In a few hours, Edward Pendragon would ascend the throne of Thais, yet marrying Mel Darkthrop terrified him more. As much as he loved her, he hadn't enough time to ready himself. He'd had years to prepare for kingship, but his parents had given him a day to ready himself for marriage. The idea of marrying a day after returning from destroying the orb, with Stella's death still a cold weight in his heart, left him queasy.
Still, his mother had made it plain. If he didn't choose a bride, she would, and Edward's mother had little taste for Mel. Unless he went through with the ceremony, he might find himself wed to Lydia. Or an orc.
He wasn't sure which was worse.
Maybe they could get out of this somehow. His mother couldn't force him to marry if he wasn't in the city. The guards would have the main exits covered, but if Mel couldn't find a way out of Thais, no one could.
He chewed on a nail and wondered if he should even bring it up. Mel might think he didn't want to marry her at all. He only wanted a bit of time to prepare himself for the commitment. And to grieve.
He touched the petals of a white rose, alone in a silver vase on his nightstand. As long as Stella had lived, the flower had bloomed. Her magic had kept it alive. With Stella gone, the rose had begun to wilt. A flimsy petal fell onto the tabletop, faded gray against dark wood, and clear drops fell beside it.
Edward closed his fist on air and turned away. Stella was gone, and nothing he could do would bring her back. He had to move on, to be strong. Mel and his kingdom needed him.
With a sigh, he scrubbed a hand across his face and went to the window. The wedding wouldn't be the same without Stella. Maybe he could make his parents see sense, somehow. He had found a bride, as they had asked. He just needed time to heal before they made it official.
His mother would never let him get away with it. She had her heart set on retiring, and once the queen had her mind made up, no force in heaven or earth would change it.
Still, he had to do something. He wasn't sure he could lead, not like this.
Mel. She would know how to get him out of this mess. She could always get him out of tight spots.
Resolved, Edward crossed to his bedroom door. As he passed the bed, Stella's rose caught his eye. Hadn't a petal fallen off? He frowned and looked around, but it wasn't in sight. Maybe the wind had caught it.
With a shrug, Edward left and made his way around an unguarded corner, toward the girls' quarters.
With some maneuvering Mel herself would be proud of, Edward managed to sneak to the women's rooms undetected. As he approached Mel's room, a sudden screech and clang froze him to the spot.
"Mel?"
No good. If she had heard him, she wasn't answering.
Footsteps thundered on the hallway behind him—the guards. Heart pounding in his ears, Edward ducked into an empty room and scrambled behind an old suit of armor. Fists beat on Mel's door, and Edward held his breath.
A feminine voice called, "Princess? Are you well?"
Mel replied in a breathless voice, "Y-yeah. Just having trouble … with this, ugh. This night-forsaken dress. Can someone help me, please?"
The guard paused. "Oh. Well, all right, but I thought you were already dressed?"
"I was, but it was laced a little tight. I couldn't breathe."
"I see. Well, I'll send a lady-in-waiting, then."
"No, no. I don't want to wait that long. Can you just help me lace it?"
"Ah, well, I suppose so. Do I have permission to en—"
"Yes, yes, come in."
The door swung open and shut, and footsteps faded away. Behind his suit of armor, Edward toyed with the hem of his tunic. She didn't want to wait? Did she just want to get the ceremony over with, then, or was she actually excited for the wedding?
He had to know. Pulse racing, he slipped from behind the armor and crept to the doorway. As he listened for nearby guards, Mel's conversation with the guard met his ears.
"Just a little looser at the top, Heidi. I need room for these."
"Ah, M'lady, please. Put those away."
Edward stifled a snort.
"As you wish," said Mel.
The room fell silent, and Edward edged closer to the door.
"Heidi, hurry it up. I'm ready, already."
"But M'lady, this is still half-open. You cannot go out like this."
"Pff. Fine. Just hurry."
The guard chuckled. "So you are excited after all. The queen had the impression that you were less than willing."
"Why wouldn't I be willing? Edward is smart, and handsome, and powerful. I'll be loved, and be everything I ever wanted as his wife—hah—his queen. I can't wait."
Something nagged at Edward's heart. Since when had Mel wanted his throne? If anything, she detested it.
"Hurry up, woman! My king awaits."
Heidi laughed. "My, you are eager. Well, you'll be done in five more lacings, then we can seek out the prince and begin the ceremony."
Edward took his cue, and darted out of the hallway as fast as he could without alerting the guards.
So Mel had reconciled herself to the wedding. More than reconciled—she couldn't wait for it. And he was dragging his feet.
Edward sighed and turned back toward the men's quarters. He couldn't let her down, not when she wanted to marry him so much. Yet something seemed off. Something he couldn't quite place.
"Prince Edward!"
Matt, one of their slicker Thaisian guards. Edward should have known the man would tail him—and catch him. The queen had hired him almost expressly for that purpose.
A rough hand grabbed him round the collar and spun him around to face a black-haired man with dark eyes.
"What are you doing in the ladies' quarters?"
Edward let out a nervous chuckle. "Um, trying to steal a peek."
Matt chuckled. "I don't blame you. Still, get back to your room, Highness, or I'll be forced to tell your mother what you're up to."
Edward nodded. "Sure, once you let go."
The guard released him and patted his collar straight. "There you go. Now, go on."
Edward scampered back to the mens' quarters with a nervous heart.