Chapter 7

The morning light filtered through the heavy velvet drapes, illuminating the dust motes dancing in the air. Lilac stretched, the stiffness in her limbs a reminder of the night before. She sat up, wincing as the movement pulled at the tender skin of her neck and chest. The bite mark on her breast was already turning a dark, angry purple, throbbing with a dull, rhythmic ache that seemed to pulse in time with her heart.

She felt something missing and quickly grabbed at her throat. A chill washed over her when she couldn’t find the necklace. Her eyes darted about the room until she caught a glint of sparkle on the top of his desk. She let out a sigh of relief, realizing that Derek must have taken it off of her while she was sleeping. The gesture of intimacy.

“Good morning, mistress,” Mina said softly from the doorway, surprising Lilac.

The older handmaiden stepped forward while offering a sympathetic smile as she held out a fresh dress. “The king will have breakfast in the great hall, and he is expecting you.”

Mina led her into Derek’s bathing room, steam already curling up from the water, giving off a pleasant floral scent. The sight of the bath was a blessing; she desperately needed to scrub away the evidence of last night. His touch, his scent, and his taste.

But mostly, her own shame.

The dress they prepared was less revealing than yesterday’s, perfectly hiding the bite marks from view. Lilac looked in the mirror and noticed how modest she looked. The high-necked gown of deep blue velvet was a welcome relief, a small shield against the public gaze. Her hair was let loose with only a decorative barrette to frame her face. The setup was simple, but regal.

Lilac felt a flicker of surprise as she entered the dining hall. The men seated with Derek were different from the leering lords of the previous day. They were younger, their faces clean-shaven and their expressions sharp and serious. They looked like warriors and strategists, seasoned in the battlefields, not old, power-hungry nobles. Their eyes held no lust, only a cold analytical curiosity, as if she were a new piece on their map.

Derek acknowledged her with a brief, almost imperceptible nod before turning his attention back to the men.

“How are the preparations going?” Derek inquired.

“The clans have been summoned, and so has the rest of the realm,” a slim man wearing spectacles replied. He gave a quick glance toward Lilac before continuing. “The feast is prepared. The traditional vows will be observed.”

“My lord,” another councilman interjected, his brow furrowed with concern. “Tallafare has sent word. They are displeased. They speak of the ‘unseemly trade’ and the ‘hasty coronation.’”

A tense silence fell over the table. Lilac’s heart skipped a beat. Tallafare, her home. They were to join the coronation feast, and they were not happy.

“They fear the unified front of the North and the possibility of an expansion,” Derek scoffed. “As if I have an interest in taking care of fish and cattle trade.” He turned his gaze to Lilac. “My coronation will also be our wedding. You will be under the utmost care and pampering until then,” he added.