I was hoping for continued peace after the unfortunate run-in with the Duke and Duchess of Du Pleasant. But as the first few days of the challenge came and went, it was anything but peaceful.
And the culprit behind it all was His Majesty, Prince Dorian.
At first when he would visit me and wait in my sitting room I brushed it off as mere coincidence. Especially since all we talked about was the active investigation that sadly hit a wall. But when we had exhausted every facet of that topic, moving on to more personal things and tales of our past, I was beginning to question his reason.
He would spend the day with whichever Noble Lady was listed as his companion for the day and then, around lunchtime, he would appear and Ivy would announce his presence. He would join me for tea, or maybe a walk through the library when
The first week of the challenge was finally over and I was already expecting another visit from His Majesty in my room. So I picked up the pace as I walked out of the library, having spent my morning skimming through the many books that Lanalee looked after while Calix kept me company. I was alone for once in what felt like a very long time. With Ivy in the Palace kitchen gathering everything she needed for dinner and Arden taking his turn to stand Guard at the front entrance of the Queeness Palace.I was enjoying the peace as I made my way down a shaded walkway that connects the Central Palace and the Queeness Palace. The breeze was wild and ruffling the skirt of my dress as well as my hair that Ivy had worked hard in styling this morning. With my hands holding down my brown locks to my shoulder, I neared the side entrance to the Queeness Palace… and so did someone else.
Lanalee and Calix surprised me after breakfast the next day, inviting me, Ivy and Arden out for a hike through the woods behind the Palace. They mentioned visiting some cliffside ruins and getting the chance to Shift and run in their animal forms, which intrigued my brother very much. It had been a long time since I had seen his wolf and I knew he was growing anxious being stuck on Palace grounds. So I agreed and helped Ivy pack a picnic basket, laughing along as she whined about not being able to join us. It was apparently her turn to assist the cooks in the kitchen today and she wanted to come along.After Ivy walked with us as far as she could, I took over holding the basket, standing with Calix while his mom and my brother Shifted inside an outer Change House by the forest's edge. It was a smaller building with two large archways that were covered by thick black curtains. Normal sized doors were beside
*Prince Dorian*She’s fighting it.That was the first thing I was able to piece together, though she had made it obvious with how guarded her deep amethyst eyes always were around me. I wanted to understand why, wanted to know what was the reason that was making her struggle so much against the Bond that was already formed between us. And even though she was visibly fighting against the Bond, she couldn’t stop herself from sharing those things with me. Couldn’t hide her warm smiles, her soft laughter or the way her eyes would light up when she would look at me.Yet as the Bond grew with every moment that I spent with her, I was also struck with how strong it was. I wanted to spend every waking moment with her by my side. Craved the sound of her soothing gentle voice. And those deep breathtaking eye
*Amara*News about the attack on Rosanna and Prince Dorian spread quickly through the Palace, and many servants and Queeness’ were anxious to learn if either one of them had been hurt, myself included.I couldn’t deny it, no matter how hard I tried to. But I was unable to rest or think clearly, my stomach knotted up and a soft pulsing heat spreading through my body as I paced around my room. I couldn’t sit still, couldn’t even stomach my favorite pastries that Ivy brought over with tea. And the more I tried to calm myself or shove that panicked emotion aside, the stronger it fought back.Even when Ivy left for the night I tossed and turned, my mind overcome with the endless possibilities that could have taken place in that gazebo. And when I finally managed to lull myself to sleep, I was drow
The morning sun spilled into the room as I started to wake, blinding me for a moment as I sat up in bed. I clutched my comforter to my chest with one hand while I rubbed my eyes with the other. And when I shifted around until my feet hung from the edge a flash of memory rushed through me and I was jolted, now fully awake. Slowly, I turned to find the other side of my bed empty, with a deep purple iris resting on the pillow and a small note card beneath it. Fragments of last night's events wash my body with a rising heat that wouldn’t leave me, my eyes still glued to the flower and card. Gingerly, I reached out to take it, taking in the flowers delicate fragrance before turning the card over.‘Please forgive me for leaving you, I don’t want to cause you any trouble if I were to be seen leaving your room. I truly don’t know what came over me last night, I swear to you that it was
The world around me felt warm yet distant as my vision went in and out of focus. A floating feeling surrounded my body in the dark abyss around me, letting some far away piece of my mind know that I was asleep, yet conscious and aware. Colors soon swirled into view and a landscape was painted before me. A large flat piece of land manifested beneath me sprouting grass between my toes as I landed on it. The night sky was littered with stars, all gleaming and blinking at me as I looked around. Dark trunks appeared on either side of me, their leaves shimmering into existence until I stood in the middle of a large ‘U’. And at the opening a silhouette started to form, emerging from a small twinkling star and growing quickly.The shadow grew lighter, its form shifting into that of a woman that piece by piece changed before me, taking in color to its dark form. Her legs and arms came in first, bo
My blood ran cold, my body numb to all outside influence as Ivy’s words taunted me. I fought against them, not wanting to believe that my brother had been dragged to the Palace Prison. My knees locked and my body soon lost its will to stand, my body tilting to the side as Ivy held me, stopping me from hitting the floor.“I need to see him.” I muttered, brushing past her and towards the doors.She had to pull me back and remind me that I was in nothing but a nightgown, urging me to take deep breaths before I started getting ready. I tried doing what she said, tried to fill my lungs with air as she scampered around the room, pulling out pieces of my outfit. Still in a heavy fog of disbelief, I followed her orders, not really seeing what I was stepping into or what she had done to my hair. But when she was finished I shook the heaviness away from
After crying in front of Arden and finally calming myself, I left the Palace Prison and made my way back to my room, my mind and body numb to the world around me. As I neared the Queeness Palace, I ran into Prince Dorian who seemed to be upset about something. When he spotted me he stopped, turning his body towards me before walking up to me.“Amara.” He breathed, his eyes filled with worry as they searched my face. “Did you go see your brother?”I nodded, still feeling numb and overwhelmed with everything.“I’m sorry Amara.” He muttered, surprising me as I looked at his crestfallen face. “If I could have done anything to help Arden and you, I would have… but my father is watching everything that the Commander does with this investigation… it could make t