AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I…I promise you,” Kai said in a gasp.
And then the king was gone.
It wasn’t quite the end to our adventure I had imagined, but as I knelt there beside the cooling king’s body, I realized it was over. Finally, after everything, all the pain, all the suffering, it was over.
The war, my curse, the Shrouded Shriek. All of it.
So, the question was… what now?
I’d never put much thought into what could happen if we actually won. In the abstract, I knew we had to set up the beginning of a new monarchy, but I didn’t really have any idea how to do that.
It didn’t seem like Kai knew what to do, either. As the days passed, I thought there would be more celebration, but instead, Kai was withdrawing increasingly into himself. Most nights, the two of us stayed up far too late arranging things, handling the unrest in the palace, or even just contemplating what our futures would hold, but when we went to bed together, we would merely hold each other in silence.
It was just the weight of everything we’d done hitting us all at once. We were soldiers—protectors of Camdaria, sure—but now we were supposed to be king and queen.
But what if I didn’t feel like a queen?
I supposed I could go to Kai’s mother and ask her advice. The poor woman had been in intense mourning since losing her husband, but I got the sense there was also fierce pride within her. He’d been overtaken by one of the most powerful adversaries in our entire history, yet the king had pulled through to save his son. What greater proof of love and strength could there be?
Though, every time I thought it would be a good time to see her, I ended up chickening out, cowed by the idea of facing the woman whose husband had sacrificed himself so I could win in a fight. She was still a stranger to me, and as much as I loved her son, I just didn’t know how to comfort her.
At least I had my friends and, of course, Seraphina to lean on. Strangely enough, Kai’s youngest sister took a shine to the entire process far faster and easier than the rest of us. She made speeches, she organized seminars for experts in certain areas to change the rules, sent out missives and proclamations, as well as arranged the funeral for King Nathaniel.
There was still so much more to do, such as make sure Vekas didn’t become destabilized now that the Shrouded Shriek couldn’t parade around as their king and queen. While it was tempting to just let the country crumble in on itself, that was far too likely to turn the fallen royals into martyrs that had been killed by the enemy rather than noble leaders who had been murdered by the Shrouded Shriek. But that required diplomacy and far more political talks than we were ready for.
Actually…I didn’t know if I ever would be ready for all of it.
I found myself craving the quiet of the woods outside of Fort Canid. I craved my time in the gardens, or time brewing potions. Would I ever know those days again?
So, as the days passed, I, too, grew more agitated and then felt ashamed of my own ingratitude. We had survived impossible odds. Surely that should be enough. If Kai needed me to be his queen, then I would be his queen, even if I didn’t want to.
But naturally, a kingdom could only be without a ruler for so long, so when the head members of the court and the Verdanian council showed up to Seraphina’s summoning, I figured it was time to resign myself to my fate.
I tried to keep my face neutral as we all sat around a massive table. I took comfort in the familiar faces all around me, knowing they would bring so much joy to my life even if I wasn’t on the path I wanted. The only thing that mattered was that I was with Kai, whether that was on the throne, at Fort Canid, or somewhere else.
I braced myself when Kai began to speak, waiting for him to announce his birthright, what he had been fighting for since he recognized the country needed to change.
“Court and council members, I thank you all for coming here. It’s no secret that our kingdom’s shaken to its core. Between the war, inequality, and misappropriations of funds, Camdaria was racing toward ruin. Thanks to the sacrifice of King Nathaniel, and the combined efforts of all those you see around us, our kingdom now faces a new chance at prosperity.
“There are many things that must change: opening our borders, peace with Vekas, greater diplomatic efforts, and I know that, as the king’s alpha son, I am expected to take the throne.”
Deep breath. Deep breath, I urged myself. It would be fine. As long as I had Kai, everything would be fine.
“And as his eldest adult child, I am willing to fulfill that duty.” There it was. His pledge to his people. Because in his heart, Kai would always put others before himself. That was one of the many things I loved about him. “For a time.”
Wait, what? For a time? What did that mean?
“I will co-rule with my youngest sister, Princess Seraphina, training her in every way I know. Then, after four years, I shall retire, leaving her solely on the throne as the leader of our people. I know this may sound strange, but I honestly believe my sister is the perfect start to a new beginning for Camdaria—one of equality between different cryptids, and where money isn’t worth more than life itself. Her passion for justice and the particulars of the court far outweigh my own.
“Although I would lay down my life for my people, I must face the fact that I am a soldier at heart. While I can be your king for the time being, it would wear on me, breaking me down until I resented it, while I have many things I can impart to my sister, and I know she will excel at anything I can do.”
My head was spinning as I stared at my mate. He was giving up the throne? I tried to sense through our bond if he was sad about it or if he was doing it begrudgingly for me, but the only thing I felt was relief. Pure, unadulterated relief.
Was my happily ever after still possible?
I couldn’t believe it, and for a moment, I thought I was dreaming. But as I looked around the people gathered here, I was surprised to see a smattering of nodding. No objections. No violent reactions. Just genuine consideration.
“I see no reason to oppose this,” Oliver said, shocking me even more. He at least had the wherewithal to look contrite when his eyes met mine.
