“No.”
“Violence.” Merrick’s hands find their way into his pockets. I suspect he’s trying to hide the way he’s fisted them so hard, his knuckles stretched tight. Something our father has done a billion times.
“Merrick.” I turn to face him, swaying against the windowsill.
Worry sparks in his eyes as he takes another step closer. “We need their alliance. This is the only way. Can’t you see I’m protecting you?”
“I don’t need you to protect me. I don’t need your help.” Even as I say it, my mind whispers to me that I’m a liar, that I can’t do it on my own, and my knees start to buckle.
Merrick’s hands catch my elbow, propping me up. “Yeah, totally looks like you have it under control to me.” He’s scowling, but his hold on me is gentle. “Sit, eat, rest. Someone will be in to dress you after a while. Even if you don’t want to do this, you need to be on your best behavior today because if we embarrass Father, I fear what he might do to us next.”
Off with our heads, that’s what. Maybe dying wouldn’t be so bad. Then I wouldn’t wake up with all these aches and pains. Then I could be free...
No.I shake my head, trying to clear these intrusive thoughts.No. He can’t win.
“I’ll play nice,” I say as my brother walks me back to the bed. “But I won’t marry him. Find another way.”
“Well, that’s a start.” Merrick straightens and gives me another once over.
“I’m not going to dissolve into dust.”
“Are we sure about that?”
“Yeah, it takes more energy than I have at the current moment to go against the king’s demand on our powers. We’re tied to his magic. I’m not going anywhere.” His eyes become two narrowed slits. “I can barely stand,” I whine.
“There are still some mild sedatives running through your system. You’ll likely be like that for a while.”
My fingers curl into the blankets. I tease at the frilly hem of one of the quilts. “I’m going to kill him,” I whisper, unable to meet my brother’s deep brown eyes.
“I’m not sure I would stop you.”
If that’s what it takes, if that’s what this boils down to. I’ll find a way to end him and this madness he is creating.
Then, as if summoned by a mere thought, a soft knock sounds at the door. Merrick invites the servant in, and they set a tray of food in front of me. Biscuits, jams, meats, cheese, sweet cakes, all of it tickling my nose and creating a violent roar of hunger in my stomach. As the servant leaves, Merrick scoops up the teapot and carefully pours a cup. Steam wafts up, and nothing looks better than cradling that warm cup in my hands while my body quickly loses heat.
“Someone will be by shortly.” Merrick sets the teapot down and strolls toward the door, only to stop as his hand brushes the knob. “I only want what’s best for you and what is best for our court.”
“I can decide what’s best for me,” I answer through a mouth full of bread.
He grits his teeth but says nothing else before he exits the room. I pick at the food and sip at the tea, worried that if I eat too much too fast, I might make myself throw up, and I need all the nourishment I can get.
* * *
Wires in the top I’ve been strapped into poke into the flesh on either side of my chest. The corseted back has been pulled so tight that I can only take the smallest of breaths. And when I do breathe, my breasts threaten to topple out of the neckline. Two small sleeves that look more like cupcakes drape off my shoulders.
“You look lovely in blue,” the woman who helped me into this monstrosity coos.
My mouth shapes into a grimace. “Isn’t this a bit scandalous for a princess to wear?” Though I don’t feel like a princess at all, it’s my birthright, and they’ve nestled a silver crown with black tips onto my crown of braids.
The servant balks. “This is the height of fashion here in our court.”
Soft fabric hangs over my hips. I run my hands over it, twisting in front of the mirror. Even my back is exposed above the corset. This is nothing like what would be allowed in the Court of Darkness.
“Breathtaking,” a deep voice says from the doorway.
My eyes snap up to the warm brown-skinned prince with the copper-gold hair that watches me in the mirror. A wide smile shows off his sparkling, white teeth. Honey-yellow eyes trace the shape of my body. I steel my spine, a motion I’d practiced while in the Dark Palace that comes back to me almost naturally.
“Prince Dalziel.” I dip my chin. The long diamond earrings dangling from my ears brush against my collarbones.
