The Fire court's appearance matches its name and reputation. The castle is bigger than Demaqual's three Commanding Lords' houses combined. It's a monstrous sight like the building is being swallowed whole by flames. The pictures other spies had drawn for us didn't do it justice.

The castle is a mixture of red, orange, blue, and green, the outer walls furl like tongues of blaze moving heavenwards.

To no one's surprise, the garden before the castle is already filled with carriages of the guests who have come to witness today. Their brave General's daughter, at last, has returned home and will be officially announced as their Prince's betrothed.

Just as the guards clad in orange open the gates for us, I spy a man hurrying inside the castle.

Our carriage slows down as we near the entrance, the sound of gravel being crushed growing fainter.

The second we halt, the gigantic doors of the castle fling open and four people come into view.

Again, the images failed to capture the true magnificence of the royal faes.

In Demaqual coming across a true blooded fae is rare, the majority are like me, half-bloods. Either their mother or father was human.

But now, seeing these four true-blooded faes, I can't help but notice how truly different they are from us.

A fae with beige skin, his face seeming like melted rock opens the carriage door for me, and holds out his rough hand.

Without hesitance, I grab his palm as I descend the three stairs placed in front of my carriage's door for my comfort.

My gaze sweeps around the place. I can hear inside the castle, buzzing with life. The gardens have been decorated and it's clear they're having a celebration for my entrance.

Good. They're celebrating their doom's arrival.

Norvick plants himself on my left, bowing his head in respect to the royals.

My eyes lock with King Cyrus' glowing amber ones. He's wearing a forest green velvet coat, hugging his bulky form and reaching below his knees. His dark brown hair is cut short and the crown resting on his head resembles flames, having a weird effect on his mauve coloured skin.

His Queen, Durgani, whom he was married to instead of mating, stands on his right while the Prince is on his left and the Princess is on the right of the Queen.

The warm breeze makes Durgani's long auburn hair fly around her like a hollow of fire. She smiles at me and descends the steps and opens her arms. "Welcome my dear." Her sharp blue eyes glint under the sunlight. Her royal blue dress trails behind her as she stops a few paces away from me.

I bow. "It's an honour to be here," I softly say, dropping my gaze to the ground, just like these control freaks like their subjects to be, weak and meek.

"It's our pleasure to have you here child." Her warm hands furl around my shoulders, urging me to straighten up.

I meet her warm smile with a fake one of mine. "Thank you."

"Words didn't do you justice, you're so beautiful, my son is truly lucky to be your partner."

I play shy, looking down, recalling an embarrassing memory to make myself blush.

"General," she says and I glance up in time to see her nod at Norvick as he bows again.

"Let's speak inside." She drapes her arm around my shoulder, leading me ahead.

The prince, Valoukai, is the first to spin on his heels and march inside, without even once sparing a glance at me.

My heartbeat quickens and my palms get clammy from anxiety. That's not a good sign, I have to ensure everyone in this court likes me so no one would become suspicious about me and my motives.

Damn it, I have to find a way to win him over.

Princess Fyla's gaze follows her brother before she turns back to me and offers a small smile, her blue eyes, the same colour as her mother's glinting.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you in person, Audriea." She extends her hand, unnaturally long and slender, her mauve skin gleaming under the sunlight.

I clasp her hand and bend my knees, slightly dipping my head. "I'm honoured to have the chance to meet you in person, Princess."

"Oh please, call me Fyla, we're soon going to be sisters."

"I hope you have inherited your father's gifts-" King Cyrus starts but Durgani cuts him off.

"We'll speak about the details inside... there's a lot we need to discuss."

With that, the three royals saunter inside; as Norvick and I follow them, I throw him an anxious look. This wasn't part of the plan.

He subtly lifts a shoulder, so he didn't know they're going to have a talk with me either.

Inside the castle, just as I had seen on the maps and images other spies had brought for us, the hall is spacious. The walls are white with red and golden patterns swirling around in beautiful shapes. Paintings by the most famous fae artists hang around the walls. Portraits of the royal family, and the ones before these adorn some walls.

The faint music, faes chattering and laughing their day away is coming from a nearby ballroom but the royals set down the opposite hallway and Norvick and I quietly follow them.

I scan the place, noting the guards stationed in front of each door. I have yet to learn each of their exact capabilities if one of my ventures goes sideways.

A purple-skinned guard opens the door to the last room in the corridor and the three royals step inside. As we walk in, the guards shut the door and we're left in a ridiculously large room. The wide window covering one side offers natural illumination to the room.

The fae prince, Valoukai is already sitting on one of the armchairs, a drink in his hand. The famous fae wine. His dark brown hair is slightly ruffled and the top two buttons of his shirt are undone. He downs his drink and as he sets the glass on a nearby table, he shoots me a glacial glare. His mismatched eyes, glowing amber and blue each seem to carry fire of their own.

"Be seated," Durgani waves her hand at the empty chairs and we don't need to be told twice.

As we settle in a wide circle, each of us taking one chair, Cyrus fixes his attention on me and starts, "Being part of the royal family is not easy, there are expectations you must fulfil and reach."

"You will have duties we'll expect you to complete with the best of your abilities," Durgani adds.

"You're our great late General's daughter, he was slaughtered by those filthy half-bloods and not only us but the entire court is glad to tribute him by making you the princess. The matter of you and Val mating or marrying will be left for you two to discuss and decide, but be aware all the four courts and their people are watching." Cyrus glances at his son but he pays him no heed, glaring at the marble stone floor.

"Of course, we don't want you two to make this important decision under the pressure of what others will think but mating surely has a very good image." Durgani smiles and I offer my best fake smile while cursing her in my head.

I have to find their attack plans and war tactics before they force me into mating their stupid brooding son. By no means do I intend to go through the excruciating pain one has to endure once their mate dies. Or be shredded into pieces by the agony of being separated from them.

Even though I'm a half-blood fae, and the pain might not be as extreme as it is for the full-bloods, yet I don't want to subject myself to that sort of suffering.

"I'll do whatever your highnesses find fit," I softly reply, and the glint in Durgani's blue eyes are a sure enough sign, I've won her over already.

Cyrus nods with approval, as Fyla gazes at me with intense interest, I catch a glimpse of Valoukai rolling his eyes.

Weird. According to Norvick and all the other spies who came and went, they all claimed Valoukai likes his women coy and submissive... I am being ridiculously submissive, then why is he still on guard and seemingly irritated?

I hold back a groan. What if the intel was incorrect?

"We'll have a very small gathering, with music, drinking and everything, at night. Rest, for now, when the time comes, we'll send someone for you." Durgani raises to her feet and Cyrus follows suit.

"General, do join us, our friends are waiting," Cyrus looks at Norvick as we stand up.

Norvick dips his chin.

"I'm sure you'd like to speak with Val alone," Durgani says, glancing at Valoukai before turning to me. "We'll be with the guests."

I nod.

Fyla walks to her mother and they treat out of the room together. Cyrus and Norvick go out behind them and the door shuts once more, this time leaving me and Valoukai alone.

I clasp my hands in front of myself, to appear small. Through my lashes, I peer at him. Long moments of silence go by and when he doesn't make any attempts of talking or even moving from his armchair, I decide to speak.

"It's a pleasure to meet you in person, Prince Valoukai."

His head snaps to me, his mismatched eyes glare at me with a force if I hadn't gone through hell and back, it would have freaked me out.

In one fluid motion, he gets to his feet and stalks to me. For a heartbeat, I contemplate if I should hold my ground or begin retreating. Hell to it. I stay rooted to my spot and he stops a pace away from me.

"Why are you here?" he roughly asks.

I furrow my brows with confusion. "I'm-"

"Don't play these games with me, is it money you want? Riches? Diamonds? Jewellery?"

Oh. Realisation clicks in my head. So he thinks I'm here for the money and the rank... this will complicate the matters, earning his trust will become trickier than I had initially expected.

I calmly explain. "I'm honouring the King and Queen's words-"

"Cut the bullshit," he snaps and takes a step toward me.

Under normal circumstances, I would have held my ground, but the situation is different, so I back a step from him.

"Tell me the truth, what do you want?" He keeps invading my personal space and I keep going backwards until I hit the wall.

"I just told you," I mutter, barely holding on to the last string of my patience.

"And you expect me to believe that? I know you're here because you think becoming the princess will mean living your best life, but let me tell you, it won't. I will make sure of that. So tell me, how much money do you want?"

I raise my eyebrows and feign offence. "You're being unfair your highness. I'm here to honour my father's legacy and-"

A harsh chuckle tumbles out of his full lips, before he sneers, "His legacy? Don't act so gullible. Whatever anyone does is for the money, even all the generals, including your dead father-"

"How dare you," I cut him off sharply, at last, glowering at him. "Don't you dare insult my father or any other general."

My real father was only a squire working for these monstrous faes before he fell in love with my mom. But the people I've grown up with, Rageni, who has taken care of me like my mom, she's a general, and there are so many good generals I've been lucky to get to know them. I will not stand this bastard disrespect them.

He quirks an eyebrow. "Oh, so you do know how to raise your voice? Tired of acting already?"

"You're being very rude," I mutter through gritted teeth.

He lifts a shoulder in an indifferent shrug. "How much do you want me to pay you to get out of here?"

I want to laugh at him. If he gives their war plans and strategies to me right here and now, I'll gladly head back to Demaqual but I doubt he'd be as willing as he is for handing me money.

"I have entered this castle as your betrothed and I will not leave unless the King and Queen tell me to."

He clenches his jaw as he purses his lips, planting a palm on the wall right next to my head. Fire of fury dance in his amber and blue eyes, setting me ablaze.

My breath hitches as he leans down to me. His musky scent, a mixture of citrus and a pleasant woody scent I can't find a name for, overwhelm my senses.

My eyes widen as his other hand moves a strand of my light brown hair behind my ear before he slowly moves closer to me.

"You're a beautiful fae... I won't mind keeping things strictly physical between us, we can both have fun and part ways when we've had enough of each other."

His mouth nears my ear, his warm breath tickles me as he speaks, "But if you try to get close to me, form any sort of relationship beyond that, I can make your life a living hell for all eternity." His free hand, warmer than any skin that has ever touched me, travels from my neck to collarbone to the side curve of my breast in a feather-light touch over the fabric of my dress.

My heart pounds in my chest. I've had countless relationships with men, but no one's touch has ever affected me up to this point. Maybe it's because of the bone deep hatred I feel towards him and his kind. He brushes his knuckles up and down over the see-through sheer chiffon covering my rib cage. Heat courses through my veins as I struggle to keep my breathing even.

His lips brush my ear as he continues, "I can show you the pleasures of this world, only if you listen to me and call off this arrangement."

Valoukai breathes heavily, his chest rising and falling as his lips brush my earlobe. In a deeper voice, he finishes, "I will destroy you if you ever try to get close to me," He promises and pulls away from me. His eyes lock with mine, "You can never be the Queen of the Fire court, I will never accept to be mated or married to you," he spits.

Breathless, I glare at him.

You just wait and watch, Valoukai, how I'll set your bloody court on a fire that will match its name and reputation, you asshole.

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Thank you for reading this chapter, I hope you enjoyed, don't forget to vote if you did.

Comment your thoughts, what do you think about the royals, and more importantly, our male lead, Valoukai? =)

The next chapter will be up on Tuesday.

Stay safe, lots of love, happy reading <3