Page 32 of Bound By Wishes

The soft, melodious strum of the qanun filled the room, attempting to ease some of the tension building inside of me. Its strings were being plucked delicately to produce a hauntingly beautiful sound. Dancers emerged as entertainment, their movements graceful and fluid, perfectly in sync with the rhythm of the qanun.

My gaze traveled around the room, noticing that the seat at the head of the long, low table was vacant, while all other seats were occupied by elegantly dressed women. Did that mean only the marriage candidates were dining with the king tonight?

My anxiety started to bubble over the surface, and I glanced around for Ranen, more than a little concerned that I was seeking him for comfort.

“Where are you?” I quietly whispered to Ranen.

“I am always with you, sayyida.” Something about his deep voice rumbling in my mind brought me a small measure of comfort. “Remember your training in the oasis. All eyes will be upon you tonight,” he warned.

My thoughts drifted back to him trying to teach me table manners, and more so to when he grabbed my wrist and I the carving knife. My cheeks flushed all over again as I thought about the heated exchange.

“Who are the other candidates?” I quietly asked Ranen, distracting myself from the unwanted memories that made my heart flutter. “I’m sure as one of them, I should know who they are, but obviously I don’t. It would be nice to put a name with the scowling faces.”

“The one with the auburn hair is Princess Elenor. She’s from the lush forest kingdom of Aldori. Her kingdom is rich with wares and fresh water,” Ranen answered, and I turned to her. She was lovely and her expression was a touch kinder than the other two.

“Princess Lyanna is the one across from you. She hails from the mountainous kingdom of Drakoria. Her kingdom is on the poorer end of the other candidates, but they have fierce warriors that would make good allies in times of war.”

“That’s a very diplomatic way of putting it.” I scoffed at him, daring to lift my gaze to the fierce-looking creature before me. Her black hair was tied back in an intricate braid, and she looked very much like a warrior herself. When her gaze collided with mine, she bared her teeth at me.

“What about her?” I asked, motioning to the dainty princess with golden hair.

“That’s Princess Seraphina from the sun-drenched kingdom of Lumarian. Her kingdom is by far the richest and would be the most profitable if chosen.”

“I guess I have my work cut out for me,” I said, feeling quite inferior compared to the stunning beauties surrounding me.

The room fell to a dead hush as the double doors opened and Razoul walked in, looking as regal as ever in a dark-blue silk suit. All heads bowed as he approached the table, and I followed their example. Razoul’s pillow had to be fluffed by the servants before he could sit his royal pompous behind upon it. The whole display was sickening. Once he was seated, we were allowed to lift our heads.

Razoul clapped twice, and the room was instantly flooded with servants rushing in with platters of food. The scent of the food wafted toward me, enticing my appetite to return, but the servants stopped a few feet away from us. Why didn’t they place the food on the table?

A massive tray, so grand that it required four servants to carry it, was brought into the dining hall. My heart faltered in my chest as they placed it on the table. At its center laid a massive roasted serpent, its body coiled in a way that showcased its impressive size. Tendrils of steam rose from it, enticing nausea to rise inside of me. The snake’s skin was a rich golden brown, glistening with what looked like a honey glaze that highlighted the intricate pattern of its scales. The aroma was not completely unpleasant, but something about the thought of eating a snake made my lip curl in disgust.

Judging by the faces of the other marriage candidates, I was not the only one horrified by the food presented to us.

“Please tell me we’re not expected to eat this,” I hissed to Ranen.

“Snakes are a delicacy in our nation. They say it tastes like chicken,” Ranen answered back in a tone filled with mirth.

“They say…meaning you haven't actually tried it yourself?” I sneered.

“I’m the king. I don’t have to eat anything I don’t want to,” he answered in a haughty tone. “And I have never had the desire to eat snake.”

“That’s because you are one,” I hissed through clenched teeth. Appalled that I would have to dine on a serpent.

There was a pause in his response. “He’s testing your reaction to something different. Suck it up and eat your snake like a good girl.”

Anger intertwined with my disgust, creating a tight ball of fury in my chest. “I really hate you.”

“So, you've said, and yet you almost allowed me to kiss you.” His response was like a gut punch, knocking the air from my lungs. The audacity of his words left me reeling. I felt a surge of heat rise to my cheeks. How could he so blatantly point out my moment of weakness? My chest tightened with embarrassment and anger, and for a moment, I couldn't find the words to respond.

Luckily, I didn’t have to. One of the servants bent toward the steaming snake with a large knife in hand, ensnaring my attention. This was it, he was going to carve into this serpent's flesh and serve it to us. Yuck. The servant plunged the blade into the hide, and the crispy skin crunched likefried chicken. Unfortunately, it didn’t have the same appeal. The man ran the blade along the entire length of the snake from its head to the tip of its tail.

My body locked up in shock as tiny baby snakes, barely the length of a finger, slithered out from the belly of the larger serpent. Their slender bodies twisted and writhed as they emerged from the womb and scattered across the table.

“Hold it together,” Ranen growled in my mind.

My gaze darted around as the other contestants shrieked and one rushed from the table. Princess Seraphina fainted dead away, her face landing on the silver plate in front of her.

“What is this?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper. “Snakes lay eggs, they don't give birth to live babies.”

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