Page 44 of Hearts on Fire
As the row of women formed along the wall, I took half a step back, which hopefully took me out of sight for most of the men present. Before any man summoned his chosen to his perch, however, Mother marched in front of our line. She stopped right next to me.
“Here she is, Your Majesty.” She placed a hand on my shoulder.
I froze. My head rang as if I’d been punched. My stomach hollowed.
Did she just expose me? But why?
I tried to shuffle further back, but Mother gripped my shoulder, not letting me move.
The king perked up in his throne.
“Is she really human?” He flicked his wrist, urging me closer.
I didn’t move. I couldn’t even if I tried. My feet seemed to grow into the rocks of the floor and my legs went so weak, I feared they wouldn’t hold me.
Mother shoved me forward.
“Go,” she hissed under her breath. “Or you’ll get us all killed.”
I stumbled forward, tripping over my feet. But I wouldn’t take a step on my own toward the man in the crown.
“You told me she’s been with you for a few weeks now,” the king enquired.
Mother bowed so deeply, any lower and she’d be kneeling. “For well over a month, Your Majesty.”
“And despite all that time, you failed to teach her obedience.” He snapped his fingers impatiently.
One of his men jumped from his perch, grabbed my arm, then dragged me to the king.
“Sit.” The king yanked on my hand, and I plopped down on his knee.
“A human.” The king ripped the hood off my head.
I glared into his eyes, without the golden mesh of the lace between us.
“Hmm.” He didn’t seem to be bothered by the resentment that surely was conveyed in my expression. Instead, he examined my face closely, as if I were a doll. “There is absolutely no glow in her skin.” He pressed a finger to my cheek that burned with indignity as fear shook my body. “Even her blush has no shimmer. And her eyes…” He pinched my chin between his thumb and his finger. “They’re rather dull, too. How boring.”
Mother cleared her throat.
“My king, she is the only human in all of Dakath. And possibly, in all of Nerifir.”
“Yes, yes, that is exciting. Why is she wearing this?” He tore the cloth off my head, and his eyes widened. “Would you just look atthis…”
The king unraveled my braid from the back of my head.
“Take it apart.” He shoved the end of the braid into my hands.
I gripped it in my fingers, unsure of what to do.
“You’ll get all of us killed,”the words Mother had said more than once echoed in my brain.
What was happening? What was at risk here? And how could I protect anyone?
“Can you do at leastonething you’re told,” the king complained impatiently. “Let loose your hair. I wish to see it.”
With stiff fingers, I tugged at the tie at the end of my braid, then undid it completely.
The king raked his fingers through the wavy strands, spreading them over my chest.