Page 28 of Blooms of Darkness

Still, I pressed my shoulders back, lifting my chin as I slowly swiveled to face the arrogant man who enjoyed telling me what to do.

“Princess Illiana.” The sound of my name oozing from his tongue made me think vile thoughts. Like how I’d like to cut it out. “You are needed in the king’s private dining room.” Andras’s eyes glimmered. “Immediately.”

The king straightened in his chair and cleared his throat, his gaze darting between me and my mother. The three of us sat in uncomfortable silence, much more properly than we usually did, in the sitting area to the right of the formal dining room.

At this rate, the tea would grow cold on the table before anyone spoke.

“Illiana, your mother and I have some concerns we need to discuss. Originally, I’d thought things could wait a bit longer, but it seems prudent to move forward sooner.” He coughed, reaching for a napkin and holding it to his mouth for a moment before continuing. “As you are aware, you’ll soon be twenty-three years of age.”

Warning bells sounded in my mind. The tension didn’t make sense for a birthday party discussion.

“I’m sure you have noticed I have not been feeling myself recently. According to the laws of Brookmere, if you do not have a husband, then you cannot ascend the throne should something happen to me.” My father lifted his chin, preparing to issue one of his decrees.

“Which means, we cannot delay any longer, Illiana. The time has come. You must secure a husband.”

Dread coiled in my gut, crawling along my skin, as my heart plunged to the ground. Marriage had never been discussed, and I certainly had no prospects making themselves known.

I opened my mouth to speak, but my father held up his hand to stop me. “I know what you will say, and although it breaks my heart, for the good of the kingdom, I cannot allow you to wait for a love match who may never appear. We have all dreamt you’d find love,” he said, “of course we have, but we must focus instead on guaranteeing the kingdom’s security. To ensure you are safe and prepared to rule, come what may. You will find a husband, and you will find him now.”

I glanced at my mother hoping to find support, but she only stared at me. Her eyes glistened with pain, but she rested her hand atop the king’s, demonstrating her agreement with this ridiculous idea I marry immediately. Sympathy, pity, or pain, it didn’t matter what she felt. Clearly, I had no ally in her.

“And how am I to find a husband? Shall I skip down the street, for which I am forbidden to walk alone and inquire of volunteers? Any man who may have had an interest had most certainly been scared off with dearest Ruppert by my side. And now with Ian? I am more likely to attract all the eligible women of Ellevail, before any eligible bachelor.” I knew my attitude would get me nowhere, but it seemed like the only thing keeping me grounded while I drowned.

“Nonsense.” He scoffed. “We have long thought the prophecy surrounding you referenced an old tradition of our people. With the circumstances as they are, it seems even more obvious.”

I blinked rapidly, attempting to process the words he said as he spoke. The prophecy. Of course this had something to do with Fate’s dreadful prophecy.

“It has been many, many centuries since the games were held,” he continued. “It will not only aid us in finding a worthy suitor but will be a joyous event to offer our people. I’ve made the announcement across the kingdom as of this morning. The marriage trials have been enacted. The announcement of suitors will begin at a ball next week.”

My heart sank farther than I could ever imagine.

“Marriage trials?” I gaped, open-mouthed, at my father. “A competition? For my hand?”

My father nodded. “We thought it might be better than an arranged marriage so we could find someone with strong magic, someone who is loyal and fair. A Fae who has the strength necessary to protect our kingdom.”

“Because you believe my strength is solacking,” I said, sarcasm dripping from my already-raised voice. I swallowed, realizing I had not come to terms with what my parents had allowed to happen to me when they so desperately agreed to the horrific methods of drawing out my magic. The fury for my younger self collided with the anger at being forced into anunwanted marriage. My jaw hurt from how hard I clenched as I snarled through my teeth. “And what happens when the winner of these games realizes he’s married a queen with no magic?”

“His magic will have to be enough for both of you,” my father said. My mother gave him a knowing look, which he tried his best to ignore.

His decision had been made, thought out, and put into motion before he told me, planned so I couldn’t do a damn thing about it.

“It’s safe for people to travel here, even though it’s unsafe for me to leave the city walls. Don’t think I’m unaware something is happening to our kingdom, and you refuse to tell me. I shall rule this land one day, and yet I am left in the dark about the troubles we face,” I hissed.

“Illiana,” my father said, his voice hard, unyielding. I’d reached the point where his tolerance ended. Even my mother sat a little straighter. “This is for our kingdom. This is worth the risk as it will guarantee we have a King and Queen in place for whatever may come.”

“I know you dream of love, darling,” my mother said from across the table. She successfully spun the conversation from the discussion of what plagued our kingdom. “But your father and I had an arranged marriage and look how incredible it turned out to be. It took several years, but we have fallen into a deep, understanding love we both treasure.”

I swallowed the scream trying to burst free from my throat. Slowly, I rose from the chair. “If you’ll excuse me,” I said, unwilling to meet my father’s eyes.

“Illiana.” The king’s voice stopped me as I reached the door. “Take heart, my love. This will draw in all kinds of men, and we will be able to discern if they are honorable ahead of time. You will have the choice from the top three contenders after thelast trial. This ensures you will not be left with the dregs of this kingdom.”

“The dregs? Iamthe dregs, Father. The Fates decided I am unworthy of magic, or even a love of my choosing.” I scoffed, pivoting to face my parents. “It matters little what I say in response. The decision has been made for me.”

“The trials begin in a week!” the king shouted as I shut the doors behind me, not even bothering to bow or offer my goodbyes.

A fierce coughing fit sounded from behind the doors as soon as I closed them.

The queen shouted orders to those nearest her. “Get Elisabeth at once. Between last night and this day, the potions are not working,” she said. “Move!”

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