It was past midnight. And Zera sat all alone in her given chamber.
No one came. Not even the maids to bathe her and prepare her for the wedding that the prince had told her would be conducted at midnight. She waited in silence, her hands resting on her lap, eyes fixed on the door. The candles had long burned out, leaving the room in shadows.
Did the prince lie to her? If she was not brought here for marriage like they told her, then what? What was she supposed to be? A servant? A prisoner? She had always wondered what happened to the women brought into the Fae world, and it always had been a horrifying thought.
Ever since she was ordered to be the bride of this year, the human sacrifice, she was dreading this moment. She had believed all the tales of women being held as slaves, murdered and mistreated in this realm. She grew up hearing and believing all those tell-tales, now it's all seeped into her soul.
But once she met the prince, and heard his gentle words, she believed him blindly. She had even thought about building a life here and that idea did not frighten her as much as it did when she was in the human realm.
But now as she sat by the foot of the bed in the dark chamber, with no one but herself, she felt as if she was tricked. As if she was just a joke for the Faes.
Tears pricked in her eyes, slowly sliding down her cold cheeks. How could she be so stupid? How could she easily believe that prince? Even though he was gentle with her, he was still a Fae. And he proved that he was just like any other Fae— cunning and manipulative.
The sudden sound of knocks raining down on the door made her flinch, her gaze snapping to the threshold. Who could that be? The maids? Were they finally here to get her ready for the wedding? Or was this some Faes ready to take her to prison and make her life a hell?
She sat unmoving, too scared to open the door and meet her fate. Then came a voice, the voice she knew all too well. It was the prince behind the door. Her heart roared to life, her stomach flipping over. Why was her reaction toward this man so concerning, she felt way too much for a stranger, and moreover everything he was not even a human.
"It's me. Hael. Can you please open the door?" The prince's voice was soft and it compelled her towards the door like a moth to a flame.
Hael, a pretty name for a pretty man. Zera shook her head at the thought. She might be really losing her mind.
Once the door was open, she was met with the sight of Hael standing before her in his white, silk night robe. Oh. So not here to take to the wedding hall. How could she still hope when she clearly knew she was going to end up torn?
"Were you sleeping?" Hael asked, his eyes flitting behind her to scan the chamber. "It's too dark inside, did you blow out the candles?"
Zera was speechless. How could someone act so clueless? How could someone be so insensitive? Anger burned from within her, her gaze sharpening as she pinned him with a glare. She knew it was not a great idea to glare up at a Prince, a Fae one at that. But what was left there for her other than her sacrificed life? What was there left for her that was worth living for? Nothing.
"Why did you lie to me?" The words flew out her mouth, before she could think much about it. "Are you making a joke out of me?"
Hael's amber eyes widened, a look of confusion adorning his face before realisation dawned in. He seemed to be caught in his thoughts for a moment and then he spoke up, "I'm truly sorry. I did not mean to make you feel that way. Our wedding, it was postponed. The moment the decision was made, I had asked the queen to pass the message to you through the maids. I think she forgot. I am apologizing on her behalf. Sorry."
Zera watched him closely and none of his words felt insincere. He looked truly apologetic, as if the whole situation made him troubled as much as it did her. But why did he postpone it?
"Did you postpone the marriage?" She asked and prayed to the god that it wasn't him. She did not know why but the thought of him calling off the marriage hurt her, an ache in her chest that felt too foreign. As if her heart already belonged to him. The nod of his head was enough to make it clear for her naive mind, her heart squeezed painfully in her chest.
"You are right. I postponed it." Hael said unapologetically and it struck her nerve as much as it made her heart ache. "I would love to get to know you better before taking it there."
A scoff left Zera. This man could not be serious. Or maybe it was her knowledge about this whole bargain that went terribly wrong. If he were to marry for love, then he would not be taking in a human, right? It was not like Zera was that desperate to marry him, but that fate felt less hard than being a prisoner or being killed.
"So you are trying to get to know me now?" She rolled her eyes and when Hael lifted one of his thick brows at her antics, she kind of regretted it. "What made you change your mind all of a sudden? Were you disappointed it was me instead of the girl of your liking?"
Hael was fast to deny her accusations, "I was not disappointed or anything." he said. " I just felt like I needed some time."
"So… when you find me unworthy, will you just drop me? Just like that?" Her tone came out ruder than she expected it to be, it was a terrible way to talk to a Prince, someone who held a position far higher than her noble life.
It seemed to strike Hael's nerves. His gaze was too intense, like molten fire that could burn her down into ashes in mere seconds. She gulped, anticipating his wrath.
"Yes." He said with finality. No more words left his pink mouth, yet that one curt word hurt her more than a sword could ever.
Good lord, she must be losing her mind because why would she feel like crying?