Jax waved off my threats like they were treats. “That’s a cool trick. Does it work if I do it?”
He snapped his fingers at one of the girls carrying in breakfast and she slapped him right across the face.
A smirk warmed my weary soul even if it fell too quickly. Because as the laces tightened on my coat and then the vest over it, my world narrowed. The cape, the gold collar connected to the large metal epaulets weighed as much as that chandelier sitting outside.
I swallowed hard and stuffed down the feeling this was all wrong without Maggie’s hand to grab. I had what I wanted right in front of me. Too bad my coronation day tasted like ash.
I had to proceed through the day despite all that. The ceremony was interminable. I didn’t even pretend not to use my shadows to hold up the gold edifice they insisted they improved just for my second coronation. The Elven metalsmith called it a crown, but it felt like it was about to snap my neck.
The drone of Elven singing, flower petals wasted on the procession, precious magic bursting in the sky looked much like the ceremony when I first took the throne, but I wasn’t the same. I couldn’t help but look to the Queen’s rest beside my new express-made throne and despair that it was empty.
Enthusiasm for the display masked some of the bored gazes around me. It did nothing to hide the secret conversations around the room when the shadows spoke to me.Elves were still plotting, still weighing their odds even as the crown lowered onto my head. They took bets on what kind of King I would be and how much vengeance I would wreak upon them.
It had to be the longest day of my life. I clutched the armrest of my new throne until my knuckles turned white. Burning the last one was the best thing I ever did. I was convinced Brad had put his bare ass on it as he had my bath ledge. That was being chiseled out too.
I would have welcomed one of Maggie’s assassination attempts as the ceremony ended and we all moved to the council chambers. Hearty congratulations gave way to another round of Council Dumb-Ass Boxing Match as I started calling it in my head. I tuned out about an hour ago.
I was proud of my Pumpkin for the first month. That took guts to leave when I couldn’t even admit to myself that the palace had become just as much her prison as Ward’s Keep had been for me. I wouldn’t say it to anyone else, but I expected her to come crawling back in a few days, and then another few days, and then some weeks, and then everything after that turned into a blend of misery.
My Nightmare moped around in the back of my head, unsatisfied even when we got to mind-fuck her and experience the rush of her orgasm long distance. He kept trying to reach her through the bond when I refused to let him loose in her dreams. I was ready totoss the crown out the window and run screaming to Ward’s Keep. Why did I want all this responsibility again?
“And I told you we needed it in triplicate for the archive.” Nemian’s voice grated on my ears.
“I will fill it out myself if I have to,” I said.
Anything to get this meeting to end so we could all go to dinner and I could spend another sleepless night staring at my now ruined ceiling. Jax shifted by my side, hearing the warning in my voice.
Nemian wouldn’t let it go. “But what about the-”
Yaya broke in. “I think that’s enough for today. We can figure out the paperwork on our own.” Thank the high holy hells she got elected to the Council.
As the chamber emptied out, Jax took a tray from the royal taste tester. I threw myself into a regular chair, sick of being on a throne. Jax plunked the tray onto the side table next to me.
“Eat. You didn’t eat breakfast and I’m sure you won’t be able to eat at your own coronation dinner.”
He was right. I wouldn’t risk it and everyone would want to get close and assess me, re-establish the pecking order of the court.
“I’m not hungry.” Hopefully, it didn't sound like a whine.
Jax sighed. He had become a pretty good bodyguard over these past few weeks. Yaya approved of him and his fighting skills. I paid him some ridiculousamount of talons. So I didn’t worry too much about a dagger in the back.
“Have you talked to her?” he asked, like there was anything else left to say.
“We’re taking a break. And I’m busy as the seven hells.”
I wasn’t. I was lost.
Jax looked unimpressed. “Act an ass if you want to, but you still have to eat.”
I knocked the tray clear across the chamber in a fit of shadows. I was right back where I started with the Elves, the Council, my life and I hated it.
“You eat it,” I said as I slammed out of the room. I needed out of all of this regalia.
Hours later, Yaya slipped into the training space where my Nightmare still caught the faintest whiff of poppy and earth. I worked my muscles, my magic to the brink in the hope that I would calm down enough to face a dining room full of people there in my honor. Yaya stilled my hands on the sandbag, turning over my bloody knuckles with a gentle grip. I watched her search for the right words. I wanted her wisdom like a plant yearned for water.
“Your hits are uneven if your front knuckle is taking most of the damage.”
I shook my head and scoffed, taking my hand away. Working it out, my skin knit back together easily enough with my Nightmareconstantly ready to fight and take more punishment. She tossed me a blunted leaf-blade sword and I fell into the rhythm. A leaf-blade required a graceful hand and a clear mind. I had neither at the moment but Yaya wasn’t coddling me.
