The Arrow of Midnight

Chapter 14

Jaime arrived at my door at exactly noon, just like my mother said she would. The female wore her usual smile and an off-white dress. A few days ago, I requested clothing other than dresses, and now I am clad in the black fighting leather that Jaime provided, the same attire that the army wore on the battlefield weeks ago. I really liked the black leather in comparison to my usual brown leather; it felt more breathable and complemented my ash-colored skin tone. I tugged at the three-quarter sleeves, smiling at the violet-colored accents that Jaime had worked into my leathers. I didn't ask for them, but I do love them nonetheless. She said she wanted them to feel like they were my own, as if they were specially made for me as a new princess in the kingdom, and that they matched my eyes. I cringed a bit at the new title I now had, but shrugged it off and followed her down the stone halls. The room was beautifully decorated, with large silver chandeliers giving light to the grey stone walls, and potted plants adding a splash of color to the space. A few small windows adorned the walls with soft sky-blue curtains that perfectly match the ocean.

I traced my fingers along the cool stone, feeling the small edges and cracks bumping against my calluses, and I smiled to myself. I always loved stone buildings; they were much cooler than the brick of the Midnight Court estate. Jaime led me past several dining halls, hallways, and lounging rooms before stopping in front of a large wooden door. She bent at the knee in a curtsy before padding off.

I shifted nervously on my feet. The door was made of dark stained oak with images of large wolf-like beasts carved into the panels. I steadied myself before I pushed the door open. It led to a massive open room with archways leading outside to a large balcony on the far side. A wooden table rested in the middle of the room, big enough to accommodate over 10 people, with chairs designed to comfortably seat chiropterans and their wings. There was a large hearth against the left wall with portraits flanking it, depicting what I assume are previous kings and queens. The floor was grey marble with small flecks of gold in between, and a few armchairs rested in the corner to my right. I slowly closed the door behind me as everyone turned to face me from their chairs. My mother sat at the head of the table with Maddox, Matthew, and two females I've never met before to her right, and Xavier to her left. I bent my knee in a small curtsy, and I could see Xavier holding back his laughter.

"You don't need to be so formal with us, dear," The one female said with a smile. She had stunning blue eyes, long brown hair that reached her lower back, full red lips, and a thin nose. I glanced at my mother, who simply gestured for me to join them.

"If anyone were to bow around here, it would be us, welcoming the new member of the royal family," Xavier said with a smile, leaning back in his seat before patting the armrest of the chair next to him. "Join us."

I bit the inside of my cheek as I made my way over to the chair and eased myself into it, my wings fitting perfectly into the slit at the backrest. My breath caught in my throat when a shadow-like figure caught my eye beside my mother. I immediately shot up from my chair when two yellow eyes peered at me through the shadows.

"Don't worry, she's harmless," my mother cooed, one hand gently stroking the shadow until a form started to take hold. It was a massive wolf, or at least that was the closest description I could give it. It had long black fur that seemed to drip with the essence of night. Large, piercing yellow eyes and fangs that were too long for its muzzle, peeking out on both sides of its lower lip. It was large enough that even lying down, her head reached the armrest of my mother's chair, with paws so big that they could smother my entire face. The claws were so sharp that I couldn't imagine what they could do to a body. "This is Nyx. She used to be the alpha of our pack of wargs. We train them for hunting and warfare." My mother mused as she patted the warg's head. "Sadly, she was challenged by a younger female, and she didn't want to fight for her spot as the alpha. Now, she's a sweet little house dog." I watched as my mother ruffled the beast's fur, causing it to yip and sit up with excitement.