Made From Death (The Darkest Queens Series Book 1), page 11
Two years ago Sienna hated that he thought about love in such a way, but now—he was right. Not that she had any intention of telling him that. Carefully she slid from the blankets and placed her feet in the silk slippers next to her bed. She walked to her window and pushed the curtains aside half expecting to see the girl from last night standing somewhere on the lawn watching her back.
The grass and the gravel road were empty. She breathed a sigh of relief, making her way toward the table. She brought her hand up and chewed on her nails, an old habit that wasn't fitting for a queen. Sienna wondered what the outcome of the two that escaped yesterday was. No news had come in about them so she assumed the guards were either out searching or they were all just too scared to come in to tell her what happened.
She really, really hoped that they were still searching because she needed to know if what she saw yesterday was real or if it had been a trick of the light. Maybe it was some part of her brain that couldn’t deal with what had happened. It would explain why the night had been so riddled with nightmares. She was starting to convince herself that the girl was only a figment of her imagination. She didn't actually know her.
With the tip of her finger, she traced the edge of a red rose. There were seven vases all overflowing with different floral arrangements. It wasn’t like any of her suitors had any idea what her favorite flower actually was. Sienna from two years ago had a thing for lilies, but Sienna now? Did she even really care about flowers?
Small tags were tied around each vase and the queen took her time opening each one. There were a couple from suitors who she hadn't asked to stay in the castle but had likely been at her party; she just hadn't gotten to meet them quite yet. Then there were flowers from Jack, Thomas, Lucian, and Leo.
Flowers weren’t the only thing she had received. There were a number of wrapped boxes scattered across the table as well. She ripped up the paper as she opened the presents. A new pair of shoes, a stunning sapphire necklace, a diamond bracelet, gourmet chocolates, and a book of poetry that appeared to be signed by the author.
Not a single gift had Hollis's name on it.
Her shoes whispered against the floor while she circled the table making sure she hadn’t missed anything. Was Hollis too poor to send her a gift? He didn’t look poor. If he still held the status he held the last time she’d seen him he certainly didn't have the money to be sending her diamond bracelets. Yet she still expected something even if it was only a note.
"Guard?" the queen called, settling herself away from the mess with a cup of tea. The door opened and a man stepped inside. He was often posted outside of her bed chambers but she had yet to learn his name. "I'm awake. Send for Ophelia."
He bowed and disappeared from the room. Sienna had just enough time from then until the moment when Ophelia entered to sip on her tea and glare at her gifts, stewing over the fact that nothing was from Hollis.
"I'm here, my Queen," Ophelia said, keeping her position by the door.
"Has breakfast been arranged?"
“Yes.”
Sienna turned sideways in her chair, taking one long drink from her cup before setting it down loudly on its saucer. "Any word from the guards?"
Ophelia cursed under her breath. "Has no one else informed you?"
"No, I suppose they're all too spineless." The queen drummed her fingernails impatiently on the table and stared up at Ophelia. The girl’s hair was still wet, likely from her shower this morning, and it had been neatly braided down her back.
"Some of the guards have returned. They said that they lost the girl on the edge of town and there was no sign of the warlock after they tracked them there. Des followed them into the woods. He has not returned."
So maybe there was hope after all. Or maybe she needed a new head guard. Only time would tell and there were far too many tasks that needed to be done for Queen Sienna to be sitting here pondering if what she saw yesterday was part of her imagination or not. She already knew there were small uprisings throughout all of Pasia, so what happened shouldn't have been a surprise.
Sienna would have to talk to Des when he returned or whoever was appointed in his position to make sure that security was tightened up for the next event. Especially when the girl could've just been a figment of her imagination anyway.
"Please have my suitors sent to the dining hall for breakfast and then you can help me dress," the queen said as she rose from the table.
Ophelia turned toward the door. She whispered quickly to the guard and by the time the queen was standing at the wardrobe staring at her dress the door was already clicking shut behind Ophelia and she was closing the space between them. Sienna looked up at the gown that had been selected for her today. It was stunning for a simple dress with a bodice made of silk. Clearly, it was fitting for breakfast with her suitors. A pearly-white ribbon was sewn under the bust and down the torso into the wide hips of the gown that flowed down to the floor. It was meant to help give the illusion of a womanly form. She didn't think she needed much help in that department but apparently her seamstress did.
"Your guests should be in the dining hall by the time we get you ready," Ophelia said while she grabbed the hem of Queen Sienna’s nightgown.
Sienna lifted her arms above her head as the satin nightgown was lifted off of her. At first, she'd been ashamed or maybe she was just a little bit nervous when people started helping her change. She'd always been taught that her naked body was for her husband's eyes only. Now all sorts of people had seen her naked body. She was beautiful and young and it felt right to show it off while she was able to.
The gods may have given her power to rival any warlocks, but it still didn't make her any less human. It would comfort her just like it did everyone else. Sienna remained quiet as Ophelia helped her out of her undergarments and then into her dress. The queen planted both hands against the wardrobe as Ophelia tightened the corset. Air hissed through her clenched teeth as the strings were pulled tighter and tighter. She thought this was Ophelia's favorite part because it was the only way she could make her queen squirm. Sienna didn't really hold it against her because she knew she put Ophelia through so much more than Ophelia could ever do to her.
"All done, my Queen. Should I get some of your gifts for you to enjoy today? Those shoes look as if they would match quite well with the bracelet."
"Yes, that would be fine."
Ophelia moved almost as quietly as a mouse as she walked back over to the small table and gathered up the shoes and the bracelet. She slipped the heels onto the queen before rising and then reached for Sienna’s outstretched wrist. She said nothing. Placing her hands on the queen's back, she guided her to the small vanity just outside the bathroom.
Sienna tucked her dress down under herself, then pulled the thick curtain panels off to the side of her mirror and stared at her reflection. Gods she really was beautiful! Sienna knew that she'd always been lovely but it was diminished by the dirt that streaked her face and the knots she could never get out of her hair. Now she had someone who made sure she always looked perfect. Ophelia started in on Sienna’s hair, dampening it before she pulled it up into rollers. With the last curler in the queen’s hair, she picked up some blush for her cheeks.
After a few minutes, Sienna could no longer hold her questions in. "Did Mr. Weebly accept his invitation to stay?"
Ophelia glanced at the queen in the mirror. "Yes, of course he did. Why do you ask?"
Clasping her hands in her lap and feeling like a foolish school girl gossiping about her crush to a friend, Sienna finally admitted it. "He did not send a gift."
A warm pink blush stained the tips of Ophelia's fingers as it would the queen's cheeks. Still, she dutifully patted it onto Sienna’s cheekbones. "No, it appears he did not. Do you fancy him? He was the only one who got the opportunity to spend time with you yesterday before the…incident."
“I would not say that I fancy him, though I thought he might fancy me. All the others sent gifts including a few men I didn't invite to stay. Perhaps I chose wrong in allowing him here."
“Well, I can tell you that your council won't much like him. But if he's anything like Leo then I think he would be mighty fitting for a king."
Queen Sienna did not think that Hollis Weebly was anything like Leo Maverick. At least not the way that Ophelia had described him to her. Ophelia had made it sound as if Leo was kind and caring. While she always thought Hollis had made a good friend it wasn't necessarily because of his giving nature. In fact, Hollis was normally the first one to play cruel jokes on people and he wasn't prone to apologizing either. If Ophelia knew that, would she still think that he was fitting for the crown? Sienna doubted it.
That was why the men had been invited to stay. She would get her chance to get to know them and in turn, they will get to know her. Not that she figured she would be entirely honest because they didn't need to know what they didn't need to know. Pondering over these thoughts, she watched Ophelia finish perfecting her hair. The moment her hair and her makeup were completed she stood up and grabbed her staff from its resting place on a large velvet pillow. Ophelia reached for the knob, opening the door for the queen, and the guards outside the door stood a little taller. The guards took their place behind them as the two started down the hall toward breakfast. Only a few steps into the walk the thunder of heavy boots racing toward them snagged their attention. Sienna stopped and held her staff tightly.
A guardsman appearing to be no older than twenty-five took to her side. "My Queen! My Queen! I'm so sorry to bother you.” He was a little out of breath, his words slightly wheezy. Had he run the entire length of the castle looking for her? She hadn’t been hiding. “We just received news from the border."
News from the border was rarely ever good news.
"Who are you?” Queen Sienna arched her brow.
"My name is Jansen? I’m next in line under Des and I'm currently acting as head guard in his absence?”
He certainly didn't seem very sure of himself, Sienna thought, already forgetting his name. "Well, spit it out, I have guests waiting."
Jansen looked at Ophelia and the other two guards before he swallowed audibly and started. "There is movement from the Fae. We have reported sightings of small groups of them who appear to be looking for weaknesses within the wall."
Sienna leaned into her staff and tipped her head back with a cackle. "That's a colossal waste of time. It's impossible to get through the wall. It's blessed by the gods." The wall had been erected as a magical feat between her sisters and the warlocks they now claimed as their own. It had taken weeks and had exhausted them and their human troops who had to keep the Fae back until it had been completed. Only humans could come and go through that wall as they pleased. Fae would not be able to enter unless a queen was present. And Sienna knew that she and her sisters would never allow that. Not after all they’d seen and all they had done to get them into the positions they currently held.
"I have faith. That the wall will hold.” Jansen gave a slight bow. "They look as though they may be gathering additional troops. Would you like me to pass on any instructions to those positioned on the wall?"
Queen Sienna turned and started down the hall again. Jansen hurried to keep up with her. "You're dismissed," she said
"What?” Jansen stuttered.
"You're dismissed," the queen repeated. "I’m done listening to this nonsense unless you actually have something important to say."
Jansen paused before mumbling, "As you wish."
His retreating steps were quickly lost to the sound of Queen Sienna chuckling under her breath. "Can you believe him?" Sienna asked Ophelia.
Ophelia didn't immediately answer, instead glancing down the hall where Jansen had disappeared. Color drained from her cheeks and her hands rested on her sword, fingers clenching and unclenching on the hilt.
"Ophelia?"
She looked up at Queen Sienna at the mention of her name. "Those are very serious concerns. Perhaps you should not have dismissed them so quickly." Her eyes widened and she stared forward.
The girl was clearly reliving the horrors of the war. That had to be it because there was no way the Fae could get through; Sienna was certain of that. And it appeared that she was more certain than those around her.
"Do you think the Fae are capable of overriding the gods? My sisters and I were blessed with this magic and with it we have protected this amazing country from their Impelling. You are safe. Everyone here is safe. And it's all thanks to me and my sisters."
Slowly Ophelia looked up from the ground, making eye contact with Sienna as she reached for the dining room doors. Steady conversation flowed from the other side of the door. Her suitors were probably getting to know each other in the meantime.
"No, my Queen. You're right, we are safe and it is silly of me to think otherwise."
Sienna cleared her throat not caring to talk about this issue any further. The door opened on well-greased hinges making no sound. What little conversation there had been came to an abrupt stop. All five men looked up from where they had been lounging at the table. No food had yet been brought out as they waited for the queen. Chairs scraped against the floor as the men rose and then bowed. Even Hollis.
Queen Sienna tried not to let her attention snag on any one of them for too long, particularly the boy she’d grown up with. Especially since he hadn't sent her a gift! She would have to ask him about that, maybe he had no real intentions of trying to marry her or to become king. Something in her snarled at that idea. It would be like their childhood all over again. No. She wouldn't allow it. She didn't chase after men anymore. She was not going to chase after Hollis Weebly. Damn it, he was going to chase after her.
Maybe she needed to make him a little jealous. Maybe she needed to get to know his friend a little more. That would make Ophelia happy though she would have to make sure to give an equal amount of time to at least one of the suitors her court was invested in.
"You may rise," Sienna said.
Ophelia pulled out the chair at the head of the table and scooted it underneath her queen. An extra piece of wood had been added to the chair with a hole that perfectly fit her staff. The queen set it there so that it would remain closer to her than it was to anybody else.
"Thank you all for accepting my invitation. I do apologize for yesterday's disruption and I can assure you nothing like that will happen again."
Jack was the first one to grab his cup. Even though it was only the early morning the glass of red wine that had been poured was practically gone. He took the last sip of his drink back like a shot.
Blond hair was neatly tucked behind his ears and his dark blue shirt brought out the gorgeous color of his eyes. The collar of his shirt came up his neck and the end of his hair caught on it as he turned his head to look at the queen. High collared shirts were a ridiculous new fashion Sienna was seeing more and more from men.
Queen Sienna smiled back at him as they locked eyes. Not because his smile was particularly charming or because for once his lips weren't cutting a straight line across his features but his empty wine glass suggested he was either nervous or a raging alcoholic. Either of those things suited Sienna just fine. He cleared his throat and she thought that he was about to speak but it was Lucian that beat him to the punch.
"I do not doubt that. I hope that they are caught and put on trial accordingly, especially since they ruined the evening."
"Especially because they ruined the evening? Don't you mean ‘I hope they are caught because they clearly had to be under the influence of the Impelling,’" Leo inserted.
This morning Leo's bronze hair hung around his shoulders more messily than she'd seen it last night. He definitely looked like a farmer and more so he sounded like a commoner.
"If it is the Impelling, then I can assure you that they will be dealt with swiftly.” Sienna took the glass of wine being offered to her by a servant. It was nothing more than a prop of course because Sienna wouldn't let herself get drunk. She held a great deal of power and would not let it be stolen from her if she didn't pay enough attention.
Hollis snorted and even if she had been trying to avoid looking at him directly her gaze immediately shot to him. Oh gods. Hollis was gorgeous. Handsome in the way that he always had been and it only got better when he smiled. He ran his fingers through his black hair and gave Sienna an amused look. Could he tell that he still took her breath away?
"Mr. Weebly, would you like to give us your input on the subject?"
"Mr. Weebly," he whispered under his breath, not even hiding the way he rolled his eyes. "I don't figure I have much of an opinion on anything, but what it looks like to me is someone was finally acting on their frustrations toward the crown. Is that not why we're doing this? No need to downplay the niceties of it. You want a husband. You want an heir because you and your sisters think that that will make Pasia like you more."
"Pasia loves the queens. They saved us from the Fae who all too often were using us," Thomas said, his glass totally empty.
"You bring up a good point, Mr. Delroy. What the two had done yesterday, while it is considered traitorous, was that not exactly how you and your sisters came to power?" Hollis leaned forward in his chair, his eyes traveling from the top of Sienna’s head down to the beautiful pink bodice before he brought them back up to her face.
Lucian's chair groaned as he himself sat back putting his weight onto one armrest. A black brow arched and those green almond eyes flared with humor. "Mr. Weebly, who knew you had such a loose tongue?"
Sienna tapped her nails against her wine glass holding his stare.
"I'm just laying out the information as I see it. I've been quite concerned too.” He glanced at his friend. “We all have. If we have such high walls surrounding this country and magic that keeps the Fae out how exactly are people being infected with this…Impelling. That suggests that there are Fae within these walls."
Queen Sienna tried to plaster a smile on her face to hide the rage starting to boil up. After all, a queen that has nothing to hide should be open to questions and giving answers. She needed these men to see the nicer side of her. She needed a king. And Hollis with his peasant opinions wasn't going to get a rise out of her. He wasn't going to ruin this for her.
