THE HOVERING DARK CLOUD“G
uards,” King Lucien called calmly, never one to raise his voice.
The door opened and Zariel entered. Chad had been scarce lately because he was preparing for his marriage. He had made a mental note to have some private time with his friend and helper since childhood soon.
“Your Highness.” Zariel bowed his head.
“Tell Princess Kamara I summon her.”
“Your wish is my command, Your Highness.” He turned and hurried out of the door.
The king picked up his completed scrolls and rose from his chair. He walked into his library towards the left end of the shelf where he had his last written scrolls lined up. He took his time arranging them according to when they were written for easy access and identification.
He was filling in the second to last scroll when the door opened, and a feminine voice called, “I’m here, Your Highness.”
King Lucien dropped the last of the tied pieces of paper on the shelf and closed the spread, then strode out of his library, stopping at the door.
The first thing he noticed about the princess was her unusually wavy blonde hair that spread down her back and curled to a stop at her lower back, just before her waist. Hair like Danika’s. Danika had the exact shiny blonde hair with length so long it was beautiful.
He scowled. Why would he pick up such details? When did he pick it up? He shut down such confusing thoughts and focused on the woman in front of him. He took in her face and physique. She was very young and a beautiful princess, too.
He pulled away from the door of the library and strode deeper into his bedroom. “I apologize for my inability to meet with you until this moment, Princess.”
Princess Kamara held her lower gown and curtsied, like they taught her all her life to do in front of a king. “You do not need to apologize, my king. I understand how busy it is for you.”
“How was your first night in the palace?”
“I slept like a baby, My Lord.”
Kamara wondered if he could see her body tremble. King Lucien looked nothing like she imagined. She’d heard the rumors and the stories about him and the things he went through at the hands of the former King Cone, so she’d warily prepared her mental health for seeing a brute or a monster dressed in expensive wears.
The king was a handsome but terrifying man. There was a scar that ran across one cheek and disappeared into his neckline, giving him a savage look. And he was huge, like a fighter in royal clothes.
Kamara swallowed, finding herself tongue-tied. Her only relief was that her corset and veil would hide the shivers running down her spine.
“I hope your journey went well?” His deep voice filled the air as he walked closer and hesitated.
It was just three seconds’ hesitation before he stretched out his hand, palm out. A man that’s wary of touch, Kamara observed as she placed her hand into his. He kissed the back of her hand in a gesture of respect and greeting as old as time.
“The journey was lovely,” she lied smoothly.
“I’m glad. I hope your stay has been great.”
“It has been good, my king. I’ve been exploring. It’s so beautiful here.” That part was sincere.
She took a step back from him. King Lucien didn’t miss the move or the slight fear his future bride was trying to hide. He would have smiled if he remembered how to. Instead, he pulled away from her to give her a bit of space. “How is your father?”
“He’s fine, My Lord. He sends his regards.”
“And your mother?”
“The queen is fine, thank you.” She curtsied again.
He scrutinized her again and decided that he made a good choice where she was concerned. She seemed correctly trained and beautiful. He could have done worse.
The same thoughts were running through Kamara’s mind. He was everything she never expected, and that was… good, she guessed. She could have done worse. If it worked out between them, she would settle down with him.
Better him than a mustached, potbellied, fat and ugly sixty-year-old king, who most princesses had been matched with.
On her way to Salem, she’d wished he’d reject her because of everything she’d heard about him. She’d thought that if he rejected her, her father would match her with a better king.
But now she looked at him and hoped he wouldn’t reject her. It wouldn’t save her from her father’s decision, and it wouldn’t make it possible for her to be with Callan either, but if he rejected her, her father would only match her with another king, because that’s the ‘duty of a princess.’
A shudder sizzled down her body, and she looked up at the king again. His blue eyes never failed to startle her; they were his most captivating feature.
Eyes just like Callan’s, she thought with an aching heart. She could definitely live with gazing into those eyes if she did nothing else. Although Callan’s eyes were warm and expressive. King Lucien’s own were cold and blank.
Her heart hurt, but she was lucky. She could have done worse, she repeated in her mind. So, yes, she considered herself lucky after all.