We had just finished breakfast and were on our way to the queen’s morning room when I cleared my throat and asked if I may go to the library for a book. She instantly stopped walking and looked at me with a deep frown.
“You know, in my day girls didn’t read. I remember my mother telling my sister that it just confused a woman’s thoughts if she spent all her time reading.” She seemed to think about it for a moment. “But I disagree. I believe it’s a good thing. You may go. Just don’t stay away all day. You will find us in the morning room.” I quickly curtsied before she turned around and as she and Ella made their way down the passage, I almost ran to the library.
I was greeted by the same guard from the night before and he helped me to find everything I needed. I didn’t know where to start and he quickly guided me through the library, telling me which kind of books I would find where. I thanke
I have to admit that it fascinated me how these people could do this almost every night. Dress up like this and stand around drinking awful champagne! The food was so rich that it made my stomach ache. The scents of the perfume were so strong that I couldn’t really tell who werewolves and who could be something else. I saw many different creatures in my adventures on the slave boat. That was what I had decided to call it from now on.Especially when one of these puffed-up creatures at one of these events asked me where I was before I came here. I told them that I was a princess who was kidnapped by the slave traders and taken on a lovely adventure. That always shuts them up. I knew that the queen knew what I was telling them, but she hadn’t told me I shouldn’t do it anymore.As usual, everyone fell silent as we walked down the stairs after we had been announced and we took our seats next to the queen. Since dear Cami had been relieved of her position,
I caught sight of the beautiful red dress I had worn the night before as Lesley took it away to be washed and my thoughts drifted to the laundry room. At least my clothes didn’t have any stains on them! I wondered how my supervisor got along without me and then rolled my eyes. She probably found someone to replace me a couple of minutes after I was gone.The value of a slave was very strange. You could be amazed at what you did and then you were forced to do that until you died on that very same spot, but your life was worth nothing because you were replaced so fast by someone else who could also do that same thing really well that I was sure they didn’t even notice the person who died was gone.Your life was worth nothing and you were property. Something to be bought and sold but never as precious as the things these rich people had in their homes. My mind drifted to the dress as I realized it probably cost more than what they paid for me. If only these rich people knew how these exp
LorenzoTHAT DAMN WOMAN infuriated me! I couldn’t go after her because I had other responsibilities to take care of. No, actually there was only one and, as per usual, I had it because of my mother. Pacing up and down my office, I finally came to a standstill as I realized that my mother was at the center of all my problems regarding my dear mate!She might have gotten the last word last night, but I would be damned if I didn’t get the last laugh! I stormed out of my office only to hear their voices coming from next door. Ariana sounded so bored that I couldn’t stop myself from smiling. What was even funnier was that my mother didn’t even seem to notice. Luc was out for the next two days, which meant I didn’t have to pay attention to any of my work.I still had to try and figure out how I would convince the pixie queen, but there was no rush and I still had to decide what the hell I was going to do with my damn father, but in my mind, there was also no rush for that. He could spend so
“Your Majesty, Your Highness.” I curtsied, looking for Ella, but she wasn’t around. Was I late or was Ella? She was never late!“Ariana, right on time as usual. Ella won’t be joining us tonight. She is having dinner with her new family, but look, Lorenzo decided to surprise me.” As if reading my mind, the queen answered all my questions and I smiled.“Actually, I have some news for the two of you.” Lorenzo held out his mother’s chair while one of the servants helped me to take a seat. I was almost too scared to ask what the news was and, thanks to the queen’s curiosity, she jumped in.“Oh?” She raised a brow.“I’ve decided to release Father. That is if it’s okay with Ariana.” The queen was about to ask Lorenzo something, but she closed her mouth and looked a little confused. Both sets of eyes turned to me just as I had stuffed a piece of meat into my mouth and I tried my best to get it down so I could answer them.“It is not my place to make such a decision, Your Majesty.” I smiled at
I could feel the eyes on us in the gardens as we walked and I wished it would come to an end already. What the hell did he want from me because he sure as hell didn’t want me! I tried to focus instead of allowing my thoughts to drift.“How about you, your majesty? Did you go to school or travel the world before you became king?” I was hoping I could turn the tables on him and get the damn attention off me. He burst out laughing.“As a matter of fact, I did. I was the first prince who went to school. All the princes before me were homeschooled in the castle, and I traveled to most of the main territories in our kingdom before my coronation. Travelling is part of the tradition. It’s a sort of future king meets his people type of thing.” I frowned. I never heard of the “future king” coming to our pack.That just went to show you that the pack wasn’t as important as they thought it was and I fought the urge to smile.“My old pack wasn’t the worst pack out there, but they sure as hell were
It literally took all morning to go through all the horrors of what Ariana experienced with the slave traders. I had to agree with her that it sounded as if her pack sold the omegas into slavery. They were orphans mostly and not linked to any family which made them the perfect assets, so to speak. I was slowly forming a plan on how to take care of the slave traders and perhaps get the pixie queen onboard at the same time.In between our discussions, my councillors kept me up to date on what was happening with my father, and just before Ariana left for lunch with my mother, I realized that I hadn’t even spoken to my mother about my plans. If I was going to hijack her lady-in-waiting until this problem was sorted out, it would be the decent thing to do to discuss the situation with her.On the spur of the moment, I decided to join the ladies for lunch. My mother was still looking defeated, but as soon as she saw Ariana walking in with me, she lit up like a Christmas tree! That might be
FOR TWO WHOLE DAYS we spend all of our time planning Ella’s wedding until an official-looking letter arrives. The queen’s face turns white as a sheet when she reads it and my heart aches for her. I didn’t have to read the letter to know exactly what it was about.My plans to leave had been put on the back burner for a little while so that I could have free time if Lorenzo needed me to help with the slave situation, but he hadn’t called me once. That could only mean that the letter had to do with the old king’s trial. I wasn’t looking forward to it, but when Lorenzo and I last spoke, he told me that it would help with our case to save the slaves.So, I agreed to testify. Lorenzo felt if he put me on the witness stand it would prove to all the people how the slaves were being treated. Once he had the people on his side, the council would have no other alternative but to agree that Lorenzo might go to war against the slave traders. As the queen got up and walked out, Ella and I were abou
I arrived after everyone had taken their seats and stood waiting outside the enormous double doors of the throne room. I knew that Lorenzo would be sitting on the throne with his mother at his side and Ella beside her. Since I was one of the witnesses, I had to wait outside in the passage until I was called. Lorenzo made very sure that I knew I couldn’t talk to anyone until after I had given my testimony.There were three of us waiting to be called and I could see that the two gentlemen were looking as nervous as I felt. I was going to be up first and I had just gotten up to start pacing when one of the palace guards called me.As I walked into the throne room, all eyes turned to me and I could hear whispers in the background. It was the most terrified I had ever been in my entire life! I made my way down the aisle and was sworn in, to tell the truth. Taking my spot at the small podium, I waited to be bombarded by questions. I could actually feel the hatred radiating off from the old