"Nothing has been announced," Jarina said from behind her. "Someone else can be chosen."

Aldora turned to face her queen and forced a smile. "Nay. I will do my duty."

"Oh, Aldora," Jarina said softly. Her amber eyes held a wealth of sadness. "You were chosen not only because you hold the most beauty of anyone in Hesione, but also because of your family lineage and your honour. I can think of no one else that would represent Hesione better."

A true smile came to Aldora's lips then. "Always the diplomat, aye, my queen?"

Jarina snorted. "You know better." Just then Jarina clutched her extended stomach and doubled over.

Aldora was at her side in an instant. "Here," she said as she helped her friend sit. "Kyros will have my head if you overtax yourself."

"I'm fine," Jarina said and sighed as she leaned her head back on the cushion of the chair.

Aldora watched Jarina's hands lovingly caress her stomach and her unborn child. It was her first, and the entire kingdom anxiously awaited its arrival.

Jarina's hand reached out and took Aldora's. Her gaze rose to meet her queen's eyes.

"I want you to be happy," Jarina said.

"I just want to feel something. Anything."

"I had thought by now things between you and your father would have changed."

Aldora rolled her eyes. "Nothing will ever change for him. In his eyes, I ceased to exist the day my mother died."

"So, will you go to Shadowhall?"

She held her queen's gaze as she thought over the request. When Aldora had first heard of the king of Shadowhall's request that each kingdom send a representative to his castle for consideration as his next queen, she had never expected to be chosen as Hesione's ambassador. But she wasn't going just for Hesione. She would also be going as Pereth's representative.

Pereth had once been an enemy of Hesione and Kyros its ruler, but with the marriage of Jarina and Kyros, the two kingdoms had merged to become a great, powerful territory.

"Well?" Jarina questioned. "Will you go?"

"Aye," Aldora answered. "I would never refuse you, you know that."

Jarina smiled and squeezed her hand as tears sprang into her eyes. "I cannot imagine you not being in the castle, not being here for me to talk with."

"What's this?" Kyros demanded as he strolled into Aldora's chamber.

Aldora sighed and raised her brows at her king. "A knock would have been nice."

He flashed a smile at her. "Nice, but not needed. Now, tell me why you've upset my wife."

"Enough," Jarina said as she wiped her eyes, only to have more tears spring forth. "I never cried until I became pregnant."

Instantly, Kyros was on his knees before her. "Jarina, my love, what is it?"

"She said aye," Jarina wailed into Kyros' shoulder.

Aldora shrugged when Kyros' black gaze turned to her. "It's the baby," she said.

Kyros held his wife until the tears were gone, then he set her back. "Better?"

Jarina nodded. "Aye."

"Good," he said and rose to his feet. He turned to Aldora. "So, you've agreed?"

"I have."

"Everything is already in motion. How soon can you leave?"

She was instantly on edge. "Why? What has happened?"

"Another message from the Kellians," Jarina said with a sniff. "We've sent six messengers through their jungle in the last month. One was found hanging from a tree on our border."

Aldora swallowed. "And the other five?"

"Never heard or seen from again," Kyros answered. "The Quantra province is a wealthy province, and one that has grown in power with my marriage to Jarina. However large we think our two kingdoms are when combined, it's small compared to Shadowhall."

Aldora nodded. "You need the king to marry me."