Page 5 of An Empress of Air & Chaos

It wasn’t the idea of being married to someone powerful that didn’t sit well with her. She had heard stories about the wives of the elite. They weren’t viewed as important, and they certainly weren’t treated that way, either. Their words were not valid or respected.

The males of the elite society dominated the world with wealth, greed, and trade. The Minister of Coin, a generation of old money financiers, were a consortium of individuals who oversaw public affairs as well as finances for the kingdom. And they had run the kingdom that way since the Great War, seeing no benefit of a monarchy or dictator.

And the wives of these men? Well, they were merely a trophy or an act to please the Gods, to produce heirs for their fortune and to ensure they carried on the family name. Or more like keeping the old money of Caledorna with the rich.

The women in the elite homes were certainly not viewed as equal to the men and it had always boiled Emara’s blood. But, then again, as a normal resident of Mossgrave, she probably wasn’t viewed as an equal—and not because she was a woman. That’s why her relationship with Taymir would never work.

“I’m not...” She huffed before speaking again, taking precaution in what she said, “He would expect more from me at some point. He does expect more...” She pushed Cally over and she slumped onto the bed. She looked down at the wine in her glass before admitting, “He asked me to marry him, Cally.”

Her brows arched over to support her frown, and she flung her head onto one of the goose feather pillows that lay at the top of the bed, white and plump. Cally almost spat out her wine for the second time this evening as she registered what was said—but she would never waste a good red.

“He what?” Her eyes bulged from her head, a hand coming up to save any of the liquor that had, indeed, escaped from her mouth this time.

“You heard me.” Emara sighed.

“Since I don’t see a big, obnoxious Solden diamond on your finger, I am guessing you said no?”

Emara nodded.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Cally also flung herself back onto the pillow next to Emara, keeping the glass of wine in the upright position.

Another skill that Cally had clearly conquered with excellence.

“I didn’t want to make a big fuss over it, nor did I want to relive it.” She let out a sigh that lasted longer than it should have, allowing her chest to feel a little lighter. “It was awful, Cally.”

“He will get over it.” She shrugged. “I’m sure he has already.”

“I hope so,” Emara admitted at the recollection of his face, not quite sure which emotion he had conveyed in the moment she had refused him. “I felt so guilty afterwards.”

Cally sat up and retrieved the bottle of wine from the other bedside cabinet before resting back on her elbow. She looked sincerely at her best friend and said, “Open your mouth.”

“What? No, what the—” Emara tried to protest.

“Open your Gods-damned mouth and stop being such a wet blanket.”

Cally held up the bottle of wine like it was a magic potion for stripping away the guilt and sorrow inside someone’s heart after a breakup. Like wine was the answer to everything. No words of advice or sympathy. Just actions. Well, actions of alcohol.

It was very Cally.

As she started to pour, Emara ducked her head under the bottle just in time to catch the burgundy beverage in her mouth.

Pushing the bottle upright with one hand, she wiped her face with the other before glugging down what had been poured. Eyes wide with shock, she said, “Are you mad? My grandmother would kill me if you got red wine on the white sheets.”

Cally’s wide grin was infectious as it spread across her oval face. “Not to worry. darling; if you frown over a man again, there’s plenty more where that came from”.

“You are the devil, Callyn Greymore!” Emara felt a light laugh burst from her lips.

Cally shimmied off the bed and corked another bottle of red wine. “I know!”

A sharp pain blistered into Emara’s ears. She peeled open her eyes and sat upright in her bed. The noise sounded again.

Was that screaming?

No, wait, breaking glass?

Both? She shook her head, trying to think straight.

Another scream.

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