Titan is provided to me in the courtyard when I join the others. Leeza saw to it that I wear a beautiful white dress made of spider silk and draped with strings of white crystals.
I'm relieved to find Emily sitting astride a brown mytonir beside Titan, it's nice to have someone familiar amid all the strange to accompany me.
"You're coming with?" I ask.
"Yes," Emily says, she pats her mytonir's neck. "These creatures are incredible. Smoother than any horse I've ridden."
"I know." I run a hand over Titan's silky side, before a stable hand helps me up into his saddle.
Grey mounts a mytonir beside me and another guard rides one on the other side.
"If you need anything, your majesty, let me know," Grey informs me.
"Grey's so hot," Emily whispers at me. "Do you think he's single?"
I try to brush aside Emily's remark. I'm too stressed to worry about whether my personal guard would be open to Emily's conquests. Which, while in the past I'd maintained an non-judgmental stance to, are becoming annoying here in Underlund. I glance around at the party accompanying us. Fletch, Alvar, Leeza, Emily, Guards.
"Emily, where's my mom?" I ask.
"She refused to come with, said she wasn't feeling well or something," Emily rolls her eyes. "I think it's cause I'm here."
"Oh." I'm disappointed. I'd hoped to converse with her, see if she knew any details about how Alvar had found out about her having a dying baby.
We start riding down the cobblestone path outside the gates of the palace.
"I don't really want to come with, honestly," Emily says curtly.
"Why?" I turn to look at her.
"We're going back to Ferar," Emily grumbles. "I've seen enough of the Gobli, thank you very much. You ever have inbred scum tell you they're going to pull you apart limb by limb on some torture device?"
"Um, no," I gasp. "They thought you were me and when they learned you weren't they didn't have a use for you. If I hadn't married Alvar, they'd have done the same to all Earth humans in an invasion."
"Yeah, and why weren't they imprisoned for kidnapping me yet?" Emily accuses, staring coldly at the front of our procession where Alvar rides.
"I don't know, Em, I'm still trying to figure out this place," I say, looking at the man I know Emily blames for lack of action, but she doesn't understand the politics behind everything like I do.
Alvar looks over his shoulder, as if sensing my eyes on his back. Our eyes connect for a moment and he smiles at me. His eyes crinkling up at the corners. I'm captivated. I can't help but smile back, but I hurried halt this connection.
"I could talk to Alvar about it, if you wish," I tell Emily. "Ask him why he hasn't made an arrest."
"So he actually listens when you speak to him?" Emily quips sarcastically. "I thought he made all the decisions in your relationship."
"Emily, you don't know what you're talking about," I surprise myself by defending him. Oh no, Em is not going to go for that.
Emily intently studies my face and then her eyes widen with a type of dread, as if she's discovered her boyfriend cheating on her. "Oh my god, I can't believe it. You actually are falling in love with-with Alvar, Lucy!"
"What?" I blink in utter shock. Her words send icy shivers through my body. No, I'm not falling in love with him, but I'm growing to respect him, he's a man with a past as distorted and twisted as a crown of thorns.
"You just defended him," Emily states, crossing her arms. "You don't defend someone who has kidnapped you and forced you to marry them unless you've succumbed to some kind of Stockholm syndrome."
"He didn't force me to do anything, Emily," I state. "I chose to marry him. I saved your life by marrying him."
"There! See what I mean? Defending him again," Emily shakes her head and places her palm against my cheek, her eyes filled with sympathy. "Honey, remember Mike? He's decent, worth your love. Alvar, although I'll admit is hot as hell, is the definition of a bad guy, and not in a good way."
"I know." Tears start to swell and I bite my lip. "But he's not really all that bad, Emily. He's just... you don't know him like I do!"
"Oh my gosh! You're admitting to it! And that is the same excuse every abusive relationship woman gives," Emily snaps, shaking her head in sympathy.
I recognize the look. It's the same look she gave me when I'd first told her of my mom's stories.
"We need to go back home. Get you back to Mike," Emily says. "That's why I'm coming with. To convince you and his royal highness over there it's for the best!"
"I've never loved Mike romantically, Em." The words swim out before I can reel them back in.
"I know that," Emily frowns and sighs.
"Then why do you think it was okay for me to marry him?" I snap. Suddenly I'm infuriated with her. How dare she psychoanalyze me?
Like she's done almost our entire relationship, I remind myself.
"Instead you want me to divorce the person I can't get enough of?" Huh? Had I just said I couldn't get enough of Alvar? But... My image of Emily is transforming in that moment, from someone who was there for me my entire life to someone who has manipulated and controlled my lost and pliable soul since the beginning of our relationship.
"Get in a lay then with Alvar if you have to get it out of your system, then let's go back home. Back home to Earth! You don't belong here and you know you'll do a terrible job as a queen," Emily commands. "I know you better than anyone else, and I know that you're far too shy and paranoid to deal with all the crap here. You have trust issues."
"We're done talking now," my tone cold toward her. "I'm going to ask Alvar how long till we reach the Sky Wave."
I ride ahead of her and sidle myself in pace with Alvar.
"Lucy," Alvar says my name simply. He takes a sideways glance at me. "You're upset about something?"
"I'll be fine," I grit my teeth. We're in the center of the city, I'd seen it before at night, but in the daylight it is gorgeous to look at. Lush green trees are planted near the pristine white houses, and the gold cobblestone glints in the sunlight. Exotic birds sing from the trees and the air smells of spice.
I study Alvar a moment, he's wearing smart riding clothes with black leather gloves and boots, along with a slate grey cape, white shirt, and navy trousers. Around his neck is the Mystar amulet I know to be filled with his memories. Without thinking I reach over from Titan's saddle and place my hand on Alvar's.
"You'll walk me through everything with these visits, right?" I ask.
"Of course," Alvar gives me a reassuring smile and takes my hand in his own and squeezes it. "But you'll do fine. Lucy, I believe you're much braver than you think you are."
YOU ARE READING
Bride of Alvar (Redemption Saga, Book 1)
Fantasy*completed NOW A PUBLISHED NOVEL!* An ancient Cursed bloodline, a world-crossed romance, tyrant kings, a princess with dragon wings, a forbidden love affair, and a sorcerer meant to reign in chaos... this is the Redemption Saga. Bride of Alvar What...