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..."
it to whoever the powers that be are. Whoever is
"Aren't there officials? Elders?"
want to know about this," the attendant said slowly, glancing at me. "They will also want
"No, thanks."
"That's not an option."
have any
Their eyes glinted. "No."
I scoffed.
at me.
out. Two attendants followed
"I have to report to the Elders about you. Maya, please
She smiled as a gong started to ring through the
"What is that?"
the sleeping hours... As the new queen, it's your duty to bathe the King and change
her. "You... expect me to change a man... twice my size? Who I have never met? Seems a bit odd to be so... careless with your
chuckled. "It is
"I could kill him."
still. "Please don't... joke like
I asked. "He's essentially forced me through a wall of magical fire and slapped a title on me for
dragon lineage has
jerked my thumb back. "She seemed more than
gaze. Her lips twitched into a smile. "Lady Ari
snorted. "Great. An enemy I didn't ask for. Why aren't
"It is tradition. You will understand the longer you
"Highly doubtful."
of burning bodies and shuddered. I watched Maya walk into the attached room. She
leave you. Please call me if you need me." She bowed out. "Until morning, Your
"Wait a second!"
this some odd idea for a marriage night? I shuddered, feeling more sick by the second. I looked down at the bowl of hot water and et on the bedside table. I turned around
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!