Chapter 816

I bury my scowl at the prospect of meeting my enemy and nod to Gabriel, letting my face break into a pretty smile like I'm excited about it. Gabriel stares at me for a moment, I think surprised, and then breaks into a dark laugh, shaking his head as he leads me away. "You can drop the front around me, Ariel," he murmurs, wrapping my arm tight in his so that I walk close at his side. "Though it is good around everyone else. Yes, let the court believe you docile and sweet."

"There is no front, highness," I say, quite light, smiling and nodding to those around us who take a moment to nod to me. "I'm very pleased to be here. You've saved me from the tyranny of my home land." He huffs a laugh and glances down at me again. "Lies. I know you for the patriot you are, Ariel."

"Patriot I might be," I say, raising my eyes to his. "But it doesn't mean I can't believe that some things are done better here in Atalaxia. We could benefit from your influence, especially in terms of our social structure and family lives."

Gabriel studies my face, I think honestly considering whether or not I mean that. And inwardly I shout my thanks to Faiza, because every inch of it was a wretched lie.

There's no time to talk on it further, though, as we arrive at the throne.

"Behave yourself," Gabriel snaps, his voice a harsh whisper, his arm tightening harshly on mine. "If you do anything to embarrass yourself, Juniper will pay."

I take a deep breath and nod, letting him know that I consent. For Juniper and Jesse - just in case he does have them - but also for myself. Because this plays into my plans as well.

I focus on the man in front of me, taking in the richly-adorned King, an old man - much older than my father - who sits straight in his throne. He frowns, suspicious and disapproving, as his eyes sweep over my form. And even though I don't dare look at anything else, I don't miss - in the corner of my vision - that a photographer steps forward and begins taking pictures.

Good, I think. Good. Let this all go to the press.

Behind the King stands a young man whose familial relationship to Gabriel and Elias could not be clearer.

I recognize him instantly, of course - the Crown Prince. The crowned young man I last saw in my own Palace before Midwinter.

And, as it was then, his wolf is wrong. Wrong, wrong. I can smell it on him, sense it. Even if I cannot see his wolf in the same way that I see Gabriel's, I know that it's the same. Wrong, corrupted.

And so, I realize as I focus my eyes on the monarch, is the King's.

For he, too, is corrupted.

Gabriel stops a few feet away from the King but loosens his grip on my arm, continuing to hand me forward so that I step to the King alone.

"Uncle," he says, his voice low. "May I present to you my mate, the Princess Ariel Sinclair."

The King says nothing, still frowning at me, waiting for me to show my cards.

So I act, my Princess training coming in quite handy now as I step forward, bowing my head and dropping

to my knees before my enemy. "Your highness," I say, my voice low and reverent. "Thank you for this welcome to your court."

"The welcome is all at Gabriel's

insistence, Princess," the King

murmurs formally, offering one hand to me. "I suggested that you be

thrown in the dungeons with the rest of the dogs we captured from your nation, but my sentimental nephew is convinced he can train you up into a proper Atalaxian lady."

I nod, reverent, my head still bowed. "I will endeavor in all ways to follow my Alpha's lead," I murmur.

"Then you may begin," the King says, offering his hand, his emerald ring shining, "by denouncing your allegiance to your homeland. And vowing allegiance to me."

Instantly I take his hand, like it'snoveldrama

some gift offered to me that I've always wanted and never thought! could have: "I vow it," I say, raising I my eyes to him, willing earnest truth into my eyes. "I disavow any ties to my old life, the land that raised me, my family there. I belong to my Alpha now and swear to honor his will, and through it, yours."

And then I bow my head, and press my lips to the King's ring as if it's my lover.

And when I raise my eyes again I see a small smile on this monarch's lips. And even as hatred and a very deep, very real desire to burn this entire room to the ground races through my heart, a little pleasure swells there as well.

Because in lowering myself before him, and disavowing everything I've ever known, I've played into every concept that the Atalaxian's have regarding womankind: that we're wayward, and stupid, and that all we need is a strong Alpha's guiding hand to show us the way

In thus debasing myself, I think I hope - I have made my first step towards fooling this man into thinking that I, too, am just a foolish little woman.