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- Herausgeber: Dystopian Princess
- Kategorie: Fantasy und Science-Fiction
- Sprache: Englisch
I defied the king’s order…
It’s my fault my mother is dead. I refused to go before the king and his sons on my fifteenth birthday.
Now that I’m eighteen, the punishment is severe.
Death.
If I’m not chosen by one of the king’s sons, I may have to dig my own grave.
A dystopian adventure filled with action, romance, and suspense.
From Gem Apocalypse: The Palace, The Voyage, and the Virus. Plus, the spin-off series Courtesan Slave Trade featuring Prince Aaron and Scarlet in The Assassin and Betrayed By Blood.
This dark romance features steamy scenes.
Das E-Book können Sie in Legimi-Apps oder einer beliebigen App lesen, die das folgende Format unterstützen:
Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023
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GEM APOCALYPSE
THE COMPLETE COLLECTION
RUTH SILVER
SLOW BURN PUBLISHING LLC
Copyright © 2021 by Ruth Silver
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.
CONTENTS
Volume 1
I. Gem Apocalypse
I. Emerald Rebellion
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
Chapter 31
II. Amber Voyeur
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
III. Sapphire Sacrifice
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Chapter 68
Chapter 69
Chapter 70
Chapter 71
Chapter 72
Chapter 73
Chapter 74
Chapter 75
Chapter 76
Chapter 77
Volume 2
Courtesan Slave Trade
I. Scarlet Assassin
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
II. Crimson Crown
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
Also by Ruth Silver
VOLUMEONE
GEM APOCALYPSE
EMERALD REBELLION
1
The blast of gunfire pierced Aria’s eardrums and forced her to freeze. Two men in black Brayleigh military attire toting guns pointed one directly at the eighteen-year-old girl. The royal militia was there to collect her.
“Show me your wrist!”
With wide, fear-filled eyes, Aria turned her palms around to reveal no branding on either of her wrists.
“Leave her alone!” her mother’s voice echoed from the living room. The first had been a warning shot, demanding to know where her daughter was hiding.
Aria had buried herself in the closet when the armed military agent fired a shot. If it was a warning shot, she was not about to let her mother die because of her misfortune. “Wait! Don’t shoot.” She climbed out from beneath the stacks of fabrics her mother used to make clothes.
“We have a deserter,” the one royal militia soldier shouted at his colleague, staring at Aria. His face was lined with pock marks, his blue eyes filled with no emotion.
A second shot rang out, forcing Aria to race into the living room. She had to see her mother, protect her, at all costs. Aria gasped, her mother lay motionless on the floor, a gunshot wound to her head. Sophia, her mother, had protected her daughter until her last dying breath from those monsters.
Although she wanted to flee, she couldn’t. They were armed and she weighed probably half of what they did, with no training in combat, and surely she could not outrun a bullet.
“Move and die.” His words were not just a threat, given the sight before her eyes.
“Don’t do this,” Aria tried pleading with the two armed men who worked for King Gideon. “Please, I can pay you.” She didn’t have much money but she could scavenge whatever it took, if they allowed her to buy back her freedom and her life.
At fifteen, women were required to come before the king and his four sons, to offer themselves as a courtesan. The princes took only those they found most attractive and alluring for their harem. The rest were returned to their homes with a brand on their wrist proving they had been through the process and rejected. These royal militia agents had been alerted of her status, but who would have told?
Sophia sheltered her daughter from the men who desired her for being an emerald, a rarity in Brayleigh, after the horrific genocide that slaughtered millions.
Lucky Aria, born with blue eyes during the war. At age seven, the color gradually shifted from blue to green. The war may have ended but she would never be safe. Democracy had fallen and a king rose to protect its new nation.
The king had a desire for virgin flesh, and when his sons reached fifteen, they were given a monthly allotment of young women to choose from.
How had the palace gotten wind of Aria’s existence? Once her eyes had changed from the blue of the ocean to the green of the grass, the young girl had been kept inside the cottage, sheltered from others. Of course she snuck out, catching a glimpse of moonlight and stars speckling the night sky, but she always stayed close to home. In her years growing up she had befriended Ethan, her nearest neighbor who had only a few years on her. His family would never have sold her out.
The ceremony at fifteen was supposed to be an honor. On the last day of every month, the women who had reached fifteen were brought into court and presented to the princes. Women who were accepted were supposedly lavished in luxury. No one knew what happened, because those women didn’t return home, ever. Aria didn’t buy it. Not with the way those men stormed into her home and murdered her mother.
“You’re coming with us,” the taller of the two men said, his skin smooth except for the stubble on his jaw. He grabbed Aria’s waist and tossed her over his shoulder. She kicked and her arms flailed trying to fight back. It did no good, as she was small in size and stature.
Aria should have known she couldn’t hide forever. It had been two years since her fifteenth birthday. She began to think she’d been long forgotten. Birth records were lost in the war along with most of the government’s historical records and documents. Aria had hoped hers had burned in the fires that ravaged the city.
At eighteen, she would be sentenced to death if a prince didn’t choose her, for disobeying the laws of the kingdom.
“Sedate her,” the man standing by the door said. He was the one who fired the shot that killed Aria’s mother.
Aria screamed as loud as her lungs would let her. “Help!”
No one could hear her pleas in the cottage in the middle of nowhere. Even if someone would have been nearby, no one would be stupid enough to face off with the royal militia.
The scorching sun blinded Aria as the guard carried her out into the heat. Her forehead glistened with sweat, and a needle pierced her arm. Her vision wavered but she fought the sensation as her eyelids drooped.
“No!” she attempted to scream but the sound came out more like a faint whisper, begging for release. “Please. Let me go.”
“Can’t do that,” the man carrying Aria said.
The second man opened the back of the van and tossed the girl inside. She worried she may never experience freedom again. Her eyes shut, passed out.
2
There were days he hated his father. James could not help the anger bubbling inside of him. Did he love being a prince? Beyond anything, but there were also fleeting moments of unhappiness that crept into his very existence.
He watched as a girl was brought in, unconscious and carried by two men up to the guest suites that were used solely for the monthly courtesan choosings. Her dark hair and shut eyes reminded him of a story from another era. Did she sleep as soundly as sleeping beauty?
The two royal militia guards shut the door on their way out of her room.
Prince James stopped them from passing by in the hall, blocking their exit.
“Tell me about her.” If guards were bringing the girl in unconscious, it only meant one thing: she was well beyond fifteen. From the looks of it, James guessed she was eighteen or nineteen. Why had she ignored her required invitation to court?
“We got a tip that an unmarked girl was hiding out. She put up quite a fight, but we brought her to you. King Gideon will be pleased,” the man with a pock-marked face said. “We have other business to attend to, do you mind?” He nodded, gesturing that they wished to walk past.
James had learned very little of the brunette and her whereabouts. Where had she been hidden away? Did she not desire the jewels of the royal family and the fortune that followed being a courtesan? He could not send her back to the shadows of her old life if she was not fifteen. It would be a violation of his father’s rules. James had no intention to break them, for fear of his father whipping his back raw.
Waiting until the royal militia guards stalked down the stairs, James sneaked across the hall and glanced in on the sleeping girl. Her dark hair fell around the pillow beside her, fanning out as she slept. He did not worry about waking her. If they drugged her bringing the young brunette into the palace, then she would be asleep for many more hours. Would she awaken in time for him to choose a courtesan?
What made her afraid to face the princes upon her fifteenth birthday? She was beautiful and James might have considered her as a courtesan but she seemed quite simple too, her fingernails caked with dirt beneath them, the dirty and torn dress she wore that had been faded beneath the sun and outside. Would she be saddened to learn that the girls of the royal harem stayed inside where they could be kept safe?
“James, what are you doing?” Prince Aaron asked, coming up behind his brother, glancing over his shoulder.
James was the taller of the two. He spun around and stepped out, quietly closing the door behind him. He did not wish to let his younger sibling catch a glimpse of the sleeping girl. She had caught his eye and he wanted to keep it that way, without worrying if Aaron would bring her to his royal harem.
It was no secret that Aaron despised the harem, or more specifically being forced by their father to send away a courtesan every month. They were not given a choice and though their eldest brother August thrived on the attention of new ladies, James and Aaron did not.
“I’m looking for Henry,” Aaron said. He looked concerned, as though he’d gotten himself into further trouble while he was away, though James did not know where he went or what he was often up to.
“Haven’t seen him.” Henry was the second in line for the throne, should anything happen to August after their father passed. “Anything I can help you with?” James asked.
“No. I had a question about a courtesan from a few years back, but he probably doesn’t remember her anymore. It doesn’t matter much,” Aaron said, shrugging it off.
James wrapped an arm around his younger brother’s shoulder, pulling him farther down the hall toward the princes’ suites. He wanted to keep the brunette to himself, bring her to his harem and forego the choosing. James did not want to consider the effect she might have on August. Though he did not know her, a girl who was hiding out to keep away from court meant she would not be happy to be there. Prince August would thrive off her desire to return home and the fear she might feel being in his presence. He was not a generous prince or virtuous in the slightest. Much like their arrogant father, August had set out on becoming just like the King of Brayleigh, smug on taking what was not his.
Already he felt a hint of affection, a desire to protect the girl who had come in well past her prime. Why could she not have come when she was fifteen to court? What made her desire to break the rules? Did she think she could live and hide unnoticed in Brayleigh?
James did not wish to punish the young woman more than she had already been. If the royal militia stormed her home, then it was possible deaths followed. They were not ones to knock on a door and ask a young woman to come with them. Known for using brute force, James hoped that her family remained alive wherever she called home.
3
Aria woke to the sound of rushing water and her eyes flashed open. Where had they taken her?
Fluffy and soft beneath her, she sank into the warm inviting mattress. Were they trying to show her the pleasure of being a slave to the prince? The walls were a crisp white and gold with stripes decorated from decadent wallpaper. The window streamed a small hint of light through the sheer yellow curtains. The color reminded her of daisies. Her eyes studied the room. There was nothing within reach to use as a weapon. How would she get out of the royal palace? She assumed that had been where the royal militia had taken her. They were the only men dressed with the crest, sporting weapons, who raided people’s houses and murdered civilians without question.
Her eyes glistened thinking of her mother. She swallowed the sadness and fear, and sat up. She had a small window of opportunity to escape. The princes hadn’t met her yet which meant she might still be able to leave.
Aria glanced down to see that she had been dressed in a robe. Who took her clothes? She clenched the plush garment around her naked body, uncomfortable. Why would anyone strip her without her knowledge? Aria’s eyes widened, horrified. Had they done anything else to her while she was unconscious?
“Don’t be shy,” a young woman said as she brought a pitcher of water and a glass beside the bed. Her long blonde hair was curled into a bun at the back of her head. The simple gray dress was tight and cinched around her chest, only to flow at the waist and reach her toes. She looked like a handmaiden from more than a century ago. The woman’s eyes were a pale blue, the color of a perfectly clear ocean that one might wade through along the equator. “You should drink up. The sedative can be quite dehydrating.” She poured half a glass and handed it to Aria to drink. “I’m Clara, your handmaiden,” she said, introducing herself. The woman could have been her older sister, not quite her mother’s age but nowhere near eighteen either.
“I’m Aria.” She sipped the water feeling it slide down her throat. Holding the cold glass forced a tingle through her hands and arms. “Where am I?” She presumed to already know the answer but preferred to hear it for herself.
She felt the woman’s stare. It was probably because Aria had green eyes. “The royal palace. Do not look so shocked.” Clara didn’t comment on her eyes, but she also couldn’t tear her gaze away either. Had she never seen an emerald before? “You look a bit older than the other girls brought in.”
Aria considered lying about her age, but what good would it do? The men came to her home and dragged her to court. It wasn’t as though she willingly arrived there on her own when expected. Now, they would probably kill her for her mistake.
“I’m eighteen,” Aria said and placed the empty glass on the nightstand. She would accept her fate with honor. Her mother had taught her that much, watching her die. Even in her last moments she had not sold out her daughter’s whereabouts. Aria felt the weight of her mother’s death upon her shoulders, a burden she could not shake. It would haunt her for many years.
Clara’s expression grew grim. “I see. There’s no time to get ready. You slept through the preparations. The royal militia must have given you quite a strong dosage. You are to follow me to be presented to the four princes.”
Aria planted her feet on the ground and shivered from the cold marble floor. She had never stepped upon such beautiful a surface, except perhaps outside. Aria loved the grass, the earth, tending to the land. She doubted she would ever step foot in the gardens again.
“Come with me, and leave your robe in here,” Clara said.
Though she didn’t want to go or do as she’d been told, what choice did she have? How far could she get on foot? Besides, her house was now property of the court because her mother hid Aria and lied to the king. If Aria was to survive, she had but one chance.
“Must I leave the robe?” she asked, chewing her bottom lip anxiously. She could feel her bare skin beneath the plush material and did not wish to undress in front of another person.
“Yes, the princes expect to see the courtesans in full bloom. Do not be shy, Aria. Come, get undressed and follow me.”
Aria stepped out of the robe and raised her right arm to cover her breasts and her other hand to cover her most intimate parts. She didn’t like this one bit. How could they expect her to wear nothing in front of another soul?
“Don’t be shy. Believe me, we’ve seen it all before,” Clara said and walked out of the room, holding the door open for her to join.
Aria hesitated but followed her out into the hallway. Forty young women stood naked in the hall. Most did not seem bothered by their nudity, unlike Aria.
The young emerald stalked past an array of women with their hair down in curls or wrapped in braids. Her dark locks were brushed but in no way elegant. Many of the women wore makeup, their eyelids coated in rich blues and greens. Were they trying to make their eyes more appealing for Prince Henry? She had known little about each of the four princes, but Henry was well known for taking women who were not sapphires, the common gem of Brayleigh.
Another girl in the hall passed by Aria wearing cherry red lipstick. Her hips swayed as she walked, trying to claim as much attention as possible. “Want a kiss, darling?” she asked and puckered her lips, blowing a kiss at Aria.
Aria’s cheeks burned red. Was she the only one who didn’t wish to be there?
There were women at both sides of the hall and Clara found an open space and positioned Aria against the cold stone material. She shivered from both nerves and the chill in the room.
“Hands down, ladies,” a voice echoed through the small confined space.
Aria turned her head as King Gideon walked down the hall in their direction. He wore his royal robe of blue and gold, a crown atop his slightly balding head, and walked with an arrogance that fit everything she knew of him. His sapphire eyes sparkled. She had never seen him up close before and had no desire to be there now, except she was abducted from her home.
The women dropped their arms and stood up straight, revealing themselves to him. A few girls smiled and others sucked in their stomachs and pushed out their chests. As Aria studied the faces of the girls, she saw a few that looked uncomfortable and unpleased to be there. None of them could have felt the fear that she did, being an emerald and eighteen.
Aria kept her intimate parts covered as best she could, not wanting to be there. The king strolled toward her and stopped, staring at her. She felt indecent under his scrutiny, even with a room full of naked ladies.
“What did I say, young lady?”
Was he going to humiliate Aria in front of everyone? “My hands are down,” Aria said. They were covering herself. He didn’t say hands up! She knew she was being difficult but she did not wish to bare herself to him or any prince of Brayleigh. They did not have the right to examine her naked body!
The king stepped forward and grabbed her wrists, pinning them above her head. His eyes raked over her torso before meeting Aria’s eyes. His stare lingered, recognizing the green irises. “Henry will take a liking to you, perhaps. How old are you?” King Gideon asked.
Aria stuttered under her breath, afraid to answer. Lying to the king was punishable by death, but so was ignoring the duties to come before the princes at age fifteen.
“Speak up, girl!” he snapped. He had a quick temper, it was a well-known fact among those in Brayleigh.
“Eighteen,” she said with wide-eyes. Her heart would not cease to pound in her chest. Though she had felt cold earlier, now the room was hot and her cheeks flushed.
He dropped his hold and nodded, taking a step back. “You better hope Henry or another one of my sons want you. Otherwise I might have to take you as my own courtesan. It would be a waste to put you to death.”
Her stomach tensed and fear clutched at her heart causing it to quicken. She’d heard stories of King Gideon and the women he liked to bed. Aria did not wish to be one of them. Sadly, she would have preferred to face the executioner.
She refused to answer and exhaled a sigh of relief when he grew bored and walked past her to the next girl who seemed far more interested in him.
“You can take me as your courtesan.” The fiery redhead with dark crimson lipstick grinned.
The king stepped closer to her, his fingers danced down her flat stomach. The young redhead seemed to be enjoying his attention. She could have him!
He took a good inhale of her neck, smelling her scent before examining the next girl down the row.
4
When the king finished his examination of the women for his sons, the double doors opened and the four princes stepped into the room.
There was a strange silence that followed the princes into the hall.
The girls remained on their best behavior.
August, Henry, James, and Aaron.
Everyone in Brayleigh knew Prince August was the most arrogant of the four brothers and the dreaded prince who no courtesan wished to be bound to. At least that was how Aria felt. He would have been just as horrid an option as being with the king. Henry was well known for his desire of gems, collecting women like jewels with eye color other than sapphire. What he did with his collection, Aria was not quite sure. Were they all tasked with different ways to please the prince or did he just like to admire each for their uniqueness? James and Aaron were the least gossiped about and the youngest of the princes who were to take courtesans. They were rumored to both be compassionate and generous, though she did not know if it was true.
“I get to choose first this month,” Prince August said as he walked through the hall examining each girl.
Aria glanced away, her eyes downcast on the floor hoping not to draw unwanted attention to the color of her eyes. If he couldn’t see her green eyes, perhaps he wouldn’t want her. Would August choose her just to piss off his brother, Henry? He seemed the type quite capable of causing a scene, one she did not wish to be part of.
August stopped in front of Aria. It felt as though Aria had been wearing a sign that read ‘torment me’. His hand reached out and his thumb lifted her jaw. Aria’s eyes locked onto his. “Oh look here, brother. An emerald to your liking. Maybe I should take her.” A wicked grin crossed his face.
Aria sucked in a sharp breath, nervous. She did not like the way his eyes drifted down her naked skin. She wanted to lash out, ask him if he had seen enough, but the words wouldn’t come. It was probably best if she wanted to keep her head.
A girl standing across from Aria interrupted August. “Why take an emerald when you can have a diamond?” Her body glistened. She must have worn glitter, as it covered every inch of her porcelain skin.
August spun around on his feet and looked her over, seeming to approve. “What’s your name?” August asked.
“Ruby.” She laughed and leaned one hand against his chest. The smile never left her lips as her other hand tangled in her blonde hair, twirling one finger along the end of her strands. Why would she want to be with August? What was her end game?
“Experience?” August asked, staring at Ruby from head to toe, examining every inch and freckle of her naked torso.
“None, but I will submit to you and fulfill your every desire.” Her hand that had been on his chest, reached for his lips. “I’m willing to do anything you command.”
“I am pleased to hear such fine words from your lips. I’ll take this one!” August said, grabbing her arm and pulling her from the line.
Clara led Ruby through the double doors. Ruby glanced back over her shoulder and winked at Aria.
Henry walked among the hall, glancing over each potential woman to take as his courtesan. He glided right past Aria. “Too old,” he muttered under his breath. He didn’t so much as slow down, and she felt both relief and disappointment. The hour until her death was swiftly approaching. Her options were limited. Should she try and seduce Henry or another one of his brothers just as Ruby did? Why had the girl beside her flirted with the king? For what purpose could she want to be with King Gideon? Filled with questions, Aria didn’t expect a single answer.
“What’s your name?” Henry asked a blonde girl halfway down the row after he passed by Aria.
“Suzy.” She glanced down, her cheeks blushing. Was she coy or did she too know how to work the system? Unlike Aria who did not like such unwanted attention, Suzy did not appear to shy away from his advances.
“Such a pretty name for a lovely girl,” Prince Henry complimented.
Suzy curtsied before the prince, raising her eyes to meet his blue stare. “It would be an honor to be chosen by you, Prince Henry.” The smile grazed her lips as she spoke.
“And quite the charmer,” Henry said and smiled, seeming quite pleased. “You will join the ranks of my courtesans. Follow Clara down at the end of the hall. She’ll lead you to my chambers.”
“Thank you, Prince Henry.” Suzy quickly stepped forward and hurried down the hall. Perhaps she worried that if she delayed he might change his mind.
Prince James walked among the young women, pausing four down from Aria. “How do you feel about being here?”
The blonde woman smiled brightly. “Pleased to be in your court, Prince James.”
“I see.” James turned around and faced the women on the opposite wall. He stopped in front of a girl two over, coming closer in Aria’s direction. “And what about you? How do you feel about being here?”
“I’ve been waiting my entire life to serve you, Prince James,” the red-head said.
“M’hmm,” he said and spun around on his feet, coming to face Aria. Silently, she prayed for him to ignore her, same as Prince Henry had done. She did not wish to converse with the prince.
“What about you, emerald eyes?” He did not tear his gaze from hers.
“I’m frightened.” It was an honest answer and whether he wanted the truth or not, she’d given it. After all, he could see her quivering legs and trembling arms. Why hide the truth when it was staring him in the face?
“And you should be,” Prince James said, his answer stern with not hint of a smile.
Aria swallowed the lump forming in her throat. It made it near impossible to speak.
“Your name?” he asked.
“Aria.” She did not provide any additional information, only what he asked. She was too nervous to say anything more and did not want to divulge any detail that might cause her further trouble. Were they not made aware that the royal militia had stormed her home and dragged her to court?
The prince’s eyes narrowed as he studied her face and briefly glanced down at the curves of her body. “Aria, how old are you?”
She shifted on her feet, not wanting to answer but not having a choice either. It was the question she dreaded most of all. “Eighteen.”
There was a slight gasp in the room as everyone heard her answer.
His jaw tightened and his brow furrowed. He reached for her arm and examined its blank slate. “Why did you not come here shortly after your fifteenth birthday?” he asked, his fingers not yet releasing her hand.
“I did not wish to be a courtesan.”
Prince James looked conflicted, and Aria didn’t blame him. He probably thought nothing of this life that he lived, where women lined up on display and awaited their future. Who wouldn’t want to bed a prince? Aria didn’t imagine he considered any other side to the debate, and who was she to change his mind or the way the world was ruled?
“So you wish for death instead?” Prince James asked, releasing her hand and his hold on her. “That can be arranged.”
5
“Please, Prince James. You cannot sentence me to death.”
He most certainly could but he did not wish to see her or any other young woman forced to die. “My father, your king, demands that young ladies upon their fifteenth birthday be brought before us. Did you not think the rules applied to you?”
“My family was concerned that I would never be allowed to leave.”
James did not have to ask what she meant by that, she had beautiful emerald eyes, the kind that were a rare gem in Brayleigh. The young woman was right, had she attended court at fifteen, August or Henry would have likely brought her to their harem. He did not like seeing the sad gaze in her eyes, the heavy heart that made his own full of concern. Did she not realize the damage that had been done two years ago?
“How does your family feel now, that you were dragged to court because you did not come when you were fifteen?” He could not imagine her parents were pleased that they had endangered their daughter’s life. It had been a selfish choice on their part. Green eyes or not, she should have not disobeyed the laws of the land.
“Your men murdered my mother in my home, I would say they feel six feet of dirt.”
He tried not to wince at her words, not wishing to show weakness in front of her or the other ladies awaiting to be chosen as a courtesan. Did she realize how close she was to being put to death? Was that what she wanted, to be buried with them today?
“I am sorry to hear that, but you know the rules.” James had to remain strict, to live and die by his father’s rules. It was the only way to keep the people honest and moral, to protect what the people lived for. Without the strict rules his father set out, it would invoke chaos.
“Yes, I do know the rules. I’m not interested in entertaining you or your brothers. You might as well just sentence me to death.” Her words were bold and James did not know if she realized the seriousness of the situation or was acting with defiance.
James’s eyes narrowed. “That is not your decision to make, Aria.”
He stepped closer and she held her breath. Perhaps she deserved to see the error of her ways, that the princes and harem were not such a terrible place to live. If her mother was in fact dead as she so eloquently put it, then she had nothing left back home. Besides, King Gideon would never allow her to be branded and set free. James had but one choice to spare her life. Even if she hated him, he could live with that.
“Aria, welcome to my court and home. You will be a courtesan in my chambers,” Prince James said. He turned and raised a hand, snapping his fingers. “Clara, bring Aria to my harem. Have her dressed and ready within the hour.”
6
Dread filled Aria’s stomach. What had she done? She had not intended to speak so freely but she found herself under a strange spell. Had it been the drugs that were used to sedate her? Did they still run rampant through her veins?
Once out of the hallway and away from the other girls, Clara lead Aria through another set of doors to an enormous waiting area outside of the bathroom. A rack of gowns sat lonely waiting for them. “You will wear green,” Clara said. “James prefers his women wear gowns the color of their eyes. You are his first emerald.”
Aria knew she would stand out among them even more. She had hoped to blend in, avoid contact as best as possible with the prince.
Clara provided Aria with matching panties and a bra, then handed the young woman the single gown that hung from the rack.
“Get dressed. I’ll be back to check on you in five minutes.”
Aria quickly put on the new attire and stood around waiting for Clara to return. The room looked nearly identical to the guest suite she’d been in earlier, except there was a dresser nestled against the wall.
The young woman didn’t bother knocking as she walked right in. “Good. You’re done. Come with me,” Clara said and led Aria through the door, down another hallway and into a large chamber. Nearly a dozen women lounged around the room. Eight of the women were in pale blue gowns. One wore an amber gown and two others were in brown. Aria didn’t have to approach them to know it was the color of their eyes.
Aria grabbed Clara’s arm, wanting to ask her a question. “Are all the princes fixated on eye color?” Did Prince James prefer exotic women, much like his brother Henry? Had that been why she was chosen?
Clara smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry about that, Aria. You need to focus on making Prince James happy, because if you don’t, in a month’s time you’ll be one of the first to go.”
“Go? Go where?” Aria asked. What was Clara talking about? Could she finally return home? Was ignoring him her ticket out of the palace?
“For heaven’s sake! What do you think happens to the girls who leave the palace? King Gideon allows his sons to keep twelve women for the twelve months of the year. They may bring in new courtesans as they see fit every month, but the number is always twelve. So in order for you to join the royal harem, one must be sent away.”
Clara still hadn’t answered her question. She’d only given Aria more to ponder about the palace. “Sent away where?” she asked, trying one final time to get the answer from Clara. Unsure which of these women she could trust, Aria eyed them all suspiciously. They were her competition. The women in blue gowns were all significantly younger than her. They were the most replaceable to the prince and far too common.
“Women who don’t fulfill the desires of the prince or fight away his temptations will be sold into the courtesan slave trade. Focus on making Prince James happy, and you have nothing to worry about.”
“Great,” Aria muttered under her breath, and stepped farther into the room. She felt as though she’d been tossed into a room with starving wolves ready to attack their prey. “Am I the only new girl?” Aria asked, hoping Prince James took another girl as well today.
“He only gave up one spot last night, which leaves room for you. Don’t disappoint him for sending Mandy away, she was one of his favorites.”
Why would he send a favorite courtesan away? If he cared for the women, why send any away at all. Was King Gideon behind it? Did he force his sons to make a choice every month?
Clara stepped out the door before Aria could ask her another question.
The oldest girl, perhaps Aria’s age, stalked up to her and looked her over. Wearing an amber gown, it matched her golden irises. Why would Prince James choose Aria when he had her, bustier, taller, with gorgeous hair and thick eyelashes?
“I’m Adalyn,” she said and held out her hand, introducing herself.
“Aria.” She forced a smile, shaking the young woman’s hand.
“You definitely don’t look fifteen,” Adalyn said, glancing Aria up and down in the green gown. “Let me guess, James spared your life.”
“Something like that.” Aria shifted on her bare feet, uncomfortable and unwilling to divulge her age. What did it matter to Adalyn?
“I’ve seen a girl like you before, with brown eyes and two years past her date to attend court. Prince James swept in to protect her from death, but she wasn’t cut out for it here.”
Did Adalyn lie to Aria or had she been intending to scare her? “What happened to her?”
Aria hid the fear as it crept into the pit of her stomach.
“Poor Aurora was spared here for a month before Prince James sold her into slavery. Decided if she wouldn’t share his bed, he wouldn’t share his wealth and fortunes with her. There’s no room here for jealousy. There will always be twelve of us serving the prince.”
Aria nodded her head in understanding. “Of course. I’ve got no reason to be jealous.” She didn’t even want to be there, but Aria also didn’t like the idea of being sold into slavery. There were much worse people out there that would like to get their hands on a girl of breeding age with green eyes. Aria knew her value on the open market. Another reason her mother hid the emerald child from the world.
A girl with strawberry blonde hair and blue eyes approached. She barely looked a day over fifteen. Her sky blue dress flowed down to her knees. “I’m Lucie,” she said, introducing herself. She bounced as she walked, light on her feet, her demeanor quite young, and innocent. Had she been forced to share a bed with Prince James? How awful it must have been!
Aria shook her hand, trying to be polite. “Aria.”
“It’s nice to meet you. I was the new girl last month and let me say, it takes some getting used to having so much attention bestowed upon you. If you like it, you’ll fit right in. Just whatever you do, don’t disobey Prince James.”
“Why not?” Aside from the fact he sent his courtesans into slavery, was there anything worse to worry about?
“Discipline is a bit harsh if you don’t do as you’re told,” Lucie said. She glanced away, back toward the door that led out of the room.
“Oh?” She did not dare ask what type of discipline. Would she be sent to her room or forced to stand in the corner like a child?
“And whatever you do, don’t disobey King Gideon,” Lucie said.
“Of course.” Aria hoped she didn’t have too many dealings with the king. She knew he was Prince James’s father, but he also embarrassed her in front of the other girls and pinned her against the wall. She would do everything in her power never to repeat that incident.
7
The door groaned and Prince James stalked into the room. His shoes clomped against the marble floor, unlike the ladies who walked with dainty light steps, he made his presence known through the royal harem. “Lady Aria,” he said, taking Aria’s hand and kissing the back of it. She may not have been pleased to see him or become part of his royal harem, but he was going to do everything in his power to make her happy. It would start with showering her with attention.
A faint blush crept onto her cheeks. He doubted she was happy to see him or elated to be at the royal harem, but she did not disappoint him either. “Prince James,” she said, curtseying in his presence. Aria had enough manners to know how to behave in front of royalty and he appreciated her attempt to please him.
“It is an honor to have you as one of my courtesans,” James said, delighted with her attitude. He did not expect her to be thrilled but so long as she pretended to be happy, maybe it would one day become a natural feeling for her.
“Thank you for choosing me,” Aria said. “You saved me from death.”
James merely nodded, knowing that his father would have sentenced her to death or forced her to join his harem, which would have been just as worse a fate. King Gideon forced the young women to do as he desired, no matter their willingness to comply.
“Of course.” James stared at her, unable to tear his gaze from her emerald eyes. He wanted her to be happy and unlike his arrogant father, he may have had a harem of young women but he had never forced himself upon any of them. What they did, it was out of love and desire. With twelve young ladies, he could easily choose who to spend his day or evening with. “Tell me about your mother. What happened today that brought you to my court?”
James felt pleased that she did not correct him that it was in fact his father’s court.
A sadness longed in her eyes. He did not dare admit that he watched the royal militia bring her unconscious form into a guest room of the palace. There were some secrets better left buried. With the brutality of the royal militia, he anticipated a bloody story. He knew how his father’s men behaved when bringing in potential courtesans. Violence and threats kept King Gideon’s rule in power.
“Are you sure you want to know?” Aria asked.
James did not dare admit that once she divulged the details of the brutality, none could forget it. She mentioned it already once before he chose her to be one of his twelve courtesans. The specifics had been left out. It hadn’t been the time or place. No one else would have cared.
His interest now was solely to show her that he did care about her, not only her eye color, but that he longed to protect her and comfort her, if she would let him.
The other women sat quietly, intent on listening to their conversation. They too were probably just as curious about what happened as James. A girl brought in at eighteen didn’t happen very often.
His voice was even, firm. “I’ve asked, now tell me the truth.”
Aria shut her eyes. Was she reliving the event once again? He did not want to traumatize her, but he also needed to hear what happened for himself, to know how terrible it must have been and in some small way help her begin to heal.
8
The cool breeze tickled her skin as she sat perched on the ledge of the window, staring out at the boy across the river. Mom sat at the table, busy sewing a new dress after the last one Aria had ruined in the river. The gown disaster had not been on purpose. In fact, Aria was usually very careful about her dresses, keeping them clean and in good shape, but she had run over to visit her friend Ethan and had tripped in the river, muddying the dress. It had not been the dirt that ruined it but the fact the fabric snagged on her fall into the water, a branch and rock making the gown become scrappings.
After the war, the world started over, like a blank slate. A cease fire had been called only after the governments had fallen. It wasn’t a war between two nations. It had been another world war, with no neutral parties, because everyone had found themselves on the brink of destruction, all over one single trait: eye color.
Blues were supposed to be the smartest people, most thought provoking with a curiosity for learning. Greens were hungry for power and money. They were the first to be eliminated. Brown eyes, what was once most common had been tied to the destruction of the planet. For those with brown eyes were inconsiderate, insensitive, and unable to accept change. Amber, a rare eye color was just as quickly eradicated with the basis of being impure and untrustworthy. For if someone had amber eyes they were thought to be a constant liar. Hazel eyes were a mixture of greed and insensitivity. They too were destroyed. All that were to remain were blues.
It wasn’t the first genocide to sweep through the world, over a trait that was as simple as genetics and was used as a tool to scapegoat different cultures of people. History had a tendency of repeating itself, and after a turbulent economic downturn with hostile nations threatening war, the first spark had happened not on foreign soil, but at home. With the rise in violence, terrorism, and fear, leaders turned their backs on refugees in need, pointing the finger at them keeping their land unsafe.
A scientist, Doctor Frank Carter was to blame for the basis of eye color personality traits, preforming unlicensed and illegal tests on prisoners of war. His study had little basis but the people jumped at the opportunity to place blame, to feel protected, and cowered behind him. It had been the most devastating war, murdering billions of people, known years later as the Gem Apocalypse.
Born near the end of the war, Aria grew up in the height of fear and oppression. Her family had found a small plot of land from the farthest city and settled on it, building a cottage for themselves.
In the early days they were forced to scavenge for food. Her mother would watch over her and Aria’s father would take to the streets, traveling days on foot.
There were some vehicles that remained, the ones that used solar power. They were not so lucky as to have access to one. Wind turbines produced electricity to the royal palace and guard towers, but where Aria lived, everything was primitive.
They gathered firewood and burned it for light in the evening. In the summer months, the fires were outside offering a calming atmosphere before climbing into the cottage.
Living on the outskirts of town kept them out of harm’s way. The black market and trading centers were in the hub of what had once been a heavily populated city along the west coast of the former United States.
They had the river to provide food. They filtered the water, which made it possible for the two of them to survive. Her father died near the end of the war. His green eyes were what got him killed, murdered out of fear.
After the war, King Gideon and his four sons pledged to protect the nation. With an army falling behind him and growing in power, The Kingdom of Brayleigh, named for ray of hope, was born. The castle, situated far north out of dangerous territory on land that had once been known as California, was surrounded by stone walls towered several stories.
Aria didn’t dare venture toward Brayleigh for fear if they discovered her truth, that she had green eyes and no brand, what it would mean. She never had to go far to ensure her survival. When things got tough, they’d venture across the river to their nearest neighbors. That’s how she met Ethan, plunging knee-deep in the river and sneaking across to see what all the fuss was about with a boy just a few years older. To her surprise, he had brown eyes, not the common blue. They shared a secret. Though boys had less to concern themselves with, now that the war ended.
Occasionally she would see him splashing in the river to get clean. Her curiosity got the best of her and she dared venture over to tackle him in the water just a day ago.
Staring out the window at Ethan, she watched as he stayed busy in the fertile soil, his jeans rolled up his thighs, planting seeds to grow for the summer crops. Lost in thought, her mother said something but her words were drowned out.
In the distance a black van raced for the small village. Were they searching all homes or just theirs? She had never seen the palace militia out that far.
By the time she realized the danger, the van approached. They had a plan and it was time to put it into action. She slammed the window shut and raced for her bedroom, intending to hide in the closet, hoping she hadn’t already been spotted. Beneath the mess of clothes was a crawl space. She needed to get in there before the guards entered the house.
The royal guards broke through the lock on the door, demanding to know of Aria’s whereabouts. The single gunshot rang through the air, threatening her mother. No! She would not let her mother die. Her heart pounded erratically in her chest as Aria divulged where she was hiding. Aria would do anything to save her mother, to protect her from the royal militia, but it was too late. The murdering bastards took her mother just as they’d taken her father, and now they had her.
9
“Your guards murdered my mother, dragged me from my home, and drugged me. Anything else you wish to know?” Aria asked, short-tempered, as she recounted her story of what happened.
James stepped close enough to feel his breath against her cheek. “I can see your reluctance to be here, but I assure you no harm will come to you, Aria. While you are here at the royal harem, you are under my protection.”
It was hard to believe him given the circumstances. Aria crossed her arms defensively. She didn’t say a word. There was nothing to say that would please him and make her happy. She wouldn’t lie or pretend to care about him when anger ebbed away at her and boiled in her blood. Not when he made Aria think of her mother and asked her about what happened, as if he pretended to care. Unlike the other women there looking for something, she just wanted her freedom returned. Did he not see that? Was he too blind to understand and see her pain?
“You will join me for dessert,” he said and took her arm, leading her out of the room and away from the prying eyes of his other courtesans.
Aria walked alongside of him, but she wasn’t pleased with the situation. He seemed to change the subject, act as if the discussion had not just taken place. Was this how he dealt with difficult situations: ignored them? Aria had no choice but to tolerate it and him. He hadn’t asked her to do anything inappropriate yet, and she felt capable enough to handle dessert with him. Her stomach grumbled just thinking of food, so long as that was all to be expected of their encounter.
James ignored the rumbling noises coming from her stomach. He took her arm as they walked. She didn’t pull away. What good would it do? “I do hope you will like it here in Brayleigh. I know it isn’t your home, but I do hope one day you might think of it like that.”
How could she think of the palace as home when the guards had murdered her mother? Aria wanted to slap him over the head, but at least he had been kind to her. Whenever she felt a nagging sense of doubt, she remembered King Gideon and August, grateful she hadn’t ended up in their chambers, forced to be a courtesan to the king or with the heir to the throne. There were far worse situations to be in, at least that was what she kept telling herself to stay together.
James led Aria outside through the back doors. Quick on her feet, the pavers were warm under her bare skin. Why did they not provide them with shoes? Were they afraid they would use them and run away?
Aria stared at the ever-present stone wall knowing she could never escape. It towered far above the two stories of the palace, with guard towers at the corner. Had he led her outside to toy with her or remind her that she was his prisoner? “I thought you might like some sun,” he said.
“Seriously?”
“Yes,” James said. He frowned, not quite seeing what was wrong. Could he truly be so oblivious?
The prince led Aria to a small table on the patio. The legs were dark and shiny, made of metal, with a round stained glass top that sparkled under the light with a mosaic pattern, and seated no more than two. For the palace it seemed rather mundane. One might have expected a table the size of a king’s mattress or perhaps larger. Of course it did look old and had to be a relic from an earlier era. There were very few new goods on the market.
“Have a seat,” he said and pulled out the chair for Aria to sit down.
Aria obliged, she had no other choice. As she sat, her body relaxed. At least she had her clothes on, unlike an hour ago.
“Sadie!” he said, calling to one of the servants. She wore a simple gray ensemble, the dress flowing down to her feet, similar to Clara’s gown. “Bring us some croissants and cookies. I’d like to impress my new friend.”
Sadie smiled, her dark hair falling over her pale blue eyes. She brushed the black locks aside. Aria couldn’t tell if Sadie enjoyed serving James or felt it necessary, the smile looked real. She scurried inside and James dragged his chair closer, intending to sit beside Aria.
He opened his mouth but Aria spoke faster, interrupting him.
“Why me?” Aria asked. “Of all the young women you could have chosen from. Why me?” She may have been the oldest, but she doubted that had anything to do with his decision. Was it because she was an emerald and he desired a gem?
“You would have been sentenced to death,” James said. He leaned back in the chair, making himself comfortable. “Besides, you were honest with me. Didn’t you hear the responses the other women gave? They were telling me what they thought I wanted to hear. I like it when a woman’s honest. It never happens often enough around here.”
Aria wanted to believe him, but her stomach ached telling her otherwise. “Well, you know I’m not happy to be here.” She made it no secret that she resented every bit of the crown and royal crest.
James sighed and leaned forward. He clasped his hands in his lap. “Don’t you get it? My father would have had you executed, had one of my brothers not chosen you as a courtesan. Vent your frustration with me all you want, but my father, the King of Brayleigh, won’t be so lenient should he hear you speak ill of his kingdom. I’m trying to help you, Aria, but I can’t unless you watch your mouth,” he warned.
Aria nodded, knowing he spoke the truth. She really did not wish to face the executioner. “My apologies,” she said, though she didn’t mean a word of it. How could he expect her to?
Sadie returned with a tray of desserts and placed it on the glass table. She retreated without a word or a glance at the prince. The tension had been undeniable. Had he slept with Sadie too? Perhaps she had been a courtesan at one time in her life. It did not seem so far fetched, James could not have been much older than herself. He had at most a year on her, if even that much.
Once out of earshot, he leaned closer. “I understand your resentment and frustration, Aria. If I had it my way, things would be different, but I’m not next in line for the throne.” James had been the third son in line to the throne. King Gideon had four boys of age to wed, and four more that were mere children. Aria suspected the king would conceive more children by the way he responded earlier that morning in the hall.
“You don’t have to be king to change the way things are run. How can you keep women here against their will and think it’s okay?” Aria asked. Her eyes narrowed, challenging him.
His expression grew grim. “Do you want to leave? Is that it? I’ll let you go. March you right out the front door. You can return home to your cottage and loveless life.”
He knew nothing about her life or her. “Yes, I do.” Aria stood. “Show me the door.” If he was giving her the opportunity to flee, she would willingly take it. Had he been serious?
James muttered under his breath. Apparently Aria didn’t give him the reaction he’d been looking for. “Sit down.” His eyes were cast down on the ground. He looked embarrassed. Did Aria just humiliate a prince?
Aria did as instructed only because she knew he couldn’t let her go. Even if he did help her escape, they’d probably drag her back a day or two later if she returned to the cottage. The king would not be pleased with her defiance. Aria would have to slip from the castle and leave the kingdom. How far could she get before finding more trouble? To venture from the kingdom, she’d have to journey by boat across the ocean. Were there survivors among their allies and enemies? The war may have ended, but it didn’t mean she’d be safe over there. Aria couldn’t hide her emerald eyes. Not like back in the day when contacts could change the color and make one appear however they wished. That was before the attack and the first riots. She’d only heard of such things in old battered magazines lying around the cottage.
“You are a handful. I should have known that’s why Henry walked right on by without so much as a second glance. For a brother who likes gems, he must have known the trouble one would cause.”
Aria sneered at James. “Tell me you don’t believe it.” Emeralds, people with green eyes, were known to be power and money hungry. Did James think that about her? It was not true. No part of the belief system created to destroy the world in genocide was true. How could James think of her like that? She may not be easy or pleasant at times, but she wasn’t what the enemy said.
James shifted in his seat. “Of course not, but you are trouble. I can see it in you, the rebellious streak. My father will beat it out of you if you are not careful.”
