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“No touching!” Grund ordered almost in my ear.

I flinched when someone grabbed my forearm.

“I can help.” The newcomer’s voice in my head soothed the chaos slightly. “Let the magic fill you.”

As though the magic heard him, it welled up and attempted to overwhelm me again, driving the breath from my lungs. Panic swelled in my throat. I was drowning!

“Don’t fight it.”

“Can’t—”

“The sensation will pass,” Portent’s voice assured me.

I fought to take a breath.

“It won’t kill you.” Portent’s grip on my arm tightened. For a moment, I could breathe freely. I gasped in air.

“What are you doing?” a guard on my right demanded.

“Unhand him!” another voice ordered on the left.

“I am helping him,” Portent’s calm voice cut through all of our panic. My heartbeat slowed, and I grew aware of my body again. The acute sensations from before faded slightly, as though retreating into the distance.

“Let him help,” I ordered, holding up my free hand to motion everyone back. “What is happening?” I asked Portent.

“The land is claiming you as its king.”

“What about the challenge?” a guard asked.

“A moot point right now. The land has chosen.” Portent’s voice sounded strained. “I can’t hold it back much longer. Are you ready?”

“We are going to be late,” Grund complained.

“Shush,” his superior snapped. “Whatever is happening here is more important.”

I drew in one final deep breath and then nodded.

Portent let go of my arm.

It felt like a dam had been removed. Magic, life, sensation, and primal joy flooded through my body from my planted feet. Fish, grass, moss, trees, flowers, and animals—each individual wild living creature introduced themselves to me. A flock of birds erupted from the trees above us, wheeling into the wide blue sky, taking my stomach with them.

Thoughts, feelings, needs, and more passed between me and the Wood and its inhabitants. When they retreated eventually, I felt I knew them each on an individual level. I knew all of their names and their preferences. I could pick out each plant in the midst of a field of like plants. Each bee in the hive across the meadow, each bird winging through the air, I knew them all, and they knew me. All I had to do was reach for them and they would come to me.

Then as abruptly as they were there in my mind, they were silent but not gone. It was as though our mutual awareness had retreated slightly. But I could feel them still there, just out of reach. All I had to do was focus and they would be there.

“What was that?” I asked as I finally lifted my head and opened my eyes.

“If I had to guess, your realm was introducing itself to you, at least the nonverbal parts of your realm.” Portent’s wry smile greeted me from where he bent over me. “The verbal residents are more of a complicated issue.” He motioned to the guards kneeling around us. “Some will be eager to pledge their fealty. Others not so much.” He nodded toward where I assumed the challenge arena lay.

I straightened and blinked as the land magic flared slightly, playing temporary havoc on my vision as all the colors vibrated. Pulling air into my lungs, I attempted to calm my racing heart rate and accept that my connection with the world might be forever altered.

However, not all changes were dangerous. I could sense the distance to the challenge area and see the number and species of each being awaiting my arrival there. I could also sense Rue. She was whole and present, but also very displeased about something. She was safe.

However, before I could attempt reaching out to her, the leader of my honor guard spoke from his kneeling crouch at my feet.

“My king, please accept my oath. My loyalty and fealty are to you and the Unseelie throne that you claim by the power of magic within the land. I will defend your right to reign and your person until death. I so swear.” He offered his bare hand palm up with his bare head bowed toward me. It was a posture of supplication and subservience.

Before I could accept his fealty, the remaining guards echoed the oath in a messy mishmash of overlapping voices. Thanks to my new connection, I felt the oaths take hold between us with a solid grip and suddenly, I knew them. I didn’t know their names, but knew their needs, desires, and motives. I could sense their wonder and hope at my assumption of the kingship. Hopefully, I proved worthy of their expectations.