The Alpha King's Bride novel · Chapter 5 of 24

Chapter 5: The Fountain

On the third day, the bride's house came to call.

It is the custom, and the Crown cannot refuse it.

I had not spoken to Aldric since the study, and he had not tried to speak to me.

Every morning a tray of bread and eggs from his own kitchen appeared outside my door, and every morning I ate it.

I had not had one cup of Judith's tea in three days.

My head hurt, and my hands shook.

Colors looked brighter, and I could smell the roses from the other side of the palace wall.

I wore the grey dress I came in, with my mother's silver locket outside the collar.

The garden was full of court ladies with parasols.

Judith came across the lawn first, with her arms open.

"Finola, my darling girl."

She hugged me hard and smelled of lavender and honey.

"You look thin," she said into my hair. "Are they feeding you?"

"They're feeding me."

"I brought you this."

She held out a fresh silver flask, the twin of the one in the road.

"Just your tea, sweetheart. No hard feelings, from any of us. We only want you well."

I took it, and I smiled.

"Thank you," I said.

Imogen was walking up behind her in a yellow dress, with Jasper two steps behind and Perrin at the back, in his guard jacket, looking at the grass.

The ladies stopped talking to watch.

"There she is," Imogen said, loud and bright. "The Queen."

A few women tittered.

"Poor Finola. All that fuss about being rescued, and look at you in the same old dress. Did he give you nothing?"

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