"Oh, don''t be shy sister." Myrna cooed, deepening my wolf''s annoyance as I contemted which parts of her I should bite off first. Her stupid mouth that bore her stupid grin while she uttered those stupid words or those hands that dared to wrap me in that very unwee embrace. "The throne room can be quite overwhelming. Take it from one who''s had to walk down its very long aisle once before." Myrna pulled back, faux understanding glittering in her eyes. "Of course, it''s not like you are about to wed my husband or anything, but I do understand and as your elder sister-" She was baiting me. With everyone of her words and fake smile, she sought to drive the knife of betrayal deep into my heart. Deep enough to bring out the beast in me that was barely holding on. She hoped I would give the multitudes a show. I could see it in her eyes. Beyond the pretense she''d mastered so perfectly. I could see her, the sister that never was. Could see the thirst to paint me as the tainted maiden I was. The uncultured beast that was not fit for their king. The unworthy mother whose blood would only taint the royal blood line if the bastard I carried was ever to be epted.
She sought to make the stark contrast between me and her. The graceful queen versus the other maiden. The one who''d dared to disrupt hers and the king''s love story. The one their beloved queen should hate and yet here she was, selflessly offering her enemy support. She hoped I would p that support in her face ever so dramatically.
Unfortunately for her, I had been stupid once before. I had fallen head first into her trap of betrayal and lost the most important part of me while at it. I was not about to make the same mistake. And as painful as those memories were, I let them guide the storm brewing in my insides to a surprising calm. A calm that had me mustering the sweetest smile. "Your concern is truly admirable, Myrna, but rather misced, don''t you think?" I peeled her hands off of mine ever so gently, while my wolf whined at being denied a more violent option. And yes, I might have been calm, but that did not mean I was feeling very respectiful to stick to titles or formalities.
"Misced?!" Temper red before she couldpose herself. But it was toote.
"I did not mean to anger you, but merely intended to point out that I did not need you to hold my hand. It is merely a rehearsal after all. Besides, I have everyone I need right here. I turned to Liira, refusing to entertain Myrna a second longer. This was about my child, I was not about to grant her a piece of the moment by indulging in a meaningless exchange of words. "I''m ready."
"That you are." Pride sparkled in Liira''s eyes, making me wonder what I had done to deserve it. "Remember, there is nothing to it and he will be right at the end waiting for you." Liira held her hand out, guiding me to the beginning of my journey while I felt every gaze settle on me. I was tempted to scan my surroundings, but that would only make the easy task that much more difficult. As Liira had said, there was nothing to it.
My eyes instead, trailed the impossibly long aisle, all the way to the front and met golden ones. They were glowing with something beyond need. Something that seemed to reach deep into my heart and drew out my smile. It was the subtle invitation he needed to disy his own pearly whites. Someone behind me cursed, but I paid them no mind as I focused up ahead. The sight of my mate grounded me and wiped at any lingering nerves, leaving only a desire to be by his side.
Bells rang signifying the start of my journey that without that golden gaze that held mine would have been a nerve wracking affair. I knew the multitudes were still present. Watching...judging, deciding on whether the gods had truly granted this seemingly simple girl the honourable task to birth their future king. I was the centre of their attention, but I also knew that I was the centre of his attention. That pleased my wolf to no end.
"Such poise and grace. A true queen if you ask me." Someone marvelled as I walked past them. Apliment that should have left me beaming, but it turned out to be something I did not care for at all as my focus remained on my mate. "Misced?!" Temper red before she couldpose herself. But it was toote.
Someone chanted in a loud voice. The high priest, I assumed. Whatever words that proceeded out of his mouth were in an unknown tongue. But even if they were in themon tongue, I doubted I would have heard them at all, because with every step, everything around me faded except for my mate.
This was by no means the wedding march Myrna had boasted about, but there was something about the way he took me in. The continual flexing of his muscles, the clenching and unclenching of his fists that spoke of his own anticipation. Eyes never leaving mine. "Was he perhaps shaking in his boots too?" I blushed at the thought that served to draw my attention away from my mate. It was only for a moment, but when I looked back up, he was no longer there. The spot where he''d stood a moment ago was empty. "What in gods name is he doing?" Liira came to a stop right beside me, her expression disyed the confusion I felt. This was not meant to happen. At least not ording to what Liira had said to expect.
"Probably realized what a mistake this whole charade is." Myrna spat and only then did I realize that she''d stayed still. For what reason, only the gods knew.
"This is no time to let that bitter tongue of yours to run wild." Liira red at Myrna, before turning back to me. "Stay here. I''ll see what in God''s name is going on." But before she could take another step, my mate reappeared, sending the whole assembly to their feet and their mouths breaking out in praises to their king. He''d had a change of clothes! Where there sat a much simpler gown on his shoulders before, now sat a more sophisticated royal gown in deep scarlet with a train that covered the entire floor behind him. His head bore the heaviest of crowns while his once empty hands held on to a golden sceptre.
"My king?" I heard Myrna mumble in surprise.
"By the gods!" Liira eximed, while I would not even blink as his gaze held mine totally.