“Move along, Lore. Let the real men have a chance with the girl.” Brander’s taunting tone had Lore rolling his eyes.
“Thanks, Lore. I’ll keep you in mind if I end up with daddy issues.” My joke caused his eyes to shimmer with sparkles of gold dust.
“Aria, you know how I feel,” Killian uttered, his head tilted, a frown marring his brow. “Knox is my best friend. I came here at five years of age to learn to train beside a prince. I hated him at first. He was the reason I’d been forced to leave everything I’d ever known or cared about. Knox was never a child. He’s been groomed to rule since the day he took his first breath. I’ve been with him the longest, other than Greer’s cranky, old ass. I was glad he married Liliana, then brought Sven into the world. But I stood beside him when he buried them, and you were right. He buried his heart beside them in that crypt. Until you resurrected it, then brought him back to life. With you, he’s a different person. I watched him trying to hate this enchanting woman, who gave him no mercy. You didn’t take his shit, Aria. You gave back as hard as he gave it, and that was entertaining to watch. It wasn’t all you did. You made Knox into more than just a king. It was like watching him age backward, from ruthless king, to the lad who snuck out to frequent taverns. I guess what I’m trying to say is, you make him into a better man. For that, we’re all eternally grateful you came into our lives. If he doesn’t wake up, choose me. I promise not to make you call me daddy,” he said before leaning over and kissing my cheek. “He’ll wake up. Knox doesn’t know how to stay down.”
“Thank you, Killian.”
“Peasant,” Greer stepped up, eyeing Killian until he released my hand, moving away to stand with the others. “You know I was a total asshole the first few times we met.”
“You don’t say?” I asked in a mocking tone, my hand flying to my heart. “Don’t break my heart, Meat Suit.”
“You’d have to actually have one, first.” He sniffed, lifting his nose into the air, before slowly lowering it, grabbing my hand in his surprisingly warm ones. “The first time I saw you outside of the house in Haven Falls, I knew you were innocent. Both of mind and heart. I also knew Knox intended to force you back into this world. A world that would chew that beautiful, innocent girl up and spit her out. That wasn’t something I wanted for you, ever. You’ve blossomed from the na?ve, soft, delicately made girl into a savage.” He stood there while I waited for him to continue.
“And?”
“Uh, that’s it,” he paused before adding, “I do wonder about something though.”
“Yeah?”
“Did you ever start tipping the naked men prancing around you, more than a dollar?” His lips jerked up as my mouth opened in horror.
“I was in my pajamas, Greer. It was all that I had on me. Besides, I should have flicked a quarter at the bastard. He wasn’t even worth the dollar.”
“Indeed, he was beneath you. I already knew you’d become a queen. We just didn’t know you’d become ours. Had I known, I wouldn’t have changed anything. Knox was always a singular creature, even when they brought in others to force him out of the library. His love of reading came from Eira, who taught him to read in that very library. But when he’s with you? He doesn’t seek to escape the space he’s claimed for himself. I think that’s when I knew you’d be his. Because he’d never allowed anyone who wasn’t of the bloodline to step a foot deeper into that chamber, other than his best friend. So, while you may feel reservations about waiting for him to wake and place you on the throne, know that we hold none. He’d want you here. If he didn’t, he wouldn’t have cleaned the skulls you so generously kept piling up at the gates. And he sure as hell wouldn’t have written your name upon it, Peasant. He may be too prideful to say it, but we all love you. You’ve a way about you. Annoying, slightly obtuse, and an over-dramatic actress between the sheets, but it’s a way, I guess.”
“Don’t forget how I light up the room when I enter it,” I advised.
“That’s called arson, Peasant. And it’s frowned upon. Heavily, I might add. You should sit, and try not to burn anything down.”
I turned, staring at the other brothers who were smiling, approval shimmering in their eyes. Exhaling the air from my chest, I sat on the throne, placing my hands on the skulls of the armrest, peering out at the men. Greer handed me the Sovereign’s Orb, and then the Sovereign’s Scepter which had a crystal quartz composed of the highest quality I’d ever seen. My heartbeat thundered violently against my ribs, threatening to break them.
“All hail the queen,” Brander announced, his voice echoing around the entire room.
As they shouted it, people began entering the chamber, bowing with worried eyes. Those who’d whispered behind their hands met my gaze, then lowered it in shame. A cruel smile spread over my lips. I wouldn’t be cruel to his people, but I wouldn’t trust the fuckers farther than I could see any of them.
“All hail the mate of Knox Karnavious, rightful Queen of the Nine Realms, crowned Queen of Dragons, and Queen of the Phoenixes. Long may she reign!” Killian shouted, his eyes beaming with pride. One by one, the brothers lowered, bending their knee as they recognized me as their rightful queen. I’d hold off on celebrating until Knox was beside me, supporting my place on the throne, with him as my king. “And lord have mercy on anyone who disrespects her, for her mate will not.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
Aria
The map of the citadel was spread out over the table inside the library. Brander hadn’t explained why Knox chose this room, other than it was his favorite place inside the entire palace. There wasn’t a way to spy on those within the library, without it detecting them. Therefore, no one could ever discover their strategies, secrets, or the plans they made within it. I hadn’t even considered that it was a living, breathing sentinel for him.
Knox had loved it, which was why I’d slept in his bed without him. It hadn’t been easy to leave his side, even for the night. Unfortunately, they were right. If I wanted to be well enough to take care of him, then I also had to take care of myself first. If I wasn’t healthy, then I couldn’t defend him while he was weak.
I’d heard the men speaking when they’d thought I’d fallen asleep last night. The queen’s job was to protect her king. It wasn’t merely to lead them into battle. It was because they knew I’d protect him with my last breath. And I would, I’d sooner die than allow anything to happen to Knox.
He’d endured a lifetime of pain, and been endlessly tortured, and still, he fought against it for those who hadn’t felt the blade of loss. He’d stood in the darkness without anyone ever knowing he held the monsters at bay. Knox was raised like a sentry of hope in the darkness he’d survived, wearing it like a cloak around his shoulders.
The other kingdoms merely existed, enduring under oppression. They’d chosen to bow before the self-proclaimed queen, who had returned their loyalty with endless death and destruction. Yet Knox, even as a prince, had taken a stand against Hecate’s demands, and proclamations. But it came with a price, one he’d paid ten times over in his own sweat, tears and blood.