The Dragon King’s Substitute Bride
Chapter 33

HERA

She meant to shock me and it worked. Like a charm.

But I'll be damned if I let her know it.

"Midas' mistress is it?"

The woman who calls herself Minth, with her beautiful green eyes and long black hair that cascades in luxurious waves all the way to her waist tilts her chin up in gloating defiance.

I make a sound of pity in my throat, sighing and shaking my head. "You poor darling. How dreadful all that must be for you." She did not expect this and she appears taken aback.

Good.

I know her type. I can tell from the glint in her eyes and the way she carefully measures her words before saying them.

Cruel and ambitious, she is the sort of person who would do anything to get what she wants, consequences be damned.

The kind of woman who would do anything to survive.

I know this because I am the built the exact same way.

The only difference is I do not walk all over others to do so and if she thinks she can come up to me and intimidate me because she believes me to be some weak, silver spooned princess, then by the gods have I got a surprise for her. She recovers quickly, her eyes narrowing. "Whatever do you mean?"

I ignore her and I can almost hear how hard she's grinding her teeth, struggling to maintain that fake smile.

"Your grace, what did you mean by that?"

I take a sip from my cup and glance at her like I had almost forgotten she was still here and only just remembered.

"Oh it's just..." I shrug and smile ruefully "...we both know the king is a very cold man, and he does not strike me as the type to be very affectionate."

I lean in and lower my voice to a conspiratorial whisper, as if talking to an old friend I am about to tell my deepest secret.

"As a matter of fact, between me and you, he softens very little around me, his wife. So I can only imagine how dastardly he treats someone as...disposable as a mistress. You must not lead a very happy life."

She doesn't stop smiling but I see the way her eyes dim and the way she sifts slightly in her seat and I know I am right.

I pat her hand gently before she can come up with an adequate response. "But not to worry, Now that I am here, he will no longer be needing you and you will be free to pursue whatever passions interest you. Who knows you might even choose to leave the castle entirely."

At this point the smile has disappeared completely from her face and while it feels good, I do not know how much longer I can keep this up.

Luckily, the bell strikes 8 times and I seize on the opportunity. "Oh would you look how late it's gotten. I believe I must go and prepare to meet with the king tonight."

Skies, what are these words leaving my mouth?

I get up with more grace and poise than I feel and Henette accompanied by two armored guards appears by my side.

"Now if you will excuse me. It's been absolutely delightful meeting you...

I pretend to forget her name and smile sweetly. "...Mistress."

And with that I proceed to leave.

The room falls silent as I descend the steps; a sea of not so friendly eyes following my every move.

I don't let out the breath I do not even realize I am holding until the large golden doors of the great hall swing shut behind me.

My hands fly to my chest and I close my eyes taking in and letting out short, shallow breaths.

Henette touches my arm hesitantly. "My queen...my queen are you alright?"

I only nod, not trusting myself to speak just yet.

Mistress... Mistress... He has a damn Mistress?!

Then what in all the 7 realms did he need the princess of Averia for when he could have so easily married his precious, beautiful mistress.

At this point I am now convinced he only had asked for the princess in order to spite the king of Averia, to rob my country of the only heir to the throne. But why?

What could my people have possibly done to make him hate us so?

I collect myself and straighten my clothes.

Henette is still watching me nervously so I tap her hand gently to reassure her.

"Oh relax Henette, I am perfectly fine."

She nods and I glance at the two guards standing stonily behind us.

I suppress the urge to groan.

I do not need them; protection my foot.

He simply does not trust me.

I do not intend to run away anymore...not yet at least.

But he does not know this and to be completely fair, with all I have done in the past two days, I would not trust me very much either.

"I wish to return to my room."

She nods again. I know that in time I will come to learn to navigate my way around this castle that is to be my home or a long...long time but for now, Henette leads the way and I follow.

As we walk, I see her out the corner of my eyes open and close her mouth repeatedly like she wants to say something but is unsure about how to proceed.

Eventually I cannot stand it anymore.

"Henette, what in all the realms is the matter now?"

She bites her lip. "In...in the great hall, I saw you speaking with the lady Minth."

Ah, the mistress.

Just thinking the word leaves a bad taste in my mouth and causes my stomach to clench with mild annoyance.

It is a feeling I recognize but refuse to admit because it simply cannot be true.

I am most definitely not jealous that Midas has a mistress.

Most definitely not.

In fact if anything I am relieved. He could have a thousand more concubines for all I care.

Which I don't.

I force my voice to convey disinterest and indifference, my tone dry and biting. "Ah yes, she is quite the delight isn't she."

"She is dangerous my queen."

I turn to glance at Henette. "Dangerous...and may I ask what she has done to warrant this assessment?"

She shakes her head. "Only rumors your grace, but you will soon come to replace that in this castle, rumors are more often than not truer than the words spoken aloud. Her highness would be wise to avoid her." I stare at her a moment longer. "Why are you telling me this?"

"The gods forbid it but if something were ever to happen to you my queen, I would be sent back to scrubbing the kitchen floors. I detest those floors, you scrub and scrub but they never seem to get any cleaner." I smile slightly to put her at ease. "Ah, so your reasons are entirely selfish I see."

She shrugs and says nothing more but she stops wringing her fingers and raises her head.

We ascend the steps of the tower in silence and as we near the doors of the king's chambers, unable to resist, I turn to the two guards who this entire time are yet to utter a single word. "What are your names?"

The two guards turn their visor covered faces to each other and back to me.

"I am called Dorian my queen." His voice muffled by his helmet, the guard on the right is the one who speaks.

But when I turn to the other he says nothing and instead sighs and takes off his helmet.

I almost laugh. "Well, if it isn't my favorite Ryder."

Garwith says nothing. Staring at me with a mixture of wary suspicion and trepidation.

I realize Midas must have given him a tough time after my escape the first time and I almost feel sorry for him...almost.

"Well Dorian... Garwith, I believe I must bid you both goodnight unless of course the king has instructed you to stand over my bedside like evil spirits and watch me sleep."

Skies above, what if he has?

Thankfully the guards shake their heads and bow low.

Henette opens the door for me and I turn towards it but stop to look at Garwith who is still staring at me like I might push past them any second and attempt to hurl myself out the stairway window.

"Oh for Hades sake there's no need to look so traumatized Garwith, I promise I shall not attempt to escape...this night."

If my assurances relieve him, he does not show it and Henette and I close the doors to them standing unflinching in the same positions.

The fireplace has been set ablaze and the room as well as the sheets is pleasantly warm.

Henette helps me out of my dress and into another one of the flimsy night robes of this realm, except this one is a brilliant red color.

Why anyone would to be wearing something so...so...scandalous to bed is beyond me but it feels silky and smooth against my skin.

And when I look in the mirror, I see the way the attire hugs my curves deliciously while still managing to remain loose and free and I feel...powerful somehow, which is an odd way to feel when one is in a nightdress. It makes me almost wish there was someone here to see it.

No, both someone. Him.

She also helps me loosen the bun my hair is held in and proceeds to comb it, carefully and gently.

Normally, the repetitive back and forth movement of the brush against my scalp should have made me feel sleepy but not tonight.

Tonight my mind is too busy to fall asleep. Much too busy.

"Henette."

"Yes my queen."

I narrow my eyes at her reflection in the mirror and she glances stubbornly away.

A brief smile replaces its way to my face, she may not look it, what with the constant nervousness in her eyes and the hand wringing but beneath all that bowing is a back bone of steel.

But my mind wanders back to the one thing that has occupied my thoughts since I realized something.

I bite my lip nervously. "Do you by any chance know where the King might have gone? He suddenly disappeared in the middle of dinner."

She thinks about it for a moment. "I am unsure my queen."

I play with the single tear-drop pendant that rests against my skin, twisting it this way, twisting it that way. "Do you...do you think perhaps that he will be back..."

I am unable to complete my sentence because in truth I am unsure of what exactly I am asking.

Henette of course does not know this so she frowns in confusion has she finishes with my hair and goes round to draw the drapes closed. "Of course he will return my queen. Why wouldn't he?"

I shake my head and climb into bed. "Never mind Henette, you may go now. I wish to retire for the night."

She curtsies. "May the gods bless your sleep my queen."

I nod as she leaves. "And yours as well."

But even long after she is gone, I am unable to fall asleep.

And it is for one reason and one reason only.

Should he return soon which he most likely will, this would be the first night the king and I would spend together with neither party... and by that I mean me...being unconscious.

My stomach is a mess of nerves and my heart refuses to stop racing.

I cannot tell if it is apprehension or...excitement.

Maybe I should pretend to be asleep so that when he comes in he will not...

Don't you dare. A part of me warns.

The part of me that has been unable to think of anything else since the first time he kissed me, and the time after that, and the time after... after that in the bathtub.

Only two kisses. Two kisses my body refuses to forget.

Except she isn't just refusing to push him out of my head, she is demanding more, so much more.

And when my eyes finally do drift shut, I swear I can feel his hands touching me in those places I ache to be touched, his mouth hot and needing at my skin, taking with reckless abandon. Pushing me towards the edge of feelings I do not even know exist.