A quick knock on her door startled her out of her thoughts. It was her lady-in-waiting, who looked as though she were bringing bad news.
Gwendolyn gave her a tremulous smile. “Happy birthday, Your Highness,” she said with a bow. “It is time. The Dragon Prince has told you, yes?”
“Told me what?”
“That you and he are to marry today. A small ceremony, just the staff. He wishes for me to ready you.” She pulled a basket filled with flowers from behind her back. “For your hair. He loves it long, you know.”
“No, I don’t know. I know nothing of him. Which is fine with me.”
“You will know much after today.” Gwendolyn’s face blushed. “The stylists will be here soon, to do your hair, fit you for the dress, and make up your face. You are pretty now, but you will be a vision soon.”
Hours later, Garnet was finally alone again. The dress was as heavy as her fate. She hardly recognized herself in the mirror’s reflection, with her curled hair adorned with petals and flashing with crystals. How would she feel when her Dragon was released? She knew little of the process, only that she would be Awakened in a ritual. Had she been born with the Dragon inside her, she would have Awakened at puberty. The prince assured her that he would personally train her to master it. He promised he would help her to find the beauty of it. Garnet highly doubted the latter.
She wandered to her window, where she dreamed of going home. Opal flew down and landed on her finger. The dove rubbed her palm with its cheek, touching her heart with the familiar gesture.
“Have you come to wish me a happy birthday? The only person who shall be happy today is the prince, for he will get his way.” She narrowed her eyes, the first smile in weeks gracing her lips. “Or maybe not completely.”
She settled Opal on the sill and pulled out the sewing kit from beneath her bed. She filled her days with creative projects, like sewing dresses for Gwendolyn and the other girls who’d never owned anything pretty. The prince supplied everything she asked for, even the expensive lace and ribbons.
Garnet turned to the mirror again, feeling a fire inside her she had not felt for so long. She spent the next hour tying her wedding dress into odd configurations, tucking in the sleeves and adding a neckline that covered her décolletage. She cut her hair and twined dead roses into what was left, thorns and all. She dabbed Earthen behind her ears, a healing mixture that smelled of mold.
Garnet expected the prince to be furious. And welcomed it. His staff was up in arms once they saw her, fighting her to fix her modifications. She assured them that she would tell the prince she alone was responsible.
She did not expect to be taken in by his handsome visage as he waited at the front of the small church. One of the prince’s best soldiers escorted her down the aisle, his nose wrinkling at the smell of her. He backed away, taking on the same look of fearful anticipation everyone else had as they awaited the prince’s reaction.
He took her in with a hint of shock in his onyx eyes and a twitch at the corner of his mouth. Then he threw his head back and laughed. His people joined him, ready to mimic his every reaction. The priest hesitated until the prince said, “Please proceed. I cannot wait to marry my rebellious and creative bride-to-be.”
Why wasn’t he angry? She’d humiliated him. Taunted and defied him. He acted as though she were indeed the beauty he’d intended. He had bested her again.
Their hands were bound, binding her heart as well in a choking hold. When the priest decreed that he could kiss his bride, the prince claimed her mouth the way he had claimed her. He whispered, “Now you are officially mine,” and then turned to the crowd. “I present your new queen.”
The prince led her down the aisle and accepted many well wishes from people who both feared and revered him. A carriage took them to the great hall filled with music and the aroma of sumptuous foods. Someone announced them as husband and wife as they entered to great applause, and the prince led her to the center of the dance floor.
The music started, and he pulled her into his arms. The spell of him wrapped around her, like the Dragon spell. He spun her around and around, blurring everything but himself. His body felt strong and warm as he held her close, amusement glimmering in his eyes. Her mind screamed a warning, even as her heart softened and inexplicably strained toward him.
He drew his finger down her cheek. “You have fire. Spirit. This is good, as you will need it. For it is time to Awaken your Dragon. A great darkness comes. A prophecy brought me to you before the Shadows would have killed you. Now it also brings the Black Doom. We are destined to fight it together to save mankind.”
Chapter 7
It had been fifteen years since he’d had to be familiar with the nuances of Deuce magick, but Cyn knew someone who could corroborate his suspicions. As he drove, he initiated a call on his Bluetooth system, one of the many things not original in his car. “Kade, it’s Cyntag Valeron. I need some info on a rather nasty orb. I’ve never seen one like it.”
“Did you piss off a Deuce?” Kade laughed, because it wouldn’t be the first time.
“Not me, a…friend.” Presumptuous, but how else to categorize her? He described the orb, remembering how Ruby had tried to hide her terror when she’d told him about it.
“Star orb,” Kade said after a long whistle. “Powerful. They’re hard to shake. But you obviously have a witness who got away. He must be clever. And damned fast.”
“Sure is.” He felt an odd surge of pride. “Can you tell me who might have the ability to make one?”
“Only an early generation Deuce.” First Gens, the original offspring, were the most powerful. Every subsequent generation lost some of the strength of their powers. “You’re probably looking at someone in the first three or four generations. The problem is, as you know, they’ve taken on layers of identities by now. There’s no way to know.”
As Crescents got too old to be alive, as far as the Mundane databases were concerned, they had to arrange for their deaths and take on a new identity.
“Yeah, and they don’t exactly go around advertising it either. What can you tell me about star orbs?”
“They take a lot of work and fry your palms, from what I understand. The good news for you is that whoever sent it won’t be able to conjure up another one for a day or so.”
A small relief there. Cyn didn’t have to tell Kade that anything he said would remain confidential, and that worked both ways. They’d shared a few secrets over the years when they worked together at the Guard, done things that would forever remain between them and the men they’d taken orders from.
“Can whoever sent it see through the orb?”
“Yes, and they can direct its actions. If someone sent a star orb after your friend, he means business. Your guy better watch his ass.”
More like he was going to have to watch her ass. “That’s what I was worried about. Thanks for the information. I’d love to catch up, but I’ve got a situation here. I’ll be in touch soon.” He disconnected.