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20
Silence had never been so overwhelming. Nobody in the gathered group said a word. There was no movement, no wind, no anything.
I lifted my chin, hoping I didn’t look as exhausted and relieved as I felt.
Then, his words hit me.
Queen.
That was how it worked, but I hadn’t thought that through. I wanted the power, I wanted to win. But I’d said I didn’t want to be queen. Even if it was exactly what I knew I needed.
Once, being a part of the feral shifters would have been enough. Now, queen was what I needed. The whole system was broken. The only way to repair it was from the top.
I turned toward movement and noticed that Spencer and Malcom were fighting their restraints. I padded over to them, still in wolf form and growled at the guards.
“She wants you to release them,” Star said.
The guards looked from her over to their fallen king. He didn’t lift his head. I growled again.
“Release them. On order of your queen,” Star said.
To my surprise, the guards did as ordered. Spencer and Malcom rubbed at their wrists. My mother didn’t react. She looked like she was still in a toxin induced stupor. How much had they given her?
My wolf was tired. She was ready to let the human side take over. I glanced back at the disgraced king. Dethroned by a nineteen-year-old nobody. Elation mingled with surprise, making me feel both powerful and terrified. When I’d come here, I wasn’t expecting any of this. I had claimed far more than I anticipated, but deep down, it felt right.
Siting back, I let my wolf guide us through the change. My body shivered, then rippled as bones reformed and my body twisted from wolf to woman. The change was easy this time, the minor pain was over before I had time to react.
I rose from my crouched position and looked out into the faces staring at me. I was probably supposed to say or do something, but I wasn’t sure if there was a specific protocol and I was afraid I’d fuck it up.
Spencer joined me in the center and he grabbed my hand, then lifted it in the air. “I present your queen.”
The silence broke with an explosion of cheers and hollers. The crowd applauded and reacted as if I was the one they’d been waiting for their whole lives. I was sure some of it was an act, but in the moment, it didn’t matter. My heart felt full and I relished the moment of celebration.
I’d come from nothing. I’d held no power. I wanted to show them all. In my wildest dreams, I never thought this was how I’d accomplish my revenge.
I lowered my arm, still holding Spencer’s hand. Leaning close to him so only he could hear me, I spoke, “I’m sorry I challenged him.”
Spencer smiled. “Don’t ever apologize for that. I never wanted to be king. I just thought it was the only option. Now, you need to figure out what you’re going to do with him.”
I glanced over at my uncle. Without his cocky grin and entourage, he no longer looked impressive. He had pulled on his clothes and was staring at me. “What’s your sentence, your highness?”
I looked at Spencer. “What would you do?”
“Exile sounds like a good punishment,” he said.
“You can’t exile me, you have no authority,” Chris spat.
“There’s always execution.” Malcom joined us, the housekeeper who had helped me by his side.
“Exile sounds like a good choice,” Chris added quickly.
“Don’t ever let me see you again,” I said. “I don’t care where you go or what you do, but if you ever come near me, my friends, or my family, I will take my brother’s suggestion.”
A couple of guards appeared on either side of the former king. “You want us to get rid of him?”
“Wow, nobody liked you, did they?” I asked. “I mean, I’m grateful they’re ready to switch sides, but it goes to show how bad you were at your job.”
One of the guards was fighting against a smile. “We’re happy to remove the trash for you, your highness.”
