“Get your ass out here, Your Majesty,” Ajax says. “Your trousers are done, and I want to check them one last time.”
Giggling, she places a light kiss through the boxers, then rises to her feet and kisses my cheek. “He’s coming!” she says.
“Not even close,” I mutter as I follow her out.
But she’s waited long enough to be crowned.
And I have a lifetime to have her down on her knees smiling up at me.
The hall in Morrighan Manor is packed with nobles from all over Raza. Commoners line the branch outside, trying to see inside. In two decades, Raza hasn’t seen a queen. And in over two millennia, it has never been ruled by a brownie.
The murmurs whispering through the crowd are an equal part excitement and trepidation. Will she be the queen they were hoping for all this time? Or will she lead us into ruin? Her power will trump mine in all things, and if she wants, she can rule without any input from me – something I was terrified of when I’d first been forced to take a wife.
But now?
As I stand on the dais with my queen, I know Aurelia would have been happy about this. This is the future she wanted – where someone like Arienna could live here and be happy. Perhaps, she would’ve even been happy for me…
The man who killed her.
Reaching over, Arienna squeezes my hand and smiles at me. My chest tightens along with her fingers as I look at Jace. He’s standing with the other guards, off the dais, in front of the crowd. He wanted to be up here with us given the twelve Court members are all standing in an arc in front of us. They each have a sword in their hands, pointing down at the ground. But having a guard behind each courtesan would have made everyone uneasy.
Jace nods at me, a wide smile on his face despite the pain in his eyes. This time every year, we would’ve been locked in some room, broken over Aurelia’s death. And yet, here we are onherday, celebrating.
My stomach twists as guilt floods my veins.
But I wanted her day –neededher day to be one of change, the kind of change she would’ve wanted. It’s time to remember my sister not with pain but with a hopeful look towards the future.
Turning back to my queen, I squeeze her hand.
Petre steps forwards, the sword she’s holding hailing back to Queen Raza’s rein, owned by her ancestor, one of the original Dragons of Kholar. “You will devote your life to this kingdom. You will protect it from all invaders. You will uphold its laws and rule justly. This, do you swear?”
“I swear.”
She holds my wife’s gaze for a moment, then stabs her sword into the floor. Dropping to one knee, she bows her head, and the other eleven members do the same. Together, they vow, “We willadvise you to the best of our ability, work with you to protect this kingdom, and uphold the laws of this land.”
Lifting her head, Petre stands tall once more. Two men step forwards, one of whom is holding a crown atop a dark purple pillow. She hands over her sword, then takes the crown.
Kneeling, Arienna releases my hand, and Petre rests the crown atop her head. Looking down at her, I try not to imagine us standing in the crowd alongside Nicholas and Fabia while it’s Aurelia who’s becoming queen.
I cannot change the past.
But I damn well can change the future.
“Then rise, Queen Arienna.”
As she climbs back to her feet, she grabs my hand again, her touch chasing away the pain. Turning to her, rules be damned, I pull her close and kiss her.
She opens for me immediately, a little sigh passing her lips and into mine. Reaching around me, she squeezes my ass, and I half-wince, half-smile with the knowledge that soon everyone would know what I let her do to it.
But fuck them and their judgement.
All that matters is my queen’s happiness.
Lifting my head, I smile at her. Together, we turn to face the crowd. My eyes catch Jace’s again. He’s staring at my wife, pain quickly hidden, and I know he imagined Aurelia in her place just like I did. The queen that should have been.
Meeting my gaze, he smiles, then turns to lead us out of the hall and to an adjacent room, lavishly decorated for the party. The nobles follow us, and soon conversation buzzes up to the rafters.
Nicholas slips away immediately, off to the table of cakes and sweets. Fabia turns to Arienna and gives her a quick hug before stepping back.
