confession. Was the person they were declaring today not the first choice?
“Father, before you continue, what changed?” I had to know, Ineededto know for my own sanity.
“Ornella, the one we originally chose, has now left our lands to face the consequences of their actions.”
I felt sick to my stomach as I put the pieces together—at the realisation of what he meant. Cole—they were going to allow
me to marry Cole. Was that why Mother left the tournament when she did? She knew. If Father had declared it, that meant she
wouldn’t be able to contest it.
I wanted to throw up. To tell them Cole did not mean to harm Norok. All that we needed was a public apology, and then I
could go ahead and marry him.
“But as such, and against my own wishes,” Father’s voice broke my train of thought. “Your mother wanted to allow you
sometime for this news to settle in before your official ceremony happens, followed by your wedding day.”
What was happening? I felt all eyes on me as my palms grew sweaty. Mother shifted in her seat, looking a little uneasy, as
did Talia. Talia knew who they’d picked and given me no hints or even a clue as to who that person could be.
“With that all being said, may our crown princess’s future husband please step forward.”
My heart sank as I watched the men move back and only one remained standing as he took a single step forward. My mouth
filled with bile as I stared at him wide eyed and filled with rage.
“Dorian,” I muttered and he smiled sadistically back. “You cannot be serious. I cannot marry my uncle! That’s disgusting!”
I shouted and a few mumbles were heard in the crowd around me. Clearly people agreed.
“Surely this goes against all codes of our line.”
“Dorian has agreed to marry you only in name. He has many years on his belt as my advisor and will take great care of you
should anything happen to myself or the queen.”
I turned to storm out. This was not going to happen. I would not allow it to. Once I got to the courtyard doors, I flung them
open and headed towards the rose gardens, moving quickly to the tree line.
As I reached the tree line, I stopped dead in my tracks. Why had they suggested Dorian? When there were so many other
nobles within our court and outside the realms that would have done a perfect job—a better job in fact.
Maybe, this could work in my favour. I would destroy him from the inside out before he lay another hand on me. Only in
name was a lie. It was easily a way to get back to me. That had to be it.
“Well then future wife.”
My blood ran cold as I heard him speak from behind me. I wished at that moment that I had known how to use a dagger and
kill him. Turning around, I had to keep myself from throwing up at the sight of him.
He was uglier than I remembered. Since that memory burned its way through me, I only felt disgust when I saw him. I had to