The Queen's Wing by Jessica Thorne

Author:Jessica Thorne [Thorne, Jessica]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781786816177
Publisher: Bookouture
Published: 2018-11-21T05:00:00+00:00

I can’t sleep. I toss and turn in my bed until I’ve twisted the sheets to such a state that they are useless. There are only two days left to our wedding and my fiancé knows… well, whatever it is he thinks he knows. Eventually, I admit defeat and get up, pulling on a robe. Jessam and Petra are on duty outside, and when I step from my room they stand to attention.

‘Stop it,’ I grumble. ‘Get some rest. I need fresh air, that’s all.’

There isn’t a hope. Not after everything that’s happened. They follow me silently. With a resigned sigh, I walk along the edge of the terrace. Some of the flowers are night blooming, their scent relaxing and on any other night, they might have helped. But it’s useless tonight.

The palace gardens are still and silent. I lean on the balustrade, wishing there was something I could do. And then I hear them. Voices drift up from the lower level. I know them at once. Con and Shae. They’re having a conversation, or at least Con – ever the diplomat – is trying.

‘If I’m out of line, tell me, but she had no choice but to come here.’

‘It’s Bel’s duty and honour to be here.’ Shae’s gruff reply doesn’t surprise me. I’d expect nothing less. ‘Ask her.’

‘And I’m sure that is what she would say. Her father, her duty, the Imperial command and all that. But I wanted to ask you. She cares about you, Shae. Very much.’

I wait for an answer to drift towards me, feeling my face heating in the cool night’s air. The one that reaches me is devastating.

His voice sounds hollow. ‘Your Majesty is reading too much into our relationship. We met as children, it is true. I’ve been a family friend for many years, but she’s just a girl… No, not just a girl, she is the Royal Princess of Vairian and I am sworn to protect her, to give my life for her if needs be. And I would do that. In a heartbeat. But she… she’s nothing more to me.’

The words stab inside me. I wince and bite the inside of my lip to keep silent. My face feels so hot in the chill of the night’s air.

‘Shae, please…’

‘She is going to be your wife, Anthaem. That is the end of it.’ There’s no denying the venom in Shae’s voice now. A bitter silence closes over them.

Con clears his throat, awkward and uncomfortable. ‘I see.’ And I know he does. Far too much. He understands things better than we do. ‘I hope… I hope you and I can be friends, Captain Finn.’

Silence follows that, cold and terrible. And finally Shae answers. ‘Anthaem Conleith, I will serve you, obey you, protect you unless it puts Bel in danger, but…whatever we are, your Majesty, we are never likely to be friends. There’s too much between us, isn’t there?’

No answer comes, just the sound of booted feet moving away at Shae’s familiar swift pace. I imagine Con just standing there, speechless.

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