Lex lifted the fabric of the pale yellow, floor-length gown one of “Garrin’s women” had pulled over her head. But it wasn’t see-through the way she had assumed it would be. The fine material fit snugly when she swished her hips back and forth, with a billowy layer that flared out, giving the illusion of lightness without being light. The material was stretchy and comfortable for something so frail-looking. And surprisingly warm. Apart from her exposed arms and neck, her core was warm, and that was what mattered.
A young woman who looked about Lex’s age held up a stunning pair of emerald earrings. “What do you think of these, miss?”
The refracting surface of the green gemstones caught the light and bounced off the walls. “Are they real?”
“Real?” she said, and started to affix them to Lex’s ears. “They are from the palace jewels, my lady.”
Lex was going to take a wild guess and assume everything from the palace jewel collection was the real deal. Especially given the weight of the earrings. “They’re beautiful. Thank you.”
This woman was fairer than Cora, but her face was just as pretty, with a narrow nose and rosebud lips. “What’s your name?” Lex said. “I never asked, and I just realized how rude that was of me.”
“Not at all. My name is Em,” the woman said, and smiled.
“Pleased to meet you.”
“It is my pleasure, Lex. You are to be a princess! What an honor.”
“Any woman would be proud to call Garrin her husband.” No denying that truth.
Em grinned. “And he’s chosen you! There are many who would love to be his wife. You are most fortunate.”
Wife. Lex took a deep breath. It was all make-believe. Not real.
The feelings she had for him—when he wasn’t being bossy—might be real, but her memories growing up were from Earth, no matter her changed circumstances, and Garrin was a Fae prince. He called her his fiancée, but she’d never agree to be one of his many women, and he’d never leave his land to live in the Earth realm. “Em, what about the others? Are they disappointed Garrin—ah, the prince—will marry another?”
Em looked over her shoulder as the women in the large room scurried about. Some wore elaborate gowns for the evening, while others chatted happily amongst themselves, fluffing pillows on couches and pulling massive curtains back to draw in light from the vast white landscape.
Her brow puckered. “A few are displeased. They hoped to be chosen by the prince. But the others are happy to be among his women.”
“You mean after the wedding, he’ll still…”
“Oh, yes,” Em said. “It is the prince’s duty to provide more progeny for the kingdom. ’Tis a shame the king has not been able to sire more children.” She brightened. “But his queen is not so old. There is still time. And there is the king’s harem. They work hard to help him produce a child.”
Lex choked. “I’m sure they do.”
If Garrin was hundreds of years old, his mother had to be much older than that. And she could still bear children?
Not to mention, Garrin planned to continue sleeping with these women after he married so he could produce a soccer team of kids. Dark Kingdom castle was seriously messed up.
Even if this weren’t all pretend, there was no way Lex would agree to marry Garrin…
Who was she kidding? She’d consider it because she was attracted to him, Stockholm syndrome or not, but never under these circumstances, with women waiting in every wing. In fact, she couldn’t imagine a worse fate than loving someone who didn’t love you back.
Em held a mirror in front of Lex’s face.
And Lex’s eyes flew open. “Holy shit!” She grabbed the mirror and angled it this way and that. What the hell had happened to her?
She’d glimpsed herself in mirrors once or twice when she first entered what appeared to be a communal dressing room of sorts, with dozens of wardrobes and lounge chairs. Her hair was longer and looked damned good, given the ordeal she’d been through. But then they’d plunged her into a copper bathtub, and that was the last she’d seen of herself until Em finished primping and dressing her.
Lex touched her cheeks, which were plumper somehow. And her lips, that had always been too pale, were now a deep rose hue. She shook her head slowly, hardly recognizing herself. Even the edges of her face were smoother, less angular, and more symmetrical.
She’d always been tall and slender, but now her waist cut in more, giving her an hourglass figure.
“I don’t understand,” she said.
“Miss?”
Lex glanced at Em and swallowed. “Nothing. Don’t mind me. I didn’t realize how well the dress would fit.” She tried for a smile, but her lips felt stiff, her mind racing.
It was her in the mirror, and yet not.
She glanced at her hand, the skin now plump. But more importantly, it didn’t shake. Oh, her heart beat faster than normal, but she’d not experienced any of the telltale signs of a panic attack since she entered the kingdom.
Garrin hadn’t lied; she’d changed. And it wasn’t only from Zirel’s magic, which had brought her back to consciousness, or the sunny yellow dress. She’d gone through a physical transformation, yes, but also something mentally transformative as well. She wasn’t as anxious or fearful as she would normally be.
“Is everything all right, miss?” Em asked.
Lex couldn’t speak, her face frozen at the shock of it all. “I don’t know.”
Em stepped back and tapped her delicate chin. “The dress is a lovely shade on you, but I can get you another if you like?”
Em didn’t get it. She hadn’t known Lex before she arrived in Dark Kingdom. “No,” Lex said. “This one is fine.”
She looked around the large room and flinched. Because everyone had stopped what they were doing and were staring at her expectantly. “What’s going on?”
“Oh!” Em exclaimed, and smiled. “The prince is on his way. They are anxious to see his reaction to you in your gown. They also wish to know if your union will be a love match.” She grinned brightly.
What in the hell? Of course it wasn’t a love match. How was Lex supposed to pretend otherwise?
The women chattered excitedly around her, moving furniture out of the way for ease of flow.
Watching them anticipate Garrin’s arrival made Lex’s stomach cramp. Maybe it wasn’t a love match, but she had grown attached to Garrin, traveling and sleeping beside him for months. Even if she wasn’t his real fiancée, she couldn’t help but feel nervous with all the female attention he received. “Do they always get this excited when he’s home?”
“Oh, yes,” Em said. “It’s been so very long since the prince has been in residence. Every one of us wants to be with him.”
“Be with him? You mean…be with him?”
Em nodded and shrugged unapologetically.
“It doesn’t bother you that he has a fiancée?” Lex asked.
Em seemed to consider the question. “No… However, as part of the court, we are not allowed to bed other men. And that gets lonely.”
“You can’t have a boyfriend?”
“Boyfriend?”
“A man you see outside the palace?”
“Oh, no, miss. That is impossible. What if one of us were to get with child? The royal family must know it is the prince’s child, and there is no way to ensure that unless we are faithful to the prince.”
Lex stared blankly. There were several ways to determine paternity in the human realm. But this was Tirnan, where medicine didn’t exist because Fae lived for-freaking-ever. Besides, who needed a doctor when you had magical healers? “How long have you been a part of the prince’s court?”
Em looked up as though calculating. “About a hundred years.”
Lex’s eyes bugged out. “You’ve been alone for a hundred years?”
Em waggled her head. “Give or take. But I’m never alone.” She peered happily around the room. “There are so many of us. We keep each other company.”
Too many, Lex thought. “Do you ever drive each other crazy?”
“Often.” Em laughed. “But we find ways to entertain ourselves.”
Before Lex could ask what the ladies did in their free time, because it had to be interesting, Garrin walked in.
Lex’s jaw dropped. Holy hell.
Garrin had showered and shaved, the tips of his hair still wet. The thick stubble, which had grown thicker as they traveled, was gone, and his hollowed cheeks were no longer sunken with circles under his bright blue eyes. He’d clearly eaten, probably the same food Lex mindlessly wolfed down during her bath. Or maybe Zirel had healed him more now that Zirel’s powers were fully returned?
Garrin wore a navy-like uniform, with gold-embroidered sleeves and collar that fit his tall, muscular frame to perfection. He looked fit and healthier than he had mere hours ago, and he was mesmerizing.
No wonder these women wanted to jump him.
Lex pressed her hand to her belly to stop it from quaking and straightened her spine. He’s just a man. Just a really freaking beautiful man.
How could she fault the women for wanting Garrin? She wanted him, and she didn’t really want him. Lex would never live to be at Garrin’s beck and call.
But damn, she saw the appeal.
