn’t think of a comeback for that one.
After a couple more hours of strained conversation and frequent sly leers at the pair who were about to become bonded, the banquet came to an end. Corvine stood and mockingly offered Asha his arm. Standing, she took a deep breath and forced herself to place her hand on his arm. Again, he was wearing armor. She’d never seen him wear anything else.
Kurtus automatically fell in behind them to act as her escort. Corvine glared at the warrior, but received a flat stare in return. Kurtus had grown accustomed to Asha and her strange ways during the past few days. He felt uneasy at the thought of what she was about to endure. He’d known Corvine for eons and hated him just as much as the other soldiers did. They all knew what he did to women in bed. Even Unseelie fairies had their standards when it came to mistreating others. The would-be king didn’t have limits and reveled in causing pain.
An unwelcome pang hit Kurtus at the thought of the dryad’s innocence being stripped away from her so roughly. While he felt nothing for the girl himself, it just didn’t seem right that she would suffer so horribly.
They reached Corvine’s quarters and Asha sent a pleading look at her guard. Kurtus knew there was nothing he could do to stop what was about to happen. If he tried to step in, he would be branded a traitor and he would be sent to the goblin dungeon. Giving her a regretful look, he turned his back to keep watch and to make sure no one tried to interfere. Their entire realm was at stake here. He couldn’t take pity on one woman even though he knew deep down that this was wrong.
