Laughing, I pull her into my arms.I need to hold her, touch her,kiss her.Just bein her armsfor a moment.
Until my dutiescallme back as they alwaysdo.
Tilting her head up, I kiss her.Breathingin every breath she releases, I tasteevery particle making up her sighs and moans.Mine.It’s allmine.
“Your Highness,” Jacesays, ripping me away from her.
Stopping abruptly, I turn to face him.But Ikeep track ofher body behind me.I hear her ragged breathing that she’sdesperately trying to control.
My eyes shift from Jace to my brother,who’s at his side.A tightness envelopesme, putting me back on edge.“You’re here,” Isay, scanning the crowd around us.Nicholashatescrowds.Ever sinceStephaniescarred his face, he’savoided them like the plague.
So if he’shere, that only meansone thing: bad fucking news.Iknewtonight was too good to be true.
“What is it?”I demand, my thoughts full of what it could be.Acoupfinally starting.An ambush set up by King Dravr’s men.The Alzans or the Okahi having finally pushed into our territory.The damn Court havingre-decided that a ‘member’ includesfamily members,sothey’recharging Jace with treason.
Fuck.
Blinking, Nicholas looksat me in confusion.Then his grin spreadswide across one half of his face.The otherispulled tight, meltedinto uselessness.“Relax, you paranoid bastard.I’m here because it’s an important night and Fabia convinced me I shouldn’t miss it.”Heholdsout a hand.“So congratulations.You did what no one thought you could.”
“Except for us,” Jace cutsin, pointing at both him and Nicholas.“We believed in you.”
Nicholas tiltshis head to the side in a gesture thatsays, ‘Not really’.
My stomach tightens; I’m notquite ready to relax.“What are the reports on the Alzans and the Okahi?”I demandof my brother.
Grasping my shoulder,heshakesit.“Gods, man, relax.This is a night of celebration.”He tiltshis headtowardsArienna.“Just go back to fingering –”
She gasps, and I shove him away.
But a smile gracesmy lips.
Coming upbetweenus, Jace wrapsa heavy arm around each of our shoulders.“We should have a drink for Aurelia.She would’ve loved to have seen this.”
My smilefalls.
Nicholas tenses.
“You have to promise me, when we’re ready for peace, you’ll push for it.”
Holding my brother’s gaze, I nod jerkily.When hedoesthe same, Jace releasesus and walksback to the long tables laden with food and drink.
“Who’s Aurelia?”Ariennaasks, her voice soft as if she fearsencroaching on something she shouldn’t.
“Our sister,” Isay, not looking at her.
“The one you killed in a fairy ring?”
My jaw tightens.“No.The one who diedofcancer.”
Nicholas turnsaway, and Idon’tblame him.The lie we spreadabout her death hauntsall of us.But the Courtcannever find out what wedid.If theydo, my crownwillbe taken from me, and every law and treaty I’vebrought into existence or helped draftwillbe overturned.Oyveni’s Law of Ascensionisclear:princesses(or princes)cannot becomequeen(or king)unlesstheyprovethemselvesby killingtheirsistersinsidethe fairy ring.Alloftheir sisters.
When Jace returns, hecomeswith four glasses.Hegivesone to me, one to Nicholas, and then one to my wife.
My breathcatches.SheneverknewAurelia.Shedoesn’tknow what our sisterdid for Raza, what wedid for her… Idon’twantmy queen’stoast to be meaningless.I want it to matter because it mattersto me.Itmattersto all three of us.
But when Arienna looksat me, her pale-pink eyes full of concern and empathy, I know Aurelia would’ve wanted this.
She would have loved her – my queen.
