her head. “I’m sorry, my lady. Prince Azor has forbidden leave of Natatoria and with the rations we’ve administered, we’re short on flour—”
“Forbidden leave of civilians, yes, but mer matron Phelomenda has my permission to exit the gate with armed guards as usual, for food and supplies. If this was in question, why hasn’t anyone spoken to me of it until now?”
“Yes, but—”
“But what?” she yelled and the entire table hushed.
Jacob recalled Azor’s last decree at the compound before he left—to booby trap the gates and spread rumors that Jack had planted more explosives. The rebels knew that wasn’t the case, but if they didn’t heed the warnings, their fatal injuries from barbed wires coated in cassava poison would stop them first. Azor’s faulty logic didn’t leave room for the food needs of Natatoria. No one wanted to cross through a gate, especially the orphaned servants who’d lost parents to dynamite accidents in the past.
The servant lowered her head even further. “What if there’s another explosion, my Queen?”
“What? Nonsense.” She raised a brow and shot a look of disdain to Blanchard before addressing the servant. “I’ll have the gates inspected. There’s nothing to worry about.” She blew out a hard breath. “Blanchard, assign mer matron Phelomenda a team to pick up supplies. And inspect the gates—at once. This is ridiculous.”
Blanchard bowed his head and quirked a smug smile. “Of course, my Queen.”
Yeah, sure you will. As Azor’s lapdog, Blanchard had no intention of dismantling the poisonous nets covering each exit, even for food. He’d only stuck around to keep an eye on things and report the decrees Azor might need to undo.
Jacob shifted his weight from foot to foot while Tatiana ate with her eyes low, keeping to herself. So far, in spite of all the gossip about her failed union, she’d managed to stay in the Queen’s good graces.
A few spaces down, Princess Girraween’s voice filtered over the hum. She laughed with those around her, and pretended as if all were well with Natatoria. Queen Desiree, on the other hand, remained stoic and deep in thought as she pushed her meal around with her fork. Only the occasional hard look or gruff retort broke her concentration. The Queen, jovial and normally smiling, was the softer side to Phaleon’s hard rule. Without him, she’d had to assume a tougher role and was cracking under the strain. Jacob didn’t know how much longer she’d be able to handle the pressure.
The same went for Tatiana. Under the glares of the mer and whispers behind her back, her confidence was wavering. Jacob closed his eyes and cursed the promise. He’d known Queen Desiree to be strong in the presence of adversity, but apart from approval of the King, the promise molded her into a spineless jellyfish.
Pick up your head. Show them you’re stronger than this, Jacob silently pleaded to Tatiana. You’re to be queen.
“Could you please pass the salt?” Princess Garnet said, startling Tatiana.
“Oh, of course.” She handed over the salt, and waited a beat before replying, “Nice meal.”
Garnet dusted her soup, then smiled before dipping her spoon. Jacob held his breath for Tatiana’s sake, but Garnet said nothing further. Jacob wanted to kick Garnet’s chair for her rudeness.
The main course followed, broiled lobster tail and scallops, and Jacob’s stomach rumbled louder as he salivated over Azor’s plate. Tatiana turned with a concerned frown and motioned to the empty chair at the end of the table.
“No. I’m fine, Princess,” he whispered.
She stared at him and pressed her lips. “Then go to the kitchen, at least.”
He eyed her coldly. “Turn around.”
She huffed and complied, but kept eyeing the plate at the empty seat. He vowed to never allow himself to become so starved again. Just a few more minutes . He breathed a sigh of relief when the servants started to clear away the dishes.
“Who’s this
“Forbidden leave of civilians, yes, but mer matron Phelomenda has my permission to exit the gate with armed guards as usual, for food and supplies. If this was in question, why hasn’t anyone spoken to me of it until now?”
“Yes, but—”
“But what?” she yelled and the entire table hushed.
Jacob recalled Azor’s last decree at the compound before he left—to booby trap the gates and spread rumors that Jack had planted more explosives. The rebels knew that wasn’t the case, but if they didn’t heed the warnings, their fatal injuries from barbed wires coated in cassava poison would stop them first. Azor’s faulty logic didn’t leave room for the food needs of Natatoria. No one wanted to cross through a gate, especially the orphaned servants who’d lost parents to dynamite accidents in the past.
The servant lowered her head even further. “What if there’s another explosion, my Queen?”
“What? Nonsense.” She raised a brow and shot a look of disdain to Blanchard before addressing the servant. “I’ll have the gates inspected. There’s nothing to worry about.” She blew out a hard breath. “Blanchard, assign mer matron Phelomenda a team to pick up supplies. And inspect the gates—at once. This is ridiculous.”
Blanchard bowed his head and quirked a smug smile. “Of course, my Queen.”
Yeah, sure you will. As Azor’s lapdog, Blanchard had no intention of dismantling the poisonous nets covering each exit, even for food. He’d only stuck around to keep an eye on things and report the decrees Azor might need to undo.
Jacob shifted his weight from foot to foot while Tatiana ate with her eyes low, keeping to herself. So far, in spite of all the gossip about her failed union, she’d managed to stay in the Queen’s good graces.
A few spaces down, Princess Girraween’s voice filtered over the hum. She laughed with those around her, and pretended as if all were well with Natatoria. Queen Desiree, on the other hand, remained stoic and deep in thought as she pushed her meal around with her fork. Only the occasional hard look or gruff retort broke her concentration. The Queen, jovial and normally smiling, was the softer side to Phaleon’s hard rule. Without him, she’d had to assume a tougher role and was cracking under the strain. Jacob didn’t know how much longer she’d be able to handle the pressure.
The same went for Tatiana. Under the glares of the mer and whispers behind her back, her confidence was wavering. Jacob closed his eyes and cursed the promise. He’d known Queen Desiree to be strong in the presence of adversity, but apart from approval of the King, the promise molded her into a spineless jellyfish.
Pick up your head. Show them you’re stronger than this, Jacob silently pleaded to Tatiana. You’re to be queen.
“Could you please pass the salt?” Princess Garnet said, startling Tatiana.
“Oh, of course.” She handed over the salt, and waited a beat before replying, “Nice meal.”
Garnet dusted her soup, then smiled before dipping her spoon. Jacob held his breath for Tatiana’s sake, but Garnet said nothing further. Jacob wanted to kick Garnet’s chair for her rudeness.
The main course followed, broiled lobster tail and scallops, and Jacob’s stomach rumbled louder as he salivated over Azor’s plate. Tatiana turned with a concerned frown and motioned to the empty chair at the end of the table.
“No. I’m fine, Princess,” he whispered.
She stared at him and pressed her lips. “Then go to the kitchen, at least.”
He eyed her coldly. “Turn around.”
She huffed and complied, but kept eyeing the plate at the empty seat. He vowed to never allow himself to become so starved again. Just a few more minutes . He breathed a sigh of relief when the servants started to clear away the dishes.
“Who’s this
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