The rest of the way was silent, the sound of the moving carriage almost rocking me to sleep as the sun rose higher in the sky. The sound of trumpets blaring made my eyes open wide as I jumped in the seat. Dorian reached over and pulled the hood back up over my head again.
"I am going to take you straight to your room, then have a physician look at you." he made sure the cloak covered any exposed skin before he opened the door, the morning sun blinding me at first. As they adjusted to the light I was amazed by the palace in front of us. It was made of stone. I had never seen a building so big and magnificent, what seemed like thousands of windows, some open and some with stained glass.
The only people awake it seemed were servants and knights. Everyone we passed were dressed in the knights uniform or a servants uniform, and they all bowed when the prince passed them and he would give them a short nod. The room he took me to was the size of my old room and my mothers room combined. A large bed was in the middle, fluffy white pillows and a white down blanket. A beautiful vanity sat in the corner, it looked like it was made of gold. Dorian walked over to a set of doors and pulled it open. It was full of clothes, as well as what looked like silk night dresses. My family wasn't poor, but we usually sold the nicer clothes we made. We certainly didn't wear silk to bed.
"These are all for you, you have a private washroom through this door here. And a balcony behind those curtains there." he walked over to the door before turning back to me. "Get comfortable, I'll be outside waiting for the physician."
"Please I really do not need to see anyone."
"It's either see the one I pick or the one my father will pick. Trust me this is the better option."
I swallowed but nodded in agreement before he turned and walked out the door shutting it behind him. I quickly changed into one of the silk night gowns, though it was day time I was hoping to get some sleep. I sighed when I saw the bruises all over my body before I pulled the nightgown down. The bruises on my arms were not covered since this night dress did not have sleeves, and immediately I became self-conscious, I had never let anyone see my bruised body. I heard what sounded like a woman's voice outside the door talking to Dorian before a knock sounded on the door.
"Come in." I said quietly, crossing my arms across my chest.
When the door opened Dorian walked in first before a small woman who seemed to be about my age or a little older walked in. I was surprised to see she had blue hair, cut short just below her ears. She wore a simple blue dress with the sleeves hanging off her shoulders.
"Hello Aylin, I am Sirona." She smiled at me as she walked closer. I frowned when I didn't see any medical bags in her hands.
"Trust me. If you need me I will just be out the door." Dorian said, I gave him a small nod of my head.
Sirona made me sit on the bed as she took my hand placing it over my chest. Before I knew what was happening her hand glowed as well as her eyes. I gasped in shock before jumping away from her.
"What was that?" I said as she chuckled at me.
"I am a healer, the people in my village are born with the ability to use the energy around us to heal. By doing that I could see exactly where you needed to be healed."
Slowly she touched the bruises on my arms, her hand glowing again and one by one they disappeared or faded so faint you could not see them.
"I am sorry Aylin, but I did sense some tears." she glanced down and then back up. I knew what she meant. They had been rough with me, I could feel how sore I was and knew something wasn't right. I had been so used to the pain that I could ignore it.
"You need to heal it don't you?" I whispered not meeting her eyes.
"The prince insisted I heal everything. It is a miracle you have never gotten infected if this has happened multiple times before." She placed a comforting hand on my shoulder as I nodded.
"What do you need me to do?" I asked, still not meeting her eyes.
"Just lay back and keep your legs apart, and knees up, that's it, now just hold still." I could feel the warm sensation of her hand as she checked for where the tears were in me. Tears slipped out of my eyes, not because it hurt, on the contrary when she was done I felt almost instantly better. Still sore but not as sore as I was before, certainly more comfortable.
"Now." She helped me sit up as she wiped her hands on the apron tied around her waist. Blood smeared on it and I frowned. She reached into a pocket on the side of her dress and pulled out what looked like tea leaves; "Eat this, it will help you sleep."
"Could you tell if." I let out a breath "if im with a child?"
"Sorry, it's too early to tell, I won't be able to until about a month from now. Do not worry, Dorian and his mother saved my life, no one will know anything about this." she whispered as she helped me get into the warm bed as I ate the leaf-like substance. She poured me water that was sitting on the vanity next to the bed to wash it down.
"Sleep well," I heard her whisper before my eyes closed.
Waking up the next morning I heard clattering around before I opened my eyes to see a young brunette girl setting up food next to my bed causing me to jump not expecting someone to be right next to the bed. She turned to me and smiled a wide smile at me.
"Good afternoon." she said her cheeks had freckle's her green eyes shining brightly with her smile. "Dorian thought you would be hungry."
"Thank you," I whispered when I heard another noise and looked over to the closet.
"Sorry." a blonde girl whispered as she bowed slightly then leaned down to pick up the shoes and dress she dropped. "Hello, I am Cara, and this is Makenna. We are two of your ladies." she smiled walking over to the bed.
Cara was about my size, in fact with her blonde hair and blue eyes we could almost pass as cousins. She wore a simple yellow dress with a square neck showing off the gold heart locket that hung there. Her hair pulled back out of her face but half still left down reaching down her back about the same length as mine. Makenna on the other hand was tall. A dark green silk dress with a scoop neck showed off her figure and yet was still conservative. Her brown hair braided up into an elegant bun with gold pins in her hair.
"My ladies?" I asked with a frown looking between the two
"Yes, every Princess has ladies. We are to help you through your day, help you get dressed, make sure you eat. Things like that." Cara said, laying out the silver blue dress she was holding onto the bed.
"You must be hungry, you've slept almost all day." Makenna said, helping me out of bed and sitting me down in front of the vanity where there was a plate with what looked like ham, as well as bread, cheese, and fruit.
"While you eat I can do your hair." Cara smiled picking up the brush as I started eating.
As she started brushing my hair I felt myself relax. Cara was talkative chatting about the people in the palace while Makenna made my bed and got out the rest of my clothes for the day. Just as Cara started braiding my hair she gasped and froze looking up at my reflection meeting my eyes.
"Such a sad soul." she whispered making me frown at her
"Cara, you will scare her." Makenna said and I glanced at her disapproving face in the mirror.
"I can't help it. You know I still can not control when I read people." she then continued to braid my hair down my back as my mother had done the night before.
"Read people?" I whispered frowning
"Cara is an empath. She can read others emotions when she touches them, sometimes just by being in the same room if the emotion is strong enough."
"I am sorry. I know people do not really like it when I do it, I just can't control it. Or my mouth as Makenna says."
"No it is okay, just not used to being around…" I stopped myself not really knowing what to say that would not be offensive.
Cara smiled, patting my shoulder before walking over to my clothes. "Come now, Sirona and Nina will be waiting."
"Sirona, is a lady as well?"
"Yes, Dorian and his mother hand picked all your ladies for you."
"Do you have any special talents?" I asked Makenna standing up.
A giggle left her lips "I am a talented cook, but other than that no."
Cara scoffed, crossing her arms "She is a warrior. Also part of the royal guard when needed."
As she said that she started undressing me, shocking me with how comfortable they both seemed with me standing there naked as they helped me dress like I was a child. The dress she picked was a light blue that shifted to a silver when it moved. The shoes were flats that matched perfectly. The dress had built in boning and corset as they tied the ribbon in the back it cinched my waist and pushed my breast up. When I looked at myself I was shocked to see how the dress shaped me, it almost made me feel beautiful. If only it covered the faint scars on my arms and chest.
"Fit to meet the King and Queen." Cara smiled as she and Makenna walked me to the door.
"King and Queen? Already?"
"Yes, they insisted on meeting you right away. Dorian already has everyone planning the wedding, and said it needed to be as soon as possible."
As we walked through the palace halls I could hear the whispers from everyone we passed. I wished I had a cloak on like when I arrived so that I could hide from the hateful stares they were all giving me. The place was even more beautiful in the daylight. The stone walls are lined with windows and portraits of the royal family and landscapes. Cara chatted about what seemed like anything that came to her mind. Makenna was quiet but seemed to always be paying attention to anything going on around her, even as she nodded at Cara while she spoke indicating that she was in fact listening to the babbling blonde. As we approached a set of double wide doors I saw Sirona and who I assumed was Nina standing there. Sirona smiled when she saw us, Nina however kept a frown on her face as we approached. Makenna sped up before taking Sironas hand and kissing her lightly on the lips, making me stop walking, my jaw dropping.
"They are engaged to marry, blessed by the King and Queen." Cara smiled. I could basically see the stars in her eyes as she watched the two.
"Took you long enough."Nina snapped looking me up and down before pulling the door behind her open roughly. I blinked, squinting in the light that filled the room.
Looking around I figured this had to be the ball room with how big it was. Windows covered the whole one side of the wall which glittered a gold color and I wondered if some of it was real gold lining the walls. Navy blue drapes with gold designs hung on each window though they were currently wide open. I recognized the fabric from our shop and remembered helping my mother when I was little cutting the yards of fabric. Trying not to cross my bare arms to block the sun from getting too much of my skin I saw the three people standing at the other end of the room. Dorian had his back to us, as a middle aged couple sat on the throne chairs. The Queen immediately looked over when she heard us walking closer and she smiled wide standing before Dorian stopped her from walking closer. She had long dark hair going almost to her ankles, it fell in waves with a crown with navy jewels on her head. Her eyes were the same blue as her sons and you could see she had her lips painted red with pink blush on her cheeks. Certainly one of the most beautiful women I had ever seen.
Dorian turned and walked towards us. He was dressed casual compared to last night when we met. A loose white shirt with leather pants and boots, when he approached us I was the only one who curtsied and the other girls giggled when I did.
"You are a princess now. No need to bow to me." he took my hand and kissed the back gently before looping my arm through his. He stood on my left, his tall frame blocking the sun from hitting me. The contact sent my heart racing in both fear and something else I couldn't place. The queen seemed to be bouncing in place as we walked closer.
"For warning, she is going to hug you." he whispered softly a fond smile on his face as he looked at his mother.
I tried to keep my face neutral. I was not a fan of being touched and it seemed since I've gotten here that is all that has happened.
When we finally crossed the large room fully the Queen squealed and hugged me as Dorian dropped my arm with a chuckle.
"Welcome." she basically shouted in my ear as she kissed both my cheeks then looked at the girls. "Hello my girls, how are you this afternoon?"
"Yes, how is my Queens collection doing?"
The king's voice made me jump. It was loud and booming, almost echoing through the room. As he stood I could see where Dorian got his height from. The king was bulkier than his son, and seemed more intimidating with the frown on his face as he came to stand next to the Queen.
"Quentin, do not start." the queen rolled her eyes."How did you sleep my dear? Is your room to your liking? I have been waiting a very long time to meet you."
I could feel the blush rise to my cheeks at the attention she was giving me, as well as all the looks from everyone else.
"I slept fine, your grace." I bowed my head.
"Please, it's Irene, we arent that formal around the family."
As she said this, men and women carrying chairs and trays of food walked into the room. They set up a small table where they placed the food and what looked like wine as they filled multiple glasses of it.
"I will get us some wine." Dorian said to me walking over to the table the other girls followed as well. They made sure to bring the King and Queen glasses of wine and asked if they wanted food before they took their seats. Dorian brought me a small glass of wine as we sat down across from the throne chairs where Quinten and Irene now sat sipping their wine and eating what looked like cheese and bread.
"Now show us your party trick." the king said, looking at me, causing the queen to shake her head with a look of disbelief on her face.
"Excuse me your majesty, I do not think I understand what you mean?" My voice sounded small and scared compared to the king's loud voice.
"Well,we have an empath, a warrior, a psychic as well as a healer. What is it that you can do?"
"Father, I didn't choose to marry her because she has abilities." Dorian frowned
"Please son, you and your mother are alike in ways you like to collect odd and unusual things. You with your strange creatures, and your mother with the strange women with weird abilities."
I frowned wondering if that was the only reason I was here. In the carriage ride Dorian was very interested in the fact that people thought I was a witch. Then I remember how he had called me a 'beautiful creature' when he was talking to my grandfather.
"I am sorry your majesties but I do not have a party trick as you call it. I am not a witch like they say." I whispered softly looking over at Dorian who did not seem like he looked too happy with his father by the way he was staring at him. His father snorted and shook his head. Taking a large sip of his wine he motioned for the queen to speak.
"Now, we can have the wedding set up and prepared for within the next week. Your family will be coming tomorrow. Your mother insisted you wear a dress that was altered and partially made by them, however you will go with me and the rest of the ladies to go pick which gown you want to wear and it will be fitted to you by your grandmother and mother."
I nodded my eyes stinging with unshed tears that I knew I had to hold in. Cara had said that they were planning the wedding as soon as they could, I had hoped it could be put off longer than a week. Staring down at my glass of wine I took deep breaths trying to calm myself down. They spoke more on who else would be coming, as well as decorations and such. The queen didn't seem to notice that I was no longer paying attention.
"Mother, this is alot to take in all in one day. I am going to take Aylin for a walk." Dorian stood taking my wine and handing it to Makenna before taking my hand and pulling me up so that I was standing.
"Yes of course. Have fun you two." Irene smiled at us before she started talking with Makenna about food. I noticed that Nina was still glaring at me as we walked out Dorian looping my arm through his again. We walked out of the room and down the hall again before I saw a set of glass doors leading outside and I froze.
"Trust me" he squeezed my hand before he opened a closet that I wouldn't have even noticed that it was there, it looked to be built into the wall seamlessly. Out he pulled another cloak and draped it over me pulling the hood up over my head.
Walking out the door I gasped at the sight of the garden in front of us. Roses, lily's, and almost every other flower you could imagine spread for what seemed like miles. As we walked further in I started to feel tense at the thought of being alone with a male. Slowly I walked further and further away from him. I was sure he noticed however he didn't try to get closer to me and started walking slower letting me walk ahead of him. Going further we started walking into some woods where there was more shade and I removed the hood thankful for the shade as I sat down on a bench that was placed near the path we were walking.
Dorian sighed, running his fingers through his hair before sitting next to me.
"Am I really just a part of your mother and your collection?" I mumbled picking at a loose thread on the cloak.
"My father thinks we collect people, when in reality we protect them. Every girl you met came from a situation that was dangerous, or were victims of war where their villages were destroyed and they were some of the last survivors. They survived because they are gifted."
"So then why me?"
"You think I was going to leave you there? Where your family didn't notice what you had been going through? Where those men hurting you?"
"Why not just bring me here. Now I have to marry you."
"My mother and father really did send me to pick a wife. I told you I have been fascinated with you even without knowing you. Something told me when I saved you that you were meant to be the next queen to be my wife." he shrugged "My mother is happy because I have finally picked someone to marry. She thought all the ladies we brought here would be one but none of them stood out to me and two of them like the wrong gender."
"Your father does not seem okay with it."
"The only thing we need to worry about with my father is the consummation of the marriage."
I frowned not really knowing what he meant by that or why his father would be a problem with that.
"The night of the wedding, they have to watch us." Dorian frowned looking up into my eyes. "Its tradition, if you do not consummate the marriage it is not considered legal. The king and Queen as well as some nobles need to see that the marriage is legal or you will not be crowned when the time comes."
A few moments of silence passed before I pulled the hood up over my head, stood up and started walking again into the woods. I should have known his intentions were not good. There was no difference in what he was going to do to me then what the men in the alley would do to me.
"Aylin, you do not know where you are going. You also do not know what is out here. My father wasn't wrong about me collecting creatures."
When he said that I froze, then turned to him "Yes you called me a creature. I believe you said 'the most beautiful creature.'
For a moment he looked stunned as if he wasn't expecting me to snap at him. To be honest I didn't expect to say that either. Before he could respond we heard a faint growling noise and I watched him tense and put his hand on his sword.
"Aylin, I need you to come to me slowly." He paused "please" he whispered his eyes looking behind me causing my back to stiffen as the growling proceeded to get louder.
I heard a growl like a bark and quickly turned my dress catching under my shoes causing me to fall to the ground, the hood falling off my head. In front of me looked to be a giant wolf, black as night with silver eyes that matched mine. His teeth were barred, as he hunched his shoulders getting closer to me. Again I wasn't sure what was taking over me. I leaned up onto my knees before bowing low, my forehead touching the earth, my heart beating out of my chest as the animal started to smell me. I was waiting for it to bite me, my body shaking as I squeezed my eyes shut trying not to make any noise.
"Rek, come." Dorian's voice was deeper than I have ever heard it as he called to the beast. Suddenly I felt a wet tongue lick my cheek up to my temple causing me to gasp and jump away as the beast jumped away as well and almost looked like it was dancing before it stuck his butt into the air, his tail wagging back and forth.
Dorian came to me then kneeling in front of me. Again he spoke deeply "Rek, down."
I watched as Rek whined but then laid down in the dirt and the leaves resembling a pouting child. Dorian turned to me then looked me over making sure I was not injured. I could feel my legs may be a little scratched though I wasn't concerned with that.
"How did you do that? Rek has never not attacked anyone who comes across him."
I looked over at Rek again with a frown "I am not sure, I just reacted. What is he?"
"A dire wolf, I found him when he was a few months old, his pack murdered for furs I assume, besides him and some other pups."
"He seems okay with you." I mumbled looking between the two trying to get my body to stop shaking still.
Dorian helped me stand before lifting his shirt to show me a bite on his side. I noticed other scars littering his chest and stomach as well before he pulled the shirt back down. He patted his thigh causing Rek to stand and walked to him sitting next to him and letting him pet his head.
"He attacked me. Then I attacked back." He flicked on or Reks ears which I now noticed was missing a decent chunk out of it. "Dire wolves respect their alphas, Luckily he was young at the time or taking part of his ear wouldn't have done anything he would've killed me."
Rek barked, nudging Dorian's hand with his snout and licking it. I was starting to believe the stories of The Killer Prince. Trying to imagine him fighting the wolf in front of me I shivered my mind flashing back to the dead men in the alley.
"You drew your sword." I whispered looking up at him.
His face seemed confused for a moment before his eyes changed, growing cold "I guess I did."
"You guess? Did you not notice? Would you really kill your pet over me?" I said harshly feeling sorry for the creature now standing at Dorians side as if he were a loyal subject.
"I promised to protect you. Did I want to kill him, no, and honestly I wouldn't aim to kill him. He however needs to know who his masters are and you will be my wife which means his master as well."
As he finished what he said my ears started to ring. This man who had saved me was just as cold hearted as any other man I had ever come into contact with. Though he didn't show the coldness to her she couldn't fathom killing something even if it harms her.
"Aylin? Are you okay?" His voice sounded distant as I turned to try and walk away from him. It was then that I noticed we hadn't been standing in the shade for a long time and with my hood falling down I could feel my body getting hot and my head start to ache.
"Aylin!"
The last thing I heard before the world spun and went black was Dorian shouting my name.