Extol of Agnatic Dreams (The Extol Series Book 1) (35 page)

Luella only struck Evangeline once, her hand slapping Evangeline across the face before Luella was tackled to the ground by the guards and Evangeline was pulled back into safety by Thomas. Glais looked from the desperate Luella to the shocked Evangeline before closing his eyes. Sadly, Luella had sealed her own fate.

It was the King who made the announcement. “Luella you are sentenced to death. Take her to the gallows.” His voice boomed over the scene.

Glais did not save her. There was nothing he could do now, and his father would ensure that his wish to end her life would come to pass. Quintus did not enjoy death but it did provide minimal complications should problems arise in the future. Glais had convinced Quintus that Luella could be trusted and banishment was enough. Quintus could no longer believe that now.

The guards carried off the twisting and fighting Luella. Quintus followed to ensure she was indeed locked up. All too quickly there was only Evangeline, Glais, and Thomas standing in the hallway.

“Take me to my room.” Evangeline felt faint with the display, her cheek tender from the firm slap. Glais stepped forward but Evangeline reached for Thomas and put him between them so Glais could come no closer. Thomas said nothing and did not move as he waited for Glais to dismiss him. Glais was very tempted to not only dismiss Thomas but have him join Luella in the gallows. Perhaps they could keep each other company. The temptation was rejected before it came to light.

Glais could always demand the right to escort Evangeline himself. Instead, after a tense moment, Glais took a step back and allowed Evangeline to set the parameters of their relationship. He was glad there were no witnesses to this because it hurt enough to know where her choices were firmly planted.

Thomas took a deep breath and nodded to his future king. Glais gave him nothing back and Thomas took that silence to mean he needed to leave now because the offer would not be extended again. He put a hand on the small of Evangeline’s back and guided Evangeline from the hallway and back towards her own rooms. Glais allowed them to leave, hating that Evangeline needed to witness this exchange.

Evangeline walked slower than usual and when she got to her door, she was not quick to dismiss Thomas either. She was not prepared for the consequences of her desires. She had asked Glais to handle this and it seemed perhaps the King of Braykith was no better than his son. She feared the curse that tainted their humanity would come to destroy her own son. Could it be the desire for human blood made Glais and Quintus such dangerous men to those around them? She dared not to think that perhaps it was simply the men.

She shuddered to think of what more the Braykith kingdom did that she did not know. Evangeline could not recall any maids suddenly going missing, but it was a nagging suspicion that the curse was kept secret by death in many more ways than the one she had witnessed. They blamed the curse and the strange phenomenon of death coming to all who spoke of it. Was it the only way the curse killed? “Will Luella really be executed?” she asked softly.

Thomas nodded. “Striking out at you sealed her fate.” Gently he tilted her face into the torch light but there were no real marks left there. The red would fade quickly and come morning there would be no sign of the assault. Already it had paled. Not that any of that would help Luella now. Quintus had spoken and it would be followed through. Seeing her distress Thomas did not share with her what he knew.

“Braykith is a kingdom built on death.” Tears clung to her lashes but they did not fall before she wiped them away. “It has claimed so much life that I scarcely believe I will make it myself.”

Thomas hushed her with a gentle embrace. “You have brought life to Braykith in a way no one could prepare for.” He tried to reassure her.

“I am to be his Queen. I will be expected to do the acts that Luella performed.” Panic was setting in again and Thomas held her firmly to keep Evangeline from breaking apart. She resisted but quickly she leant against him. He held her with such care, and Evangeline realised so different to the suffocating embrace of her father. Thomas was a pillar of strength while her father had been a mask.

Gently Evangeline pushed Thomas away, not wanting to think of him in such ways because they knew the truth of their relationship could never be spoken about. It would destroy her if she dared to get any closer to Thomas. They needed distance and yet circumstances had forced them closer together.

“Do not let me die here, Thomas.” He nodded. Evangeline pressed her hand to his chest above his heart. “Promise me. You will not let me die here.”

Thomas was overcome with emotion and it took him time to respond to her. “I promise Eva. You will not die here.”

E
vangeline felt faint. She suspected some of it was a side effect of the holy fasting she had been doing for the past twenty-four hours. The rest though was the unbelievable truth that this was happening. She stood in a small room in the castle, dressed in her wedding gown and simultaneously felt like she might faint and vomit. She hoped she did not but the odds were not in her favour. Her head spun, the room was deafening in its silence, and Evangeline could do nothing to fight the anxiety that crept up on her.

The dress was to the same level of care and grace as every other garment she owned here at Braykith. Not surprisingly, the fabric was black in colour but Evangeline did not make a question on it. Black and gold were the colours of Braykith and it found its way into all the attire of the day.

Evangeline had no right to complain. She had done little to help prepare for the wedding and when Wick had come to her with the designs for the dress. Evangeline had waved her off and said that she could deal with it. Wick had an artistic eye obviously, but the colour was not Evangeline’s favourite.

The fabric was gorgeous against her skin, tight to her bodice and shaped to give her body a graceful form that her own seamstresses back home could never quite manage. Seeing herself for the first time she had been amazed by the detail and how well she was admiring the way the dress enclosed around her form. She was sure others would notice. The idea only made her stomach churn harder and she reached out to find support against the wall as she remembered to breathe.

The collar was a soft sweetheart neckline, her breasts tastefully visible but nothing too vulgar. It was clearly a dress for marriage, the sleeves draped and long off her shoulders in a flowy effect that had been playful for a moment when she dared to forget what today was.

“Evangeline, are you ok?” Adeline asked, looking up at her. Dressed in a beautiful dress of pale gold, Adeline was the only one she recognised of her assistants. Naturally Wick would not allow herself to be seen, and with Teagan and Viviana dead, there was no one Evangeline could think to ask.

“I need water.” Evangeline lied, and while a cup was fetched for her, Evangeline smoothed down the dress for invisible marks only she seemed sure it would collect. The beading along her bodice distracted her as lace and pearls were entertained by the shadows to create patterns that captured the light. Within the brocade sat the occasional diamond, just enough to add to the overall appearance. Now, it was sufficient to keep the walls from spinning.

She was offered water, which Evangeline barely managed to swallow before shoving it away. There was nothing to be done about it now, and when the church bells rang out, she knew she would need to be seen. It was a long walk to the church, and she would make it following her father’s back, and then two strangers with Adeline following in behind them. At least with her head down, and the demanded free flowing design of her hair meant she could hide from the citizens as they praised her future.

Evangeline should not think so badly of them since they barely knew the man who would be waiting for her at the church, but there was some regret in her heart that twisted and turned sour in the back of her throat the more she considered it. A day of joy was taking place when she felt like mourning. She could not show the citizens that face of truth, and so Evangeline plastered a face of timid joy. It was the best she could manage before the small group started out the doors as the bells rang out loud across the land.

Evangeline did not look any better once she got into the sun. She could see that Adeline was trying to catch her attention but all Evangeline could do was focus on walking. One foot in front of the other along the path was her entire world at that moment.

Well wishes and prayers came from the community as they lined the streets. Any ideal escape was gone, although she never actually considered it in the first place. She knew her time was up. The window to leave was closed and Evangeline would make good on the promises she had made to Thomas and to Kyleigh. She would stay, raise a family to inherit the throne and die. If she was truly unlucky in her life, she might live to old age.

The walk from the castle to the church was not far, but with the citizens closing in it took the bridal party an hour to walk what usually took thirty at a slow pace. The bells chimed on the hour just as the doors to the church opened. Evangeline did not watch as her parents were swallowed into the room. Every step was a struggle, every breath made her lungs aches. She could taste acid on her tongue and a swoon was approaching. Just as Evangeline was sure she would faint, a hand reached for her.

Thomas looked down at her, smiling gently. “You are going to do this,” He whispered to her, aware that more eyes than ever before were on them. Now was not the time to give them reasons to gossip.

“I don’t think I can.” Evangeline admitted, but Thomas just smiled and squeezed her hand.

“You can Eva. Because if you didn’t want to, then you would have found some way out before now.” Thomas looked deep into her eyes and she felt herself get lost in them.

The crowd dulled to nothing and she even forgot where they were standing. “Don’t leave me.” She whispered, gripping his hand tightly.

Thomas shook his head. “I’ll always be here.” He promised and released his grip on her as the world bled back into her vision. Standing with a stronger posture than before, Evangeline entered the church as the music swelled. She paused, letting her eyes adjust and for the first time that day she didn’t think she was about to lose everything in her stomach. Evangeline walked down the aisle like she wanted to be there. She could pretend the part, show the world what a waiting wife and someday queen should look like.

Perhaps a little late, and yet it seemed that it was better to have happened then not at all, Evangeline smiled as she saw Glais for the first time. She had never seen him in anything this elaborate. The fit impeccable as always but the detail on the jacket he wore, the way the buttons decorated up the centre of his middle and brought the eye to his handsome face was more than fashion. It was art. He was handsome. Evangeline would be a fool to deny it. Physically he was an excellent man, and one with apparent good genetics as long as you ignored the curse.

If only the monster inside did not tarnish her thoughts of him, she might feel the real emotions that people expected and that she was projecting. She would fake her way through the ordeal for the sake of the Kingdom and her home of Crimah. Taking a deep breath, Evangeline took her place at his side and Glais was clearly nervous.

Evangeline assumed it was the setting. He had been avoiding the church just as she was avoiding planning the event that would take place there. Glais was not nervous to be in the church like he normally was. His fear instead came from the woman standing beside him. Glais had real concerns about her, and what Evangeline might do when it came time for the rituals of a wedding ceremony to take place. He would be instructed by their High Priest to touch her, kiss her, and bind her hands gently to his. If this ceremony moved along quickly, then it would be a miracle.

“We gather before the eyes of the good God Xado to witness the marriage of Glais, Prince of Braykith, son of Quintus, to Evangeline, daughter of Barret of Crimah. The road to marriage can be a long one, and as we all know, it can at times be a battle. As is all life, the Gods test us to ensure we are ready for the gates of the afterlife when the time comes.

“This path is dangerous alone.” The high priest continued, his words recited from memory. “and so the Gods have given us the soul mates who will help guide our way. For every man, there is a woman, and for every King, he must take a Queen. Without one, the other will never make it to the final resting place of the ancestors. Glais and Evangeline will prevail and survive the hardships of this mortal plane together. We witness this joining and claim it to be honest.” Evangeline jumped as a shout came from the crowd in agreeance.

Quickly they settled and the High Priest motioned them forward. “Palm to palm…” he started and Glais held his hand out in front of him, palm out. Evangeline did not hesitate to put her hand against his. She would not look at him though as the High Priest continued the ritualistic language. “Glais and Evangeline set out on the journey as equals. Glais gives his strength and Evangeline will offer her nurturing spirit as they approach this new world together.”

The high priest produced a short length of rope and held it to Glais, who started to twist the rope around their joined hands. “This rope is a symbol of their togetherness and when it is removed, may the memory ward off those who dare break them apart.” Glais took a steady breath but Evangeline did not seem at all bothered by the rope circling her wrist and around their hands. He should have known she would play the part. She was good at keeping up appearances of normalcy, a trait he struggled with.

He was optimistic as the High Priest raised both his hands and declared their union bound and sanctified, and gave Glais permission to kiss his bride. Glais realised as he approached her that this was their first kiss. How could it be that for all their times spent fighting he had denied her this kiss? For the way she acted, there was no way of knowing if she realised it either.

Nerves hit him harder than he expected. Glais had kissed many women before, but never with an audience such as this, or with such doubts from the one before him. Their hands pressed palm to palm in a holy kiss, and Evangeline waited for him to strike out at her. Glais pressed his mouth to hers and for a moment there was nothing. Glais felt frozen as he forced all of his apologies into the kiss and slowly he tasted a flame. Small and buried, but it flickered in the distance and Glais was given hope that his wife may someday find a way to love him.