Page 15 of Forgotten Fate

I squeaked and jumped, whipping around to see the king at my back. My hand touched my heart, and I leaned forward to catch my breath as he offered me a bemused smile.

“You scared me,” I admitted when he sauntered past me toward the dining room.

“I seem to be doing a lot of that,” he replied. I couldn’t argue with that as I followed after him, unsure of how to respond.

Suddenly, the room came alive, staff flocking to tend to us both like they were seeping out of the walls.

A butler I didn’t recognize held out a chair for me while his personal butler held out the king’s. Haltingly, I waited for him to sit before I did, unsure of the etiquette.

My chair was pushed in by yet another servant, and a personal assistant to the king arrived at the doorway as coffee was served from silver pots.

“I don’t need you this morning,” King Zen informed the young aide, who nodded.

“Yes, Alpha.”

“I’ll text you if anything comes up.”

“Thank you, Alpha.”

The young male, who looked like he was only a couple of years younger than me, retreated.

I watched King Zen’s table manners to follow as the servants swirled around us, filling my plate without asking or speaking to me. I barely noticed what I was being served, my linen napkin unfolding to lay on my lap by the grace of a spell, although which of the dozen servants enacted it, I couldn’t say. My head swirled with all the commotion and the fact that the king and I sat at a private meal. The anticipation burned at me, causing sweat to form on my skin.

“So… Mirielle, is it?” he asked me, finally turning his attention fully toward me. “Is that what we’re calling you?”

The gray light of dawn made his eyes look stormy, but there was no malice or anger in his face like there had been the day we’d met. Still, I couldn’t shake my nervousness. Why was he calling me to a meeting after a week of silence? I couldn’t help but be on guard.

“Y-yes,” I stuttered, suddenly tongue-tied.

“That’s a pretty name. Why did you choose it?”

I pursed my lips, wishing everyone would stop asking me that, but I didn’t dare say that tohim.

“I thought you wanted me to choose a name,” I mumbled, hoping I didn’t sound petulant.

“I did,” he agreed. “But why did you choosethatname in particular? Does it have some significance to you?”

“I’m really not sure,” I replied. “It just came to me.”

He offered me a half-smile and picked up his coffee to take a sip. I quickly took his lead, waiting to see what this meeting was about.

“How are you getting along with Lacroix?”

I set my cup down, uncertainty filling me. “Good… I think. I try to stay out of his way and learn, but I’m not always sure I do. Did he say something? Is he complaining about me?”

Dread abruptly replaced my concern. Had he called me here to ask me to leave? Had I worn out my welcome? Had Lacroix’s complaining finally gotten under his skin?

Suddenly, my tentative security dissolved around me, and a cold wave washed over me.

King Zen guffawed. “Lacroix complains about everything—in case you haven’t noticed. In my twenty-six years on this planet, I can’t think of a single day that he hasn’t pissed and moaned about something. The fact that he doesn’t complain about you speaks volumes. It’s actually daunting. It tells me that you’re special.”

I exhaled slowly, realizing this wasn’t a termination of my apprenticeship.

“Like Endora, he seems to think you have a lot of potential as a magical botanist,” the king continued. “I admit, I don’t know much about it. That was more my mother’s forte, but I do know it’s necessary in any kingdom.”

My cheeks pinkened. “I’m really enjoying it,” I replied softly. “Maybe that’s what I do already—I mean, outside of here… like in my life…”

I trailed off, hearing how ridiculous I sounded. To my relief, he flashed me a quick smile.

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