In Chains by C. Noble (ebook reader with highlighter .txt) 📕

the story off by heart. When his parents married, Julian took Jolene’s name. Her parents retired to their vacation home in Monaco, and King Sanchez took over. Although he had received letters, Hadrian had never actually met his grandparents. He knew his father’s mother was dead, and had been for some time. But he still held out a hope that his paternal grandfather was still out there somewhere, perhaps in the dark recesses of Marseille itself.
The minutes ticked away, and before Hadrian could finish his thoughts, he was being called back to the passenger cabin to seat himself for landing. He was lead through the pocket doors back to the main hub of chatter and sly smiles, trying to meet his mother’s eyes. She blatantly refused to look at her son, so obviously that Hadrian couldn’t help but notice.
Despaired by his lack of success with his mother, the young prince sought out a pair of shocking eyes that he knew would receive him; that of his betrothed, the princess Darcey. After very little silent entreaty, she turned her gaze upward and smiled at him, wordlessly inviting him to the seat across from hers. Grinning, he sat.
“So, Prince Hadrian,” Darcey began. Clearly she had noticed Julian’s prolonged absence and guessed its meaning. “Are you excited to be going home?”
“Indeed I am, Princess Darcey,” Hadrian winked. Whatever it was about him, every smug expression, every haughty facial feature drew Darcey to him. It was magnetism, and she could not argue with it for long. “It has been far too long since I have been home.”
“Oh! But has your foray on Martinaque been so unpleasant?” Darcey’s eyes sparkled. Talking like this, like a proper lady and gentleman of court, always made her laugh. She just prayed that she would not break down until she was safely away from the adult eyes. She and Hadrian always did this around the nobles. It was a game.
“Of course not, my princess. But I must admit to missing my home. Am I not entitled to?” Hadrian raised an eyebrow, expectant of a cheeky remark hidden behind subtle propriety. His expectations, however, went unmet. At that precise moment, the glowing red light above the cockpit door flashed, indicating they were to fasten their seatbelts for descent.
Gradually the mighty metal beast dropped out of the turquoise sky onto a black runway lined with lights. It was the middle of the afternoon, but still they glowed like stars. Darcey looked out the window next to her, observing this new land. One day she would be its queen. It was a frightening thought, but one she could handle, as long as Hadrian was with her.
The plane gently deposited its royal passengers on the ground, careful to avoid any undue damage. Slowly it was unloaded, its cargo transferred to carriages spookily similar to the ones who gave the jet its charges mere hours before.
Darcey threw a backward glance over her shoulder at the airplane as it was led into the hangar. One day she would be able to fly that great metal beast, but that day was in the future. In the present, all she could do was dream. Dream and hope that one day her life would be more than a political game of chess, moving from one square to another in an effort to come out on top.
Sighing, she allowed herself to be lifted into a rich carriage adorned with golden tassels and amethysts encrusted in every focal point. A delicate bouquet of violets and lavender was waiting for her on the indigo velvet cushions. All around her were shades of plum and orchid. These islanders took their national colors very seriously.
Smiling, Hadrian took the place across from her. One of the footmen closed the door, and the coachman pushed the horses into a rolling trot. Darcey rested her head on the plush panels and stared out the window, watching the lush greenery pass. She could feel Hadrian’s eyes on her, but studiously ignored them.
Darcey knew that if she looked at Hadrian, the tears she had fought back the entire time since her parents announced their departure would burst forth. And she was entirely set with not ruining Hadrian’s homecoming. He had waited months for this, and it was not in her heart to spoil it for him.
But Prince Hadrian Sanchez was not to be ignored. He would not allow it, nor was he accustomed to it. The smile left his face, only to be replaced by an irate frown. Darcey thought about saying something, anything, but it would only break the floodgates she had worked so hard to build.
Finally Hadrian had had enough. He twisted himself off his plush seat and landed on Darcey’s, mere inches away. Darcey turned her face away from him and stared out the window, resting her head on her gloved fist. To Hadrian, this lack of acknowledgement was not to be borne. He wrapped one arm around Darcey’s waist while the other scooped up her knees. Darcey tried to fight, but found herself being forcibly dragged onto her fiancé’s lap.
Hadrian grinned and tried to make Darcey smile, but to no avail. His princess was waning in her conviction, but she still kept her face away from his. This Darcey confused Hadrian. She was silent, cold. His arms went slack and dropped away from the dress pinned to her slim frame. Darcey tried to reach the seat where Hadrian had sat mere moments ago, but as she rose from his lap, the carriage hit a stone and threw its precious passenger in the air.
Darcey landed on the narrow floor of the carriage with a jarring thud. Her hair fell out of place and her tiara slid down her face. For several breathless moments she laid still on the floor, grasping for anything to steady her. She suddenly flipped her curls over her shoulder and let out a burst of laughter which echoed against the roomy carriage.
Hadrian had been worried, but Darcey’s laugh calmed his nerves. She allowed him to help her up into her old seat just as they were approaching the palace grounds. Darcey just had time to look out the window and admire the sight. Like her own home, Hadrian’s massive palace took her breath away.
A huge, semicircular group of marble pillars reached for the shimmering stone top which seemed to scrape the sky. The grand white stairs leading up to the palace glittered in the sun. The palace itself was mostly hidden from Darcey’s view, but here and there she could spot mammoth picture windows and grandiose columns holding it all together. Shades of purple gossamer and silk snaked around the columns and down the stairs, dancing in the wind. The white limestone drive leading up to the palace was smooth enough to skate on. It was so polished that it reflected the light of the sun back at it. The whole, stretching complex was surrounded by a line of polished iron fencing, the ends of which Darcey could not see.
It was to this paradise retreat that the fleet of carriages stopped. The royalty inside them alighted and walked proudly up the stairs. The nobility left behind turned and headed back down the elaborate drive to where their own private villas were awaiting them.
Darcey could not stop her awe from shining through her face as she was lead through beautifully decorated Grecian halls lined with ancient murals and heirloom tapestries. Cherubs and carven images of rulers past stared down at the little procession with unseeing but beautiful eyes. Brass shields and spears lined the walls at convenient intervals. Broad beams of sunlight graced the polished marble tiles, floating gently through the seamless glass windows that stretched from the sparkling floor to the arching ceiling.
Eventually the grand hall split into three identical, although smaller, passages. The center hall would lead to the main ballroom, dining hall, and to the back of the palace. The left led to the bedrooms and private studies. The right, however, appeared abandoned. Its glorious windows were blotted out by heavy plum velvet curtains. Cobwebs were starting to form in its nooks and crannies, while a determined grey cloud settled inches above the tiled floor. To Darcey’s eye, it looked haunted.
Julian and Jolene led their guests down the left hallway to their suites. While passing their own, Darcey could see through a crack in the massive door just what pleasures this family's palace afforded. A massive white marble bed was covered in a trio of thick down mattresses. Purple gossamer and silk sheets were neatly arranged and folded underneath an expansive series of silk and velvet pillows.
The raised bed platform gave way to a glistening sitting area. The carved stone settees were arranged around a small table upon which sat a silver tray with all the necessities for an afternoon tea.
There were two individual bathrooms and a closed closet Darcey was sure would rival her own in size, if not contents. But it was the view from the open terrace doors which stole her breath and drew her to a halt. It opened onto the ocean, like hers did at her own palace, but this ocean seemed entirely different from the gentle, warm waters she was used to. The dark, harsh blue and chopped waves startled her with their violence and persistence. They were framed with smooth marble pillars around which was draped a series of ochre and indigo banners flapping harshly in the wind.
Others seemed to have ignored Darcey’s lack of movement, as they continued on without her. Only Hadrian realized her absence, and went back for her. Gently he picked up her hand and led the mesmerize Darcey away to her own suite, equally beautiful but without such a cutting ocean view.


It had taken a week, but Tania had finally finished putting away Darcey’s clothes in her new suite when her mistress decided she wanted to be alone. Darcey dismissed her gently and told her to go look around, thanking her again for coming. Then the young princess looked again around her room, pleasantly surprised but still aching for the royal suite’s entrancing view.
Sighing, she twisted her hand around one of her bedposts and admired the beauty of her rooms. The purple décor had been kept to a minimum of several flowing banners on the terrace and pockets of bright violets here and there. In its place, a ferocious slash of red took over. The sheets and pillows, many banners and even some of the artwork, had been redone in red. It was supposed to make her feel at home, but what she felt was loss and fear.
The loss she supposed was natural. In the past few months she had lost the family she thought was hers for sixteen years, and the new home she thought she would never leave. But the fear surprised her. What was there to be afraid of? If Darcey could answer that, she had a feeling that her life would settle into place.
A knock on the door brought her thoughts back to earth. Fully expecting her visitor to be Hadrian, she formed a knowing, somewhat naughty grin on her face. But instead of the muscular, tall boy she was expecting, she saw the petite girl she had been friends with since they were in diapers. She had tears in her eyes, and her arms were wrapped protectively around herself.
“Mary Ann!” Darcey gasped. She hadn’t expected to see her, and the realization of who she wasn’t stung. Composing herself, Darcey replaced her grin with a frown of love and deep concern. Then she opened her arms and ushered her best friend into her suite, ready to hear all of her deepest troubles. After all, that was what friends were for.
“Oh, honey, what’s wrong? Are you ok?” Darcey asked softly, gently