When It Reigns (Cursed Reigns, #1)

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

AERYN'S POV

I was grateful for Edge's silence as we walked, allowing me to concentrate on filling in the missing gaps of my mental map of the castle. We made it to the entranceway of the building with the banner of the kingdom's crest and took to the spiraling staircase and wound our way around it to the second floor.

The entire floor was an open space with a long table dominating the center of the room. King Kristos was seated at the head of the table with his son and wife on either side of him. The Demon Queen's black robe was identical to her husband's and the silver crown on her head was twice the size of mine. Half of her face was covered by an ivory mask and the other displayed a beautiful woman with vibrant silver hair that touched her waist. She had the same dark eyes as her son, minus the milky white one Shade possessed, and she exuded an air of confidence and austerity.

The queen had never been spoken about in the academy. I hadn't even been sure she existed.

Sweeping an arm out, she welcomed, "Hello, Princess Aeryn. Please take a seat wherever you'd like."

She dipped her chin and narrowed her eyes on her son sitting across from her, saying, "You're too close. Back up." 

Shade's chair scraped along the floor as he moved his chair back a few inches, smoke curling around his ankles.

Edge remained rooted in place by the stairs, assuming his bodyguard duty as I bowed my head and joined the royal family. I pulled out the chair next to Shade and smoothed my dress out, sitting down. The demon prince braced and moved his chair closer to King Kristos.

"Radarys, would you introduce yourself to our new family member?" the king requested.

Queen Radarys shot her son a stern look, then extended her hand to me with a forced smile. "I'm Radarys, but you can call me Queen."

"Okay..." I said, taking her hand. "I'm Aeryn."

The Queen retracted her hand and coolly replied, "I'm aware of who you are."

The remainder of the meal proceeded in the same stiff manner. I listened to the family talk about giving their warriors time to rest from fighting in the war while they restored their kingdom along with the help of the Nyrial Empire's resources.

The war really was over. I'd saved my empire.

But I was paying for it by straining through an unbearable meal with the demonic royalty. Despite the discomfort, I scarfed down my entire meal and felt embarrassed when I noticed Shade's untouched plate of food. The king and queen hadn't consumed much either. I couldn't remember the last time I'd felt full after eating and hadn't realized how famished I'd been. It didn't help that my body was overexerting itself due to being separated from Zoran's essence. When I was finally dismissed, I had to abstain from sprinting to Edge.

As I started the descent down the stairs, I heard Queen Radarys' harsh tone reprimand her son, saying, "If you keep her locked up in a separate room for much longer, the marriage will look as fabricated as the treaty. If you can convince me that it is authentic, then the Nyrial Emperor will blindly accept it."

Shade's furious response rumbled low in his throat. "There is nothing authentic about an arranged marriage, especially one in which I can kill the princess without batting an eye."

Edge ushered me down the steps until their conversation was out of earshot.

He really was going to kill me.

"That is not your demise, my princess."

"I didn't mean to say that out loud," I admitted, angry at myself for giving volume to my thoughts yet again. "You're just defending him to give me a false sense of security."