Page 53 of The War Queen's Daughter

Why? She’s decided my next words, whether she knows it or not, as I absorb her continued deceit. The treatment she hates from Gyster? She’s adopted as a weapon against me.

“My queen.” I salute her and spin for the door. I suddenly can’t escape her fast enough, dodging Aunt’s touch as she reaches for me as I stride past. Just a twitch of my arm to keep her from making contact.

I can’t stand either of them right now. Not for another second.

But the irony of it all is, of course, that I seek the one person they want me to in that moment, and I’m almost in tears when I knock on Altar’s study door.

He’s there, opens the way to me, not surprised to see me. “Remalla,” he says, pulling me inside, into his arms. I squeeze him so hard he gasps a protest, to which I immediately apologize.

“No,” he says, blue eyes intent. “I can only imagine.” He leads me to his desk, seats me on his stool, pours me a glass of wine, and forces me to sip before he speaks again. “I understand I’m about to be forced to marry Vae of Sarn.” His lip curls. “It’s the first I’ve heard of it.” He leans into the desk, scowling at the book he’d been reading before I knocked. It’s the same one, the history of dragons and their drakonkin. I stare at it in dull horror, Altar lost in his own thoughts and unaware of the impact that book has on me. “I have no doubt my father decided my fatethen and there. Your mother is… formidable doesn’t even begin to describe her.”

“She won’t stand for it.” I meet his eyes at last.

He strokes my cheek. “Nor will I.”

“Your father won’t give you a choice.” I might be defying my mother in ways I never thought possible before, but actually standing against her publicly? How can he think he will survive such a thing?

“Marry me, Remalla,” he says. “It’s our only option.”

He’s right. Mother will be thrilled, Heald will be saved. The Overkingdom will collapse under the collective apoplexy of its nobles and citizenry for a while, and Gyster will likely try to have me murdered, but yes, this is the only way.

“Ask me again,” I say. “Tonight. There will be a dinner.” He nods, then smiles, slow and accepting. “Ask me and I will say yes.”

Altar kisses me, soft, sweet, stirring that slow and delicious feeling inside me.

I leave him then, though I wish to linger, because I have plans of my own to make. It’s not until I’m in my quarters, past the gauntlet of princesses who are clearly enjoying the fact that my mother has retreated from the Overking’s audience in apparent defeat, that I realize there are things I haven’t told the man I’m to wed.

Important things that he must be privy to.

Like Zenthris. And the fact that my father was a drakonkin, of whom I know nothing at all.

Then again, do these things matter? I’m to wed Altar. My connection to the gorgeous rogue ends now. Why doesn’t it feel like it’s going to be so simple as a choice made?

As for my parentage, I know Altar won’t care. So, the stirring anxiety I feel about these two secrets—that I don’t want to be secrets from him, or anything kept from him now, for thatmatter, as odd as that new understanding is—lingers with me as I prepare for the dinner that will change my life forever.

Chapter 27

I observe Vae fawn over Atlas, her ice blue gown that matches her soulless eyes a shimmering beacon as she laughs, flirts, and whispers into the Overprince’s ear. Her every gesture is designed, her closeness manufactured. She radiates a triumphant malice that makes me grin.

Mother hasn’t said anything to me yet about the princess of Sarn’s obvious celebratory attitude, though it’s coming. Brewing under her scowl and in her dark eyes. I meet Altar’s and try not to give away the little surprise we have coming for everyone.

Just a few of our closest family and enemies.

The Overprince tolerates Vae’s attention for once, playing his part. He’ll make an excellent ruler, I realize, like that matters now, though it does, at least to me. I’m now prepared to rule as Mother expects, whether supported by the nobility or not. But knowing I won’t have to do it alone, that I’ll have not just a figurehead at my side, but a partner, makes all the difference.

And all of this is worth it. Or so I’m telling myself.

Why then do my thoughts keep drifting to Zenthris?

I can’t afford weakness, and he is mine, I suppose. But I will not be weak or think of him tonight. I will be my mother’s daughter and heir, and I will do what I must for the glory and safety of Heald.

Altar stands from his place beside his father abruptly. Has he finally had enough of Vae? She seems as startled as everyone else that the Overprince has drawn such obvious attention tohimself. Everyone falls silent, the seemingly endless chatter gone still as the assembled nobles and even the Overking himself, give Altar their full attention.

I know he’s nervous. Am I the only one to see the shake in his hand when he lifts his glass? Surely, my mother does, and Aunt. Amber is seated on the other side of them both, the ambassador glancing my way with an eyebrow raised. I only have focus for the man who’s about to defy his father and make my mother very happy.

“I have an announcement,” he says in his lovely voice, though it’s harder and tighter than usual. “Though my father, in his wisdom, has made a selection he believes to be of benefit to me and our realm, the bride he’s chosen is not of my making.”

Oh, the look on Vae’s face. I wish I had a portrait of it, the complete shock, as though he slapped her instead of using his courtesy to tell her to fuck off.

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