“The proper way to refer to me isyour highness,” I replied back coolly. “Don’t forget your station.”
“For now,” Elijah said. I didn’t allow him to say anything further, because I led Emma to the opposite side of the stage. There were sixteen contestants total, four from each Faction. Eight potential kings and eight potential queens, ready to take their shot at glory.
In the center of the stage was a giant wooden arch, twisted with gnarled branches and pine needles. The same priestess that had led the Day of the Dead ceremonies came forward. Today, she was wearing a thick fur cloak that draped down her shoulders, with a deerskin dress and an antlered headpiece.
The High Priestess raised her hands, and the crowd quieted. Her magic amplified her voice so the entire square could hear. “People of Malovia!” she cried. “We commence a celebration of great meaning! Tonight is the official opening of the King’s Contest, and the beginning of our quest for a new king!”
The crowd of thousands cheered. Their noise was so loud it shook the mountains. I’d appeared before an audience many times before, but this was different. My authority as alpha was being questioned.
That would cease after the Contest was over.
The High Priestess extended her hand to the alicorn couple near the center of the stage. “We shall begin the opening ceremonies with the declaration of Choosing. The contestants will announce their chosen mates, and declare which god or goddess they are devoted to. Albin Eryk and Krystyna Manfred, please step forward.”
Albin and Krystyna came underneath the arch. The High Priestess told them to join hands, and the square became deadly silent. Her voice took on a serious tone as she asked, “Do you, Albin Eryk, join yourself to this sorceress in mind, body, and spirit, proclaim her to be your mate, vow to one day be married with her in sacred union, defending her at all costs?”
Albin cleared his throat. He seemed nervous. His voice stuttered when he spoke, “I proclaim that Krystyna Manfred is my mate, for now and forever, until my watch is over and until the end of time.”
The High Priestess turned from him and to Krystyna. “Do you, Krystyna Manfred, vow to join yourself to this shifter in mind, body, and spirit, proclaim him to be your mate, vow to one day be married with him in sacred union, loving him despite whatever cost?”
Krystyna hiccuped. It was such an odd thing to do that most people were taken aback. Her eyes widened, and she rushed to say, “I proclaim that Albin Eryk is my mate, for now and forever, until my watch on the hunt is over and until the end of time.”
Rapturous applause and cheering rose from the audience. Cannons went off somewhere, as was tradition, and music struck up to be played. Huge smiles lit up the faces of both Albin and Krystyna. It was obvious that they were actually fated mates and not just together for the sake of the Contest. As Albin and Krystyna took their place back in line, the noise quieted, and the High Priestess called up the second alicorn couple.
Each of the other three Factions was introduced until finally, it was time for the wolvens. Emma and I would go first. The High Priestess gestured to us, and Emma and I came forward underneath the arch.
“Join hands,” the High Priestess said, and I took Emma’s hands in mine. They were colder than I thought they were. I rubbed them with my thumbs to try and warm them, and she smiled slightly.
The High Priestess looked at me. Do you, Ethan Nowak, join yourself to this sorceress in mind, body, and spirit, proclaim her to be your mate, vow to one day be married with her in sacred union, defending her at all costs?”
“I proclaim that Emmaline Sosna is my mate, for now and forever, until my watch on the hunt is over and until the end of time,” I recited, the words sending a thrill through my body.
Emma didn’t know I meant every word of it. Her eyes were fixed clearly on me— like I was the only person she could see.
There were whispers at Emma’s name. It was strange. It was like the crowd was in shock. I didn’t understand it.
“Do you, Emmaline Sosna, vow to join yourself to this shifter in mind, body, and spirit, proclaim him to be your mate, vow to one day be married with him in sacred union, loving him despite whatever cost?” the High Priestess asked Emma.
Emma hesitated. She didn’t respond right away. Long minutes passed… the seconds became torturous and agonizing.
Oh, shit. She was going to back out. She was going to change her mind in front of all these people, and completely break my heart.
She couldn’t do this to me. Not here, not now. I’d lose it. I’d lose everything if I lost her.
Then Emma swallowed and said, “I proclaim that Ethan Nowak is my mate, for now and forever, until my watch on the hunt is over and until the end of time.”
Relief flooded through my veins and made my shoulders sag. She’d accepted my mating offer. It was done. She was mine. Now and forever.
A warmth spread through me at the thought. Emma belonged to me, and I belonged to her. That’s what mating was. It was how it should be.
Nobody applauded or cheered when Emma took her vow. All there was to be heard was stunned silence… until someone from within the crowd broke the quiet.
“This is preposterous! Her mother denied King Lycus his mating bond!” a sorceress screamed.
“She’s a bastard queen! Her mother conceived her outside the mating bed!” another yelled.
I stepped forward, ready to jump off the stage and find whoever was saying this blasphemous nonsense. Emma, a bastard? How dare they accuse her mother of such crimes?
Something struck me. I knew my father’s mate had denied his bond, and that’s why he ended up marrying my mother, but he’d never told me who histruemate was. What did Emma have to do with any of it?
