Unwanted

Carys stood outside the council office, her heart pounding. Inside, she could hear her father and brother talking, and her name came up more than once.

She didn’t knock, only pushed the door open.

Both men looked at her. King Malakor stood beside the wide glass window that overlooked the city. Valerius sat calmly at the long table, scrolling through a tablet filled with documents.

Neither of them looked surprised to see her. That was the only free day she had in the week, and if not for the proposal, she was supposed to be back in her prison.

“You can’t do this,” she protested.

Her voice shook despite her effort to stay calm. Malakor barely glanced at her.

“The decision has already been made.”

“You’re sending me away,” she said. “To the wolves.”

Valerius leaned back in his chair, his voice laced with excitement. “You say that like it’s a punishment,” he said lightly.

She stared at him. “You’re sending me to people who hate humans.”

“Correction,” Valerius replied calmly. “People who hate weak humans.”

Carys clenched her hands under her cloak. “I’m not a political tool.”

Malakor turned around slowly. “You are exactly that.”

His voice was calm, way too calm. “You were born into this family for a reason.”

She shook her head at the declaration. “You’re discarding me.”

Malakor walked toward her. “Do you think you are useful here?”

His eyes moved briefly to the cloak around her shoulders. Even indoors, she wore it always.

“You cannot attend public events,” he continued.

“You cannot sit in council meetings. You cannot even walk through the palace halls without causing discomfort.”

Carys’s voice dropped. “That isn’t my fault.”

“No,” Malakor agreed. “It’s your defect.”

The word hit her like cold and hard. Valerius spoke again. “You should be grateful,” he said. “Most rulers would have gotten rid of you years ago.”

She looked from one man to the other. “You’re sending me away because you’re ashamed of me.”

Malakor’s expression didn’t change. “I’m sending you away because you are useful.”

He walked back to his desk and picked up the official document. “The wolves requested a princess.”

She felt tense at the revelation, but she couldn’t afford to crumble. “They didn’t ask for me.”

Malakor smiled slightly. “They will take what they are given.”

That evening, the royal family gathered for dinner. It was quiet, with only the sound of spoons clanging against plates filling the room. The long glass dining table lay across the room, filled with food that no one seemed interested in eating.

Carys sat at the far end; across from her sat her mother, Queen Isolde. Once, people had called her one of the most powerful women in the kingdom.

Now she looked empty. Her eyes were dull, her posture was weak, and her hands rested lifelessly in her lap. Years ago, Malakor had drained every bit of magic she possessed.

After that, she had never been the same. She barely spoke anymore, and tonight was no different. Carys looked at her mother.

“Mother…”

The Queen slowly lifted her eyes; they were filled with sadness that faded almost immediately. She said nothing, and Valerius broke the silence. “The transport arrives tomorrow morning.”

Carys looked at him. “You’re really doing this.”

Malakor calmly cut his food. “This alliance will strengthen our kingdom.” Carys laughed bitterly. “No.” She pointed at him. “It will strengthen you.”

Malakor didn’t deny it. “Power belongs to those who take it.”

As she looked down at her hands, the cloak slid slightly from her shoulder. She quickly pulled it back, but beneath the fabric, the mark spread across her skin.

A jagged web of black veins ran from her collarbone down her arm and into her palm. Sometimes it pulsed faintly with violet light, but the mark appeared fully whenever she absorbed magic.

It was the reason she wore cloaks; she couldn’t wear normal dresses. It was also the reason enemies could sense her from miles away.

Powerful people knew what the mark meant, but they also knew touching her violently could be dangerous. The mark drained magic from anyone who tried to harm her, and the only person who knew how to control it was Malakor.

Every week he forced her to release the power she absorbed, and he took it for himself. She pulled the cloak tighter as the thought of her being sold sank into her brain. The dinner ended quickly, and no one tried to stop her when she left the table.

*****

The next morning, the wolves arrived. There were several black armored vehicles in the palace courtyard. The tall warriors stepped out, massive men with golden eyes and huge builds.

Even in human form, they looked dangerous. Carys stood at the top of the steps with her cloak wrapped tightly around her while Rowan stepped forward.

“I am Beta Rowan,” he said politely. “I’ve been sent to escort the princess to Ironfang Keep.”

Malakor nodded. “You may take her.”

She looked at her mother one last time, but the queen didn’t move. She didn’t speak or react. Valerius simply watched, and Elara had been confined in her room because she protested and cried all night.

It was the first time she would be in the midst of so many people in several years. It felt strange, but nothing was weirder than her being sold to her enemies. She hated her father’s house, but going to live with the enemies was scarier.

“I’ll just use this opportunity to find death.” She thought to herself, turned, and walked toward the wolves.

She didn’t look back again till the vehicles drove out of the huge gates.