Korithax stares. “The crown. Your hair.”
“My hair?” I ask, raising a hand to pull it forward. I catch a glimmer of silver streaks running through the golden strands. “Oh.”
“It has started,” Elyistria says softly. “Parts of her are shining through.”
“Does she know?” Sariya asks, eyes wide.
Elyistria nods. “She does.”
I turn to Sariya. “You knew?”
“I did, my sweet child. I am a goddess too, remember. I know you… Dasmyrin, as well as I know myself.”
There’s a tension in the air now as the other leaders in the room try silently piece together what’s happening.
“What is going on?” Virena demands.
Korithax holds out his hand, beckoning me forward. “Come, little flower. We have news to share.”
My fingers find his. His touch is warm and comforting as I step towards him, falling to his side.
“You ready?” He whispers, stroking a thumb across my knuckles.
I nod, chewing my lip slightly as the anxiety inside of me begins to make my body tremble.
Korithax clears his throat, silencing the murmuring throughout the room. I catch Aran’s eye, and he gives me a softsmile to reassure me. “Daisy isn’t just my wife. She’s my mate.” He pauses as the murmurs begin again. “And,” he continues, demanding attention, “she is the reincarnation of the First Queen. Dasmyrin.”
Gasps echo through the room, and I feel my heart on the verge of exploding.
“Bullshit,” Kaelith hisses. “She’s just a mortal.”
I glare at him as Korithax tightens his grip on my hand.
“She’s more than that,” Korithax growls. “And if you insult her again, I’ll show you exactly what I’ve become. This realm has a new king now, and I bow to no one who speaks against my Queen.”
Korithax raises his free hand, flames sparking to life at his fingertips. “Or do you need a reminder of what happens when you try and fuck around, Duskwalker?”
Kaelith averts his gaze, his teeth clenched so hard his jaw pulses. I wonder if he managed to fully heal those burns after Korithax set him on fire. I try to hide my smirk at the memory of him setting him alight after he tried to turn me into his queen. Clearly, he’s still bitter.
Maelkar lets out a low laugh. “So, I didn’t just make her immortal. I brought back a legend.”
I scoff a laugh, and he winks at me as he places his hands behind his head, leaning back in his chair, truly proud of himself. Idiot.
“Sorry for the whole memory thing, Queenie.” He shrugs.
“No, you’re not,” I reply, smirking at him as he smirks back. Bastard wasn’t sorry at all. But I can’t be angry at him for taking what he wanted for his part of the deal. It could’ve been so much worse.
“She’s more than a legend,” Korithax says. “And more than a queen.”
“May I?” Elyistria steps forward. With a nod from Korithax, she continues. “Dasmyrin was my sister,” she says. “We were born in the beginning, created from the ash of the cosmos itself. She created the realms—the structures of everything you see. I am the magic behind it all. The creatures, the people, you, and your powers. Dasmyrin made the Divine Six, and I gave them their power to help us guide and rule the realms.” She lowers her eyes, regret painting her beautiful face. “But they betrayed her. With Korithax’s father, they burned her from history. But you cannot kill the creator. And now, she has risen.”
The room is utterly silent for a beat, every pair of eyes wide.
“So this isn’t Korithax’s coronation. It’s Daisy’s or… Dasmyrin’s?” Kaelith asks, venom lacing his tone.
“Please, I just want to be known as Daisy. And this is still his coronation.” I mutter.
“Will you be by his side as his consort, or his queen?” Virena asks.
