29. Fools

Estelle

“So what do we know.” I couldn’t think about Leighton as my heart ached more as the distance between us grew.

“If the King has them, then we are best to go straight to Abbadon Castle. There is no point lying Estelle, however you aren’t marked so really we should be able to smooth this over.” Peter had his diplomatic hat on.

“You don’t think we should take my army ? What if he wants to punish me or I don’t know set an example?”

“Surely that just makes you look guilty or at the very least hostile. No we are better to arrive quietly, after all your engagement party is in a few days. The King won’t cancel that, he is desperate to show of his match between you and Prince Alonso.”

I knew that was true, but I would have felt better arriving there with my army.

“Or our mate.”

“Raine please, I know this is hard but we need to work together. If the King finds out about Leighton what’s to stop him killing him ? Or at the very least he will use him to keep me compliant.

Goddess know how long it will be before the Prince and I have power, until then we are at the hands of a tyrant we don’t want to upset anymore than we have.”

It wasn’t often I needed to scold my wolf but I was upset enough. I didn’t need her making me worse, especially when I had to pretend everything was fine.

“What if we can get to the Prince first, maybe I can negotiate with him.” I was clutching desperately at straws, in some vain hope I didn’t need to go through with this.

Peter looked deep in thought.

“If we can convince the King that you are playing ball, maybe we can get to the Prince…

How much do you trust him ? Do you think he will go for your idea?”

I sank down into my seat in despair, I didn’t really know anything about my husband to be.

“I guess, if he met his mate and seems to be happy to continue the engagement maybe I’m stupid getting my hopes up. But I guess all I have to lose is him finding out I have a mate and I want him. As long as they don’t find out who he is he should be safe.”

“I will get a message back to Eclipse, somehow, make sure Leighton knows to keep his head down until we figure out what to do, and keep an eye on Piper. They might use her too if they find them.”

“What do you mean?” Isabelle asked her brother.

“If they find out who our are mates are, they can do worse than kill them, especially if they have plans that we might not be keen on. We need to remember that the King had a reach far beyond, that that we know of. If he knows about them then they won’t be safe, even staying in Eclipse.”

Isabelle looked worried. “You aren’t marked?” She looked at her brother like she had just noticed.

“I didn’t have much time, but also I didn’t want to put her in danger.” He looked regrettably back at her and she patted his hand.

“I got them to set a protection spell around there, before we left, that dark witch can’t return.” I told them, hoping to settle everyone’s nerves.

“Don’t think he won’t have others. Maybe not a dark witch but he will have one that he has something of theirs, something that they are willing to do anything to get back.”

The harsh reality of his words sunk in. I had been a stupid fool falling in love with Leighton. I just hoped I had got back here fast enough to cover my mistake before he got hurt.

I was lost, alone in my thoughts and before I knew it we were descending towards the castle.

Guards met us of the plane and escorted us across the bridge. I already hated this place, pausing at the door I took a deep breath, composing myself before I entered because I couldn’t afford to let any emotions show once I was inside.

We were left waiting a large ballroom, with no seats. As tempting as it was to pace up and down to march out my nervous frustration but I knew what King Adalfundis was trying to do so I stood like a statue.

Peter stood solemnly beside me but Isabelle kept looking nervously around.

“Whatever happens, don’t show any emotion, he will use it against you.” Peter whispered in my ear.

I didn’t need his remainder I was quietly locking my emotions away.

I wasn’t sure how long we waited before the King decided to grace us with his presence.

“Now, Princess Estelle, what warrants this pleasant yet unexpected visit ?” He asked with a smirk in his voice.

“I believe you have taken something of mine.” My voice rang out, loud and strong.

“Now Princess, why would I have done something like that? After all we are to be family very soon.” The smirk was still there but something glinted dangerously behind his eyes that I struggled to read.

“I have no idea, your Grace. However we know how rumours regarding the royals have a nasty habit of flying. However I’m sure our parents would like to return home now and as you can see. I am here, ready and willing to uphold their promise.”

It was a petty dig, that I wasn’t upholding my promise but I couldn’t help myself.

“I don’t know why you think your parents would be here. I have sent expecting them until the engagement party.”

Alarms bells started to ring in my head, I felt Peter stiffen but then try to hide it.

“What is he taking about?”

“I have no idea, I have a bad feeling we were tricked.” Peter replied.

“Where are my parents?” I looked the King directly in the eye, trying to see if I could suss him out.

“I imagine they are at home. I don’t know why you would possibly think they were here?”

He looked at Isabelle and smirked.

“You told me to bring her here or you would hurt them?” She spluttered.

Looking back at me the King smiled triumphantly.

“First rule of leading Princess Estelle, trust no one.”

A horrible sinking feeling washed over me, he obviously had some reason to want me here. When I didn’t reply the King turned to leave.

“Dinner will be one hour.”

“What the hell is going on Isabelle ?” Peter asked the minute he left.

“I don’t know, I don’t understand. He just said if I didn’t want them to die to tell you and make sure you came.”

“You didn’t think to check?”

“You did!” She fired back at him.

“I don’t understand why my contacts were blocked.” He shook his head.

“He knew, somehow. He knew you were with us and he knew who your contacts were. I don’t know how but he does. He somehow intercepted them. To be honest it doesn’t matter how he managed to trick us but why. Why does he want me here? As far as he thinks I was coming in a few days.”

I interrupted their argument, and I saw Peter trying to work it out too. Isabelle remained quiet, probably feeling guilty that she brought us here. I was seriously regretting not stopping to get my army now, I would have found my parents and not be on the back foot like I was currently.

“It looks like we aren’t going to have any choice but to join him for dinner.” Peter said looking at the guards positioned at the exit of the room. “Let’s see if we can work out what his plan is?”

“Okay, we eat, see if we can suss him out then suggest I go home, returning for the party.”

“Does he look like a fool? There is no way he is letting you leave.” Isabelle said.

“I think we have established the fools are us, but what do I have to lose. Worst case we work out how one or both of you can escape and you can come back for me?”

“Hold on princess, are you marrying the prince or not?” Peter looked at me with exhaustion etched all over his face.

I looked at him defiantly. “ I don’t like being tricked Peter, if the King thinks he is getting a meek wife for his prince he has another thing coming. If I’m giving up my mate it’s to rule as Queen. You don’t go to this much effort for no reason. We have to assume he is up to no good, so if I have to stall the wedding until I know his game plan so be it.”

“Okay.” Peter agreed. “If he doesn’t let us leave willing, one of us gets out and goes for help. You are right, this was alot of effort. He must have been worried about something. Let’s hope the Prince is here, you might get more information from him than his father.”

“Why is that ?” Isabelle asked.

“Everyone knows the Prince was a happy about the arrangement, he has been enthralled by you since he met you years ago.”

“What, he barely spoke to me?”

“Apparently he hadn’t expected you to be so beautiful. Whatever the reason he has never put up any resistance to the match.”

My heart sank. “So my plan to get him inside to reject the match for our mates might be fruitless too.”

“The pull of the bond is strong. The only thing that allowed me to leave Piper was that she would be safe. I know I said I would have rejected my mage for you if you needed me to but I honestly don’t know if I could if you asked. It’s worth a shot.”

“Would you still do that ? Go back for Leighton and leave the prince alone?” Isabelle asked.

I wanted to scream at her of course I would but I controlled myself. I needed to let that dream go.

“If you guys get out of here, go to my parents, don’t tell Leighton I’m in trouble. I’m not dragging him into this mess.”

A guard came in and announced that the Prince and King were waiting for us int he dining room.

With trepidation we made our way through. The King was sat at the head of the table, the Prince sat to his left. The Prince rose to greet us as we entered.

I sat to the right of the King as protocol dictated. I could feel both sets of eyes on me. Peter sat down beside me and Izzy took her seat next to the Prince. I saw his eyes narrow at me.

“You aren’t wearing your ring ?”

I had forgotten all about the damn ring, I hadn’t even looked at it once.

“Apologies, I didn’t feel it was appropriate to wear it as you hadn’t actually proposed.”

He scowled, while we both knew it was a formality I thought he might have at least gone to the effort of asking me himself.

He looked at his father, before turning back to me.

“You are to wear it all times, until you bear my mark it means you belong to me.”

I wasn’t discussing this in front of the King. Trying to keep my voice as light as possible.

“I confess was hoping we could spend some time together, and maybe you would ask me when we are alone ?”

I tried to lower my eyes in what I hoped was a coy fashion, hoping he would peg me for a hopeless romantic. Thankfully Peter cottoned on quickly.

“I’m afraid the princess was a little upset with not seeing the Prince in person. She was what they say, a hopeless romantic.” He shrugged his shoulders.

“There is no place for romance when you are royalty.” The King snapped at me.

“Now, father, she is right. I could have made a little more effort. I mean we are to spend the rest of our lives together. If the princess wishes me to be more romantic when we are alone, that shouldn’t be too much to ask.”

I didn’t like the way he looked at me when he said alone. Izzy’s face of horror didn’t make me feel any better.

“Would it suit your Grace if the Prince and took a walk after dinner ?” I asked the King politely.

I watched him study me for a moment and I had to stop myself from staring him down.

Keep in the game Estelle, don’t poke the wolf.

“Poke all you like, I’m done already playing nice.”

“Come in Raine, we need to find out their game, I think the Prince is our best bet.”

My wolf humphed but remained quiet. The rest of dinner was passed in silence as we ate. I could feel eyes on me at all time and it made it difficult to act normally.

As soon as dinner was over I tested the waters.

“Would you be free now Prince Alonso, I thought we could take a walk before I go home to see my parents. In the confusion I came straight here.”

I watched as King obviously linked him before he offered his arm. As much as it icked me to do so I linked arms with him and let him lead me out the room.

“Let me show you the garden.” He said as he led me away.

I waited until I hoped we were out of earshot of anyone before speaking.

“So, we haven’t really had a chance to get to know each other. How do you fell about the arrangement?”

He stoped, extracting his arm and turned to face me.

“I had no objections, if that was what you were worried about.”

I was taken aback slightly but tried not to let it show.

“I meant how did you feel about having to leave your mate?”

I saw he seemed surprised I knew this.

“How would you feel if I had a proposition so that you didn’t need too?” I continued.

“Go on ?”

“Let’s say, hypothetically of course we chose to not get married, we could still form an alliance of sorts. I mean it might not be much different to the arranged proposed we just don’t get married.”

“Why would I agree to that, I have no intention of giving up my mate, although how you knew I met her I will confess has me intrigued.”

“What do you mean? Are you breaking of the engagement ?”

The a prince laughed and it wasn’t a nice sound.

“Don’t be ridiculous, I have wanted you since the first moment I met you. I had fully planned to reject my mate but I confess the bond was too strong and she may yet prove useful.”

He stroked my neck and a shiver of dread shot through me.

“I may feel differently about her once I’ve marked you, but for now I’ll keep her around.”

My hand shot out before I could control it, slapping him a cross the face.

“If you think as your Queen I will allow a mistress you have another thing coming.”

Instantly his hands were around my throat.

“I will be your King and you WiLL treat me with respect. Who I f*** Princess with be none of your business. But just in case you get anymore ideas above your station. You will be MINE and mine alone. I’ll kill anyone that touches you. Starting with your precious fool Peter.”