Hope
Why was he staring at me like he wanted to kill me? Was it because of what I said in the meeting earlier? Fear gripped my heart at the thought of that. Of course he was about to threaten me for speaking up.
I squinted my eyes and braced myself for the earful that I was about to receive.
“If it were up to me, you wouldn’t even know that this room existed. The only reason why you’re here and will continue to be here is because of the useless treaty and the elders who want to see your face to ensure that I’m not abusing you.” Darius said monotonously.
“You are not to speak when you are here. I will excuse today because you were caught off-guard and probably overwhelmed. But come another day, keep your opinions to yourself. You might be my wife, but you are not my queen.” He continued.
His last statement knocked me right off my balance. He was right about it though. Just because I was his wife didn’t mean I was his queen, their queen. I was still human and had to be officially crowned before I started acting like I was a queen.
The thought of that left a bitter taste in my tongue. Not that I even wanted to be an official queen, but the fact that my husband was now making it clear that he didn’t want me to be queen. It was just saddening.
But it didn’t matter. When Light showed up, she would get to be queen instead because it is her right.
“I understand.” I said to him.
He nodded. “Good. Nice to see that you know your place.” With that, he backed away from me and left the room.
On cue, I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. It seemed that whenever I was in a closed space with Darius, I always felt suffocated and choked up.
No matter. I picked up myself and walked out the meeting room, only to be ambushed by the Commander after my first step. Hmm, she wasn’t around for the meeting. Did that mean she wasn’t welcome there or was there something that I was missing?
“I don’t know whether to call it stupidity or boldness.” She said in her usual drawl-like voice as she stepped beside me.
Was she talking about what I said in the meeting? If she was, then how did she know that? She wasn’t even present in the meeting.
“Word travels fast in the Lycan palace. Plus, we can always use our mindlinks.” Thoughtful of her to remind me of that.
The Lycans could communicate with each other using mindlinks. It was something only they could do and understand. They could communicate with thousands of people at the same time with no problem. Such a thing made me kind of green with jealousy.
“Oh,” was the only thing I said as we started to walk.
“Is all of this an act? Your meek, weak character? Or is it truly you? Why can’t I read you?” She searched my face as she spoke, looking for an expression.
Unfortunately for her, the only person who could pull an expression from me since I came to Moratia was Darius. And it was always a panicked or fear-filled one.
“I don’t understand what you mean.” I said.
I couldn’t understand anything that happened in this palace. Especially when it came to the commander and other people.
“I thought as much.” She replied to me, then went ahead to turn around and walk away with a dampened mood.
Only the heavens could understand such a woman. I didn’t know how someone like Orion could put up with her. He seemed like the type who would want a quiet wife so he could rule over. Same as the commander. They both had such strong personalities. Maybe that was why they could be together.
No matter, it is not even my concern.
*****
“So, you’re saying you spoke up in council meetings without being crowned?” Amara asked between laughs.
A small frown was on my face as I sat on the stool next to her bed. I had come in with a frown and she was concerned. She asked why I was not in a good mood and I explained it to her. Only for her to start laughing at me and making jokes about the situation.
“It’s not that funny.” I pouted as I spoke.
She cackled. “What do you mean it’s not funny? It’s plenty funny, child. I know that you were concerned about your kind but don’t try to make a difference or change the minds of those people when you can’t even back up your words.” She said, and I raised a questioning brow.
“What?”
“If you want to speak, then make sure the people you are speaking to hear your words.” She emphasized, and I got confused.
“Silly child, you’re too innocent for this world. It should’ve been the other one. You can’t speak, you can’t take control, of course they are going to take advantage of you in this palace.” She stood up from her bed as she spoke.
My curious eyes followed her movements as she walked over to the small shelf in her room and pulled out a book. She walked back to me and dropped the book on my lap.
“What is this?” I asked as I searched the spine and covers for a name but couldn’t find any.
“It’s a diary from a late queen. She was in a situation much like yours over two hundred years ago. Her sister died because of a plague and she was forced to take her position as wife of the king. She got married to the then king, Augustus Morati. You remind me of her.” Amara spoke like she was reminiscing of a good time.
“India Vitalis. One of the best queens Moratia has ever seen.” Amara continued, dropping down on her bed.
“Really? How come? I know nothing of her.” I said.
“That’s because you humans know nothing about anything. All you care about is survival and greed. India was different. Did you know she murdered her own husband and became the sole queen of the nation?”
My jaw dropped. A human? Murdered a Lycan king and became the sole ruler of a Lycan nation.
“But- but-” I spluttered my words, finding it hard to understand what Amara had just said.
“Read the diary. Perhaps you can learn a thing or two from India.” With that, she swatted me away and basically shooed me out from her room. I got back into the library and left.
After the first step I took out of the library, I saw Annalise with a sly smile on my lips. I halted immediately, frozen in time.
Curses.