Chapter 3
"Lady Ari, please be respectful," an attendant said firmly. "She had passed the Trial of Fire."
She sneered at me. I returned her dismissive look. Ari flushed.
"Even if that's true, my brother deserves better," she snarled. "You have no right to wear the queen's colors, human!"
I narrowed my eyes. "Is that because you want to wear them?"
She snarled and drew a sword.
The attendants went still, but I darted forward, striking her in the wrist. She let the sword go, and I snatched it out of the air. Ari stumbled and tried to swipe at me, but I dodged and shoved her back into the wall, then pressed the blade to Ari's throat. Ari gasped and flashed her sharp teeth.
"Your Majesty--"
"Let me make something clear," I said. "You may have run around being a terror before I arrived, but I'm not one to be bullied."
She snarled. Her eyes flashed with light. "You human wretch. You'll regret this."
"Not as much as you will." I pressed the blade closer to her neck. "The next time you pull a sword on me, I'm going to take your fucking arm off."
She snarled. "My brother will never accept you."
I scoffed and stepped back, dropping the sword at her feet.
"I'm not asking him to. I didn't ask to be here. Send me back."
The attendants looked nervous. "That's not possible."
Ari snarled, snatching the sword up from the ground. "You..."
"Lady Ari, you've attacked Her Majesty," the attendant said. "Under the law..."
Just... report it to whoever the powers that be are. Whoever is
"Aren't there officials? Elders?"
Imperial Elders will want to know about this," the attendant said slowly,
"No, thanks."
"That's not an option."
I have
Their eyes glinted. "No."
I scoffed.
at me. "Just you
stomped out.
"I have to report to the Elders about you. Maya, please
smiled as a gong started
"What is that?"
time," Maya said. "It's just past dinner time, heading into the sleeping hours... As the new queen, it's your duty
me to change a man... twice my size? Who I have never met? Seems a bit odd to be so... careless with your
"It is
"I could kill him."
went still. "Please don't... joke
that a concern?" I asked. "He's essentially forced me through a wall of magical fire and slapped a title on me for
the dragon lineage has
seemed
lips twitched into a smile. "Lady Ari was found... wholly
An enemy I didn't ask for. Why aren't there attendants
chuckled. "It is tradition. You will understand the longer you
"Highly doubtful."
and shuddered. I watched Maya walk into the attached room. She brought back a bowl of hot water and a
you. Please call me if you need me." She bowed out. "Until morning,
"Wait a second!"
on the door, finding it locked. What the hell? Was this some odd idea for a marriage night? I shuddered, feeling more sick by the second. I looked down at the bowl of
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