18: Ada’s POV

Gwynn dressed and got me ready on her own for the dinner party. She stated it was because I was so annoyingly glowing about my encounter with Darius, but I knew it was because she wanted me to feel safe to speak freely. I could express fears and other things to her and know it wouldn’t make it anywhere in the castle. Not that I was talking.

She dressed me in a black velvet gown that clung to my breast and waist before flaring out slightly to the ground. It had an a-line neck and three-quarter length silk sleeves. I donned black flats because the dress was just a bit too short for me to pull off heels. While I didn’t have a mirror, I was hopeful that this outfit would at least momentarily capture Darius’ attention.

We made our way through the winding halls of Oberon Castle, heading to toward the formal Banquet Hall— where we’d just had the celebration that led to Darius and I’s union. Gwynn left me at the door. I walked down the stairs, smiling brightly. As I rounded the corner, I realized there were no tables or chair or even people present in the dining hall. Well, there was one.

Standing by the door overlooking the part of the grounds Darius had whisked me off to the night before was Lady Elizabeth Jane. She was the most dressed down I’d seen her— her hair was in loose curls over her shoulders and she was in a simple lime green silk gown that clung to every inch of her body.

Despite the pit in my stomach, I continued forward. Since I wasn’t in heels, I made it almost all the way to her before she heard me approaching. She turned to face me, face set in a frown. Emeralds hung from her ears and pearls were strung around her neck. She had white satin gloves on that went up past her elbows and small satin hat with a peacock feather in her hand.

“Where is everyone?” I stopped a few meters from her, clasping my hands together as I glanced around the room.

Lady Elizabeth smirked, “They won’t be coming. It was an invitation for one.”

My mouth went dry but I leveled my gaze with her, “And why is that?”

“I felt the need to celebrate your union with Darius,” her voice was cold, “but apparently after what he’s said, no one else wants to.”

I furrowed my eyebrows. A small tightness started in my chest. She was baiting me. I knew she was. But what if he actually *had* said something? I swallowed, “And what did he say?”

“Well, between us girls,” she sighed, placing the small hat on her head, “He was very haggard looking this morning,” Lady Elizabeth took a few steps toward me, “It did take some convincing, but eventually he let us know how disappointing his night was with you. He was— oh, what was the word?” She tapped her chin in mock thought, “Disinterested. He was disinterested in you after his *unfortunate* experience with you.”

My throat tightened and my stomach roiled. I did my best to keep my expression neutral, “I’m sorry to hear he felt that way.”

“Oh, you poor dear,” Lady Elizabeth reached out for my arm and I yanked it out of her reach, “I’m sorry you seemed to enjoy him quite a bit more than he enjoyed you. He was even warning his brothers about,” she glanced down toward my hips, “*things* that you apparently cannot do well.”

I wished I was anywhere but here silently. In order to save face and avoid a spectacle of the impending tears, I simply tilted my head down, “I’m glad you felt we are close enough for you to tell me this information.”

“Of course,” she smiled sweetly, “Us girls have to stick together, after all.”

“If you’ll excuse me,” my voice cracked slightly, causing a crimson flush to spread up my cheeks, “I think I’ll take dinner in my chambers.”

“In case you haven’t heard,” she called after me, “Those will be my chambers soon enough. Darius and I will have many happy nights together.”

Tears burned my eyes as I darted through the halls of the castle. This place was so empty, so dark. There was never anyone around or anything drenched in happy colors to turn to. I knew there would be consequences for me running through the halls, especially with no escort, but I couldn’t let her win. She had been saying those things to hurt me. Surely Darius didn’t actually feel that way.

But he *had* left in the early hours of my slumber.

Maybe there was some truth to it and that’s why he had let so discreetly. Why he hadn’t spent the morning with me in our newly consummated bliss. Oh my Moon Goddess, he thought I was awful in bed. And surely he had already accounted for that night being my virginal night and the nerves that might come from that, which means I must be downright terrible for him to say something to everyone. But why would he say it in front of *her?*

As I reached my door, I realized the gravity of what she’d said. These would be *her*chambers. So that was why he would say something in front of her. She was set to be his Queen.

A broken sob escaped between my lips as I burst into my room. I cried loudly, not bothering to shut the door behind me immediately. I’d thought Darius was kind. I’d even gotten over my reservations about being a surrogate and lived in the moment with him. Instead I was a simple (and terrible) fuck. A duty. I clearly wasn’t someone he cared about at all for such cruel things to be being stated.

I clawed at the neckline of my dress, suddenly unable to breathe. There was a shift from behind me and my body seized up. Arms wrapped around me from behind, heat radiating from the body there were attached to. Arms sending little bolts of lighting through my body as they touched me.

My tears dried as I screamed out, “Who the fuck are you and why are you in my room?”