Disillusioned (The Birthright Series Book 3), page 1
Disillusioned
Bridget E. Baker
Copyright © 2019 by Bridget E. Baker
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Created with Vellum
For Whitney
If you hadn’t sacrificed our ‘no-kids’ vacation week to do a writing cruise, this book would not be finished. You have always been my strongest supporter in every way.
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Untitled
31. Bonus Chapter: Marked
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Also by Bridget E. Baker
1
One week from today, I turn eighteen.
Six months ago, Mom mocked me mercilessly when I insisted I wanted stargazer lilies for the party. But she couldn’t change my mind, no matter how many exotic options she suggested. Her disappointment in my pedestrian flower taste was nothing to the face she made when I told her I wanted bouncy houses. I thought it would be hilariously ironic to have stuff reserved for little kids at my party when I’m turning eighteen, finally an adult to the humans.
She and I spent hours planning this party, and it should have been epic. Elegant, posh, and delightful for the first two hours, and then the bouncy houses, the snow cone stands, the cotton candy comes out and everyone ditches their ball gowns to have some real fun. With everything awful that has happened lately, I should be excited about a party, especially one that’s whimsical and different.
I’m not.
Because one week ago, on her nine-hundredth birthday, my mom was murdered. So when her old chamberlain Larena, now my chamberlain, walks into the conference room with cake samples and dozens of new flower choices in vases, I practice the soothing breathing techniques Mom taught me.
I do not want a party for my eighteenth birthday at all. There’s absolutely no way we can do the things that Mom and I planned, not for an empress. It’s far, far too juvenile. Even I see that plainly. The idea of celebrating anything right now horrifies me. We haven’t even had Mom’s funeral.
When Larena spreads her arms wide, gesturing for the staff to place the cake on the conference room table, I close my eyes and shake my head.
“Before you throw me out,” Larena says, “hear me all the way through. Your mother and I finalized all the details weeks ago. I’ve removed every part of the second round, as you mentioned, but it still leaves the bones of a wonderful party. All that remains is the final flower selections and the cake choices.” She clears her throat. “It’s not all about you. The people need something to look forward to with all that they’ve endured.”
All that they’ve endured? My entire life has been turned inside out. And set on fire. I should be laughing right now, and arguing with my mom that I meant it when I said I wanted stargazers. She should be telling me that most people love chocolate cake, or even vanilla, but that I’m the only person who truly adores an orange cake with chocolate frosting.
I shouldn’t be reconfiguring my birthday party while planning her funeral.
I can barely force out the words. “Cancel all of it.”
Larena’s lips compress and she sighs slowly. “I think that’s a mistake.”
“Why?” I ask. “Judica’s gone, so the party is strictly for me. If I have nothing to celebrate, why should I?”
Larena purses her lips. “If you’re not worried about general morale, consider this. Your mother would be disappointed if you didn’t celebrate your existence. Her whole life changed when you came into it.”
I destroyed her entire life. That’s what she means. Thanks to her decision to keep me, her former heir was exiled. Thanks to me, she fought skirmish after skirmish. Because she kept me, she had to execute her best friend. My life has been a mistake since day one, and now thanks to a cosmic fluke, I’m about to be crowned Empress in her place.
“Fine,” I say. “Throw a party. I’ll even go, but I don’t care what you pick for decorations, and I’m not going to dicker over the cake. Make it plain old chocolate, because this isn’t about me, clearly.”
Maybe I should make the decor for the entire party black. My twin sister Judica’s either dead or she’s about to attack me, and I probably won’t know which until I’m blown to bits by a nuclear bomb or stumble across her corpse. A wave of exhaustion rolls over me. I’m not sleepy, but I’m so tired of this new life.
Noah strolls into the room as if on cue, his eyes taking in the haggard expression on my face. “You don’t look so great.”
“You should not speak to the queen like that,” Larena snaps.
“Oh, sorry. You don’t look so hot, princess.” Noah winks at me. “Not sleeping well?”
I roll my eyes. “Not sleeping enough, probably, but I’m fine, really.”
Noah takes a seat near the end of the table. “Are those snacks for the meeting?” He picks up a fork. “Because I love cake.”
He’s so oblivious that he doesn’t even recognize a cake tasting. “Sure,” I say. “That’s what they are. Why don’t you try that dark one?”
“Chocolate? That’s a little boring for me,” he says.
I shake my head. “See the tiny chili pepper on top? That’s chocolate spice.” I lift my eyebrows. “Your mouth will burn for an hour.”
“Sly, princess, but then you gave up the secret. You missed your chance to punk me.”
“Punk him?” Larena asks.
“You know what?” I ask. “A solution has come to me. Noah, I’m putting you in charge of all details for my birthday party next week. You’ll work with Larena to hammer out anything else she needs.”
“Princess knows I throw a dope shindig.”
Larena’s nostrils flare. “Perhaps we can begin by not using the words ‘dope’ or ‘shindig’ under any circumstances.”
“Oh.” Noah folds his hands neatly in front of him. “It’s one of those kinds of parties.”
I shake my head. “If I must have a party, I don’t want a fancy one.” I think about the ice sculptures, edible helium balloons, and chocolate fountains at Mom’s party not too long ago. I can’t walk into something like that; I just can’t.
“Dope it is,” Noah says. “Tell me this, boss lady. Do you have any connections for electric bulls?”
I snort. “Not quite that wild. More like if one of your mom’s garden parties and the one you threw after that track meet had a baby.”
“I can do that.” He turns to Larena. “Let’s talk right after this meeting.”
Larena looks like she’s sucking on a lemon, but she says, “Yes, of course.”
One less thing to worry about.
The doors open again, and this time several people walk inside. Edam pointedly ignores Noah and circles the table to sit right next to me. Balthasar takes the seat on my other side. Frederick stands by the door like he’s here as a door guard. Inara trails in after the boys and sits directly across from me. Marselle waltzes through the door and takes a seat on the end of the table near Noah. Franco takes the seat on Inara’s right, adjusting his already immaculate, bright red tie, and brushing the lapels of his suit before sitting down. Maxmillian is wearing a suit that looks exactly like Franco’s, but his tie is sky blue and has a matching pocket square. Lark trails through the door last and sits in the only empty seat, between Marselle and Noah.
Now that everyone’s here, I stand up. That might be unnecessary, but Mom used to stand.
“If you’re here,” I say, “it’s because I trust you. For some of you, this is a promotion. For some of you, it may feel like a demotion.” I glance at Balthasar, and he closes his eyes and shakes his head slightly. Good, he’s not angry. “But I need each and every one of you right here where you are. At my coronation tomorrow I’ll announce your names officially, but the real work has already begun. No one is operating under any delusions here that I’m perfectly prepared. I’m not. Mom left things in disarray when she passed, so we have a lot of cleaning up to do. But Alamecha is the first family for a reason, and we will rise even stronger for this period of chaos.”
“This is your final Council composition?” Maxmillian glances around doubtfully, his eyes lingering on Noah.
“I’m sure I’ll be adjusting things with time,” I say, “but for now, yes.”
“A human and a half-human?” Maxmillian asks. “What kind of message will that send?”
I expected someone to complain, but I didn’t expect it to be Lark’s uncle. “Ange
“What about your pet human?” Franco pins Noah with a glare.
“He’s my new Human Relations Liaison.”
“That’s not even a position,” Franco protests.
“Change is always hard.” I pause to let that sink in. “And while I have nothing but respect for Mom’s reign, I am not Enora the Second. I am Chancery Divinity Alamecha, and I disagree fundamentally with many of Mom’s policies and laws.”
“Your mother didn’t create those laws alone,” Franco argues. “All evian rulers worldwide agreed on many of them.”
“They had their reasons when they established them, I’m sure.” I meet Franco’s eyes. I will not flinch, and I will not back down. “And I have mine now. You all know Alamecha’s motto. Accept the world as it is, or do something to change it.” I spread my hands wide. “It’s my turn to do something, and I won’t shy away from what needs to be done, no matter how unpopular.”
“What exactly are you planning to change?” Balthasar asks.
“I’ll be changing a lot, but I will stagger some of it.”
“Over decades?” Franco asks.
I shake my head. Sometimes I forget how old they all are. Decades, please. It’s hard, but I don’t roll my eyes. “No, over several weeks.”
Inara, Larena, Balthasar, Franco, and Maxmillian share nearly identically grim expressions. Noah, Lark, Edam, and Marselle, bless them, remain entirely calm. Frederick is so far away, I can barely see his face. He’s behaving like he’s not even part of my Council.
“Freddy, come sit at the table. I value your opinion. You’re not here to guard the door.”
His eyes dart from Balthasar to Edam and then back to me. “I’m not clear on what my role is.”
“You were my mom’s head guard. You’re also mine. I’m simply adding that position to my Council, because I value your opinion beyond protection of my physical body.”
“What’s my position, exactly?” Edam asks.
“I apologize,” I say. “I forgot that I hadn’t already announced your formal positions. Larena, can you take these down?”
She pulls a pen from her pocket and nods.
“Balthasar will be my Warlord. I have severed preparation for war and offensives from the rest of the security protocols. I’m afraid with all that’s coming, that position will be demanding enough. Edam will take over from Balthasar as my Chief Security Officer on all matters other than war. Larena will remain Chamberlain and will continue to administer all details of my household, including both the palace and all our other residences. Inara will serve as my Steward, and for now, also my interim Political Advisor.” I was hoping to name Alora to that position if she agreed to move back to Ni’ihau, but in light of her recent actions, I’m not sure who to ask. “Lark will be my Chef, or Food Services Director for the formal documents. Maxmillian will step in as Alamecha’s Operations Manager. His extensive history with managing the interests of his own family has prepared him admirably. I am not oblivious to the sacrifice he’s making and I appreciate his willingness to join me. Franco will be my new Head of Governance to manage the human figureheads who rule our countries. Marselle will replace Angel as my Chief Intelligence Officer, but her official title will be Chief Technology Officer. She assures me she can handle the demands of both positions. You all heard that I have created a new position for Noah as my Human Relations Liaison.”
“A bold and diverse cast for your Council,” Inara says, “and an interesting mix of Mother’s advisors and your own. Now that you’ve explained, would you care to enlighten us on your other plans?”
“This is a working list, but to start, I’ll be modifying our laws and those of the nations we rule to provide humans with the same complement of rights as evians.”
Franco leaps from his seat. “The vast majority of humans don’t even know about us. Are you proposing we change that?”
“I haven’t decided the best way to effect my plan yet, but we will set up a rigorous list of protections for humans. They aren’t disposable, and it’s wrong to treat them that way. Our purpose has always been to preserve the world and its resources, but we have lost sight of the obligation we have to all our subjects, especially the humans and half-humans.”
Complete silence. Not a huge surprise, but disappointing all the same.
“Most of you haven’t spent much time around them,” I say, “which needs to be rectified.”
“I’ve spent more than enough,” Franco says. “They’re untrustworthy, greedy, self-aggrandizing without support, violent, and duplicitous.”
“I’m sorry, are you describing evians? Or humans?” I raise my eyebrows. “We are human, you know. And they are evian. We descended from the exact same place, and I have seen each and every one of those traits you mentioned with distaste from my relatives, my friends, and my enemies.”
Inara’s eyes widen. “Are you saying we’re equal?”
“That is exactly what I’m saying.”
“You’re wrong,” Balthasar says. “Respectfully, this is an untenable position to advocate. You’re only seventeen, and while you’re bright and show a lot of promise, you have less experience with humans than any of the rest of us. Watching their entertainment has not given you a realistic view of how they will behave or who they are at their core.”
I slam my hands down on the table. “I welcome intercourse, but I will not be patronized. I will not have you tell me that my core beliefs are wrong, especially in a condescending way that implies that my age renders my opinions invalid. Argue implementation with me, argue timing, but do not tell me that humans are dogs. Do not compare them to cannon fodder or pawns on a chess board. Do not imply that they are imperfect while we are infallible. It’s simply not correct. Our ancestors are all the same. It’s not their fault if they’ve suffered some genetic deletions, and it doesn’t mean they have no value!”
I realize I’m shouting and moderate my voice. Mom never shouted. In fact, when she grew angry, her voice quieted, forcing her opponents to do the same. “I do welcome your input, but I will not budge on this point. Noah is here so that you can interact with a human and see that they are just like us.”
Balthasar, Inara, Franco, and Maxmillian look at Noah as though I’ve deposited a bag of refuse at the table.
“Lest you think the human rubric is the only major change, let me tell you that evian society is corrupted in other ways, many ways, and I intend to course correct on all fronts. To that end, there will be no more sales or purchases of royal sons by Alamecha, period, full stop.”
Edam maintains a completely blank expression, but his eyes sparkle with joy.
Inara clears her throat. “We can certainly enforce that for our family. Mother wasn’t obligated to sell her children, or to buy others. She chose to participate, and her reasons for doing so remain valid. When you give birth to a female heir, how exactly will she choose a Consort that you can trust?”
“My heir, should I be lucky enough to have one, will marry whomever she chooses, just as I intend to do, without regard for what family trained them.”
“And with all the other changes you’re making, what if this heir falls for a human?” Inara glares pointedly at Noah, and I wonder whether she’s asking about my heir or about me. But I’m certainly not the first evian, much less the first Alamecha heir, to like a human.
I scan the table slowly, meeting each Council member’s eyes. “Like Lyssa? Like my sister Alora?” I try to moderate my voice, but it doesn’t work. “I understand and respect the purpose of the requirement that an empress be the youngest daughter. It provides as much longevity in the rule as possible, and as much consistency in leadership too. I also understand the value in preserving the bloodline. My heir will be required to marry someone suitable, someone as close to seventh or eighth generation as she may find. But should she choose to abdicate and marry a human, I’ll throw her the most beautiful wedding you’ve ever seen. Because becoming the ruler of a vast expanse of subjects should be chosen, not forced.”
