1 The Beginning

Pov. Asteria

I can't breathe. I am suffocating. They will kill me with this thing.

My mother, the Queen was pacing back and forth in front of me as I stood in the dressing stand.

"What's wrong?" I asked suspiciously, but quietly. She was nervous, she was never nervous which was a sign of weakness.

"Nothing, don't worry about it," she replied, which just added fire to my suspicions, but I didn't question her. I never did.

"Tighter," she orders the maids, and they always obey. Who wouldn't?

My ribs and lungs screamed in pain and agony inside of me. I could feel the corset rearranging my intestines. I wanted to scream at the maids to stop, but I couldn't. She orders it, and until I am Queen I don't have a say on anything.

There were thousands of questions running in my head, as to why she was acting this way. Before committing the mistake of questioning her a maid saved me by speaking out.

"It's done, m'lady," she announced in the lowest tone of voice, as I've been hearing all my existence.

My mother turned around and frowned. I knew that look, she was not satisfied. She never was with anything that I did. She always found an error or mistake with anything related to me.

"Are you sure?" she questioned. The maid only nodded and lowered her head. She was never to make eye contact with a superior, but she just committed a humongous mistake. I prepared myself for her screams.

"SPEAK WHEN YOU ARE SPOKEN TO!" My mother screamed in rage which made the maid shake in her spot. Her tone just made me flinch.

"Yes, my Queen..." she answered with a trembling voice. I looked at her signaling her with my eyes to pull herself together. She nodded my way and coughed. "It is done."

"Good," she replied calmly, throwing daggers with her eyes at the maid. I knew that look I've survived that look my whole life, but that didn't mean it didn't terrify me.

She turned around in her heels to look at me with a fake smile.

"Please don't embarrass me tonight," she warned with a sweet smile but a warning tone. That smile could fool anyone, but not me.

"There will be many princes from other realms there tonight," she announced I raised my eyebrows at that. I nodded at her signaling to keep going.

"You need a King to rule by your side Asteria, and this ball could mean the merge of two kingdoms." I wanted to interrupt her, but I knew she was not done yet. " The Fenix prince, next king inline, could be a wonderful choice." She suggested that's what made me snap out of my trance.

"What are you suggesting mother?" I asked through clenched teeth.

"Your father and the King of Phoenixes have arranged for you and Prince William to mate." she finalized.

My head was running thousands of thoughts for a minute. I couldn't allow this, I won't allow this.

"No," I stated.

"What do you mean, 'no'?" she asked with anger growing in her eyes and tone.

"I mean, that I won't marry or mate with a prick self-absorbed Fenix," I replied, my temper growing fastly.

" Are you questioning your Father's orders?!" She screamed in rage. "And watch your language, young lady!" she warned.

"I'm not mating with him, I have a mate out there, and even if I don't know him I owe him loyalty," I replied calmly.

"We are doing this for our people, don't be Selfish, this union will help us defeat THEM," she explained.

"I won't do it!" I screamed and stood up straighter, standing my ground not budging in the slightest.

Suddenly I felt a sting on my cheek. She slapped me, her hit was so strong that it snapped my head towards the right. All the maids backed away in fear of being caught in the way of her rage. I snapped my head around to make eye contact with her.

She grabbed my chin and pulled me down for me to be at the same height as her. She was hurting me on purpose, I knew that much and I knew that her grip would leave her fingerprints for a while. Her long nails clawed into my skin.

"Listen to me, and listen well, you are to do what we say, is that clear?" she ordered all I could do was nod with her holding my face. "Good." she smiled letting me go. I rubbed my chin in pain.

"Finish getting ready," She orders walking towards the doors, her best maid knocks in the doors and they automatically opened. In less than two seconds they are wide open. Before she steps out of my room she turns around.

"Don't disappoint me tonight and, you better look perfect," she said leaving that statement behind as she disappears out of my sight. With her gone everyone lets out a deep breath. It's not like I can actually breathe with this thing on, but still. I'm more relaxed when she's not around for that matter.

My parents never believed in true love, but what everyone is looking for is power. I thought that they would understand my choice of waiting for a mate, now I knew that they would never understand my choice. They would force me, their own daughter, into an unwanted marriage just for the kingdom to become more powerful. I knew at that exact moment that at some point in my life I will have to make a choice and I'm not sure they will be fond of it.