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)
My heart squeezed so hard, I felt the blood racing from it all through me.
Because I knew it.
I knew exactly what I was feeling.
We were feeling.
We were Sisters of the Beast.
And the Beast was rising.
35
The Beginning of Everything
Lady Silence Mattson
Second Landing, Grand Stairwell, Catrame Palace, Fire City
FIRENZE
“Your rooms are this way, Silence,” my father called sharply as Mars guided me right after we reached the landing, toward the west corridor, not left, toward my rooms.
I turned to glance over my shoulder at him.
Mars did as well.
“That they are,” Mars replied, even if my father was speaking to me. “Goodnight, Johan,” he finished pointedly.
“Goodnight, Papa. Mama,” I called.
My mother, standing at my father’s side, looked worried.
Father looked infuriated.
Neither bid us goodnight.
Mars turned to face forward and continued calmly to lead me that way.
I was not calm.
Dinner went without incident, and during it, Mars had stood and made a short toast to his barons and tribal leaders. He’d thanked them for their gifts, then promptly proclaimed they would, immediately after our wedding, be transferred to the treasury of Firenze to be used for the further advancement of the country. Or, in the case of ceremonial daggers (and such), they would be displayed at the Royal Museum in Fire City.
This caused a stir.
But Mars ignored it, turned to me, and finished the toast with, “And to my bride. My destiny. My future. May tomorrow come quickly.” He then smiled a wolfish smile that could not be misconstrued he was speaking about the dinner, “But first, we will enjoy tonight.”
I could not fight my blush.
This only made Mars smile bigger.
And that was one of only three times I felt anything remotely like approval from his people.
One was my wedding hoops, of course.
The other was when dinner was done and Piccola was brought to me.
Since I was given her, we found our times to play and I made sure Tril allowed me to feed her, for I wished her to know who her mama was.
I couldn’t say she was as yet used to me.
But in that crowded room, she clung close to my finger or my neck, and I was glad of her presence, not to mention her providing distraction.
And apparently, even if hides were tossed on thronal steps, my maternal instincts to a monkey were looked upon favorably.
She was still with me, clutching the scallops at the side of my neckline while I stroked her tiny back as we walked to Mars’s rooms.
She wouldn’t be with me very much longer, for as we drew closer to his chambers, Mars called out, “Take Piccola from your future queen.”
The lingering servant boy rushed to me as I disengaged my pet from my gown.
Mars stopped us, and I brought her up to my face.
Her face was teeny-tiny.
But her black eyes were so smart.
“Until breakfast, my wee one,” I murmured and brushed her against my cheek.
She made a chirrup in response before I handed her off.
The boy headed the other way and Mars instantly started us moving again.
And thus, I instantly had something new to worry about.
I did not tell him about the feeling in my belly that I knew I shared with the others.
It came.
It was strong.
But once we all recognized it amongst each other, it was gone.
I’d watched and noted that none of the others shared with their betrotheds either.
Thus, I decided I would call us all together early on the morrow to discuss it before I discussed it in full with Mars, sharing with him as well what the others thought.
Now I had what lay next to consider.
Mars moved us into his chambers, shutting the door behind us, and I immediately noticed that they were much changed.
Low lamps at each corner of the pool were lit, but the chandelier above it and the lanterns on tables were not, as they had been when I was there the night before.
Also, a soft glow came from the sitting room cum study, but it was not beckoning, as it had been before. It was dim and signified retiring, not working, reading or communing.
But Mars had no interest in either room.
I knew this as he guided me straight to his bedchamber.
He moved the sheers aside for us both and led us in, declaring, “You shouldn’t worry.”
There were so many things to worry about, I didn’t know to which he was referring.
“About what?” I queried as he let me go when we were fully in the room.
He put his hands to the black, sleeveless, long-tailed jacket that was over the black silk shirt her wore.
He shrugged it off.
My mouth got dry.
“The clans and the tribes,” he answered. “And what they think of you.”
He then turned and moved toward the archway to his dressing room.
I stood rooted to where he left me.
Unable to move, I was fortunately not unable to speak.
“Why do you say that?”