Page 3 of Shadow of Eternal Flames

“Gronk-gronk,” a deep, gurgling sound came from the raven.

“After all these years, you choosenowto speak to me?”

“Gronk-gronk,” croaked the raven again.

“I wish I knew what you were saying,” Primrose sighed.

She opened the window. The bird nudged itself against her fingers, and she softly petted the black feathers on the top of its head. A minute later, it leaped toward the sun, wings expanding as it took flight. She watched in awe as the raven dwindled, becoming smaller and smaller until it was only a speck on the horizon. She grinned and walked towards her door.

Entering the hallway and heading east into the castle, Primrose walked down the ornate staircase leading to the meeting rooms and more public spaces. As she reached the bottom, passing a mural of flowers lined in a silver frame, Primrose spotted a familiar tuft of vibrant red hair. Rounding the corner, her father greeted her with a smile.

“Right on time! Did you have a pleasant breakfast?”

“Yes,” Primrose smiled, “and you?”

“I did indeed! Our guest will arrive momentarily; please have a seat in the drawing-room.”

“Guest? Since when do we have so many guests?” Primrose asked, head tipping to one side in question.

“Mr. Mercer will be meeting with you to discuss your engagement. Did Sera not inform you?” Her father’s eyes twitched on the word engagement, but his smile remained the same.

“It’s a pleasure to see you again, Hugo!” Primrose’s mother’s voice rang from down another hall.

“Always a pleasure to be in your company, Adora,” the man rang back from the same direction. Primrose’s breaths became heavy as she realized they were getting closer.

“No, she did not. If she had, I would be in hiding right now,” Primrose whispered.

As the group entered the threshold of the drawing-room, Primrose’s entire body tensed. The blue material of her dress accentuated the pink flush of her skin. Hugo Mercer sat on the loveseat across from the sofa, which Primrose stiffly sat upon.

“Let’s give them some privacy.” Bazz shifted his posture, straightening.

“Bazz—” Primrose’s mother attempted to interject, but he gave her a sideways glare, and they retreated, arm-in-arm.

Primrose was nearly shaking as she sized up her fiancé. He was at least her father’s age, if not older. His skin was leathered from years of traveling the seas, and his hairline was receding. A pair of wide eyes, bluer than the ocean, stared back at her. A crooked smile entered his features as he broke the silence.

“If it weren’t for those green eyes of yours, I’d think you were a North-Terra girl for sure. Still, a pretty little thing, though”

Primrose cringed as her shoulders lifted. She felt her body caving in on itself, becoming even smaller as his eyes remained transfixed on her. The uncomfortable tension remained in the air, like damp fog, until he spoke again.

“What were you studying?” he questioned in an unamused tone. His eyes lowered, lingering on the cleavage left exposed by the neckline of her dress.

“I was going to be a historian and then the new duchess.” Primrose shifted in her seat.

“You will still be The Duchess, and I The Duke of Vero Village after my retirement.”

“I’m assuming you’ll be retiring soon?” Primrose fought a smile as she heard a quiet giggle from directly outside the door.Sera.

“I will not. With this new agreement and my company’s new relationship with Mid-Terra, we’ll be sailing the seas for the next ten to fifteen years. Possibly longer if your Queen Lilith orders it or shorter if our continents go to war.”

Ten to fifteen years. Possibly longer.

“Ah. I see.” Primrose’s words caught in her throat, aching to escape, but she couldn’t come out. She wanted to scream, but said nothing more.

“About our engagement,” Hugo began, and Primrose nodded, “I am not purchasing you an engagement ring. Instead, I have renamed my company’s ship. After my sweet little flower, what was once The Mighty Mercer is now The Rose. I think this was an even greater gift. After we wed and consummate the marriage, I will purchase you a large diamond so that all the merchants we meet will know what’s mine.”

“How gracious of you,” Primrose said, staring at the floor. Her throat closed as tears streamed down her cheeks.

“Tears of joy! I am glad you’re excited, but don’t make a mess of yourself,” Hugo said as Sera entered the room. He gawked at her body, taking extra time to appreciate the ample curves of her hips and thighs as her dress swished.

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