Page 25 of Of Night and Blood: Special Edition

“For how long?” I dared ask, shaking with the memories of how painful it was to wear a blocker day in and day out. The way my body would convulse, the eternal fatigue, the extreme weight loss, the unbreakable fevers. We thought I might die if I did not stop wearing it. Which was why I spent the majority of my first years with powers training relentlessly, obsessively.

“For as long as he wishes you to,” Xavier proclaimed, his casual shrug conveying the words he would not say—his pleasure is worth your pain, Asher. “Now stand, we have to make quick work of this.”

I stood, and as I took the beating, the one I knew in my heart I deserved, I wept for the life I once dreamt of but would never have.

Chapter Fifteen

Morning sunrays shone through the wall of windows in my chambers, alerting me to the start of the day. I had yet to sleep, afraid of the nightmares that I might conjure in that state of limbo. Throughout the night I violently vomited into a bucket laid at my bedside, the blocker on my wrist pulled so tight it itched and left welts. The first day would be the worst, but it would not get much better.

I had yet to move since Tish visited me after Xavier brought me to my chambers. I decided now was as good a time as any to get up, so I edged off the bed and into my adjoining bath chamber. Inside I was bombarded with the puffy gold dress hanging on the far wall. On a table sat piles of cosmetics, pins, jewelry, lotions, soaps, and a plethora of other items. The chamber smelled sickly sweet, with lavender, rose, and jasmine hitting me so powerfully that I nearly gagged. A written note lay on top of the counter.

Please get ready as quickly as possible. I cannot wait to see how beautiful you look. -M

As if they were waiting behind my door for any sound of movement, an assortment of handmaidens rushed into my chambers. They gave no hesitation as they began directing me to the bath. The water they brought in was as hot as freshly lit coals, but I had no energy to do anything other than wince when I sat. My limbs and hair were pulled in opposite directions, warring with one another. A brush was taken through my blood-crusted hair, and then water was dumped over my head. Gold was painted onto my nails after one handmaiden dug red flakes of my blood out from under them, ever the theme of royalty. My body was scrubbed raw, the scent of soap mixing with the already heavy air, creating a putrid smell.

When I was lifted out of the bath and sat on the chair in front of the table full of irritating vials and bottles, the first tear fell down my cheek. One look into the mirror had me cringing. My eyes were bloodshot and puffy, with purple splotches underneath. My hair was still fairly knotted even after being brushed through and washed, but Maybel, my personal handmaiden, was giving her best effort to separate the matted section.

One handmaiden started rubbing my naked body down with a lotion, making me slip a bit on the seat below. I felt accosted and violated, but they did not seem to care. Orders from the queen no doubt. As Maybel began weaving my hair into braids that she coiled around my head like a halo, another started with my face. She painted my eyes and lips a gaudy gold, adding pink to my cheeks. Maybel finished with my hair and placed a gold diadem adorned with diamonds into a small space she had left for it atop my head. A pair of gold slippers were slid onto my feet, then I was pulled up.

When I saw Maybel reach for the dress, I inwardly cried out. I wanted to beg her, anyone, to stop this. To save me. But it was too late for that. Perhaps it was always too late.

I was guided into the fabric, then it was secured to me as tightly as it would go. The corset pinched at my skin suffocatingly, but I ignored it. Every fiber of my being told me to run, but instead I went numb, allowing myself to be pushed, prodded, and prepared. I was a sacrificial lamb being sent to the slaughter, a peace offering to a mortal king that needed us more than the reverse. The demons would not stop with taking over the Fae Realm, they would terrorize the mortals to the South as well. A river of blood would be all that was left of the once proud and boisterous mortals.

Yet here I was. Giving myself over to an evil and malicious child. A boy with no regard for others. A mortal with violence and pride running through his veins. I was doomed no matter the angle I chose to view the situation from.

When I was fully dressed, the handmaidens dusted my body with glittering gold powder before dispersing, most likely to tell Mia I was finally ready. Maybel was the only one to stay behind, offering me a small smile. I did not smile back.

Her hands went to unclasp my necklace, and I found myself swatting them away, protecting that one last piece of myself. For a moment, I thought she might wrestle it off of me, the look on her face suggesting she was likely ordered to remove it. In the end though, she relented, instead fastening gold clasps onto my ears, the points mimicking the ears I had stolen from me.

It was rare that Mia allowed my hair to be up, so the jewelry was of little surprise. My ears were a grim reminder that no one wanted.

She eyed me for a moment, her joy fading with the realization that I was miserable. Still, my handmaiden offered no comfort, no aid. She simply nodded her head and said, “It is time, Your Highness.”

I attempted to take in a deep breath, but the dress did not budge. I would need to manage with the little air that was making it into my lungs. Maybel started walking, exiting my chambers. I kept pace with her, having no idea where this would be held. Luca and Cyprus were waiting outside my doors, both noticeably angry, but as silent as the grave.

Together, the four of us wove through the palace. I realized we were to be wed in the ballroom when I heard music from behind the golden doors. “You will enter once the doors open, Princess Asher,” Maybel said, curtseying and then walking the opposite direction.

Once she left, I began to waver. My palms were sweating, and my mind was racing. Should I hide? Should I run? I looked between the two guards, and I had the distinct feeling they would let me do either.

Before I could make a choice, the doors lurched open. Xavier was there, his long black hair pulled back, his thick and muscled frame covered in gold satin. Silver lined his coal-colored eyes, the tears not quite spilling, and he was waiting for me with his hand out. Bellamy came to my mind then. The way he held his hand out to me, asking me to trust him. Had he heard about the wedding? Did he think it revenge for his lies?

Regardless of his feelings and thoughts, I was still here, taking Xavier’s hand. Bellamy did not matter, because I was walking down an aisle, fae surrounding me on both sides. I was a gilded toy being passed onto a child, wrapped like a present. These fae would bear witness to it, they would tell the story again and again, spreading the good news of the princess’s marriage to the mortal prince. Of our salvation.

There were gold painted roses on every surface, covering seats and tables and a huge arch at the end of the aisle. Golden petals were spread on the walkway, and I heard them crunch under my slippers as we walked. How Mia put this wedding together in one day was beyond me, although the tackiness of it made me think it was not too hard.

Sterling stood under the arch, dressed head to toe in gold as well. The smile that lit his face made him look so beautiful, which made me all the more angry. His curls were messy in a way that added to his charm, and the crown atop his head was different, still gold, but larger with diamonds. It was a symbol of his new status, of his future title.

Mia stood off to the left, also dressed in gold. We were a group of statues, created for viewing pleasure. I had always known it. My entire life was molded to fit standards the public set forth for the royal family. This marriage was the culmination of two centuries of designing and perfecting Princess Asher of the Fae Realm.

We continued our too quick walk towards Sterling. Every step felt heavy, like I had stones strapped to my feet. I searched the room for Nicola, but she was nowhere to be seen. Abruptly, we stopped in front of Sterling. My eyes shot forward just as Xavier took my clenched fist in his. He brought my hand towards Sterling, who was practically diving for me. This would be the death of me.

As our fingers met, red splattered across my face.

For a moment, everything was silent. Then the screams started. Sterling stood in front of me, looking down at the dagger that had pierced his chest. I shot back, ready to defend everyone in the room, when I locked onto a pair of icy blue eyes.

Chapter Sixteen

Bellamy stood there in the center of the room, a smirk on his lips and violence in his eyes. I was frozen in place, unsure of what to do. Xavier was running at Bellamy, fire blazing in each of his palms, but just as he was about to hit the handsome fae, Bellamy ducked, shoving up with his shoulder into the king’s exposed stomach. Xavier went flying over him as if carried on a phantom wind, his crown falling off of his head and his body slamming to the floor. I heard Mia behind me, and turned to see her and Tish leaning over Sterling. They were trying to save him.

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