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“How many people did my father hurt?” I ask, hating how my voice shakes.
“It’s not your fault. Anybody who blames you is obviously delusional.” He squeezes me tighter. “Tori, I promise you, I will protect you. I’ll never let anybody hurt you ever again.”
“I stopped him,” I counter. “I didn’t let him hurt me. I can protect myself.”
“I know.” He kisses the top of my head. “This whole dorm room thing isn’t going to work out for me. We’re moving back into the beach house.”
“Will Damian let us?” I ask.
He snorts. “He doesn’t have a choice. I’m dominant, remember?”
I relax into his arms. I know Damian isn’t going to fight Devin on it—not after what happened. And Devin is too stubborn to back down. As much as I hate to admit it, I’m glad Devin is stubborn about it. I don’t want to stay here. Too many people have tried to kill me in these dorms.
“I love you, Devin.” I pull back so I can look at him. “Thank you for always making me feel safe.”
“I love you too. More than anything,” he says.
Those words sound better than anything I’ve ever heard.
Saturday, February 20
Things are going to change.
I am so nervous that my hands won’t stop shaking.
Today I will be making my first speech as queen.
I swallow hard. Even thinking about the title in my head makes me queasy.
Today is a good day. I get to announce to the dark fae that they’refreeof King Hastings’s harsh reign. I get to let them all know what’s going to change.
Devin gives my hand a comforting squeeze. “I will be there the entire time.”
I snort. “You’ll be standingbehindme.”
He smirks. “That means that I’ll have your back.”
“You’re not the one who has to address the entire supernatural community,” I counter.
“You’re only addressing the dark fae.”
I raise an eyebrow at him. “And you think nobody else will be watching?”
He smirks. “I was trying to make you feel better by not bringing that up. Of course the wolf shifters will be watching—you’re their future luna. And the rest of the supernaturals are curious. Everybody’s heard the rumors of King Hastings’s execution.”
“I thought you were supposed to make me feel better.” My stomach churns, making me regret eating breakfast.
“It’ll be fine,” Devin says.
Yeah. Fine. As long as I ignore the fact that I’m going to be talking to likely every single person in the supernatural community. I have to try and convince them that I’m nothing like my father. They probably already hate me for my name alone.
I try to listen to the last of whatever King Basilicus is saying, but all I can hear is the quick beat of my own heart. It’s pounding so loud in my eardrums that I worry I’ll pass out before I even make it in front of the camera.
King Basilicus turns expectedly toward me, so I make my way in front of the camera. He gives me an encouraging nod. I force myself to smile as I look up.
There is nobody else in the room except the dragon king, Devin, and me. I feel slightly better when I look at the camera. I can’t see what anybody’s reaction will be. If anything, I can pretend there is only King Basilicus and Devin listening to me speak. That will definitely make this easier.
Devin does step up behind me, but he stays a little ways back. He does, in fact, have my back. I can feel how much he believes in me through our incomplete mate bond.
