In Chains - C. Noble (best novels to read for students txt) 📗

night in the palace before heading home in the morning.
The carriages corkscrewed up a small hill, through a tall black iron gate, and up a cobblestone drive encircling a fountain the likes of which Darcey had never seen before. The gardens spread out as far as she could see in every direction, palace workers were working feverishly to maintain it all.
But before she could take all this in, her eyes were arrested by a man and woman standing on the top step of the palace. The man, tall and dark, had vivid green eyes identical to Darcey’s. His head was held high, letting the sun glint off a golden headband decorated with hundreds of diamonds and rubies of different sizes. The woman, also tall, was leaning against the man, letting her dark, curly hair spill down her shoulders and bend around her gold tiara with gemstones in it just like the man’s.
The first carriage stopped just in front of the steps. One of the footmen jumped off the back of the carriage and opened the door, letting down the gold metal stairs. Darcey appeared first, standing at the top of the little steps, looking around her. She met her parents’ eyes and held them for a minute before her mother picked up her dress and came running down the stairs, followed closely by her father. Darcey stepped down off the little stairs and flung herself at her mother, unsure whether to laugh or cry. Her mother grabbed her and hugged her so hard that it prevented her drawing breath.
“My baby, my girl, you’re never leaving us again. Never again…” her mother cried, before kissing her forehead and pulling back to look at her daughter. “Eyes like your father.”
“But everything else belongs to her mother. Thessilia, may I please see my daughter? I feel a great need to catch up, as she has been absent the last fifteen years.” A booming voice sounded behind Darcey, making her jump out of her skin. She wheeled around and stared up into her own eyes. Arms even stronger than her mother’s encircled her, lifting her off her feet.
Coughing, Darcey’s eyes watered. King Martinaque was squeezing, albeit unintentionally, the life out of his returned daughter. Darcey laughed and tried to hide the wince in her voice as she said, “Dad, you’re kind of killing me…but it’s ok. It’s a good feeling.”
Her father dropped her and looked down into her bright green eyes. “Dad. It’s been too long since I heard that word. Welcome home, Darcey.” Eyes brimming with tears, King Miguel wrapped Darcey in on arm and Queen Thessilia in the other before walking slowly back up to the castle, Darcey’s new home. Imprint

Publication Date: 06-21-2011

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Dedication:
To Inno, who repeatedly freaks out if I don't write. To Rhyy, who is dependent on my killing someone via flying shark. And to Dax, for always being my exemplar of what a narcissistic being should be.