Page 14 of Dreams of Ash and Smoke

After all, I am going to be queen. I will be his wife, the mother of his children. I will do what I can without expecting anything else in return. This is the life that was chosen for me and I will accept it with grace.

Chapter 7: Castles Crumbling

Verena

Your presence is hereby cordially requested by the Royal Family

to witness the momentous Crowning of the

Princess Verena Woodall

Everything I have ever done… ever endured… and sacrificed has been leading up to this moment in time.

The crowning of a new Zoryan Queen. The co-leader of the Court of Dawn.

Mycoronation.

It sounds as if I thirst for power but in truth? I want this country to thrive and to live in the very best way it can. And I do not believe it to be doing so right now. But, I can help. I can fix it. As queen, I can make Zoryan history and get this country to be one that the other continents teach about. I can make us happy, healthy, and excited to be apart of such a culture.

Dryston never cares for any of that, he cares about power and wealth and sure, the betterment of this country. But, in his terms, better meant bigger or richer.

Where he wants rich in coin, I want rich in cultivation. Together, we will make this country better.

Eryx left this morning before anyone was awake, except me of course. I barely slept and saw him slip into his carriage and take off. None of it should matter but something in me is sad at the fact that he hadn’t stayed for my coronation.

My gown came in this morning— delivered by the seamstress herself. She designed it and I gave her the inspiration for it.

I know I could never get away with wanting it purple, my favorite color that matches my eyes. So I went for a dusty rose hue, perfect for this court’s theme.

It has a modest neckline and shoulder sleeve but it’s still gorgeous, sexy, and queenly all wrapped up into one gown. The length was long, the detailing was gorgeous.

I will wear matching heels and silver jewelry. My hair will stay down so the crown fits easily and I will wear minimal makeup.

Today is a day I have been preparing for practically my entire life. I was ready for it.

I was wondering around the library, thankful for it being so gargantuan and well-lit. It was a beautiful place.

There was nothing really to do today. Hadeon follows me around, Rya was being in a more joyous mood than ever, but Lianna seems distant, almost. It bothers me but she promised everything was fine.

“You weren’t in your room last night.” Hadeon finally speaks. He hadn’t said anything to me all morning except hello when we first saw each other. I look from the books to his tall build, scrunching my eyebrows in confusion before a blush creeps along my skin.

“I… I, uh, spent the evening with my husband.” I answer, unsure of how to speak about this. No one has spoken to me about those relations before, except Dryston.

Hadeon grunts and my light smile drops. “What?” I ask him. He crosses his arms, fully facing me now and taking a step closer. We stand a foot from each other and he lowers his voice.

“I thought you’d be back in your room before you slept. Or that he’d visit you in yours.” He tries to stay quiet so no oneoverhears this completely inappropriate conversation.

“Well, it was our wedding night. I just followed him to his. What’s wrong with that? Dryston and I are married now. Things change.”

“Nothing changes overnight.”

I huff, “Well this clearly did.” I reply sternly, my voice raises in irritation. “Dryston isn’t going to be the same. He’s different now, I can feel it. Hadeon, I know you are protective of me but I am fine. Trust me.” I, once again, am trying to convince myself more than him.

His gaze softens, his body droops into it’s more relaxed frame, “I trustyou, Verena. I do not trusthim.”

* * *

After speaking with Hadeon, I felt dirty. Off. As if something deep inside of me was screaming… clawing… begging and pleading for a way out. My chest hurt, my hip was starting to ache again. It has been since the wedding.

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