Page 98 of Brighter Than Gold

“Hello,” she said with a small wave.

“I’m very pleased to meet you, Juno.” The girl blushed and tilted her head into her shoulder.

“You’re the new Queen?” she asked innocently.

“Only a Princess I’m afraid, I’ve not been coronated a Queen.”

“When will you be?”

“Goodness, I’m not sure. Being a Princess doesn’t seem so bad, doyouenjoy being a Princess?”

Juno nodded with a bright smile.

“Then perhaps I’ll stay a Princess forever.” I gave her a wink.

“You’d better get back to your seat before mother catches you,” Darian chided her. “Go! And watch the butlers!” He playfully pinched her side and she giggled and ran, two butlers with heavy trays of food narrowly avoiding the rushing Princess.

“So Reyah,” Queen Aldridge said from across the table. “How are you, sweet child? Her smile and her eyes were warm. “We’ve heard of your harrowing capture.”

The room seemed to hush, eager to hear my response, and Kas rested a hand over mine encouragingly. “Yes, it was terrifying, to say the least. But I can say that I am very grateful to be back safe within the walls, Your Grace.”

“Well, we are all very glad to have you back safely. The Gods are certainly watching over you.”

I smiled and nodded as Kaspian leapt in and steered the conversation away from my recent suffering.

After a stiff, awkward meal, we made our way into an enormous drawing room. The men immediately headed towards a bar with dozens of liquor bottles where a well-suited butler poured them heavy drinks.

“How are you feeling, my love?” Kas asked me quietly, stealing us away for a few private words.

I let out a long breath. “Still nervous.”

“You did wonderfully at dinner.” He stroked his thumb across the back of my knuckles soothingly. I tried in vain to take his compliment.

“All right, away with you,” a plucky voice said from behind me. Carithia, Dornan’s eldest daughter, took me from the elbow. “Good night, Your Grace,” she said dismissively to Kaspian, not even bothering to look back at him as she led me over to the women. I shot a last glance back at Kas and he winked at me and smiled, happy the lionesses were accepting me into their pride.

“Gods, dinner was long,” she said to me as we headed across the room. Carithia was beautiful in an almost violent way, everything about her was straight lines and sharp edges. A high brow and perfect cheekbones, angular shoulders and a prominent cupid’s bow, and she had the cutting character to match. She was in every way her father’s daughter.

“Are you drinking? It’s fine if you are, I can sneak you something if you don’t want the others to know.” She seemed almost scrutinizing, but the offer was honest and not meant as entrapment.

“No, I’m not.”

“Suit yourself.”

Carithia was so tall, I had to take two steps for her one.

“I’ll cut to the point,” she said, and I immediately tensed. “Don’t let any of them smell weakness on you, they’ll respect you more if you’re a bitch than a weakling, especially the older ones. Queen Aldridge is a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”

I was sure my eyes bulged so wide that they may very well have fallen out of my head.

“You seem tough though,” she added with a quick glance down at me. “I think you’ll do all right.”

The women were all warm smiles as we arrived. We chatted pleasantly, they asked about my pregnancy, and a few complimented my dark northern locks, which of course made my heart skip a beat as I remembered Kaspian’s deliciously perverse claiming of it.

I took the time to speak with Princess Cressida, and we shared symptoms and complaints. At one point she pulled my hand to her belly as the baby gave a slow roll. I was enraptured by the incredible feeling, both nervous and excited for the moment when it would happen to me.

I began to grow tired, and Kas must have noticed from across the room, because he came to collect me not long after. I genuinely thanked the women for their hospitality, and despite Carithia’s warning, none of the women had been too unkind.

“Will you stay in my room tonight?” Kaspian asked as we climbed his tower stairs. “Just to sleep,” he amended, noting my exhaustion.

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