Thorns of Arrangement (f/f arranged marriage / enemies to lovers)

First Impressions

I pulled my lip back, eyeing the dull tipped canines in the mirror. Crynthan had told me just last night that humans assumed we sharpened our fey teeth in order to rip out throats on a whim. I let go, watching my gums disappear and humphed in indignation. Of course my own brother would try to frighten me the day before I lay witness to my bride. If only humans knew our warrior teeth came out solely in battle. I had no intention of killing the future of our kingdom.

A knock pulled my attention and I flicked my fingers to draw the door open, using the mirror to see who peeped through. Speaking of Crynthan, he pushed the door further with a booted foot wearing a smile wide enough my tiara shone against it. "Am I interrupting?" He asked, coyness dripping through his lips.

"As a matter of fact, you are," I huffed, turning away from the mirror and in turn away from him, my smirk hidden. I fumbled with the gold anklets at my foot, adjusting them so they layered perfectly against my light skin. I smiled at the display before spinning my chair to face him in entirety. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Crynthan leaned against the door frame, losing his simpering act and folded his arms. "You are taking too long staring in the mirror and not enough time preparing to meet our future." He emphasized the "our" part, as though he had any expectations on him being the younger and only sibling of mine.

I rolled my eyes, rose from the chair and padded to the staggering armoire against the back wall. Materializing from the contents was the dress I intended to wear in front of Alvena. My skin pricked at the thought of the warrior princess seeing me in this attire. I admired it, dark blue silk with elongated sleeves, clear crystals along the wrists, waist, deep v and train. I was told she was tall, dark, dangerous and didn't abide by typical princess ware, which made sense considering she reigned over a human army larger than the population of my citizens, but an inkling of me hoped she would admire her bride as well. Was I a fool to long for real love in an arranged marriage? Perhaps, but I wanted more than a political stiff neck to sleep across from every night. Father would scoff at such nonsense, but it wouldn't stop me from praying to our ancestors to give me some reprieve.

I sighed, turning to face my brother who I was sure had lost his smile to boredom and I was in fact correct. He stood there picking at his manicured nails on one hand, the other pushed into his neat trouser pocket. He was quite flamboyant and I wondered how our parents had sired two children quite unlike themselves. Crynthan caught my amused smile and beamed his own at me, boredom circumvented. "Come on princess, we have work to do."

—

I looped my arm through my father's, careful not to ruffle the king's dapper suit. Crynthan nodded a confident head at me through his thick eyelashes, feigning reassurance. He almost looked apprehensive. Almost, and vague suspicion filled my pores. I ignored it.

Father's head was held high as he led me towards the door and towards my future. I held mine to match.

As the powdered glass doors opened, I lifted my chin higher so as not to  reveal my palpitating anxiety. A hummingbird couldn't match, but I remained the raven. This was the moment I waited for. The moment my grandmother described as wretched truth to whether or not love at first sight existed. I prayed it did.

As custom by the human warriors we entered while the moon was high, my day of sun and innocence at its end.

For a moment my vision turned fuzzy, as though I looked through binoculars set for someone else's eyes. I blinked three times and as they cleared, I could see multiple figures in the night. They didn't bring an army, in fact they didn't bring much of anyone, no guards even. My brows furrowed for a moment. They must have been well trained and equipped to come on their own. I side eyed the guards flanking us on all sides, wondering if we were disrespectful to come so armed but brushed the feeling off. Father still led us down the marble stairs, my heels creating little clacks in the otherwise quiet night. The closer we got, the more detail I could see. The three warriors were dressed much more casual than ourselves. We still had distance to cross, but my fae eyes were sharp and I could make out leather pants and linen shirts. The glint of gold jewelry. I could tell Alvena stood center, and they were right about her. She was tall and lean, tanned skin and dark wavy hair. Her deep blue eyes were piercing. I felt my throat constrict at her beauty. She was quite possibly the most ravishing woman I had ever laid eyes on. Her toned arms were held behind her back while her eyes focused solely on the King. Why wasn't she looking at me? Was it a custom? Respect? I felt my brows furrow again and immediately forced myself to relax. I took a deep breath through my nose and smiled.