Page 5 of A Crown of Fates
I hold my chin high and narrow my eyes on Drea’s behalf. “Drea isn’t here as a handmaiden. As an unmated adult female of Polaris, she’s here at your king’s request, and we will both require assistance to prepare for this evening’s festivities.”
Cecil’s face flushes slightly at my rebuke, but he maintains his composure, bowing gracefully. “As you wish, Princess.” He keeps his voice smooth, but I sense shock beneath his formalities. Something that’s not my problem.
As soon as the door closes behind him, Drea lets out a soft gasp, her eyes wide with disbelief. “This is insane.” She places a hand to her chest, exhaling deeply.
I grin, satisfied with her reaction. “Which part?”
“All of it, but most importantly, I can’t thank you enough for taking me in,” she says with relief. “I wasn’t looking forward to being carted off to wherever the others are, but I would’ve gone without a fuss. Though, watching you make your demands with such authority, as if you’re the queen here, not a visiting shifter… The strength you hold, it’s inspiring.”
I lean in closer, giving her a conspiratorial smirk. “That’s the secret to life—believing in your worth. We’re all queens in our own way. And when someone disrespects you or those you care about, you don’t back down. Make sure they know who they’re dealing with.”
Drea’s face brightens, her wide smile lighting up the dim room. “I’m really glad to know you, Estee.”
I squeeze her wrist gently, and a genuine warmth blooms between us. “Same here. Now, let’s see what we’re dealing with.”
Together, we turn to take in our surroundings. The room is large but simple—stateliness stripped down to the basics. A grand bed dominates the space, its maroon and gold bedding matching the castle’s colors. Heavy curtains hang over the windows, and Drea moves instinctively to open them, allowing the pale light of the late afternoon to filter in, casting long shadows across the stone walls.
Despite the austerity of the space, there are small touches of care—fresh bouquets of vibrant flowers sit on either side of the bed, their colors a welcome contrast to the otherwise mutedroom. A wardrobe stands against the wall, next to a tall dressing screen, and a small tea cart is tucked into the corner, steam still rising from the kettle.
“A drink while we wait?” I ask, crossing to the cart and pouring a cup of tea for Drea. I hand it to her with a grin. “As I told Cecil, you’re not here to be a handmaiden. We’re in this together, whether we like it or not.”
Drea takes the cup, her eyes filled with gratitude. “I appreciate the sentiment, Estee. But I don’t think there’s any universe where I could be your equal.”
I raise a brow, giving her a playful wink. “You never know. Maybe you’ll be King Theo’s fated mate and outrank me by the end of the night.”
That has her choking on her tea, sputtering as she laughs. “Gods, don’t ever say something like that again!”
I laugh along with her, but a dark weight still hangs at the back of my mind. As much as I joke about the situation, the reality is sobering. We’ve both been thrust into something neither of us can control, and I can’t shake the feeling that this whole event, this mate-selection nonsense, is meant to distract us from something far more dangerous.
Drea wipes her eyes, still chuckling. “I’m serious, Estee. I don’t want anything to do with being queen, let alone being mated to a king. Can you imagine the pressure?”
I nod, feeling the gravity of her words as I tug on one of the purple highlights in my dark hair. “Trust me, I know exactly what that’s like.” My thoughts flash to Isla. I’ve seen the level of expectation on her, and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone who didn’t truly want it, least of all myself.
Drea leans back against the wardrobe, her laughter finally subsiding as she gazes at me, her expression softening. “Still, I’m glad we’re in this together. It’s nice to know I’m not as alone as I thought I’d be.”
I couldn’t agree more. Even though I’m trying not to think negatively about all of this, I hope, for both our sakes, that these days away from home will have been nothing more than a waste of time.
Well, outside of the two of us meeting.
CHAPTER THREE
THEO
Pacing my room does little to quell the storm inside me. My wolf, restless and growling, claws at my mind as Jerome approaches. I already know what he’s about to say.
“The women of Polaris have arrived, Your Majesty.” His light blue eyes seem hopeful, but the tense wrinkles around them tell me he’s just as unsure as I am.
I don’t tell him that I’ve already sensed them. That my wolf’s been on edge since the moment their ship docked. Jerome may be my most faithful advisor, but after nearly a year of ruling, I’ve learned not to trust anyone completely. Not even myself.
Hell, I’m not even sure if my wolf sensing that our mate is near is real or completely fabricated at this point, but knowing this could all be a lie doesn’t lessen the panic growing within my chest.
“Very well,” I say, my gaze drifting to the window. Beyond it, the castle grounds stretch toward the horizon, where dozens of women now gather. One of them could beher. The answer to the mess I’ve found myself in.
“Dinner will be held promptly after you’ve met with the eligible females, Sire,” Jerome continues, his voice neutral, as ifwe haven’t already played this charade twice before. “Princess Estee and her guest Drea are secured in her private chambers. They’ll be prepared separately before joining the others.”
Princess Estee.
Gods, please don’t let her be my mate.