Chapter 4: Blade Of The Warrior

My hair was tied up and spread like a peacock’s tail. I had dark green, red, and white diamond pins decorating the tail. It was ridiculously heavy but it was also beautiful. I looked like a Queen. The makeup was less extravagant. Just the concealer hiding the bruise from Aria’s slap, the gray eye shadow to match my outfit and the cherry red lipstick. The bangles on my arms were silver and gold.

The heavy necklace was made of gold and the diamonds to match my hair. I had to hide my mother’s chain under it and put the ring on my right finger because Mira insisted that only the King’s rings were allowed on my left. R. I. N. G. S. Rings, plural. I had three silver rings with big ass diamonds on my left fingers.

The door opened and Mira walked back in with a short, bulky man. He had on reading glasses, faded blue jeans that looked like they belonged in a different time and a raggedy vest that was loose on his torso. The shoes looked just as old as everything else on him.

He smiled as he walked in and the gap between his teeth came into view. At least they didn’t look like they belonged in a time when there was no tooth paste.

“My Queen. This is Puncho,” Mira gestured to the man, he bowed. “He will be escorting you to meet the King.”

Moon Goddess, if you could save me from this, I would never dream of being Luna again.

“Where is the King?” I asked.

“He’s waiting at the horse, my Queen,” Puncho whispered and stepped aside. “We should go, my Queen.”

I took one last look at myself in the mirror before following him. I still couldn’t believe the woman staring back at me was me. A few hours ago, I was running through a forest with blood in my hair and dirt covering my dress. Now I was dressed like someone who belonged on a throne.

I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry.

The King was waiting on a horse with lanterns lining the driveway. It was beautiful. Vaelryth was simply beautiful. If only they weren’t crazy.

The King was no longer wearing the animal skin he wore during the Bride Hunt. He was in black trousers, tucked into tall, black boots, a dark gray shirt and a black jacket with silver embroidery on the shoulders. He looked exactly like what he was.

A King.

He wasn’t smiling. He looked more like someone who was being forced into marriage than the one forcing me.

I slowed down when I reached him. He looked at my dress, then my face, before holding out his hand. I stared at it before placing mine in his. His grip closed around my hand and he pulled me onto the horse. I landed against his chest and immediately felt the warmth of his body behind me.

I had to admit it was nice not having a rope keep me in place.

I looked down at my feet. Mira put me in leather sandals with small straps crossing over my toes and around my ankles. I flexed my feet, testing if I could run in them.

Maybe.

It wasn’t exactly a great plan considering I had no idea where I was and Vaelryth was inside a wall, plus my wolf decided to abandon me when I needed her most. Still, it was better than sitting around waiting for whatever came next.

I kept my hands in my lap and stared ahead as the horse started moving.

The clearing was more packed than earlier. There was music, dancing, running around, lights everywhere making sure that the evening was bright. There were even more tents than earlier.

The crowd erupted when they spotted us approaching.

I flinched and heat rose up my face at the same time.

He climbed off first before reaching up for me. I placed my hand in his and let him pull me down. They started singing louder and throwing flowers into the air. Some of them cheered using their own language, others used English.

I had no idea what the others were saying, but judging by the smiles, it was probably something nice.

Most of them looked genuinely happy. Some women cried when they got near me. Others smiled and bowed. They began approaching with gifts.

I received jewellery, pieces of beautifully embroidered fabric, boxes of sweets, strange golden ornaments and even a small carved dragon that looked like it took someone weeks to make it. I smiled and thanked them because I had no idea what else to do.

I kept scanning the crowd for Penelope but I never saw her. I didn’t know if she was caught. I didn’t know if she survived the hunt but I hoped so.

Then I spotted the dark haired girl from the truck.

She was standing beside a man who had his arm around her waist. She seemed more relaxed than the day we arrived.

She caught my eye. We stared at each other until her husband said something in her ear and she looked away. It looked like he was treating her right.

The flapping sound came next. Everyone started singing in their language and looked at the sky. I followed their gaze.

Dragons were flying over the trees in groups, their enormous bodies blocking out the stars as they circled above us.

The first dragon was bigger. I couldn’t make out any of their colors because it was dim. The largest one opened its mouth and fire exploded into the night sky.

The crowd went crazy.

The other dragons joined in, sending streams of fire above us. Red and orange flames twisted through the darkness. I hated how beautiful it was.

I stood there watching the sky while people around me laughed and celebrated. The King barely spared me a glance. Which didn’t feel so bad. I still had to figure out a way to get away from him.

This was supposed to be a happy night.

A wedding.

A celebration.

A new Queen.

But all I could think about was what happened after everyone stopped celebrating.

Mira appeared beside me and touched my arm. “My Queen.”

I looked at her.

She didn’t smile. “It’s time.”

My heart stopped. “For what?”

She hesitated before lowering her voice. “The consummation.” She nodded to a golden lit tent.

I stared at her, then the tent, then her again, and my stomach turned. “Here?”

Mira nodded.

I looked at the tent again.

It was large enough to fit several people but there was nothing special about it from the outside except for the lights on the inside making it look gold.

I swallowed hard. “Can’t we go to the house instead?”

Mira’s expression changed. She looked uncomfortable. “No. You’ll be taken to the palace instead. But only after the people have confirmed the consummation.”

“What?” I blinked.

She gave me a pitiful smile. “Every claimed partner has consummated their marriage inside their respective tents. With the people outside to confirm. The only one who refused met the blade of the warrior who claimed her.”

Oh My Fucking God.

I felt bile rising up my throat.

These people were savages.