His Blind, Deaf Queen

chapter 3

Kalistas pov

"Lunch is ready darling." My mother linked me and I stood from my seat in the library setting down the brail book id been reading. Nyla has been whining in my head all morning about the news we received last night from my parents. Marrying a man who is not our mate is slowly eating at her and me. But my strongest pain right now is losing my father soon. I woke up this morning in my bed. When i came down for breakfast Misenti informed me she had our head worrior Madoren move me to my bed after I had cried myself to sleep on my bedroom floor last night. I push the painful memories to the back of my mind while sitting at my place on my fathers left at the table he sits at the head of the table while my mother the queen is on his right. The strange man from dinner last night left before that horrible news was given to me and has gone back to his own lands to finalize things there for his permanent departure. The thought of his return made my stomach churn. I ate in silence as I always have when someone bumps into my chair running through the kitchen like a chicken with its head cut off.

I feel the vibrations my fathers voice makes as he yells at Leena my younger sister and youngest sibling. Most likely about how she needs to act more civilized and like the princess she is. Nothing will come of it. Being the eldest ill be the queen while what should have been my mate would be king after my father passes. These thoughts make a tear threaten to fall from my eye and I quickly blink it away. I will be strong for my parents, for my siblings and my kindom. Just then Leena mind links me. "I'm sorry for bumping your chair sister." She says sincerely. "He really laid into you again huh?" I asked trying to stifle a giggle. "He says he will ground me if I dont start behaving more like you. With poise and edicate." I could feel her roll her eyes as she said the last part sarcastically. This time I couldnt help the giggle that escaped me. "It's not fair Kalista. Zeno and I both know you're the favorite and we are just back ups incase something happens to you or you refuse the crown." Zeno is my younger brother and the middle child. He is training with the worriors right now to make sure they look stong in front of the centaur king when he arrives tomorrow morning with his own worriors. Apparently some random wolf is to come join our ranks with them. The thought of another strange wolf being here irritates me and my nose wrinkles. "Kalista darling please dont ever make that face again its so unbecoming of a queen." my mother links me. I'd forgotten where I was and my mother just yanked me from my thoughts so suddenly I jumped at her words in my head. "Yes mother my apologies." I say kindly. Most would hate the constant reprimands like this about small things instead of being able to have the freedom of fun and self expression. But when Misenti told me she overheard my parents talking one night when I was 7 about passing the thrown to my brother due to my being blind and deaf I vowed I wouldnt ever let anyone treat me like a porcelain doll because of it. I gave up my childhood and worked at having the elegance and edicate my sister does not much care for. I worked hard to hone my other senses to be strong and keep myself from being any kind of burden to those around me and those who will depend on me one day. I placed my hand on Leenas shoulder. "Mother and father only want you to be respected and seen as the princess you are. The saying is if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck it must be a duck. They want you to be seen acting like the beautiful swan you are. With devine elegance. Understand?" I tell her. "Thank you big sister." She responds laying her hand over mine. I stand and link my mother and father. "I'll be going for a quick run. Nyla has been in a mood since your news last night and I'm gunna give her some free time." I tell them. "Be safe my dear." My mother responds. "We love you Kalista." My father says. "I love you both so much" I tell them. I walk to the hall near the laundry room. There are 10 stalls made like changing areas used by the royal family for just such an occasion as this. The royal family must never be seen shifting in public. It's seen as tacky. I shift after undressing and neatly folding my clothes for the maids to retrieve and replace while I am gone. Nyla takes off into a sprint as soon at we step out of the arch way leading out of the palace. I feel her muscles relax and her sigh of relief as she sharply takes in a deep breath of the fresh air clearing her mind and the tension from her body. We grew up running is these forrests and mountains. We know where everything is by heart and even then i can still smell and feel through the raw earth where every insect tree and pebble is. While I am confident in my abilities my parents are not. I know they've sent one of our worriors to shadow me. Nyla can feel him as he fallows. she knows he knows she feels his every step through the ground. I know my parents mean well. But it is a bit annoying. Nyla focuses on her freedom and runs for a few hours before returning to the Palace. She steps through the archway once again and we shift. I put on the clothing the maids have left out for me and make my way back to the book I left in the library earlier today. I'm quite enjoyong this book. "Dinner will be ready in 20 minutes Kalista." My brother links me. "Thank you Zeno." I tell him gently. I try to read as much as I can before then. But as luck would have it I had to join everyone at the table just as i was getting to a really good part. Dinner was so much nicer than last night. I felt comfortable again in the prescence of those I love and cherrish. "I hope this lasts." I think to myself as I adjourn to my room for the night. I'm exhausted. And I have to be perfect in every way in the prescence of the centaur king tomorrow morning. As im about to pass out Nyla stirs in my head. "Care to share with the class?" I ask sarcastically annoyed that shes keeping me awake. "I cant put my paw on it but something is going to happen tomorrow." she says matter of factly. "Good or bad?" I ask worried. "I dont know Kalista. We will cross that bridge when we get to it." With that shes fast asleep and I'm left to my concerns passing out much later than I had wanted. "Tomorrow is going to be a long day I can feel it." I think to myself finally embracing a dreamless sleep.

Delukas pov

As dinner time approaches Ryker catches the scent of a lone doe a few yards away and takes off toward the smell. He drags his kill back toward where the king centaur and his worriors have set up camp and eats quietly. "I wonder what the palace looks like." I tell my wolf. "You will see it soon enough, why are you questioning everything all of a sudden?" He says annoyed that I interrupted his meal. "Back home I knew what was expected of me. This is all so knew and im nervous." I tell him. He growls slightly "Don't be weak Deluka. This will strengthen us and I can't put my paw on it at the moment but i think something is going to happen tomorrow." He says confidently. "Something good? Something bad?" I question him intently. "Rest now. Im exhausted Deluka." He said with huff. And with that we slept on the hard ground with the warmth of his thick black fur surrounding us.