Ash's Place

Chapter 1

Author's Note: Welcome to Ash's Place! I hope you enjoy reading! Don't forget to vote and comment if you like it!

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Ash's POV

"Lady Locklynn, your presence is requested in the throne room."

Of course it is. My presence is always requested in the places I never want to be.

I want to say: Tell them I am busy. Tell them I have other duties to tend to. Tell them that the future queen does not need to be summoned. Tell them to shove their requests straight up their fat lazy...

Instead, I muster up a sweet smile and say, "I understand, Sir West. I shall come with you right away."

He holds out the crook of his arm for me to take so he can escort me to the throne room. Finnegan West is a kind man, with dark wavy hair and blue eyes. He is the kind of guard every girl wishes she had. At twenty-five with his warrior physique, he is easily one of the most attractive men I have ever met. His quiet introverted personality contrasts with the intense dedication he has to ensuring my safety and it makes me love him even more. He provides a sense of comfort and safety that no one else can give me. If I had the choice, I would marry him.

But Lady Locklynn will never be offered such luxuries.

My choices are not my own. They will never be my own.

Finn holds himself with such easy confidence as we walk down the hall to my inevitable doom. Bouquets of purple and yellow flowers cascade down the white walls, the only splash of color in the otherwise pristine and boring white hall. My annoying high heels clack obnoxiously against the white marble floors, and I wish I could take them off and throw them at the guards stationed outside the quickly approaching throne room doors. Maybe if I just slightly impale them, I can get out of this meeting.

"Lady Locklynn..." Finn whispers lowly while laying a gentle hand over mine that is still tucked in his arm. A silent warning. Ugh.

I roll my eyes and force my magic to flow back into my body. Just a little impalement wouldn't actually hurt anyone, right?

We stop in front of the doors and the guards bow their heads while crossing an arm over their heart. I click my tongue and they raise their heads. Finn gives a curt nod to them, and they open the large wooden doors for us. I take a deep breath and plaster a soft smile on my face as I drop Finn's arm and confidently walk into the throne room.

I bow deeply before the King and Queen perched atop their dramatic thrones. The wooden thrones have carvings up and down the sides of them. Creatures of all kinds, engaged in battle are carved into the King's throne and the flowers that grow out of the bloodshed are carved into the Queen's throne. Both are draped in extravagant purple silk. A tongue click has me raising my head with natural grace. I maintain the perfected and practiced soft smile that has been drilled onto my face for the last twenty years as I take in their appearance.

The Queen's long and flowing gown is a glittering silver, highlighting her natural silver hair. My natural silver hair. She sits with her ankles crossed and her hands placed delicately in her lap. She is the perfect embodiment of what a queen is supposed to look like. I move my eyes up to her crown, bejeweled with sparkling purple gemstones and dazzling pure diamonds.

Moving my eyes down her face, I catch a new bruise on her perfect cheekbones. Although it is covered by her makeup, I still notice. I always notice. When my eyes meet hers, I realize she is observing me in the same manner that I have been observing her.

I watch her eyes travel down my body and when they land on the mud that is caked onto the bottom layer of my own flowing gown, her eyes slightly narrow with the disapproving grimace I have received countless times in my short existence on this earth. Ignoring her, I move my attention over to the King.