‘Sapphire, you are the future of the Canmore dynasty.’ Araxia’s calming breath did nothing to quell her nerves. ‘The work your position will demand is tiring and trying, but even more so when you are forced to face it alone.’

The mood shifted with each syllable the queen spoke, the bitterness becoming tangible.

Araxia reached for her hand, and Sapphire did her best not to recoil. Despite the woman’s joyful tone, her eyes told a different story, full of anguish and remorse.

‘By combining the powers of our families, we believe that this country will take large strides forward.’

She swallowed the bile rising in her throat.

‘And what does this mean?’

Araxia looked at Kip, a pleading look on her face. He cleared his throat.

‘You will be courted by Kaian for the next few months, and then you will be wed.’

Sapphire dropped Araxia’s hand, a rush of raw anger coursing through her. She glared at Kaian.

‘You agreed to this?’

He opened his mouth to speak, but the smallest move from Tyden stopped him.

‘Our son knows his duty.’

‘I wasn’t speaking to you,’ said Sapphire.

Everyone at the table stiffened, unsure what to say next.

‘I asked you a question, Kaian.’

He looked at her with such desperation in his eyes that she pitied him; pitied them both for being chess pieces on the board of Eriobis’ future.

He looked to his parents, but their eyes were trained on Sapphire, their jaws clenched.

‘What is best for Eriobis is the only choice there is to make.’

‘You’re a coward,’ Sapphire hissed. ‘Absolutely spineless.’

Sadara gasped and Araxia wrapped her hand tightly around Sapphire’s arm.

‘That is enough, Sapphire.’ She turned to the Princeps. ‘I apologize. We all know this type of news is always hard to process.’

Sapphire’s eyes stayed trained on Kaian, and when he finally looked at her, she saw it.

Our lives are not ours, Sapphire, his expression told her. They never have been.

Something dark and venomous rooted itself in her, and the scar on her palm began to burn and she rubbed her thumb against it in an attempt to pull herself together.

The anger coursing through her was too much to tamp down, refusing to be snuffed out.

‘Allow me a few moments to gather myself.’

Araxia turned to answer, but Sapphire was already up, moving for the door. The rippling pain in her palm grew with every passing moment. Once out in the corridor, she ran to the nearest washroom and locked herself inside.

She leaned against the sink for support, resting her head against the cool glass.

Ashes.

The witch had warned Sapphire time and time again about the world she had been born into, and Sapphire had chosen to ignore her.

Oh, mercy.