FRAGILE

Chapter 3- A decision

Melissa froze.

"B-become your queen?"

Adrian nodded, like he didn't just say something completely absurd.

Melissa was certain he had run mad.

"I am head priestess of a dying clan. I couldn't possibly leave then and marry you. Besides, I'm not exactly very fond of you either your majesty." She replied.

"Take it or leave it" Adrian replied, picking up another apple from his fruit bowl. "You have till sundown to decide. Now, If you'll excuse me, I have some issues to deal with." with that, he gracefully stood up and walked out of the room with his two guards on his heels leaving Melissa gawking after him.

She couldn't believe what he had offered.

She? She should become the queen of Golden fire? Would his mother even approve?

It took years of training to learn how to be a queen and most royal families married into other royal families or daughters of well renowned Lords or councilmen.

Never a commoner. Never a mere sorcerer

He didn't even like her.

He had accused her of being a whore a few moments prior.

Melissa was conflicted.

It was times like these she wished her parents were still alive. She had never met them before. They had abandoned her in Silverstone when she was just a youngling and no one ever spoke about them since she was born. She had had a very rough childhood, learning to fend off men at a young age because of her beauty and perfecting her powers by the age of six. She was all she had ever had. She had worked tirelessly to climb her way to the top of the clan, and even then they didn't want to accept her as high priestess because they feared that an orphan would bring bad luck to the people.

Melissa sighed. They were probably right.

After all, they were the only clan suffering this much.

But still, for her to leave all that. All her hard earned work to become queen? To marry a man she felt nothing but hatred and disgust for?

But if she didn't her clan was going to suffer terribly, and probably not survive through the next winter. She couldn't fail them.

What kind of high priestess would she be if she let down her clan the one time they needed her the most?

She made her decision then.

Her clan was more important than her living miserably for the rest of her life. She just prayed that King Adrian would get bored of her eventually and let her go in time.

With that thought she quietly walked out of the throne room.

"Miss Star?" a guard asked, as soon as she exited the throne room.

"Yes?" she replied.

He smiled at her, a charming smile, then said "the king asked me to escort you to one of the palace guest chambers. He wants you to join him this night for supper"

Melissa raised a brow at the handsome young man, "I'm sorry but I'll have to politely decline. Tell your king."

The young man scratched the back of his head worriedly, "please miss? The king said I should ensure you do as he says." His lower lip jutted out in an unconscious pout as he stared at her pleadingly. He didn't want to lose his job. It was his first day working in the palace.

Melissa felt bad for the man, it was obvious he wanted no part in this mess yet he was dragged into it by the king. "Fine," she agreed making the man's eyes light up, "but in doing this because I don't want you to lose your job and not for the king"

He nodded rapidly, "of course! Thank you so much miss!"

Melissa laughed, "Call me Melissa please."

"Of course Melissa, this way please" he replied allowing her to walk first before falling in step beside her.

"And what may I call you?" she asked curious.

"Dorian" he replied, flashing her another charming smile with sparkly white teeth, she also noticed his canines were longer than usual.

"I'm guessing you're a werewolf?" she asked

He looked stunned, "what gave it away?"

"Your teeth" she replied with a smile. "But you could've also been a vampire. I just guessed werewolf because you're not pale."

"Wow, you're quite observant" Dorian replied, a small smile playing on his lips.

"It's a witch thing" she replied just as they stopped in front of a huge door. "I'm guessing this is the room?"

Dorian nodded, "I hope it's too your liking." He said, opening the door for her.

She thanked him and walked into the room, scanning the area. It was huge and had a massive queen sized bed in the center. There was also a small wooden table in the corner with various fruits and bread placed on it and a jug of wine with two wine cups. She had a new, fancier dress laid out on the bed for her.

"Would you like me to fetch you a maid to help you freshen up?" she heard Dorian ask.

"No thank you, I can take care of myself" she replied.

Dorian looked baffled but nodded either way, "Dinner starts by six and I'll be here to escort you to the hall"

She nodded, "thank you Dorian"

He smiled once more, "of course Melissa" then he was gone, shutting the door behind him.

The first thing Melissa did was lock the door, then she turned around and walked towards the table, she needed a glass of wine after today events and she definitely wasn't looking forward to dinner with Adrian.

All the council members were going to be there, along with the king's younger brother who she was yet to meet but had heard tales about.

He was basically everything Adrian was not.

And she couldn't wait to see if what she had heard was true.

She glanced back toward the dress. Should she wear that to dinner? Or stick with her outfit.

She didn't want to be underdressed, but that dress was made out of fine silk and encrusted with diamonds.

She wasn't worthy of such clothes.

She sighed, taking another sip of the wine. She still had a few hours to decide on what to wear.

Instead she picked up a paper and dipped a feather in ink, deciding to update her clan on what was going on.

'The king has agreed to help us,

But only under a condition that I would explain when I return.

Just know.....

We may need a new high priestess.'

She sighed and rolled the paper the summoned on her power. A small fire appeared in her hand and burnt up the paper. This was one of the ways her clan communicated. A burning paper meant hope was near.

She took another sip of her wine.

And watched ass the paper slowly crumbled...

She felt like she had just made a terrible decision.

But there was no going back.