Chapter 6

A contest? Your majesty, what sort of contest?”

My wolf purred in appreciation as a man from the royal family walked out and bowed before the king. He had light brown hair and his eyes.

Green With a clear gold ring that marked Lycans. Prince Rylan, the firstborn son and heir apparent to King Blanchard’s throne.

“You will oversee the contest, crown prince. The other princes are not to help their wives in any way,” The King replied and waved his hand.

Princess Ayesha moved from where she stood by her husband to where Lilith stood and bowed before the King.

“The contest will be in three stages to test wit, strength, and courage. The results shall determine your further rank and power in the palace,”

“Yes, your Majesty,” Ayesha and Lilith chorused in unison as they bowed before the king.

His shrewd eyes watched me and ever so slowly, I inclined my head and bowed before him as well.

——————

“But your Highness—“ Siha protested in distress as I ducked behind a large plant in the hall and heaved a sigh of relief.

My mouth hurt, all morning I had smiled fake polite smiles associated with the court as I got introduced to all the guests who wanted to meet the foreign princess from Calantha.

Already the hall was agog with gossip and one or two exaggerated rumors about me but I couldn’t care less.

I wouldn’t be here for long anyway.

My mind raced With thoughts of Mamma and how relieved she would be to see me back.

And the King? I hadn’t figured out how to handle him yet, but I needed to find Prayan and know why the hell he agreed to Nadira’s terms.

“Her Highness? I believe I saw the Royal wife heard towards the tables for a glass of refreshment,” Siha lied through her teeth.

I chuckled softly from my hiding place. Sweet girl. She didn’t approve of me hiding from my reception but wholeheartedly helped me anyway.

What would become of her when I leave?

The thought sobered me up, but I had to leave Devania. This was no place for me to stay. Not while the King was here and I certainly wouldn’t stay just because Prince Kael threatened me to.

“Princess Selena,”

I jerked from my thoughts wide-eyed as I stared at the woman who had forced her way behind the plant.

Over her shoulder, Siha mimed an apology and I rolled my eyes at her.

“Hello,” I put on my performance smile for the woman. “It’s lovely to meet you,”

Her lips tugged up in amusement. “Are you quite certain?”

My cheeks stained crimson and she chuckled lightly.

“My name is Nehemia. I knew your Queen while we were kids, she sent a letter for you,”

Mamma?

My heart thundered and for the first time, I noticed Nehemia had her hair partially covered by a scarf. She too, was from Xintha.

“Here,” she pushed a squeezed envelope into my shocked hands. “Read When you're alone and destroy. The first tip to survive is Devania. Never leave traceable evidence,”

With that, she turned around and left.

“Your Highness? Are you okay?” Siha rushed forward with worry on her face.

I gave her a wordless nod. “Just need some air,”

With no thought to how the guests would react, I stepped out from behind the plant and walked towards the balcony.

“Congratulations Royal wife. Welcome,”

Several nobles greeted me as they crowded me, vying for my attention and hoping for a word from me.

Through the crowd, I felt eyes on me. I whipped my head suddenly to find Kael staring at me.

It was almost like he feared I would broadcast his secret to the entire hall. I scoffed in irritation, none of the nobles had even dared to congratulate him.

He stood alone beside his brothers with his hands in his pockets, Just staring at me.

“Royal wife, welcome. My name is—“

“Please excuse me,” I politely but firmly pushed past the official introducing himself, and busted out into the balcony.

Fresh air rushed to meet me and I closed my eyes. The noise from the hall dimmed with each step I took and the breeze increased. Blowing apart the small hairs that had come loose from my fat braid.

The air here smelt different. Like soil and earth and the fancy perfume worn by the Capital’s elite. Back home was different.

My hands shook as I unfolded the letter Nehemia had given me. The paper in the envelope was squeezed but the script was legible in Mamma’s writing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My princess, How are you? How is your new husband ? I could barely sleep last night for fear of the unknown.

I asked Alisan and Terrell to tell me all they knew about the dark prince. They told me several things but two stuck out to me.

One— that he is insanely gorgeous. That’s a plus, he?

Two— that he frequents the whorehouse worse than a man with alcohol addiction.

My advice my dear, Don’t fight him on it. Don’t remind him you have more power than him. Be humble, be bold, and never change your heart, my angel.

Back home, his majesty has ousted Prayan from the Royal council. He is no more Beta of Calantha, but the officials allowed him to be Beta of a smaller pack by the edge of the province.

As for me my child, I am fine. For the first time since our marriage, the king seems to feel something akin to remorse. His words are less harsh, his actions less brash and I feel hopeful.

Your sacrifice has brought us all joy for the King rewarded your father greatly.

Thank you, Carina, the child after my own heart.

With love,

Maryam Frostblade,

Luna Queen of Calantha.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wet spots formed on the paper, where my tears had wet it. It was just the evening of the day after my wedding. How had Mamma written a letter so fast and gotten it to me?

“A mother’s love makes many things possible,” Faith whispered as I stared over the balcony rail at the lights of the Capital city.

“You know what this letter means, don’t you?” My hands shook as the warm evening air made pieces of my hair fly about.

“You can’t leave,” Faith sighed. “Our mate is gone for the goddess has a different plan in store for you. Going back to Calantha would cause problems and turmoil for the Queen.

The king would assume her correspondence to you was the catalyst for you running away,”

Faith was right and I knew it. With my hands gripping the black rail, I let my tears fall, saying a silent goodbye to the home I might never see again.

How many times had I watched Mamma Long for Xintha? I had been ecstatic that my marriage to Prayan would save me from the same fate. Now it seemed like I would have to adjust.

I would have to adapt and make Devania completely mine. Learn their ways and traditions without forgetting my own.

“What is that?!” Kael’s low voice growled behind me.

I spun around suddenly, my shock sending Mamma’s letter flying from my hand to the ground.

Almost immediately, I swooped down to grab it at the same time, Kael put his put on the letter.

“Stop that!” I hissed in irritation. “It’s a personal letter, it’s none of your business,”

“You’re my wife. Everything about you is my business,” he replied drily with his hands in his pocket.

I heaved a sigh of annoyance, and swiped at my face to clean the wet trail of my tears before he could notice.

“Raise your foot and release it. I’m serious, it has nothing to do with you,” I practically begged With annoyance as I reached for the letter again.

For the first time, he seemed to realize something was wrong and cocked his head strangely.

“Have you been crying?”

I was about to hiss at him and tell the Bastard off when he reached down, grabbed my arm, and pushed me against a pillar.

“Hmrrghhh!!” I explained as he slammed a palm over my mouth.

“Stop moving!” He hissed in my ear. “Your ridiculous jewelry keeps making noise!”

“Hmmmrrrh!’ I struggled against his hold and froze as he pressed his body against mine.

“Listen,” he whispered in my ear.

My blood suddenly felt too hot, my skin burning Where his skin came in contact with me.

“Focus,” he hissed in a low voice.

I blushed crimson but heeded him as three figures came into view.

“The only reason the King announced the contest was so we could punish her and put her back in her place,” Lilith’s shrill voice chuckled loudly.

“I’m rather excited that he didn’t put any clear rules. If we manage to kill her during the competition then it would be ruled as a mistake,”

My body tensed up. They were talking about me.

“Hold on, do you think she’s been marked by the dark prince already?”

It was Kael’s turn to stiffen.

“No idea. Why?” Ayesha asked.

“We would be able to kill two birds with one stone. If they’re joined already, kill one and the other dies,”