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The man beside him stands and repeats the refusal, word for word, though with far less venom in his voice.
Neither retake their seat when they finish, turning expectantly to the last remaining court member.
She gets to her feet and exchanges a long look with them before turning to address me. “I have always been loyal to the crown. Your Majesty has made it clear that your own loyalties do not lie solely with humans, but with all.” She pauses and sends a sly smile at the men who tried to urge her to go along with them. “And because of that, I look forward to helping bring about a much needed change.”
The objectors don’t even attempt to hide their irritation as the those around them make their feelings known. Some lean away, distancing themselves. While others turn their heads, attempting to appear inconspicuous, looking at the walls or anything other than him. It seems they hoped for their influence to be stronger than my own.
“The two of you are dismissed,” I say.
Their spines straighten as they indignantly shove back from the table and storm toward the doors.
“While you are no longer members of this court,” Alaric says. His tone causes them to halt at the threshold and turn back. “You are still expected to attend the coronation in one month’s time. You will not want to find out what will happen if you fail to make an appearance.”
The men each offer a terse dip of their heads, then exit.
I take a slow and measured breath, relieved that the worst part is over.
In the week leading up to this meeting, Alaric and I spent long nights with our closest friends detailing the new laws. Copies were made, then sent far and wide, on their way to every city a vampire has ever set foot in.
Now it is time to announce what will become of the court.
***
The bite of winter is still in the air, but it is not nearly as sharp as it was days ago. I breathe deep and tilt my head back to gaze up at the stars. “That was nerve-wracking,” I say.
Alaric chuckles. I drop my chin to glare at him, but he only shrugs.
“You hid it well. Even beside you, I couldn’t sense any trace of fear,” he says.
A very unladylike snort escapes me before I can stop it. “We’re alone. You don’t need to flatter me,” I retort, continuing our stroll.
Alaric stops walking, reaching out to catch my wrist. I turn to face him. We stand on the edge of the winding garden path near the high stone wall that blocks the worst of the chill. For several heartbeats, the only sound around is the rustling of dried vines in the breeze.
“Your presence did more than you realize.” All teasing, now replaced by weighted sincerity. “No other human could have stood there as unwavering as you did.”
I raise a brow. “How many humans in this world are bonded to a demon?”
Pulling me to a stop beside a statue, Alaric forces me to meet his gaze. “You cannot keep attributing all your strength to a demon.”
I sigh. He’s right. I know he is. But that doesn’t mean I have to admit it. It feels wrong. Like taking credit for something that isn’t my doing. I was only able to be strong because of the strength that came from him and Varin—it wasn’t something I was born with or worked to achieve.
Rather than repeating a discussion we’ve already had and will probably have again many more times, I change the subject. “You told them I was your oath bonded.”
Alaric is silent for so long I start to worry that I made it sound like a negative thing.
“I should have talked to you before announcing that. I shouldn’t have assumed—”
“No, it was necessary,” I cut him off.
There are times when we are utterly any ease with one another. Then there are times like this, when neither of us can seem to break through the unknown lingering from everything that still remains unsaid.
It will take time. Our journey to the way things used to be is a tangled path, weaving in on itself. Alaric still needs time and space to recover what he’s lost, and I don’t wish to rush him.
“It surprised me—that’s all.” I toe a stray pebble on the pathway with my boot.
“I have made you doubt—”
A shrill screech pierces the air. I flinch, covering my ears as I search for the source of the noise. But my reaction made me slow.
