Page 9 of Heavy is the Crown
My father pauses for a moment longer before nodding. “Very well, I’ll let you know our decision.”
I look from Arcanna to my brother.He is doing an awful job hiding his emotions.His silver eyes remain locked on her, a war clearly raging within him.
Without looking at my brother, Arcanna bows before turning and fleeing the throne room altogether. It takes less than a minute for my brother to storm after her.
FOUR
Should the king decide to wed either of his children, we must not allow that magic to go to anyone other than our coven. We have the ability to harness it, should we gain access to one of them.
– Mori Family Grimoire
Ava
(“She Will Be Loved” – Vitamin String Quartet, Bridgerton Soundtrack)
The ballroom is decorated in shades of crimson and deep golds. The walls are covered with silken tapestries that move in the wisteria-scented breeze creeping through the open archway windows. They look like ghosts trying to break free of chains holding them captive. Candlelight flickers just behind them, giving the illusion even more credence. They barely illuminate the corridors leading to the ballroom, allowing intimate corners where guests can embrace their inner deviance.
My feet are bare on the cool marble floors, adorned with golden chains intricately woven over the tops of them andconnecting to golden cuffs on my ankles. The sheer white skirt I wear brushes the ground, and my legs peek out through slits up both sides. I smile politely at people as I make my way through the room, my long blonde hair sweeping my bare shoulders. When I sip the champagne in my hand, I can feel the diadem on my forehead move slightly, the diamond in the center moving with it. It matches the choker around my neck, affixed with ever more glittering jewels. My mother has overdone it this evening by dressing me like this.
“With eyes on you, hopefully, everyone will forget Jackson looking like a fool running out after Arcanna.”
“He cares for her.”
“He can care for her tight cunt, but he’s the future king. He would do well to remember that.”
She has made it clear what her expectations for both of us are in regard to marriage. I am to remain pure, and Jackson is to avoid knocking someone up and making the kingdom, aka her, look bad. After all, appearance means everything to her. Just the thought of what she wants from me makes me grip my glass so tightly, I worry I’ll snap the slender stem. Sweat trickles down my chest, and I can’t help but count down the moments until I can flee this place. I cannot remain their obedient puppet.
Just a few more months. A few more months and I can leave.
Whether it be Arcanna or someone else, I will be hitching a ride with whoever takes up the position of Lady of Souls. Not that they know the princess of Hell will be going with them. Nope, I’ll be hiding until they pass the gates to Gothic Grove. Once there, I will leave and use my magic to gain access to the city. There, I can disappear.
My father’s booming voice can be heard over the band playing some string melody. The drunker he gets, the louder his voice becomes. “Ava!” he yells, pulling me from my thoughts. It’sonly because of years of experience hiding my reactions that I don’t wince. He’s standing talking with a larger man with dark hair, someone whom I’ve never seen in the palace.
I gracefully pad over to him, careful to keep my body straight and my movements delicate. “Yes, Father?” Ever the demure princess, I keep my tone low and my gaze at his feet.
My father, however, grabs me roughly and drags me closer to him, squeezing my upper arm in a vice grip that I know will leave bruises tomorrow. My hair snags in his grip and pulls. A hiss escapes my mouth before I can hold it back, earning me a small shake. A reminder to keep my mouth shut. My father has never hit me, but he’s never been loving either. Sometimes, I think the only reason he doesn’t get physical is because of Jackson. He still views my father as a good man, and therefore, my father can control him better. I like to think if Jackson knew, truly knew, how our father treats me, he’d put a stop to it.
The dark-haired man laughs. “Ah, it’s hard to break them, isn’t it? She is a beauty, though; it pains me that we could not form an alliance through our children. My son would have given her powerful children.”
When I look at the man, his leering gaze burns into my body.
My father chuckles, but the sound sends chills down my spine. “Ah, you mean your stepson? I heard you sold your flesh and blood to Alexi. And how disappointed you must have been to learn just how powerful he ended up being, and you gave him over to a vampire.” The man, Julien, goes red in the face. “You’ll forgive me if I didn’t want to bind our family to someone who couldn’t even read his own son’s power level.”
(“It Had To Be You” – Tommee Profitt)
Panic starts to crawl up my throat, a thickness that I can’t swallow back. My tongue refuses to help me form words to ask the questions I have.
“There is still time for our houses to be joined; my stepson would produce a fine heir with her.” They speak as if I’m not even present. “Or even myself, I have not been wed in a long time.”
“She’s already been purchased. You are too late, dragon,” my father says.
My reality bottoms out for a moment, the room slowing to a halt before it all speeds back up with alarming clarity. “Excuse me, what are you talking about?” I finally manage to get out, eyes tracking between my father and Julien.
The dark-haired man addresses me first. “Daddy didn’t tell you? You are bought and paid for, sadly. I missed out on one hell of an opportunity.”
My stomach rolls, the champagne I consumed threatening to come up. “What have you done?” I breathe out, horror worming its way into my body like a parasite as I stare up at my father.
No emotions play across his face, no warmth or love, as he says, “I did what has been done for centuries. Your body, your womb. They have been for sale since you were born. You will produce powerful heirs and serve this realm.” He glances at the massive clock next to the throne he and my mother normally sit atop. “You should be meeting him shortly, didn’t you know? Tonight is your wedding.”
