I kept a tight grip on Ethan’s arm, feeling lightheaded. What the hell? I wasn’t safe in my own damnpalace?
Ethan asked the guards to remain outside. When we entered the room, the servants looked up. My friends, who had finished the remainder of their prep work, glanced at Ethan like they already knew something happened.
“Everyone out,” he barked. “Immediately!”
The servants hurried out the door. Once they were gone, Odette asked, “What’s wrong?”
“There was an attempt on Emma’s life. Chastity tried to poison her in the gardens,” Ethan told them shortly. “She was apprehended, but we were almost a moment too late.”
The three of them gasped. “Already?” Kiara blinked. “She was hardly gone an hour!”
“You all act as if you expected this,” I flustered. “I did too, but not so soon—”
“Emma, you don’t understand. Your life is different now,” Ethan said. “This is going to be hard to adjust to, but people will want to kill you.”
“I’vealwayshad people who’ve wanted to kill me!” I blurted. “Gabby and Elijah, the Black Claw—”
“And now there are even more,” Ethan finished. “Now you have every greedy shifter and sorceress in the kingdom plotting and strategizing how to either take advantage of you, or take your head in order to gain more power for themselves. You must be ever-vigilant. There is no one you can trust. Not when you wear the crown.”
“Ethan is right,” Kiara said kindly. “The monarchy is dangerous. Everyone around you has something to gain or lose by your position. You might not even be able to trust people who you consider your friends.”
“If I can’t trust my friends, then who can I trust?” I asked hopelessly.
“Your own judgement,” Ethan said firmly. “Know this, Emma, the monarchy is a game. The people who win are those who are able to manipulate that game the best, and for the longest. You made a miscalculation today, one that isn’t your fault, but that nearly cost us everything. Consider this your first lesson in being royal. If you wish to stay in power, you need to learn to make moves, and be several steps ahead of the rest of them. Everyone— even the people who care about you— have ulterior motives when you’re a queen. Don’t allow anyone to take advantage of you again. Play them as pieces— do not allow yourself to be played.”
Ethan reached out then and took me into his arms, as if he could not stand the thought of losing me. And he nearly had— his body shook as the two of us mused on what Chastity had nearly done, and the repercussions it would’ve had not just for us, but the entire kingdom.
I was quiet as I considered Ethan’s words. I thought power was absolute, but as I learned today, power was fluid and ever-changing. The crown might be on my head tonight, but there was always a possibility it wouldn’t be tomorrow.
Not unless I outsmarted everyone around me.
I wasn’t prepared to play this game, but I had to be. The greatest illusion of all wasn’t what I could do with my magic.
It was power, and how well I could trick people into believing it was all mine.
My nerves increased that evening,drowning me in anxiety. I waited in the grand hall of the palace, ready to embark on the royal carriage toward Milonna’s cathedral.
The coronation would be held there. I could already hear the crowds roaring outside the palace gates. People were gathering in the streets of Dolinska to watch Ethan and I on our journey to the cathedral, where we would take our vows to the country.
I hadn’t watched Gabby and Elijah’s coronation on television, so I didn’t know what to expect. Ethan had coached me on what to do and what to say, but I still felt woefully unprepared. I bounced with apprehension, smoothing down my red curls and fussing with the skirts of my elaborate dress for the millionth time.
Ethan was calm. He didn’t fidget or pace, merely stood chatting lowly with Stefan as we waited for the carriage to arrive. He was wearing a navy hussar’s uniform that matched my gown, and as usual, the suit fit him perfectly.
I’d say he looked like quite the prince, but that wasn’t right anymore. He looked like aking.
I didn’t know how he managed to keep it together. My palms were sweaty, and my mouth was dry. I was so freaked out about making a mistake in front of millions of people on national television. Malovia was everything to me, in my heart. But now I was getting ready to make a vow to her before the entire nation.
What if people didn’t believe that I was good for the country? What if they thought I was only doing this for myself?
I couldn’t see why Gabby had desired this position so badly. Everyone expected so much of you, being queen. How had she handled the pressure?
Not well, I remembered. She’d crumbled during her reign. No wonder she’d fallen apart during the Eastern European Figure Skating Championships. I couldn’t imagine trying to be a professional skater and leading the country all at once. She’d been insane to try.
Usually, there’d be a parade in front of the royal carriage, along with an entourage of parties and social events to go along with the coronation. But with Gabby and Elijah having spent most of the treasury, and Dolinska still in shambles from the collapse of the catacombs, we had agreed with the Circle that simple and effective was best. We’d be escorted through the city by dozens of guards, perform the ceremony, and then return to the palace for a dinner party with the nobles. The event would still be televised, but with as little fanfare as possible. We wanted to send the message to the people that we were not the focus, but what we could do for Malovia.
Servants pulled the double doors aside as the royal carriage rolled up to the palace. It was pulled by two alicorns, and was white with golden trim. I took Ethan’s arm as we walked down the stairs, and the tension in my chest got even tighter.
I almost tripped as I stepped into the carriage, and Ethan caught me. I gave him a grateful glance, and prayed to the gods I wouldn’t fall when we arrived at the cathedral in front of the cameras.
