Page 34 of Their Chosen

Chapter Sixteen: Lennox

Rhowyn and I continued walking the hall in silence, neither of us having anything else to say or feeling the need to fill the silence. I had to begrudgingly admit that it was nice to have a woman on my arm that could be silent for once. Most women I knew, tittering courtiers and maids, didn't do much else but spout nonsense, especially when in my presence. Usually, they had an angle or were trying to gain my favor for one reason or another. It was why I’d developed my playboy facade, so no one thought they’d get anything from me other than a potentially good roll in the hay.

While I was no virgin, I also didn't sleep with as many of the women as everyone believed. I found it all a tad too disgusting to have a woman in my bed who didn't respect herself enough to demand more or who would allow me to speak to her in such a denigrating way.

It was just another reason why I found Rhowyn so refreshing. She pushed back and showed a respect and strength I had never found in another woman. Honestly, when she opened the door, I’d been stunned. Her tan and creamy skin glowing, her slim but curvy figure toned in the best way, and a dress that was the perfect balance between modest and revealing. I found myself wanting to ruin her perfect makeup and hair in the best way.

Too many other women chose to wear as little as possible, hoping to entice me. They forgot that the sexiest thing to do was to provide only hints at what was below the clothes and allow the man the chance to imagine what was under them. It provided us with a motive to pursue them, hoping to find out if what we’d imagined was real or not. Instead, women displayed everything in the beginning, taking all the mystery and fun out of the pursuit and broadcasting that they had very little self-respect. Either that or they were using their bodies as a weapon, hoping to ensnare a weak-willed man. At least, that's how I saw it.

Neither of those types were truly appealing to me. I found myself wanting more from my mate, more for myself than the life I had been living for so long. I was so bored with it all. Which was why, despite how attractive I found Rhowyn, I had to get her to leave Avalon. It was why I insulted her, hoping to push her away, instead of fucking her for hours like I’d wanted to do from the first moment she’d talked back to me.

She’d surprised me when she brought up still wanting to see Master Jude, even after getting a taste of living like the queen she had the potential to be. It had been my experience that most women would never give this life up. Not even my mother was willing to do that. So, of course, I would do everything in my power to arrange a private meeting for them and do whatever I could to convince Master Jude that this was the best course of action for everyone involved.

Privacy and secrecy would be paramount, especially after speaking with my mother earlier. She had called me to her chambers after meeting Rhowyn, demanding as much information on her as I could give. Granted, it hadn't been much since Rhowyn and I weren't exactly close, for good reasons. All that had done was send Mother into a rage of paranoia, ordering me to get close to Rhowyn and report back to her. I didn't have much choice but to go along with her demands and do what I could behind her back. Because if she ever found out that I was keeping information from her, she would be livid. I was nothing more than a pawn to her, and her machinations disgusted me on every level. Even when leaving her rooms, I couldn't escape her depravity, passing Callum in the hall. My childhood friend had been called to her rooms to appease her ruthless appetites. I wasn't a fool. I could figure out enough on my own, without the details, to know what she did with him.

His gaze had met mine as we passed, neither saying a word to each other, but while he continued to hold his head high, even after everything she had done to him, I couldn't. My eyes quickly darted from his, and I hung my head in shame, wishing I could help him but knowing there was nothing I could do. The man I had known before wouldn't allow himself to be beaten by her, but I had resigned myself to her whims a long time ago. Every time I saw him, my guilt ate away at me for being helpless to stop her madness and cruel reign. It had made me physically ill, and I was later than I had planned to be in collecting Rhowyn for the ceremony. Looking at me now, no one would guess the absolute turmoil I was in, which was how it had to be to survive this viper's pit we called court.

We finally reached the doors that led into the ballroom. I gave the page Rhowyn's name and title to announce. Not that he needed it, I was sure. It would be surprising if anyone didn't already know who the woman on my arm was. She’d stand out as the only human-looking fae to attend outside the slaves who would be serving the High Fae.

She had no idea what she was about to walk into, but as we entered at the announcement of our names, her head was held high, her shoulders back with a neutral expression on her face. She looked truly regal in this moment. The only indication of her fear or nerves was the tight grip on my elbow that she didn't relinquish. I was confident that the movement was more than she’d wanted to give away, especially to me. This woman had guts and fire that I would hate to see devoured by the court during the trials.

Everyone's eyes turned at the announcement. The weight of their gazes was palpable as they studied the newcomer, trying to determine if she was a threat and if so, what level of further attention she deserved. If Rhowyn was smart, she would make sure they always underestimated her because if they thought for a second that she was a true threat in any way, they would connive and scheme ways to take her out before she ever had a chance to know they were her enemies. They'd end her before she could gain a foothold or any leverage in the court.

I had seen it happen too many times to count and had learned at a very young age to never show my true self among these vultures. It was another reason why I had assumed my playboy persona, never to be trusted by Mother for anything major. Unless you were the strongest, there would always be someone trying desperately to take your spot. And even then, the strongest were still challenged from time to time, like the rebellion twenty-six years ago.

Despite failing in their attempts to overthrow Mother, they had managed to scare her to the point that she’d become more ruthless and paranoid, seeing shadows everywhere even if there weren’t any. In her fear, Mother had persuaded most of the strongest to her side with promises of power and wealth. She’d had them all married off and destroyed their worthiness of being selected as a Chosen, leaving only those of middling power that could never hope to be as powerful as her. Of course, a few had refused, but after she’d dealt with them, no one else dared.

My best guess as to why she'd go to such lengths was to ensure that she maintained a position of power and strength even after the new queen had been selected. There was no way Mother would ever relinquish her stranglehold now.

Rhowyn held my arm as we walked through the crowd, which parted for us, the whispers following like the waves from a ship. I led her to the small table situated at the front of the room just before the raised dais which held the currently empty throne. Supplies for the Consort spell were already set out and ready to begin as soon as Mother made her appearance.

Master Jude was waiting with a warm smile on his face, reaching out to greet Rhowyn as soon as we were within distance. He took her right hand, the one not currently holding my arm, in both of his aged and weathered ones. “Welcome, Chosen. We are honored to have you here with us tonight after such a long journey. I trust your travels were uneventful?” he asked her, showing more interest in her than he had the other Chosen who were currently in the crowds with their Consorts, eager to gauge their unknown competition.

Rhowyn smiled back at him. “For the most part. I can honestly say that I never expected to be here today or that I’d be about to undergo some mysterious ceremony. It all seems a little surreal.”

Master Jude laughed softly. “I'm sure this has all been quite the shock, especially after living most of your life as a human on Earth. This must all feel so fantastical for you. Well, never fear. I'm here should you ever have any questions or need any assistance from me,” he said as he patted her hand twice before releasing her.

Surprisingly, she still held my arm. I wasn’t sure if that was by choice or just subconsciously, but I found myself enjoying the physical connection to her. “Thank you, but I’m not sure we’ve been introduced. You obviously know who I am, and if I had to guess, you’re Master Jude and will be in charge of the ceremony tonight?” Rhowyn asked.

He laughed in response. “That I am, dear. Is there something you wish to know?”

“I do have one if you don't mind?”

“Not at all, child, please ask me anything and I shall endeavor to answer you to the best of my ability. I am ever in your service.” His words and eagerness to assist Rhowyn had me paying attention. As far as I was aware, he hadn't offered the same services to the other chosen and had only been the dutiful servant for Mother as the head priest to the Queen.

Rhowyn continued, unaware of all the nuances to the conversation that were causing me to watch Master Jude more closely. He met my eyes briefly as if feeling the weight of my thoughts, almost as if to confirm them before returning his gaze to Rhowyn. “I’ve gathered that the mark on my shoulder is from the first ceremony to indicate that I'm one of the Chosen and that tonight's ceremony is to select my Consorts. But what I don’t know is what exactly that entails?”

Master Jude frowned at me quickly, his look chastising me for leaving Rhowyn so in the dark. I bristled a little but didn't respond. I had done so for many reasons, none that I planned to share with the man.

“I take it that you're concerned about any pain, which I'm sure you must have felt when you were marked.” At Rhowyn's blushing nod, he smiled softly and continued, “Rest assured that any pain tonight will not be felt by you, but instead, it is now the Consorts who will receive your mark tonight. Each Chosen has a different mark which she shares with her Consorts. Tonight, I will simply be brushing a poultice onto your skin that will use your character and soul to seek out the four men who are best suited to balance you in every way. It should all be over quickly, but it is necessary to continue in the trials.”

“Okay, that makes sense, I guess.” Rhowyn became quiet as she considered everything he’d said but looked as if she had further questions and was unsure about if or how to ask them.

If they were the questions I knew about, the ones on how to leave the trials and return home, I hoped she didn't ask for both our sakes. My arm tensed under her fingers, and she whipped her head to me as if she’d forgotten I was even there. I shook my head slightly to convey that now was not the time for those questions and asked her to trust me, that I would make sure she had the chance to ask them later. She narrowed her eyes in response to my unspoken demands, but before she could speak, Mother was announced, causing everyone to turn and bow as she entered.

Rhowyn followed without needing any directions on our customs, able to pick up enough on her own. The crowd parted for Mother more quickly and with a wider fissure than Rhowyn and I were granted as we’d passed earlier. Everyone's head remained bowed until she took her throne and spoke. “Thank you everyone for being here again this evening for this unheard-of complication. It seems that one of our Chosen was unable to complete the Consort ritual due to being on Earth. Tonight, we’ll complete the ritual and hope to begin the trials shortly after. Please stay after the ceremony and enjoy the food and wine as we celebrate the upcoming trials to decide who will be continuing our long line of honorable and courageous queens here in Avalon.” She spoke benevolently and gestured to Master Jude to begin, who bowed again in understanding. She cut her eyes at me and I at once knew she wasn’t pleased that I was still next to Rhowyn instead of up on the dais with her and her Consorts, my fathers.

Master Jude turned to Rhowyn. “Let's begin, my dear.” He indicated she should follow him to the table, and she finally released my arm to do so.

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