*Isla*
A few days go by, and my cousin wants to speak to me, but I refuse. I think it can only mean trouble. He probably feels like he can talk me into going with him to the islands if he can tell me enough information about Maatua and why they need me there that maybe I’ll change my mind and decide to go.
But now that he’s told me if I don’t kill my own aunt, she’ll kill me, I can’t really see any reason for going.
I do my best to stay busy. It’s difficult with Maddox gone. News of fighting from the front lines comes in to me, and I ask for updates whenever I can find someone who might know what’s going on, but for the most part, no one tells me much of anything. Only that there’s been some fighting, we didn’t have many casualties, and the Alpha King is repositioning his men in case of another attack.
As far as Maddox is concerned, he does call me for a few minutes every day. He is always much more chipper than I would expect, and he refuses to answer any particularly important questions—like is he safe and how is it going on the front. He just tells me he loves me and hopes this will all be over soon so that he can come home.
It’s all very aggravating, but at least I get to speak to him, and I try to be as kind and understanding as I can so that he’s not got more stress added to the weight that must already be weighing down on him. I can’t imagine it’s easy leading an army into war.
Poppy continues to ask me about Commander Pepelos at least ten times a day. She says she is worried that I will give in and decide to go to the islands, and I tell her that’s crazy. I have no reason to go face off against my aunt who is clearly messed up in the head from everything that my crazy uncle did to her. Poppy isn’t so sure, though, so every time the commander tries to get near me, she steers him away in a different direction. It’s hilarious, if I’m honest. He’s a tall, strong, broad-shouldered warrior, and she’s my tiny maid who is a few inches taller than me but thin as a rail, and you’d think she might actually frighten him.
I think he’s probably more afraid of her bark than her bite, though. Poppy is not shy about telling anyone what she thinks, including me. Maybe she’d draw the line with Maddox, but I’m not sure. I envy her for that sometimes. I often cower when it comes to the possibility of offending someone.
I am in my room reading a book while Poppy puts away some new clothing the royal seamstress has made for me when there’s a knock at the door. Poppy quits her humming and heads over to answer it.
“Poppy,” Bridgette, one of the other maids, one who out-ranks Poppy, says, “we need you to come and help with Duchess Abernathy’s room. Her children got into the closet and made a big mess of things, and she insists that we get it cleaned up this instant.”“
I look over Poppy’s shoulder at Bridgette. Something seems slightly odd about this. Duchess Corrina Abernathy is one of Maddox’s cousins who has come in from the countryside because she is terrified that the war will reach her home. Her husband is a commander in the army and is off fighting with Maddox. She’s nice enough, but I haven’t gotten to know her well because I’ve been spending so much time in my room to avoid Antony.
But it doesn’t seem to me, from the little I know about Corrina, that she would insist that someone else come and clean up the mess her own children made right away. She has three boys and two girls, all under the age of seven, with the youngest girl being just a few months old, and they are a handful, from what I’ve heard from Poppy, who speaks to the other staff members about her—and everyone else—but she usually seems like a patient woman who would just allow her own attendants to pick up the mess whenever they have the opportunity to do so.
Poppy seems perplexed as well. “Why me?” she asks. “I’m busy with my own duties.”
Bridgette’s eyes widen and she says, “Because I told you to.”
I can’t see Poppy’s face, but I can imagine she doesn’t like that particular answer. Still… with a little huff, she turns to face me and says, “Well, I guess I’ll get back when I get back.”
A giggle escapes my lips. “I’m sure it will be fine, Poppy,” I tell her. She is muttering as she heads out the door, practically slamming it behind her.
I go back to my book, trying to concentrate, but it’s difficult. I do like the writing, and I want to know what happens, but a million things are on my mind.
Like… how is Maddox. What’s he doing right now? How is my baby growing? Is he safe in there? Am I doing the right thing by staying here to give birth to him, or should I try to get closer to the magical pool? I wonder about my family—how is Ben now that he’s had some time to heal from his near-death experience? How are my parents liking their new roles of being the Alpha and Luna of Willow pack? I have spoken to them on the phone, but I’d love to see them. Is my father still planning on putting a force together to go join Maddox? It scares me to think of my father in battle. He’s not as young and strong as he once was.
I am so lost in my thoughts that I don’t hear my bedroom door open until it shuts. My eyes fly up off the page of my book to see Antony standing there, a twinkle in his yellow eyes.
Mine widen in anger as I slam my book down next to me on a table. “I should’ve known you had something to do with this!” I grumble at him.
He tries to look innocent, but he’s not fooling me. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I just saw your guard dog heading down the hallway and thought now might be a good time to speak to you, but I certainly had nothing to do with those naughty Abernathy children pulling all of those clothes off the hangers in their mother’s closet.”“
I can’t help but shake my head at his ridiculousness. “How did you know that was where she was going if you had nothing to do with her leaving?”
He shrugs and sits down in the chair next to me, on the other side of the table. “I guess it was just a lucky guess. I did hear the maids complaining about how much trouble those children get themselves into.”
“You know, she’s a tiny maid compared to you. I think it’s a little silly that you are afraid of her.” I fold my arms and study his face, my lips scrunched to one side of my mouth.
He laughs. “Oh, I’m not afraid of her. I just can’t get a word in edgewise when she’s around, and I don’t like arguing with her when I can be having a civil conversation with you, that’s all.”
Sighing, I shake my head and remind him, “You and I don’t have anything to speak about, cousin. You’ve already told me I need to go to the island to kill your mom or she’ll kill me, and as thrilling as that sounds to someone who is almost fifteen weeks pregnant, I really don’t think killing is for me. I’m more of a healer, thank you very much.”
The smirk that’s landed on his face with the conclusion of his last statement doesn’t waver. “I am really surprised to hear you say that you haven’t changed your mind, given the circumstances and everything that has come to pass these last few days. I mean, I know you cared very much about what the Alpha King would say or do when he found out you’d left before, but now… well, given the situation, I wouldn’t think that you’d be so inclined to do his bidding.”
I study his face for a long moment trying to figure out what in the world he’s talking about. What has changed in the last few days? Only the fact that Maddox has been engaged in the war in the northern territories. Nothing else is different, and that has nothing at all to do with me.
“Nothing has changed,” I tell him, not wanting to ask him straightforwardly what he’s talking about. He seems to think he knows something I don’t know, and I don’t like that.
“Nothing has changed?” he repeats with a chuckle. “Really? You can’t possibly say that, Isla. You’re too proud of a princess, too protective, too possessive to just accept this drastic turn of events—aren’t you?”
“Proud? Possessive? Those don’t sound like very kind adjectives, Antony. I’m not sure what makes you think that I am either of those things,” I tell him in an attempt to get more information about what the hell he’s talking about.
“I think you have every right to be proud. You’re a Moon. You’re supposed to be a princess. You come from a long line of powerful individuals on both of your parents’ sides. What’s not to be proud about? Pride isn’t a bad thing, as long as it doesn’t get out of control.”
I listen to what he’s saying, but I’m not sure I completely agree.
He continues. “As far as possessive concerns, well, who would blame you for wanting to hold on to him? After all, you’re having his baby for crying out loud. The two of you seem to be very close. I would say you probably love him. Hell, I’m guessing he’s probably said he loves you. Yeah, I think it would be fair to say you would be possessive in this instance, and no one will blame you for it. But I would also think you’d be mad, and after a bit, that same pride would drive you to tell him where he can shove it. Which is why this is a perfect time for you to go to the island with me and take care of the situation there. Then, you could even stay and rule alongside me, as two sovereign individuals, at least until I find my mate. That would show him, I would think.”
With every word he says, my stomach twists a little more. I’m still not certain what he’s talking about, but I don’t like it.
“Wh-why is this the perfect time for me to leave?” I ask, and I have to guess by now that he’s figured out that I am clueless as to what he is talking about.
“Well, I just figure you ought to leave while he’s away because that will make it easier. And… who knows when they’ll start arriving. I assume you don’t want to be here when they get here. I know I sure the hell wouldn’t.” He shrugs and licks his bottom lip in a way that says he’s satisfied with the little game he’s playing.
I have no choice. I have to ask. My fingernails dig into my sides as I pose the question, not really wanting to hear the answer. “When who arrives exactly?”
“The candidates, of course,” Antony replies.
With fear coursing through my entire body, I ask, “Th-the candidates for what?”
He answers me with only one word. “Queen.”