Selestria 2: Betrayal of Love

By Sarah Day

As Saige continues on her journey for ultimate power, she is tested how far she is willing to go for the ultimate power and where exactly her morals lie, showing her how challenging it may be to balance being queen, wedding plans, her new relationship, and most importantly the chase for the crystals. When it all seems to be too much for her, she

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sarah Day
• Release date: May 16, 2022
• ISBN: 9798886274905

Sarah Day

Sarah Day is the author of the "Selestria" series, a young adult fantasy series published in March of 2022. Sarah grew up in Manchester, Maryland and graduated from Manchester Valley High School in 2021. You can learn more about Sarah and upcoming books at RoseReadsBooks.com

Book preview

Chapter One

He got down on one knee, holding the ring out in front of him. Will you marry me? he asked, pleading with his eyes.

No, I said simply.

Margo, burst out laughing from the guest bed that she sat on as Aaron stood back up, shoving the ring back into his pocket as he ran his hands through his dark black hair nervously. What did I do wrong this time? he asked.

There wasn’t enough… emotion. I critiqued as if I were a professional at this.

Well, it will be a lot easier when I’m talking to Ashlynn and not you, he told me.

No, Margo chimed in, you’ll be even more nervous and you’re going to forget what to say. Might as well get your script ready now, Buddy.

Well, what if I do it at a time when I’m comfortable? he asked. Why does it have to be a big event?

Because this is going to be a big part of her life, a moment she won’t forget for the rest of her life! I exclaimed, it has to be a big deal!

He sighed, I guess you’re right…

The door opened as Madison walked in. Hey! she greeted as she closed the door behind her. Proposal practice again? she asked.

Yep, I answered.

Hasn’t it been like… months now? she asked.

Yeah, and apparently I still suck at it. Aaron mumbled with a pout.

No you- I started.

Yes, you do, Margo cut me off.

Don’t! I finished. You’re getting somewhere at least; you just have to get it down! You’re almost there! Just remember what we told you to say! I exclaimed.

He sighed. Fine.

Try it again and we can show Madison your progress!

He rolled his eyes as he positioned himself once again to seem as if he were standing in front of my sister. Ashlynn… he said, pretending to look my sister in the eyes. I have loved you since the day I met you. And I have been waiting to do this for quite a while now, but… he got down on one knee and pulled out the ring, opening the box to reveal it. Will you marry me?

Madison scoffed. Um… I see.

Margo and I began to laugh. Terrible, isn’t it?

Yeah, but… I don’t think Aaron’s the problem. You guys told him to say that? she asked us. We both nodded. That’s the terrible part! It’s so basic! You could have made it more personal or added more words! she critiqued.

Margo laughed. "There’s a reason why this girl specialized in photography back in the human world. I finally figured out what that word meant, and it’s definitely not a smart person thing!"

I looked to her angrily. "I was very smart back in the human world. Sure, I didn’t have the best grades, but they were average! And I was a great student! And I read all the time! And besides, you came up with it too! How much school did you go to, huh?"

She pouted anfrily, not important… she said, changing the subject quickly. Anyways! Madison, what do you suggest since you’re such a smarty pants?

He doesn’t need a script at all. He just needs to tell her how much he loves her and then ask the question with the ring out. That’s all that matters, Madison said.

I agree! Aaron exclaimed.

I guess… I said, deep in thought now of how to improve our plan.

Did you come here for something, Madison? Margo muttered.

Oh! Yes! Saige, uh… you’ve been requested… somewhere… she stuttered, trying to make up something but failing to do so.

Oooohhhhh! Aaron and Margo cooed in unison.

I blushed as everyone knew what she meant by that. James had a secret date planned. We had to keep our relationship a secret, just as my sister and Aaron had to do until Ashlynn was revealed to be pregnant. James and I couldn’t reveal our relationship because I was the queen and he was a castle guard, and he could lose his job if anyone who couldn’t be trusted were to find out. Aaron and Ashlynn had to keep their relationship a secret since Ashlynn was the queen of the Alev kingdom before me, and Aaron is the king of the Fryse kingdom.

Don’t get knocked up like someone we know! Margo warned jokingly.

Although I love and cherish my unborn child, be careful! Aaron added.

I rolled my eyes and laughed at them. They both knew nothing like that would happen.

Madison led me out of the room and up the stairs to the second floor, the floor that was rarely ever used until we reached another set of stairs that I had never even seen before. This is… interesting, I told her. I didn’t even know that we had a third floor, I said.

It’s just the one room. There’s a rumor that one of your great, great grandfathers hid his mistress up here to hide her from the queen while she was pregnant, so he had this room made for her. She explained. Nobody ever comes up here anymore.

Oh… I said as she opened the door, revealing a small, dusty bedroom with all the furniture covered in white tarps, peeling wallpaper, and holes in the walls, ceilings, and floorboards. The place clearly hadn’t been used in a very, very, long time except for the small, candle lit table on the side of the room that James stood in front of.

I immediately ran into his arms, giggling like a small child.

Thank you, Mads, he called to Madison, hinting for her to leave.

Anytime! she called back as she left the room, locking the door behind her.

I kissed him for a good while before he pulled away, laughing. I set up this nice dinner for you, you don’t want it to get cold!

I smiled and sat down at the table, looking down at the meal in front of me. It definitely wasn’t what I was used to eating as queen. It definitely seemed like he took one of the guards’ meals. I wasn’t complaining though. I was spoiling myself eating as queen. It almost made me feel nostalgic. It reminded me of the cafeteria food back in school in the human world.

He grabbed my hand from across the table and looked to me lovingly. Sorry, he said, ashamed. I know it’s nothing fancy, but it’s all I could get.

No, it’s fine! I love it! How did you get two? I asked.

I pretended like I dropped mine… he said embarrassed.

I laughed at him, that’s so cute!

He blushed and rolled his eyes. Sure…

He ran his thumb over my hand in small circles, causing me to feel goosebumps all throughout my body. My heartbeat viciously at the small, sweet gesture.

We just stared at each other for a moment, completely lost in each other’s eyes. For a good moment, everything in the world just felt frozen. All I could think about was how I wanted to savior this moment for the rest of my life. I wanted to bottle it up and keep it in a locket to look at in hard times. After everything I’ve gone through to get here. All of the anxiety, stress, and depression, I went through, was all worth it to be here, sitting with him in this perfect moment. I thought of all my hardships with love. How I failed with Will, and how long it took to finally get where I am with James. I tried to remind myself of that as much as I could to help me appreciate these moments more.

The unbroken eye contact suddenly made me incredibly nervous, so I looked away, trying to start up a conversation once again. How did you find this room? I asked

Well… I had a talk with Aaron.

Really? How did that come up?

He said since he’s hopefully going to be your brother-in-law soon, he might as well start acting like it, so he wanted to make sure I was good for you.

I looked to the floor, embarrassed, with a smile. Aaron had always felt like a big brother to me, but now that he was actually acting like it made me feel warm inside.

He told me about this room that him and Ashlynn used to go on dates at that I could use anytime I wanted, and he would cover for us.

I nodded. Do you think he approved of you? I asked with a smirk.

I hope so… he said nervously. I felt like I was meeting your father, but even more of a nervous wreck since I was talking to a current king.

I chuckled at him. My father’s not the one you want to be scared of meeting, my mother, though…

His eyes grew wide at the thought of meeting my mother. Oh, God… he muttered. 

I laughed. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you don’t have to meet her for a while.

Aren’t you and Ashlynn planning on going to the human world soon? he asked.

I nodded. Yeah. Pretty soon I think, I’m not exactly sure when, though… to be honest, I was afraid of going back to the human world… I hadn’t been there since I had arrived in Selestria for the first time. I was afraid of how different it would be when I returned. How much did I miss? Would everyone even still remember me? It’s been months now…

Well, you need a guard to go, right?

I nodded. Oh, yeah, do you want to come with me? I asked. My heart dropped at the thought of James coming to my home. It’s not that I didn’t want him there, it just would feel so strange to suddenly mix my two worlds. Like my past and my present suddenly meeting.

"Yeah, if you’d like me to. But most importantly, if you don’t bring me you, could you at least bring Madison? You know how happy that would make her."

I chuckled and looked down at my food. Oh, yes. Of course I’ll bring Madison. Madison had been interested in the human world since she was a child. She always studied everything about it and tried to learn as much as she could but has never even been there before. She would be ecstatic to come with me.

Good. So, did Aaron propose yet? he asked.

I shook my head. No… he’s not ready yet. I think he just needs to be comfortable and go for it. I’m starting to give up on all this practicing stuff, I think it’s just making him more nervous.

I think you guys are hyping it up too much. Way too much. He just needs to pop the question, pull out the ring and he’s done. She’s obviously going to say yes, they’ve been together forever and she’s pregnant with his baby. What’s there to worry about?

I shrugged. I just want to make my sisters proposal memorable; you know?

He nodded, taking a bite of his food. I did the same. I understand that. But don’t you think she’s expecting it at this point? And the longer this goes in the more disappointed she’s going to be?

I froze for a second. I didn’t even think about that. I said. Maybe I should talk to Ashlynn about it…

Well don’t ruin it for her! he exclaimed.

I’m not! I’m just going to try to ask her without making it obvious! I laughed.

There was a knock at the door. It’s meee! Madison called from the other side.

James got up and walked over to the door, opening to for Madison, clearly annoyed that she was interrupting.

Sorry, sorry, I hope I’m not interrupting anything, she said as she walked in with a hand over her eyes.

James rolled his eyes and removed her hand from her face. You’re fine, he mumbled.

She looked to me and smiled. He’s going to propose now, she told me.

What??? I said in shock as I stood up. Is he ready?

She nodded. He thinks so. He came up with a plan and he wants you to help.

I smiled giddily. Take me to him then!

Chapter Two

I knocked gently on my sister’s door. Ashlynn? I called as I creaked open the door slightly.

Yes? she answered as she turned around to look at me from sitting on the bed.

I walked inside. What are drawing? I asked her. There was a piece of paper and a pencil in her hand. The drawing wasn’t developed enough for me to know what was going on.

I’m going to hang it in the baby’s nursery. It’s a picture of the ocean. Since, you know, there’s only one ocean here…

I smiled as I looked down at the picture. This is going to be the water. She pointed to the side of the paper. And that’s the shore. And that’s going to be me, Aaron, and the baby… well, the baby’s a little older in this, she said as she pointed to three circles.

I nodded. Show me it when it’s done, I’m sure it’s going to be great.

She smiled and looked up at me. It sucks you can’t do your photography here. I tried to make art wherever I could when I was captured. They kept me in this tiny cell, so I didn’t have much to work with. But I would take rocks and scratch them across the floors and stuff like that. It at least helped me pass the time.

I actually don’t mind that much that I can’t do photography here. I said with a shrug. I loved photography, but before coming to Selestria it just started to feel more like a job ever since I decided to make a career of it. I guess it kind of took the enjoyment out of it…

Hm… she said, looking off into the window. Mom didn’t pressure you, did she?

Eh… I said, shrugging again. A little but. But it wasn’t just her. I pushed myself a lot, too. I think whenever we go back to the human world, it might actually be nice to try some photography again now that I know I don’t have to make a career off of it anymore and I can just do it for fun again. I looked up at her in question. When are we going to the human world, by the way? I asked.

Soon… hopefully… she said, in a daze, still staring out the window.

I was disappointed by the vague answer but didn’t push the question anymore. What do you say we go on a walk? It would probably be good for you considering you’ve been lying in bed all the time now because of your pregnancy. You know… as long as you’re up for it.

She smiled and nodded. Sure, that would be nice.

I tried to hide my excitement that I had succeeded in at least getting her to agree to come with me. We stood up and began to walk down the hall of the castle, all the way to the back door that led to the garden.

So, she began, you’re anxious to go back home it seems?

I nodded. Yeah.

Are you still friends with that girl… uh… she said as she tried to recall her name. Addison!

I nodded. Yep. Well, at least I was until I left. I haven’t spoke to her since… I desperately wanted to see Addison again. And I hoped that I would be able to.

I’m sure you’re excited to see her again then.

I am, I told her truthfully. I do miss her. She’s one of the only people I really miss from the human world.

Who else? She asked.

Hm? I looked up at her.

"You said one of, like there were more than one."

Oh… I muttered. Well, there was this one guy that I had a crush on in the human world, obviously I’ve moved on, though.

I began to sweat as I realized how closely we were getting to the middle of the garden.

I could see Aaron’s face smiling at me through the branches as he gave me a thumbs up. I smiled back at him, giving a small thumbs up at my hip.

My head darted towards Ashlynn as she made a sharp hissing sound. What’s wrong? I asked. Her expression looked to be in pain as she hunched down, clutching her pregnant belly. Are you okay? Are you going into labor?!? I asked anxiously.

She shook her head. No, no, it’s fine. It’s just that the baby’s kicking a lot and it hurts. I’m sorry to cut this short, Saige, but I really need to lay down. We can do this again sometime, though. She forced a smile as she began to turn around and walk back.

Okay! It’s fine! Before turning around, I made eye contact with Aaron and made a cutting motion with my hand. His excited expression dropped to disappointment.

I helped her back to bed and left her on her own to get some rest. As I shut the door behind me, Margo approached me with a frown. Well, that sucks, she whispered.

Yeah… I muttered. And now we have to come up with a different plan since that one’s already been used now.

Hmph, she grunted. Back to square one, I guess.

I looked to the ground, disappointed