Page 28 of Untamed

“Sorry, sorry! Ai-yi-yi!” I guffawed, unable to control the nervous energy radiating from my toes through my fingertips.

“Perhaps you should put the coffee down.” He gently guided my hand to the countertop. “Laude, there must be more to your story. Queens don’t take in children and raise them alongside their daughters. It just doesn’t happen.” He brushed his thumb along my jawline and lifted my chin. “Even if the past hurts, I’ll be by your side.”

A quiver vibrated throughout my body and chattered through my teeth. “I’ll move to Himzo.”

Jaime stilled. The corners of his mouth upturned with a jolt of contagious excitement, and I wanted to throw my arms around him. But I held back, feeling guilty for changing the subject. Yes, he’d be next to me here in Himzo, but not when I spoke to the one person who could answer my questions.

He wrapped his arms around me, cocooning my body in his warmth. “But before we decide on a date, I want to hear about your conversation with Queen Cottia.”

My face drooped. He didn’t and couldn’t understand why I could never ask her about my past. Even if she was willing to answer the questions, would the answer satisfy? I had everything a person could want including the Ancient One, friends, love, and enough of everything. I nodded, and Jaime didn’t push for a response.

My feet dragged the entire way back through the portal, out Cosme’s sitting room, and from there to my quarters. It was as if the throngs at Milo’s wedding had been replaced with an invisible force that threatened to suffocate me even when the path before me lay empty. Who could I talk to for comfort?

Beatriz wasn’t an option, and the queen who could provide answers was the very person I didn’t want to speak to about suchthings. I preferred to move forward in happy, ignorant bliss. Of course, Jaime had a point about finally facing my past. But Prince Hugo mentioning it made me think something bad would happen if I didn’t find out my own secrets.

Chapter 12

Beatriz

After Cosme read aboutAracibel’s betrayal, he disappeared, and Monserrat departed before breakfast, though her threat lingered in my mind. I refused to let the implications of Monserrat and Cosme and the last relic consume me for now. I needed every crumb of focus to keep my emotions at bay. I scooped mango and papaya into my mouth as slowly as possible, trying to delay my lessons. Today, Uncle Uly would train me.

Papá sat at the head of the dining table and drank his coffee from a pewter mug. Mamá watched me with her eyebrows halfway up her forehead. The question in her perfectly arched brows screamed for me to stop stalling. Behind Papá at the serving table, Laude poured steaming coffee into a delicate mug and topped it as if all of life could be improved by being drowned in cream and sprinkled with cinnamon.

“Laude,” Mamá said, “Will you accompany me today? I need your opinion about my additions to the south garden.”

“Your Highness, of course.” Laude straightened her back and added chocolate shavings to her concoction. “Nothing would please me more.” She met my eyes, smiling as if to apologize.

Fiery energy pricked my skin from fingertips to shoulders. I upturned the corners of my mouth to let her know it was all right for her to leave me alone to fight my own battles.

Forget that she most ardently vowed before breakfast not to depart from my side.

Laude slid into the seat beside me and inhaled her drink. Cream stuck to her upper lip while she mouthed, “Sorry.”

In response, I pursed my lips and slowly blinked. Not quite forgiveness, but at least I acknowledged her attempt at an apology.

The last slice of banana in my bowl stared at me. Everyone else in the room had finished eating some time ago. I prayed under my breath.

Ancient One, please walk with me through this. I’m sure you don’t want me killing someone with the gifting you gave me. I’m sure this thing in me was meant for good.

“Beatriz.” Papá’s stern voice shook me from my prayer.

I ate the last banana slice.

Papá stood. “I’ll accompany you to the parlor. I’m sure your uncle expected you half an hour ago.”

Hot dread trickled down to my toes. I followed Papá out the door and through the passageways.

Right before pushing open the parlor door, Papá turned to me. “You know I love you?”

“Yes, Papá.”

His eyes rounded into a tender expression. “This is why I urge you to learn to use your gift.” Papá’s arms swallowed me in ahug, and he kissed my forehead. “I can stay with you during the lessons.”

“No, that will not be necessary.” I corrected my already impeccable posture so as not to show weakness. Unlike Laude, he added a measure of nervousness. If I harmed him in any way while practicing, I would never forgive myself.

He opened the creaky door.

Late morning light drowned the room in a yellow haze and lit up floating specks of dust. One window at the end remained open and rattling with the sea breeze. Uncle Uly perched in an armchair beside the open window, cross-legged and reading a book. His long robe aged him and gave him the appearance of someone from the ancient generations. He upturned his gaze. The concentration in his furrowed brow smoothed to glee. “It’s time.”

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