Page 13 of Cages and Crowns
“As far as this morning, yes. I don’t know where she’s been these last few weeks, but she is in the palace now. She was at court today.” He’s quiet as he ponders. We have 4,000 men stationed in Labisa, ready to move when we say. I don’t doubt we could win against Tobias in an all-out war, but many lives would be lost. More than necessary. We were supposed to petition other countries for their armies, but they all wanted to wait and use Elaenor. Use her as the reason for their cooperation. Honestly, even if Elaenor died, she would still be useful. She could be a martyr, igniting the other countries into a rebellion to remove Tobias from the throne. Not that I am hoping for her demise, but she’s useful either way.
“Father, what are your plans where Elaenor is involved? What happens after we rescue her?” I sit down in the chair adjacent to him, watching as his furrowed brows relax.
“She is the heir. As much as I hate it, her future son would be the rightful ruler of the entire continent of Viridiana. We need to control her, garner her trust. I expect nothing of her but a puppet to play with.” I nearly scoff at hisindifference. I may not be a fan of Elaenor and what she means, but she deserves more than this.
“So you just want to use her? Do you think she’ll be so trusting after her time with Tobias, that she will listen to anything you have to say?” I counter.
“She won’t have a choice. She will wed upon her arrival, and you will put a child in her before she has the chance to say no.” He doesn’t look at me, his eyes still pouring over the maps as he suggests I impregnant a young woman who has spent the last few months being tortured.
“Father, I will not force myself on an unwilling woman.” There is no way he can force me to do this, tomarryher. To force her to carry my child.
“Then make sure she’s willing.” He retorts without looking at me, his tone indifferent and tired. He sighs as he sets the wooden roses back on the table.
“I don’t remember agreeing to wed her.” I snap. It’s not often I verbally disagree with my father, but I won’t stand by and be another one of his puppets.
“I don’t remember asking your opinion, son.” I stand, the chair nearly toppling over as I plant my hands on the table, leaning forward.
“Father,please. Enzo would be a much better husband than I would.” Not to mention he already loves her.My eyes plead for him to listen, but his just harden in return.
“Enzoisn’t the crown prince.Enzoisn’t my son. If you will not marry her,Iwill.” He snaps, his voice rising. I cross my arms in front of my chest and lean back. Hewouldmarry her. He’s that sick and twisted that he would force a girl who is younger than his own child to be his wife. He wouldn’t be a kind husband; he would do more harm than good. She truly would just be a shell for him to control after that.She would be better off with Tobias than him.
“There is no discussion to be had, is there? It is either you or me sitting on the throne beside her one day? I don’t want to marry her, but I will not subject her to a life chained to you. I know more than anyone how horrible that life would be.” He doesn’t respond. He knows how I feel about him, about his use of women as toys to play with until they are broken. He almost coerced Scarlettto be his newest pet, but he couldn’t deal with her attitude. I just don’t think he liked that she had boundaries. Ones he couldn’t cross without seeming like he was forcing himself on her—which he was.
I don’t want this life for myself, but I do have a chance to keep Elaenor from entering another marriage like the one she’s in. I’m bound to her, one way or another.
I don’t even know why I care about any of this; why I care about her. At this point in time she doesn’t even know I exist.
“You will wed Elaenor, and you will become the king, that is final.” The door opens and I glance over at Enzo as he barrels in.
“Anything?” He’s breathless as if he ran all the way here, his hands gripping the back of a chair with an iron fist.
“Thel put eyes on her this morning. She’s alive.” I inform him as I take my place in the chair behind me. His shoulders drop back to a normal height as the tension leaves his body.
“What is the plan? Did he say anything else?” He asks as he pulls the chair out and drops into it.
“Yes.” My father’s voice drops, a little more than a whisper. My head whips back in his direction. He’s hiding something.
“Father, what else did Ren say?” He clears his throat and slowly sits into the chair behind him, swirling his whiskey in his hand.
“He said she’s ill. He doesn’t know with what, but her skin is pale, she has wounds and bruises covering every inch of visible skin, and he said there was a silver collar fitted with prongs around her neck.” I choke, my mouth falling open.
“What?” Enzo's voice is so loud I jump.
“Enzo,” I raise my hand to get him to relax. The last thing we need is him losing his mind and shifting into something obscenely large, like a whale.
“What is going to be done?” He snaps, his fingers digging into the wood of the table.
“As of right now, nothing. Thel will ensure she stays safe.” My father states, disinterest coating his voice like ash. He doesn’t care if she’s safe, he just cares if she’s alive and able to create heirs.
“How?” I pipe in, he has to have a plan.
“I am not sure.”
“We have to go.Now.” Enzo snaps, shooting back out of his chair.
“Child, you do not command me or any of our armies. We will move whenIsay we move.” The Labisian King’s voice raises in volume, sending goosebumps down my arms. He only snaps when he’s angry, and I can tell he’s getting to that point. As much as I hate it, he’s in charge here. His word is law until Thel returns.
“You can’t expect us to sit around while she’s chained up like a dog.”
