After eating, I press the caller for Leeza and take a deep breath.

I wonder where Leeza spends her time when she's not waiting on me.

Put a brave face on. This is your new life whether you like it or not. And hiding from it isn't going to help you or anyone else.

"What do you need, my queen?" Leeza asks, with a bow.

I clear my throat. "I would speak with Alvar."

"I think he is in the middle of a meeting, but I will tell him you want an audience after it's finished."

"Thank you, that is all," I say.

Maybe I'll get good at this "queen" thing, I muse.

Leeza bows and leaves.

As I sit alone my bedroom becomes increasingly and uncomfortably silent. The urge to get up and explore the palace is overwhelming. Hmm... is it allowed for the queen to leave her room without telling anyone?

I'm not a prisoner, heck, I'm a freaking ruler now so it is probably fine.

I walk out of my room and into the living area of my quarters, fighting the urge to tiptoe around as if I don't belong here.

This is definitely going to take getting used to.

The architecture, decorations, furnishing, all are rich and tastefully placed. I've never lived in such luxury. My mom, a single mother (no idea who my father is) had worked as a maid at a local hotel. We'd always lived in a one-bedroom apartment.

It wasn't until I'd grown up and gotten a job of my own that I'd had the ability to afford anything myself, but never anything as nice as this.

How is that one can live in luxury and feel helpless? I contemplate.

I make up my mind that I want to revisit the paintings of the Cursed I'd passed while walking with Fletch to my chambers.

I start down the hall quietly, with bated breath.

Calm down, Lucy.

It's not like that old Disney movie I'd watched as a kid, Beauty and the Beast, where the Beast told Belle the west wing was "forbidden." This is my palace now.

Despite myself I smile at that thought,

Beauty and the Beast, indeed.

"And where do you think you're going?" An unfamiliar male voice says from behind me, making me jolt. "Sneaking out of your room, aye, your majesty?"

I turn and find a human male wearing a black and white guard's uniform standing next to my door. He's tall, broad shouldered, with light blonde hair and a dimple in his chin. His blue-grey eyes are friendly.

"I just wanted to find the art gallery I saw yesterday."

"Well, you're going the wrong way," he says with a playful expression on his handsome face. "Would you like me to take you there?"

"Please," I say with an embarrassed laugh, and then I second guess myself. Is this how a queen talks? I don't want to say the wrong thing, but I'm clueless as to customs and manners here.

"Come with me, your majesty," he says, turning down the hall.

I follow.

"Did you see the Cursed today?" he asks.

"No, I didn't see it."

"Well, the paintings in the gallery do a good job on the likeness of it. I'm sure that's why you're headed there," he says, "I'm Grey by the way. One of your personal guards."

"I'm Lucy," I say, extending a hand out to him.

"I know, my queen," he says with a chuckle, taking my hand and shaking it. "We all have to get used to having a queen around here again. Triss passed many years ago."

"Triss?" I ask.

"Alvar's first queen. She died during pregnancy."

"Alvar was married?" I practically shout these words and immediately blush at the outburst.

Married? Why hadn't anyone told me? Why hadn't Alvar told me?

"He married her after the war ended and he was appointed king. Alas, she died within that same year. A terrible tragedy."

I think of my mother and how they'd saved her when she was pregnant. How come they hadn't been able to save the king's own wife?

"Why did she die? What kind of complication rose up?"

"I shouldn't say... but it is believed she was carrying a Cursed that manifested itself in her womb," Grey says somberly, shaking his head with pity. "By the time the physicians arrived her body had split open internally and she'd bled out. It happens once in awhile in our world. The Curse is hereditary and since Alvar doesn't carry it, Triss must have been a carrier. Thank gods she didn't give birth to it."

Oh dear God. Split open internally? I try not to obviously shudder. What a terrible thing. Does Alvar expect me to have children with me? Cause that would be a huge no.

"Here is the gallery," Grey says cheerily. "I'll be standing over here watching out for you. Once you're done looking just let me know and I'll take you back to your room."

I smile at him. It's pretty awesome to have a personal guard and I already like Grey. He doesn't look like someone you'd want to mess with.

I study the paintings and images in the gallery. There is so much going on in them. Many of them tell of historic events.

I spot a large painting with a Cursed in it. The huge dragon-like beast stares out of the frame, its wings are jagged and spiked. A tail snakes behind it and it's head is shaped as if a hybrid between a crocodile and viper. The eyes are red and the body is black.

Eventually I grow too frustrated with questions that I can no longer look at the gallery. "I'm ready to go, Grey," I say.

*

"Lucy, when you tell me you wished an audience I suggest next time you don't run off while waiting for me," Alvar scolds, pacing the room a few times.

I admit he has a point. Not my most well thought out venture.

"I'm sorry," I begin. "I just have so much to talk to you about and I needed answers so I went to the gallery to see if I could find them. The Cursed sighting is troubling to me and after it—"

"Grey, Leeza, I wish to be alone with the queen!" Alvar speaks over me, his eyebrows raised and eyes flash red, widening for a fleeting second.

I'm not sure if I should cower or run to my bedroom and bolt the door. He's pissed.

"Leave us!" Alvar barks at Leeza and Grey who are standing in my living area with us.

Both of them bow and exit immediately.

I swallow hard. What is he going to do to me? Does he know I know? Will he kill me because I know?

Alvar stalks over to my couch, pinning me with his now intimidatingly bright crimson gaze. "You are not to talk about this with anyone."

"Your eyes are red again," I blurt. "Do you think I'm stupid?"

"No," Alvar says, closing the mentioned eyes and breathing in deeply. "I don't think you're stupid, Lucy. As I'm finding out you're incredibly perceptive. Magically so."

"Then is everyone here stupid? It's obvious to me that you're one of the Cursed," I say, shocked by my willingness to confront him. If he is what I think he is, he may decide I'm a liability rather than an asset.

"Lucy," Alvar growls. "They are not stupid either, but they don't see what you see."

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"You—you have Cursed blood," Alvar finally says.

I gasp in true mortification.

No. That's not true. How can that be true? I wasn't even born here! Does that mean I'll turn into—?

"I know what you're thinking," Alvar continues. "But rest assured, you won't turn into a monster like I do. As far as I know, the blood only gives you rapid healing compared to most mortals. You had Cursed blood infused into your veins while you were still in your mother's womb. It was the only way to save your life then. Cursed blood can heal a still developing fetus," he pauses, then adds, "You ask what makes you special to me? You are the only one who I know with certainty can carry my children without dying. I'm not saying I need you to have children with me, but you were literally the only compatible choice on Earth to marry for a treaty. My head was in a bad place... when your mother came to me because she needed a miracle she said she'd give you to me in marriage if I could heal you... I didn't want to cause you to suffer."

"Triss died because of you then, didn't she?" I say, not sure if I should feel sorry for him or not. It depends on if he was acutally aware of what he was doing.

"Yes," Alvar murmurs, his eyes grow distant and he brings himself away from me. "Yes, she did. It was my fault. She didn't have a drop of Cursed blood in her and I destroyed her by getting her pregnant. I was a fool. I hadn't a clue at the time."

"But you're saying I wouldn't die having your children?" I ask, and cross my arms over my chest.

"Yes. After doing much research on it, and confirming with multiple record keepers I know this to be true. The thing is... not all of my children would be Cursed if I were to have heirs, at least that is the hope," Alvar says.

"You know, monarchy isn't thought of as the best way of running a government in my world," I point out.

"But it is in mine. Our world is primitive despite our advancements that surpass yours. Honor, respect, and lineage are severely important in Underland, we live longer here than you do on Earth. It may take some getting used to for you, but that's how it works here. I pray everyday I do not give in to my beast like so many Cursed before me have."

"I guess I just need to accept everything you tell me? To trust your word?" I mutter in question.

"Lucy, for what it's worth, you're going to make an excellent Queen."

"Why do you say that?" I ask, rolling my eyes at the flattery and annoyed with him for not giving me all this information sooner. It would have helped understand. I'm tired of people not disclosing the truth to me as if I can't handle it.

But your mother disclosed the truth and you wouldn't believe it, my conscience warns.

"Because you test things, you don't just accept it on face value. You are inquisitive and determined not to be taken for a fool. I'm still trying to decide if I like this trait or not."

My hands ball into fists and I stomp up to Alvar, I'm on tiptoe, trying to look him in the eye as fiercely as possible. "And you've been a self-righteous jerk."

"I do not know what a 'jerk' is," Alvar says with an amused chuckle.

"How can you be laughing? I know your secret, I know that you are what everyone is afraid of the most here. How could you do that to these people? Not only did you kidnap me and determine my choices for me, but you're a liar. What makes you a better ruler than someone like Saul?"

"Don't say such a thing," Alvar growls, within a heartbeat I'm pressed against the wall. The power in his body is like a heavy electric charge. I can do nothing when he's this close. I inhale sharply and can smell him, a mixture of burnt forest and summer wind.

"Did I hit a nerve?" I ask, narrowing my eyes at him and tilting my chin up challengingly.

Mmm... how good his body feels pressed against mine.

"I am nothing like Saul, Lucy, and you should pray you never meet that depraved man!" he seethes through clenched teeth.

"Is there a possibility?" I ask.

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