Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 137958 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 690(@200wpm)___ 552(@250wpm)___ 460(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137958 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 690(@200wpm)___ 552(@250wpm)___ 460(@300wpm)
The Firenz men were just like that.
And their women were far from dainty.
“Though, if I know a Firenz, at the very least he’ll enjoy her curves,” my father carried on.
One could say I did have curves.
“Johan, I beg you,” my mother did indeed beg. “Speak with my brother. Ask him to find someone else to make this alliance. I know he’s angered King Mars…”
This he had.
King Wilmer, my uncle, had angered the King of Firenze. Repeatedly.
It was a daft thing to do.
Everyone knew their warriors were unbeatable. They might fight amongst themselves, but when threatened, their clans allied and the front they made was invincible.
Even Serena of the Nadirii, who didn’t seem to have trouble picking a fight with anyone, wasn’t stupid enough to go against the Firenz.
Uncle Wilmer picked fights with them all the time.
“…but the Firenz are boisterous and rowdy,” my mother continued. “They have more celebrations in a month than both Wodell and Airen together have in a year. They live so very differently than we do. The shock of culture change would be difficult for our Silence to countenance. She would not fit. She’s safe here, with me, you, Tril, her amusements. She’s our daughter. It’s our duty to keep her safe.”
“She’s our daughter. It’s her duty to strengthen our title,” my father returned. “But you heard the messenger, Vanka. The Beast rises. The coven has made the matches. It is out of Wilmer’s hands. It’s not even in Mars’s hands. It’s definitely not in our hands. She must wed Mars. It’s not simply her duty to me, her king, her country, but to all of Triton.”
I heard my father, but I was having difficulty breathing.
The Beast rises?
The tremors.
Oh faith, the Beast rises.
And I, somehow, in the misfortune that seemed to make up the entirety of my life, had to wed the king of a barbaric, but wealthy, nation in order to…what?
It was not lost on me I could hear quite well. I had also learned some time ago that I read more simply regarding a person’s expression than anyone I knew. And testing this mermaid theory, I was, indeed, able to dunk my head in the bath and hold my breath for long periods of time.
And then there was my shadow.
But I was no Nadirii, that was for certain. That Sisterhood of Warriors carried most of the magic in all the land. They’d amassed it ages ago to instigate the Night of the Fallen Masters. Even the weakest of their witches was stronger than any sorceress of Wodell.
But it was not lost on me I held magic.
And this must be the reason why I was destined to be consort to a barbarian king.
“But we have an opportunity,” my father decreed. “We will make the best of this match as we can. Our daughter will be his wife, and it is known wide, even if fidelity is not expected, a Firenz warrior dotes on his chosen one. We will make the most of this with Firenz rubies, saffron, silk. We will be the richest house in Wodell. She finally has come to mean something to my title, her title. And if this is true, if she can make an alliance that will somehow defeat the Beast should it rise, she, and this house, will be legend, my Vanka. Not to mention, we will also be rich.”
“And you’d sacrifice your own daughter to such aspirations of greed,” my mother stated with disgust.
There was a moment of silence before my father’s voice came again, and now it was gentle.
Therefore now, I knew that he had approached my mother and was cupping her cheek in that tender way he had that, even with the difficult relations I shared with my sire, always melted something inside me.
“I very early came to love you, my beautiful wife,” he said. “It was impossible not to, and not simply due to your great beauty.”
Yes, I felt that something melt inside me.
“But you know, my dearest love,” he went on, “that your father made that same sacrifice of you. Yes, he was king, but you were the seventh of seven daughters, his chest was running low due to war with the Firenz, and the Arbor is the richest estate in the land. No other of your sisters made a better match, even begotten by the king. Our marriage was arranged to further strengthen his house, his chest, his alliances, and thus, also his title. Now, shh…” he shushed her, and I knew she’d opened her mouth to speak. “It is how things are done and you know it. So think not of what may come for Silence. At the very least, fates are explained for she is no frivolous chit with no thoughts of her own. She is canny and vigilant. This will aid her in the months to come.”