Chapter 389

Steady and bold, I walk back to the bathroom door, slipping an elaborate blue brocade robe off of a hook and slipping it over my arms. As I tie the belt around my waist, I let myself slip into that Cream Puff Princess attitude that Faiza and I spent hours practicing.

Dumb as a rock, I say to myself, emptying my mind of anger and violence and pain. Pretty as a picture. No thoughts, just a desire to please.

I paste my best Princess smile on my mouth, but then alter it slightly, reminding myself that I’m not supposed to be deranged. That I’m also scared, and new to this world, even if I’m going to pretend to be happy to be here.

“You saved me,” I whisper to myself, practicing my lines as they come to me. “Thank god, you saved me and took me away from that horrible world.”

And then exhaling deeply, I push open the bathroom door and step into the room.

Of course, all of my plans to play Princess Cupcake are immediately wiped from my mind the moment I step into the room and see the couple standing before me.

“Ariel!” Pippa says, turning to me and clasping her hands sweetly under her chin, giving me a bright smile. “Oh, that color looks lovely on you – I thought it might. Do you – would you like some coffee?” She asks, eager, gesturing towards the little table they’ve set up with a nice spread of breakfast supplies.

But her smile begins to waver when I don’t say anything, just staring slack-mouthed at the man she said was her Alpha.

Because I recognize him.

Of course I do – I’d recognize him anywhere, both by his face and by the way my wolf perks up, sniffing the air between us, even as that same shudder passes through me as it did that day, so close to Midwinter, when he’d stood in my palace across the room from me. Next to that horrible one with the crown.

But this one – I know instantly that it’s him. Elias. The cute one.

It’s…it’s Ben’s mate.

And…he really, really is cute.

But I turn my head as I stare at him because…am I mistaken? And why did I never notice it before? That this man – Ben’s mate – the cute one…does he…does he suddenly look a great deal like Tony? I mean, Elias’s eyes are a bright and shining blue – Tony’s were grey – but that lanky frame and that dark hair…

Elias shakes me out of my reverie when he gives me a warm smile and steps close to Pippa, slipping an arm around her waist.

“Hello, Ariel,” he says, his eyes crinkling a little at the corners with what looks like real pleasure to see me, the same way Tony’s did. “I’m so sorry you’re here on such terrible terms but…it really is wonderful to meet you.”

My mouth continues to hang open as I just stare at this man, at my friend’s mate. And then I shift my gaze to Pippa, who looks at me anxiously now.

And then down to her very pregnant belly.

And then back to her Alpha who…I mean, who obviously did the job.

Right?

Slowly, the smile fades from Elias’s face as he realizes that I know everything. Absolutely everything. That whatever ruse he’s got going on with Pippa here? I know that it’s fake.

That I’ve spoken to Ben and know precisely who he is.

Elias’s face goes pale as my wolf nips me inside and I realize that in my first trial as a spy, I’ve made a terrible mistake and shown my cards.

As quick as I can, I wipe my face of any surprise and replace my shock with my best Princess smile, stepping forward with my hand out. “I’m so sorry, I’m being so rude,” I say, laughing at myself a little and shaking my head like I can’t believe I was such an idiot. “I’m Ariel – it’s very nice to meet you!”

Elias looks down at my hand, his own smile returning to his face, but he makes no move to take it.

“Oh,” Pippa says, reaching out and taking my hand in her own, giving it a little squeeze that makes me turn to her in surprise. Softly, she shakes her head at me. “In Atalaxia, dear, women don’t shake hands with men – it’s just not done. But of course you don’t know that! I know things are different in Moon Valley. I hope you don’t mind.”

“Oh!” I say, turning to Elias in surprise and forcing a blush to my cheeks, even as I smile. “Oh, I’m so sorry, I hope you’re not insulted –“

“Far from it, Princess,” he murmurs, giving me a little bow and then gesturing again to the little breakfast table. “Would you eat with us? You must be starving. Again, we’re so sorry for such an abrupt introduction to our nation. I promise, it will all be better from here.”

“Oh, that’s all right,” I say, taking my seat with a pretty little laugh. “A good breakfast wipes away almost all woes.” To my surprise, my stomach grumbles as I look around the little table, which is packed with food that all looks absolutely delicious.

But, then again, I’ve always had a good appetite.

“Coffee?” Elias asks, reaching for a pot. “Or tea?”

“Coffee, please,” I murmur, demure, allowing Pippa to fill my plate as it seems to please her to do so. She murmurs the names of all the little pastries and tarts, telling me a little about them as she goes, and quietly I wonder if she made them herself.

“Princess,” Elias says with a sad little sigh. “I’m sure there are a great many questions that you –“

But a clatter interrupts Elias’s words and he jumps a little as the little carafe of cream goes soaring to the ground.

“Oh, Ellie,” Pippa says, giving him a half-hearted little glare along with a laugh. “You’re impossible.” She drops a kiss to his cheek even as she goes to her knees with a napkin, quickly wiping up the spilled cream.

“Pip, please let me,” Elias murmurs, starting out of his chair.

But she just waves a hand at him, murmuring that he should entertain their guest, and continues her work.

“She’s right,” Elias says with a sigh, returning his eyes to me, his face serious. “I really am impossible. I’d be a complete disaster without Pippa to keep me in order.”

I nod cheerfully even as I watch his face, kind of…baffled. Because these two – it actually is impossible, right? If he’s mated to Ben then he’s…he’s gay, or at least queer or bisexual, yes? Which I know, here, is illegal at best and more accurately a death sentence. But his relationship with Pippa…it just seems so…real.

“Pips, love, would you mind?” Elias says, turning to her as she stands up with the empty carafe and putting a hand on her shoulder. “Poor Ariel didn’t even get a drop of cream before I destroyed everything. Would you go and get some more?”

Pippa starts to say a quick yes but then hesitates, looking at me. I intuit her thoughts – that she doesn’t want to leave me alone with a man who is a stranger, either because of tradition or law or even merely because it would make me uncomfortable.

“It’s okay, Pippa,” I say, nodding to her and giving her a happy smile as I nod to her Alpha. “You’ve got one of the nice ones, haven’t you? I don’t mind at all.”

Her face bursts into a wide and happy grin. “Well, I suppose it’s okay,” she says, folding the tiny carafe into her hands. “You’ll be family within the week, after all. I won’t be five minutes on this!”

She waves happily over her shoulder as she scurries for the door. Elias waves goodbye to her, even for a short trip, and then turns to me with a sigh.

“Pippa,” he says, shaking his head, meeting my eyes as Pippa closes the door behind her. I watch carefully, observing that there is a great deal of sadness in his expression that wasn’t there before. “She really is the best of us.”

“Family?” I ask, my voice a little tremulous. “I’ll be family?”

“Yes,” he says on another sigh, looking down into his black cup of coffee before taking a sip. “You have the dubious honor of being mated to my horrible brother, Gabriel.”

My eyebrows shoot up at this, as the pieces begin to click into place. Gabriel – Elias’s brother. Which means he is the son of Prince Calvin, my mother’s friend, and…

“Prince…Prince Gabriel of Atalaxia?” I whisper, suddenly shocked to my core as the family tree comes flying back to my memory. “Second in line to the throne?”

“First in line, if his ambitions have anything to do with it,” Elias murmurs, lifting his blue eyes to meet mine again and giving a sorry shake of his head. “Which means that you, Ariel Sinclair, will be his Queen along with his prize. And his weapon, if he can find a way to control you.”

I just stare at Elias, shocked. And then I set my shoulders and remember my role, murmuring something about always wanting to be a queen –

But Elias waves a hand, dismissing it all, looking at me quite solemnly. “It’s all right, Ariel,” he says, shaking his head. “You can drop the act. I know that you’re more fire goddess than you are simpering princess. We can speak plainly here, at least…” he glances towards the door, “at least while Pippa is gone.”

My eyes flick to the door and then back to his face as I try to keep my expression as plain as possible, trying to decide whether or not to believe him. And even though my wolf yips and urges me to, Faiza’s teachings ring in my head. Trust no one. They, too, are trying to lull you into security. Hold your cards tight – always.

“You’re too kind, Elias,” I say with a pretty smile, tilting my head to the side like he’s given me a great compliment that can’t possibly be true. “But honestly, anything you’ve heard about my magical abilities must be much exaggerated.”

“Fair,” he says with a shrug, his eyes returning to his cup of coffee. But then he clears his throat, dropping his voice low. “Please,” he begs, not looking at me, his words hardly more than breath. “Is…is he okay? Is he all right?”

“Who?” I ask, lowering my voice as well as I lean forward.

Elias’s eyes dart up to mine. “I don’t know his name, Ariel. But I know you know who I mean. Please, just tell me…” he sighs, shaking his head, his hand tight on the handle of his cup. “Is he okay?”