KINGSLAYER

♕ 8 | 1 ♕

"Please escort our guests to the counseling rooms in the left wing," she said to Antinoch. "The Czarevich and I will exchange greetings privately beforehand."

Ermalai nodded ever so slightly, as if allowing for the private discussion to occur, though Jaylah knew he was truly just approving of the fact that she was keeping with the facade. With a meter's meaningful length between them, Adrik and Jaylah went to a sitting room on the first floor covered by a series of couches. Too many for only two people. It made the room seem terribly large and unpredictable.

"You will, of course, have as much time as you desire, Your Majesties," the official said, shooting the both of them a soft smile, as if to say, Ah, young love. At least it was believable, Jaylah supposed. But the idea still made her want to shriek out loud that none of it was true.

The doors were pulled shut. Sitting down with her legs pressed together, Jaylah beckoned for Adrik to sit across from her. "How was your journey, Czarevich?"

"The lurching of the boat makes me a bit seasick. But we may forgo formalities, Jaylah." He then hesitantly added on a beat later, "If you wish it."

"Very well. Speak however you desire."

"Look." He finally sat, elbows propped on his knees as he leaned forward. "I realize this arrangement was not necessarily your first or ideal choice. I know my father has roped the both of us together for his political accession, but this relationship does not have to be a cage for either of us."

"I agree."

He gave a weak smile. "Good. In public settings, we must keep up the ruse for obvious reasons, but in private, of course, things will not have to be so intimate. We were close friends for months as children, were we not? Surely we can pick up the remains of that friendship and return to it. Even if we have to sow the seeds of companionship all over again, I am willing to."

Jaylah nearly let out a sigh of relief. Not certain how he would react, she had not wanted to bring up such perimeters for their relationship. "We can. I would rather be married to a friend than a stranger."

"I'm glad to hear it. Being married to the Queen is frightening enough on its own," he said, the teasing lilt back in his voice. "Being married to a Queen who could tear me to shreds is worse."

He meant it as nothing but a joke, but Jaylah thought of those out-of-control flames eating unfortunate sailors alive. "I would not tear you to shreds."

"If I didn't deserve it," he finished knowingly.

I would not do it at all, she wanted to say. Instead, she asked, "What kind of husband will you be?"

It was half-rhetorical, half-serious, but Adrik chose to answer honestly. "A good one, I hope. I am a Prince, but you are a Queen. Obviously, I will treat you as such. I will respect your boundaries and privacy for as long as you wish me to."

Jaylah knew what he alluded to. Though that remained to be seen, she nodded once. "I will do the same. That will be the key to retaining the camaraderie in this relationship."

Standing, he held out his hand to shake on it, a gesture that made him seem more boyish than before. Jaylah looked up at him and it all hit her at once. He was her future. There were a few times in which she thought she might get to marry who she wished, but those choices were far gone. She would remain married to him for presumably many years, if not her whole life. They would have to make joint decisions. They would have to behave like lovers. They would have to produce an heir.

Getting to her feet, Jaylah took his hand. "For better or for worse, we're stuck together, Jaylah Imperatrix," he said in finality, shaking her hand once before letting go.

"Let us beg the Gods for the former." He stepped back and Jaylah glanced to the door. "What does your father currently seek from me?"

"He will propose a series of peace talks with you to further the illusion of our new alliance. Though I suppose it is not solely an illusion, as we'll now have to speak about how this will work with our combined seats of power now shared."

Jaylah did not trust Adrik nearly enough to broach the subject of his father's plan to grasp her power, so she remained silent. She knew Adrik was not as wicked as his father, but that did not make him good.

When Adrik and Jaylah were outside the counsel room, she and Antinoch exchanged a quick glance before the doors were opened for them. Jaylah nodded, giving her permission to enter in with her.

"Let our meeting commence," Jaylah commanded as she strode in and took her seat at the head of the circular table. The Navrikans all looked over from the groups they were chattering in while waiting, silent at once.

"Will you permit my men to sit?" Ermalai asked as Antinoch took a seat at Jaylah's immediate right. It was customary for everyone to remain standing until the Queen was properly settled.

Jaylah waved a hand. "Very well."

At her command, Ermalai's procession began to take their seats on the half of the table that was not occupied by Oceanic advisors and strategists. Jaylah's gaze caught and held on one of them. The room spun for a moment and she gripped the underside of the table to be sure she was really there and not having a nightmare.

It was not a trick of the light, or a sham, or a mystery. Jaylah had no idea how, but she knew why: Ermalai had inexplicably brought Alexander Khan into her home, and he was wearing a ring of Bloodiron, the same as all her father's men.