June 15th - Evening

As I walked into the dining Hall, I was greeted warmly by Mr. Goldleaf.

"My dear," he said with a pleased smile, "I am so proud of you. I must admit, I had my doubts about your prospects when I heard Delphi's reports of your behavior. However, your strategy clearly worked. You have exceeded all my expectations. Well done!"

I blinked. I couldn't imagine to what he was referring. I doubted Kane asking to claim me would make him so happy. Though Kane was part of a Duke's family, he wasn't part of the main family.

"I am talking of you mating, of course." Mr. Goldleaf continued. My heart gave a weird learned, then started beating rapidly. I could feel my face warm. He was talking about Kane. Then it was settled? Kane would be my mate?

"I- I didn't think you'd say 'yes.'" I replied.

Mr. Goldleaf laughed, "Of course, I'd say 'yes'. He's a Marquis. Although, I did have to play a little tough with him Please remember that later." Mr. Goldleaf winked and walked off.

I frowned. Did Kane really not want to claim me then?

My cheeks flushed more. With a strange feeling of dejection running through me, I made my way through my usual seat at the low stable. I was upset because I would be mated, I told myself. There was no other reason for my feelings.

After the meal ended, I went to find Prince Pharon. He stood with his mother, the Queen. His expression was glum but when his eyes fell on me, his face quickly became angry. The Queen, who had been busy talking to another participant, finally noticed me. I curtsied to her and she sniffed dismissively.

"Your Highness," I began. Prince Pharon's face darkened even further. "I was hoping I could speak to you privately."

"I have heard of you, Miss Adamare." the Queen said. "Do you think you are entitled to speak to Princes, after your behavior here thus far?"

I gave the Queen a flat look, "I do not know what you mean, your Majesty ." I said.

The Queen smiled coldly," I am speaking of your behavior towards my eldest son. Blackmail is quite rude you know."

I returned her smile with one of my own, "Blackmail may be rude, but I feel it is far more heinous to hire Palace guards to assault a female." I heard several people shift around us, "if such a thing happened, the female might be forgiven for protecting herself and ensuring it did not happen second time. However, your grief over your corrupt cousin's death may be clouding your judgment in this area. How are you holding up? I heard you two were closer than most cousins should be, at one point."

The Queen heard the implications of my statement and her face turned red. The wineglass held in her left hand shattered. The red liquid flowed over her fingers to drip onto the floor. It looked very much like first blood.

I turned to Prince Pharon and said, "Prince Pharon, you know something about me now. I know something about your brother. Let us both endeavor to forget them." Prince Pharon gaped at me. I turned and walked away.

***

Pharon stared at Kylara's retreating back for a moment, then hastily offered his mother another handkerchief to wipe her hand.

His mother's face was a display of fire. She threw the dirty handkerchief on the ground and stormed out of the dining Hall. Pharon followed her. She had ordered him to stay with her after she learned he'd visited the Archivist again.

Once inside her sitting room, Pharon's mother turned to him with a snarl, "That damned bitch! She has the audacity to flaunt her crimes in front of me? I will teach her!" the Queen's face fell into a smile. Pharon flinched at the malice in it.

"What do you intend to do mother? He asked worriedly. His mother was on poor terms with his father already. His father had made it clear that they were to get along what's the Cow. Now, his mother was blatantly going against his father's orders. If things went wrong, she would be in very deep trouble.

"I am going to do nothing." His mother said. "However, and I've been meaning to talk to you about this for several days now, two distant relatives of mine are coming for a visit. You will facilitate their entry into the Mating Season as participants. They will see to it that she is ruined forever." The Queen's smirk became even more vicious.

Pharon felt uncomfortable, "Mother, may I return to the party? There is a female-"

The Queen smiled, "Very well. But don't go visiting that old dotard anymore." Pharon smiled politely and left. He hadn't told his mother about his deal with the Archivist. He knew she wouldn't take it well.

***

"I have just spoken with Lady Donaci." Brooke said with her proudest smile. Glade couldn't resist smiling back at his sister. "we spoke about you at length." Brook said inching closer to him.

Glade knew he should step back but couldn't make himself. His sister didn't have a sense of boundaries with him. This was his fault, Glade new.

Brook was four years younger than him. Growing up, he could never stop from pinching her perfect cheeks, fixing her askew clothes, or petting her soft, thick, gray hair. She'd been like a perfect little doll, beautiful, well behaved, always smiling. Glade just couldn't resist and now, well people could talk. What they said didn't matter.

"Don't you want to know what she said?" Brooke asked with a pout.

Glade took a drink of his wine. Even pouting, Brooke was adorable.

"Sure." Glade replied lowering his glass. His eyes picked Lady Donaci out of the crowd. She was beautiful. Her snow-white skin glowed softly. Her straight raven locks shown in the low lights. She was quite attractive, and he was a male after all.

"Well she said, 'you were so stunning she couldn't take her eyes off of you at your training today.' She also said, 'Prince Blaize looked like an ogre next to you.'" Book continue as Glade sized up Lady Donaci. She was a little thicker than he'd like, but her breasts looked perky and full.

Glade glance to his sister and realized males were probably thinking of her soft body too. They were probably thinking that they would take her away, back to their Estates and- Glade grimaced.

"What about Kane Essenvir?" Glade asked suddenly.

Brooke frowned at being interrupted and asked, "What about him?"

"I meant why don't you take him as your mate? You- you would be able to stay home in Volantis."

Brook scoffed, "He is practically mated to Miss Abigail Thorton and is clearly obsessed with the Cow."

Glade smiled uncomfortably. He knew his sister's opinions about Miss Adamare very well. It wouldn't be easy to recommend someone who favored Miss Adamare to his sister.

Still Glade tried, "Didn't you tell me earlier nothing is final until someone's claimed? You could seduce him. I bet that would upset the Cow quite a lot ."

Brook's face went through a myriad of expressions before settling into laughter, "I think someone just doesn't want me to be mated." she teased.

"I don't. You are too young, and no one here is worthy of you." Glade said seriously. He drained his glass as he saw his father approaching the King with a tan envelope his hands. His father gestured for Glade to join him with the King. "excuse me." Glade said awkwardly as he went to join his father.

"Regulus," High Lord Volanti said to the Dragon King. He offered the King the envelope in his hands. Glade looked at his father with curiosity. "These were delivered to me anonymously a short while ago. I have investigated and I believe they came from Rhana Essenvir."

The Dragon King nodded slowly and opened the envelope. Glade saw him withdraw several pictures. The Dragon King's face became grim. He slowly slid the pictures back into the envelope, then he pulled out several sheets of paper. His mouth tightened into a firm line as he read the top sheet.

The High Lord continued, "At first, I was uncertain what to do with them, but then, well it appears you have designs on my participant. Perhaps we could talk private, Regulus." The Dragon King nodded stiffly as gazed at his father with hard eyes.

Glade stared at them both in silence. Was his father blackmailing another ruler?

Glade began to follow them when his father turned to him.

"I have decided to give you until this date next month. If you have not made a decision, by then, I will decide for you." The High Lord said coldly. "Do not disappoint me with your actions."

Glade froze, then numbly said, "Yes, Father." The High Lord nodded then turned and followed the Dragon King out of the room.