The Forsaken King

He was in his chair behind the desk when I entered, his dark hair combed back and tucked in place. He was no longer in his uniform, but his clothes were still kingly. Maps and open scrolls were across the surface of the desk, and it took him a few seconds to pull his gaze away and acknowledge my presence. “I would send Ryker to accompany you, but I need him here.”

“He wouldn’t want to come anyway.” He couldn’t feel up the other ladies of court, not the way he could with the servants at Delacroix. I took a seat in the chair facing my father’s desk, my legs crossed, my boots dirty after my trek to town.

“In addition to your gowns and hair clips, bring your weapons. You can leave them in the carriage until your return.”

“Why do I need my weapons?” My existence was small, just in Delacroix and the Capital. There hadn’t been a war in a very long time, and the invaders had been destroyed in the last attack. As far as I knew, we were all that resided in this small world.

“The same reason I have guards throughout the castle. I don’t need them, but just having them deters anyone with a hostile heart.” He watched me closely. “I thought my permission would excite you.”

I gave a shrug. “I’m sure I could kill someone with my bare hands if necessary.”

The corner of his mouth rose in a smile. “You’re definitely your father’s daughter.”

Our relationship was weird. One moment we were close, and then in another moment, he was too busy to give me more than five minutes of his time. We rarely sat down to dinner as a family, and he seemed to spend time with us separately. The three of us were hardly in the same room together. Ryker was given admission to a lot more conversations and meetings than I was simply because of the dick between his legs.

Infuriating.

“Give His Majesty my best.”

I nodded. “Sure.”

“And, Ivory?”

“Hmm?”

“Maddox. That’s your target.”

“You…you want me to kill the king’s son?”

He gave a quick chuckle. “No. I want you to marry him.”

My stomach immediately tightened in disgust. “He’s not my type.”

“But he’s the heir to the throne. As his wife, you would be as well.”

“I’m not interested in being queen—”

“But I am. The king only has sons, so this is the only way this can work.”

My father had never forced me to choose a husband, and I considered myself lucky for that. But now I realized he had a plan all along.

“Maddox.” He said the name again. “He’s the eldest son, so his inheritance is guaranteed.”

I’d lost my mother to illness when I was young, so no, I didn’t believe that one bit. “Nothing in life is guaranteed, Father.”

His eyes narrowed. “It is—if you make it so.”

The carriage was filled with my belongings, along with all my essentials to make it through the trip. It was a solid day of constant travel, so I was up and ready to depart before the sun had even risen.

I wasn’t a commoner, so I didn’t need to stash my weapons out of sight. My bows and quiver of arrows were placed in the carriage on the seat across from me, as well as my sword. I’d wear it on my belt, but I was dressed in a gown and matching cloak to greet the king and queen upon my arrival.

My father gave me a quick goodbye, because something more important required his attention. There was a one-armed hug and a kiss on the temple. Then he was gone, Burke and his guard trailing behind him.

I was about to leave when I had another visitor.

Ryker rubbed his forefinger into the corner of his eye as he yawned. His clothes were wrinkled like they were the same ones he’d left on his bedroom floor the night before. His sword was at his hip, and his cape dragged behind him because there wasn’t even a hint of a breeze. “I was up doing my rounds, so I thought I’d say goodbye.” He finally dropped his hand and looked at me, his eyes so glazed, it looked like he was still dreaming.

I grinned before my arms swallowed him in a hug. “Uh-huh. Whatever you say.”

He returned my embrace, but he put most of his weight on me like he’d fallen asleep on top of me, standing upright just like a horse.

I gave him a hard pat on the back to keep him awake. “I’ll be back in a couple weeks.”

He stepped back, a foot taller than me even though he was two years younger, and still had that sleepy look in his eyes. “Two whole weeks…sounds like a vacation.”

I gave him a smack on the arm, but I couldn’t hide my smirk as I did it.