e scrutinized Lady Melaina, who avoided eye contact. Melaina's

, you say?" Ravenna as

y smooth. "Yes, my lady.

hy it required a ceremony. "Why is it a ceremo

lady. No, you don't have to do it in front of everyone

ew, made her skin crawl. She wouldn't do it. She would

. "My lady, the coronation starts in a

d, beginning to undress. Melaina lo

now I'm a woman like you

the fabric. "You're the Queen,

alright. I'm just a woman like you." A wom

h, adding sweet smelling

he sweet scent. "

y. I asked the court alchemis

y piqued. "There's

ed. "Yes, yo

nto the warm water and sweet sce

be-clad and uncertain about what to wear

I don't think yellow

ing a kindred spirit

proposed

laughed, eyes gleaming. "I thi

reappeared. "Thank

wn. With Melaina's help, she prepared for the ceremony, her

ghed heavily on her head, a constant reminder of her new role. The hall buzzed with court members wining, dining, and engaging

stantly refilled by the servant. His eyes grew glassy, a

he men, but Ravenna pretended not to hear. Zariel's gaze met he

you look ravishing tonigh

d, repulsed by h

ou're so tensed and uptight," Zariel suggested, m

as off. Something was added to the wine. She set the

th fiery red hair and piercing green ey

ne with the red hair?" Ra

n before quickly looking aw

iqued. "Why is she lo

t closer to the king during festivities like thi

e kept Zariel at arm's length, perhaps he wo

Cestria, I want to thank you all for celebrating me as your Queen. H

a as she departed the hall with

ed, her crown tumbling off.

suringly. "You did

f Ravenna's corset, she asked, "How

lushed, and she

, raising an e

.It's...it's not really in m

ressed, "

to find out from your husband instead. She says he's

grew. "What if it i

eamy. "Oh, my lady, it's

d thing she wasn't every maiden. She w

ou, Melaina?"

d one, you

younger th

reedom. How she wanted to rid

be having a bette

repared another bath. Ravenna's mind whirled

Ravenna c

my l

et out of

olve strengthened. She would find

but her thoughts remained turbulent. She k

and oiled her carefully. This only made Ravenna feel like a goose about to be r

n his chamber?" Ravenna aske

ady. He will join you and you must welcome him with smiles and yo

all. She was to wait li

enna asked, trying t

en. It is for the ceremony. It will hold yo

led her eye

Percival came walking by. He saw the way she was dressed and the heavy scents on her. H

ou'll be fine."

d Melaina continued walk

e chamber was bigger than hers and her eyes spotted the white bed

glows inside. She didn't know what to do. She closed

to become a woman!" She h

des. Why must she become a wom

high, but she needed to escape. She looked around

inside. He looked up and saw her by the w

e about to escape

ed by the sight of

stood and grabbed her firmly b

free herself from h

ies." They were close to the bed now and Zariel tried

d her and she fell on the bed, her

crooked smile. Ravenna's heart began to race, fear taking over her. The

anticipating his next mov

ovem

e sno

had fallen asle

shed him off her body. Zariel tumble

lling. She wondered if it was due to her kicking his groin in Valtoria. She reached out and touched

l. Her eyes kept going back to the swelling. The white be

t as she looked around the chamber and found a small knife lying on the large table, a d

n to it as she made a cut. It stung her badly but it did produce blood, enough f

out of the chamber, limping and using her gown to hold