Page 23 of The Queen

Her face fell, and she turned a somber eye to mine. “Did they not tell you? They were your mother’s.”

That sobered me, and I sat back down on the edge of my mattress. “Oh.”

“Your mother’s things were brought out of storage when you arrived. Not much was saved from the capital before it burned, but anything that was is here.” Violet nudged the door to the closet open.

I was not prepared for that. I’d been through the clothes before, but with the new context, the entrance looked more like a portal to another world filled with sadness and pain. The last remnants of an entire life, contained in a small dusty room packed to the rafters with forgotten items. Presented with this information, I wanted to sort through it more carefully, but with the current turmoil, I was afraid of what I might find. Or what I might remember. It had waited this long. It could wait a little longer.

The decision was taken from me, because just then the door banged open, and in glided Edeth like a deep space frigate under full sail. Trailing close behind was a harried looking woman almost entirely hidden by a mounded pile of fabric in her arms. The only thing visible was the top of her head, where her gray-streaked dark hair escaped a haphazard bun in wild clumps.

“Indra, set that on the bed,” Edeth said as she barged past Violet into the closet, returning with a small footstool. “Saphyra, up up up.” She motioned to the tufted ottoman.

I cast a surprised look at my maid, who was just as wide eyed as I must have been. Not wanting to upset the woman, I stepped onto the pedestal on wobbly feet. Violet rushed to my side and grabbed my hand to steady me and keep me from falling on my face in my haste to comply.

“It’s time for your gown fitting, darling. Hold still while Indra gets your measurements. Have you eaten this morning?”

“Uh, no. Not yet. I wasn’t expecting… Ouch!” I winced as the woman I assumed was a dressmaker snagged my hair as she circled me like a swarm of angry hornets. With no regard for my comfort or modesty, she wrapped a long, string-like thing around different parts of my body. She was moving so quickly, I barely caught her checking the readings and making entries into a data pad as she scurried about.

“Not expecting what, dear?” Edeth didn’t wait for an answer and continued talking. “Well, nevermind that. Violet, Go fetch Saphyra breakfast.”

“Yes, ma’am.” My maid gave me an apologetic look before dipping a curtsy and hurrying out of the room.

Everything was happening so fast that my head was spinning by the time the door closed behind my retreating friend. I had no idea what to say, but that was probably for the best because Edeth was happy to carry the conversation on her own.

“Finding good help is such a bother.” She tsked before turning her attention to me. “Saphyra, I’m glad to have you here. Your face brings back fond memories of your mother. You look so much like her. She was a close friend of mine, you know? Seeing you makes me miss her.” She gave my hand an affectionate squeeze. “Most people had given up on ever getting you back. Not me. I knew you’d make it back to us. So many lives lost when you were taken, such a tragedy.” She released my hand and lowered herself into the chair Lex sat in the night before. The thought of my alpha had me squeezing my thighs together with longing.

“I’m sorry, I don’t remember you. I remember very little from that period in my life.”

“Don’t worry yourself over it. We have all the time in the world to reacquaint ourselves. Having been alongside your mother for many years, I’d be happy to share my insight. There is much to be done, but I have faith that you’re your mother’s daughter.”

While Edeth was chatting, the seamstress brought over the bundle of gold embroidered green fabric she’d been buried under when she’d arrived. She shook it out in front of me and it resolved into an ornate dress. “Please, Your Majesty. I need you to put this on.” She held out the ornate gown, and I made an attempt to shimmy into it as she dropped it over my head.

The forest green cloth blinded me as it got stuck around my shoulders. I could feel the woman tugging at it, trying to get it down over my breasts, but it wasn’t moving. Unfortunately, all the yanking had tipped me off balance and, blind as I was, my equilibrium vanished. I listed to one side, and Indra tugged me back the other way. But she overcompensated, and I went tumbling from the footstool. With a crash and a sickening rip, I landed on my ass. I heard the door fly open and Shadow’s unmistakable growl. Strong hands caught me under the arms and lifted me upright onto my feet.

“What the fuck?” The anger in his voice was clear as he righted my now torn dress.

The velvet and brocade monstrosity settled over my head and my disheveled face popped through with a sputter.

“Valyx, under no circumstance are you to be in this room. Get out!” Edeth’s words shook as if she was scandalized within an inch of her life.

The alpha in question ignored her outrage and turned his attention to me. “Are you all right, little omega?” His tone was deceptively soft, but full of a vibrating sort of anger.

His fists were clenched at his sides, as if holding himself in check. It seemed like a bit of an overreaction for an innocent tumble, so I figured it would be best to diffuse the situation before it turned into something worse. “I’m fine, just a little clumsy this morning.”

He didn’t look convinced, but he let it go and marched out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

Edeth scoffed as she approached me. “Unmated alphas are completely unreasonable. It’s long past time he settled down with a nice beta and had some children.” She inspected the tear that ran down the side of the dress, oblivious to my shocked expression.

Maybe she didn’t know about my mate situation. Or the Lex situation, for that matter. Until I understood everyone’s place here, I thought it best to shrug it off. For now. She’d been friends with my mother, so I wanted to give her a chance, but we weren’t getting off on the best foot.

Ignorant of my internal thoughts, Edeth’s attention was firmly on the seamstress. “You’ll need to let this out… significantly.” After delivering her curt instructions, she turned back to me, even though she seemed to look right through me. “Esme was much smaller than you are. This was her coronation dress. It’s a lovely gown, if a little out of date, but it should do nicely once mended.”

It was a lovely gown, but more voluminous than I was used to, and nowhere near as stylish as the sleek, rose-colored silk garment that Edeth wore. It reminded me a little of what the Imperatrix and her entourage had worn on the Hive the day I’d met her in the shuttle bay. That must be the current fashion now.

Considering the citizens in the lower levels were underfed and wearing threadbare clothes, I had no problem wearing my mother’s hand-me-downs. Maybe the savings would afford more food for them.

Indra wrapped up her measuring tools and wrestled me out of the torn gown just in time for Violet to arrive with breakfast. I caught Shadow holding the door for my maid, clearly using it as an excuse to check on me. I smiled at him and he grumped before shutting himself out.

I didn’t realize how hungry I was until the siren song of salty meat beckoned me from the platter of steaming food Violet was laying on the table. Edeth had gone back to her discussion with Indra, so I edged my way to the dining area. Before I’d made it to my chair, Edeth noticed my destination, and moved to cut me off. She plucked that delicious-looking plate of greasy meat right out from under my nose. Leaving only the fruit and eggs mixed with bitter greens in her wake.

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