Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 92476 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92476 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
“Come on—it’s time you met your subjects, future Queen of Shadows,” he said to me, when he saw I was awake.
“What did you call me?” I frowned as I slipped out of bed, shivering as the cold marble floor touched my bare feet.
“Queen of Shadows—she who sits the Shadow Throne is always referred to as the Queen of Shadows,” he told me.
“But I can’t! I would never even try,” I exclaimed. “You even told me that if the wrong person sits on the Shadow Throne, it kills them!”
“But you’re not the wrong person. You’re the exact fucking right one. Come—we don’t have much time. Get dressed,” Liath rumbled.
“What am I dressing for?” I asked, deciding not to fight with him about his ridiculous statements. He would learn soon enough that I didn’t have a magical bone in my body.
“To meet your subjects—and for breakfast in the Great Hall,” he told me. “And afterwards, we’re taking a walk. Don’t worry,” he added. “Just wear something comfortable.”
I went to the closet in the bathing chamber and selected a simple dark green gown which went extremely well with my blue hair. It had a deep V-neck which showed a lot more cleavage than I would have been comfortable with if I had still been in the Summer Court. But here at the Winter Court, I found I wanted to make an impression.
I just wished that I had a necklace or any kind of jewelry to wear to go with the gown’s deep décolletage. I paired the dress with soft black shoes that molded to my feet and felt as comfortable as though I’d been wearing them for years.
A look in the mirror standing in the corner of the bathing chamber made me smile at my newly-beautiful reflection. I was glad to see that Liath’s magic—if that was what it was—hadn’t worn off. I still felt lovely as I looked at myself in the mirror.
“That’s because you are fucking lovely,” Liath growled, coming up behind me. “And don’t fucking forget it. Here.”
He pulled out his dagger and pricked his finger. Then he re-sheathed it, made a gesture, and began pulling things out of the air.
First came a dazzling silver necklace set with moonstones, much like the ones on the dagger’s hilt. Then came a pair of dangling moonstone earrings and a delicate filigreed tiara also set with the same pale, sparkling gems. Last was a ring with an oval moonstone as large as my eye.
“Only those of the Royal house may wear or use moonstones,” Liath explained, as he fastened the necklace around my neck and arranged the tiara on my head. “This jewelry marks you as mine and under my protection. Always wear at least one of these pieces, anywhere you go in the Winter Realm. That way, no one will dare to fucking to touch you,” he added, sliding the ring onto my finger.
“Thank you.” I looked in the mirror again and was surprised at how regal the pale, gleaming stones made me look.
“Like a true Queen of Shadows,” Liath rumbled approvingly. “Come on—let’s go.”
He led me out of his rooms—our rooms, I supposed—and through the Palace again. It was a bit of a maze but since it was a mirror image copy of the Summer Palace, I thought I would be able to find my way around.
Not that I would be spending much time exploring on my own—Liath had warned me to stay close to him and considering the frightening stories I had heard of the Winter Court, I was inclined to obey my new husband.
Are you really trusting him now—so quickly, so easily? a skeptical little voice whispered in my head. How do you know he’s telling the truth and he’s not the one who killed Quill?
I didn’t know, of course. But until I could find out the identity of my big brother’s killer, I felt I had little choice other than to trust Liath. Besides, I rather liked his company. He wasn’t the huge, evil brute I’d been led to expect. He was…I wasn’t sure what he was yet, but I wanted to find out.
The Great Hall was in the same place the Banquet Hall was in the Summer Palace and it was set up the same too, with a long table up on a raised dais for royalty and many smaller tables below for the nobility and other important people of the court.
Liath led me to the front of the room, to stand before the dais. When he stopped, everyone went silent. He didn’t even have to call for quiet as my father often had his favorite courier do when he wished to make a speech—everyone simply hushed when they saw the massive Unseelie warrior standing there.
“My people,” Liath said, raising his deep voice to be heard to the far corners of the hall. “May I introduce my bride—Princess Alira. Though she comes from the Seelie Court, she has Unseelie blood in her veins and thus she is one of us. More importantly, however, she is mine.” He paused for a moment, looking around at the assembled nobles and notables. “I will only warn you once—anyone who hurts or attempts any malicious magic against my bride, I will treat you as though you attacked me directly. And I will show no mercy. Do I make myself clear?”