The Myatheira Chronicles: Volume Two: Beyond the Veil by Melissa Collins

mother?”
    “Every chance she gets,” Thade smiled. Aiva felt his hand come to rest on her shoulder proudly. “She is still young, but improves every time I see her.”
    Okivra gave a half-bow to Aiva. She believed it to be a compliment, though with him, it was impossible to know with any certainty. “An admirable trait in a lady,” he stated. “While peace is preferred, it was an honor to fight alongside your mother. Perhaps someday we may have the honor again with you.”
    Aiva’s confidence grew somewhat at the Chief’s kind words. It was always a boost to her ego when anyone compared her to the Queen. She could only hope to be the same as her mother when she ascended to the throne. “I look forward to our continued friendship with your people,” she dipped low before Okivra, her eyes rising to meet her father’s, pleased with her own performance in front of their most trusted ally. Thade couldn’t have looked happier in that moment. Finding the time opportune to part ways, he offered Okivra and Onuric a final welcome to the palace and helped to lead Aiva back toward the thrones, leaving Edric behind to continue the conversation.
    She felt guilty walking away from Edric while he remained in the company of the Chief, though she was somewhat grateful. With Edric now lost in conversation with the Ovatai, she was free of his company and able to roam as she saw fit. Familiar faces were scattered throughout the ballroom. It would be no trouble finding someone with whom she could seek to socialize until the party was further underway. Dancing would begin soon enough, and at that time distraction would come easily.
    Upon returning to the throne, Thade released Aiva’s hand, giving a light pat on her back. “Try to enjoy yourself tonight, Aiva,” he smiled, waving her forward to the crowd of people still filing into the room. “You tend to lose yourself in the formalities at times. Your mother and I would very much like to see you meet some new friends. Our troops have all returned from their time in Siscal. There is a full court here. Plenty of people to meet.”
    “You do not have to mask your intended words, Father. I know you imply that you and Mother desire me to meet a strapping young man and fall madly in love with him so he and I will marry and have children and put grandmother’s conscience at ease.” At the horrified expression on Thade’s face she broke into a soft laugh, leaning in to kiss her father gently on the cheek. “Do not worry, Father. I have no intention of fulfilling all of these demands in a single night.”
    “Ah, you had me worried,” he chuckled, the crease in his brow remaining, softened only slightly by her admission of jest. “Your mother and I wish to see you happily married as much as any parent would, but neither of us are quite ready to see you so grown up. The only reason I urge you to meet anyone is for the sake of your grandmother. We have fought with her on many occasions to allow you the freedom you’ve experienced so far. I cannot guarantee we will be able to keep her at bay for much longer.”
    “Have you politely reminded her that you are the King?”
    Thade sighed, gazing solemnly at Aiva through his bright silver eyes, dimmed somewhat from the sadness she could see there. “As King, it is my duty to secure the throne’s heir. It is customary for the eldest daughter’s marriage to be arranged, most times prior to her twenty-fifth birthday. Such was the case with my eldest sister. You may not know this, but General Cadell was once promised to marry Princess Amari before her untimely death.”
    Aiva’s smile faded away. The royal customs involving daughters seemed unfair. Restricting. As the heir, it felt as though she should have some say in the matter, but instead she was bound by convention while her siblings were allowed to sit back and merely enjoy the luxuries of their privileged lives. They had no concerns. They weren’t required to do anything other