Read Online Cage of Deceit (Reign of Secrets Book 1) by Jennifer Anne Davis - Free Book Online Page A

Allyssa replied. “Donate them to the poor.”
    Her parents looked at each other. Allyssa didn’t know what they were thinking, but she always gave the jewelry to shelters for the homeless. She never kept anything. The wooden box was the first item she’d ever even touched.
    “The prince had this delivered,” Rema said, holding out an ornate silver jewelry box. “Care to open it and see what’s inside?”
    Her mother knew she didn’t, which meant Rema wasn’t really asking, but requesting her daughter open the gift. Etiquette required her to wear one of the items, indicating who she would dance with first, but she couldn’t do it. She wasn’t ready for what it meant. If she opened the prince’s gift and wore it, she’d be announcing to the world that she was initiating marriage negotiations with him.
    “It’s okay,” Darmik said. “If you’re not ready, we understand. Maybe next time?”
    She nodded. “Next time. I promise.”
    Rema set the gift down. “All we ask is that you dance with the prince. Try to become better acquainted.”
    “I can do that,” Allyssa replied. “In return, I’d like you to be completely honest with me as to why he’s here and why we need this alliance.”
    “Very well,” Rema answered, taking Allyssa’s hands and holding them tightly. The lines around her eyes softened as she spoke. “Your father and I haven’t decided on the best course of action yet. Right now, I want to see if you and Prince Odar are compatible. Having you married to someone from another kingdom—someone with wealth, power, and a strong army—is beneficial to Emperion. I’m trying very hard to be a good mother and a good ruler. Sometimes, it’s not as easy as you might think. I hope you can understand that.”
    Allyssa nodded, wanting to squeeze her hands out of her mother’s firm grip. Whenever the word marriage was used, it made her want to go running the other way.
    Darmik placed his hand upon his daughter’s shoulder, holding her in place. “We didn’t tell you about Prince Odar coming ahead of time because we were afraid of your reaction.”
    “If we had told you the first real potential suitor was arriving to make your acquaintance, you probably would have run away,” Rema said.
    If her parents had told her about Prince Odar’s arrival, she probably would have run away. After all, that had been her plan when she thought the prince from Telmena was coming.
    “Is there anything else?” Allyssa asked, trying to conceal the ire in her voice. Just because she was only sixteen didn’t mean her parents had to shield her from politics and the unpleasantries that came along with it any longer—especially if they felt she was old enough to marry.  
    Darmik squeezed her shoulder and released her. “For now,” he said.
    “I don’t want you worrying,” Rema added, letting go of Allyssa’s hands. “Simply become acquainted with the prince and we’ll go from there.”
    Allyssa groaned. “Fine. I’ll dance and attempt to make conversation with him.”
    “And you’ll be nice,” Darmik added.
    At that, she rolled her eyes. However, she would be the perfect princess for her parents’ sakes. They wouldn’t request something of her that wasn’t necessary.
    “We need to be on our way,” Rema said.
    “Shall we?”  Darmik asked, holding out his arm for his wife. The empress took it and they exited the suite, Allyssa not far behind.
    One foot in front of the other—that was all she could focus on right now. If Allyssa allowed herself to feel, she’d drown in her emotions. She just had to make it a couple of hours. Then, like she always did, she’d leave early and escape from this suffocating cage.
    ***
    Overdoing it was an understatement. Her parents had gone all out, transforming the Great Hall into a lavish room adorned with flowers and candles. Plates were piled high with food, wine was being passed around, and hundreds of guests seemed to be enjoying the feast. Allyssa was