“You haven't seen me at my worst.”
Noth shuddered at the words he had said to me all those months ago.
It’s time.I told him and he lent me his power, giving me everything.
My voice took on his Nightmare’s echo. “For crimes against the crown, Nemian of House Fenzorwyn. Second of your name.”
Noth forced me to practice my mouth around the Elvish names until I was ready to cry.
“Your life is forfeit.”
My sigil painted his back. The spell was an easy one. Rue kept it for people not able to stand the press of years against their bodies. The sigil quieted the heart, dulled the mind, stopped the lungs. Not even a near-immortal would survive without breathing.
I didn’t take any satisfaction from the dawning horroracross Nemian’s face when he realized he had overplayed his last hand and our magic collapsed his breath in a death that was really more kind than he deserved.
I looked up from the floor. Noth had released the other councilors from his shadows and I expected horror on each of their faces. Instead, I found respect.
“See? For your protection,” Noth said as he crossed his arms.
I was still stunned this had worked just as we planned. Him the carrot, me the stick. Finally, a good outlet for all that anger.
“You see the consequences. Are you willing to speak your concerns reasonably?”
“You are persuasive, My King,” Aeerol said.
“You will stop fighting me. I don’t need you to say yes to everything. And as much as I would love to, I can’t take all of your heads. I won’t rule unfairly, but I will have order. I will not have a constant dagger at my back or I cannot look forward to what we can accomplish.”
Aeerol nodded ‘yes’. The rest of the Council bowed without persuasion. The political wrangling wouldn’t be solved in one day, but we had made progress.
“Then you can be witnesses to my wedding.”
Noth promised me I wouldn’t have to wear a white dress or walk down an aisle. A ring was out of the question. I had enough diamonds. Still, I understood we had to make a public commitment. This was the compromise.
Jax, listening on the other side of the door,opened the room to the whole courtyard full of Elves and forgotten soldiers assembled for a different kind of test. It hadn’t been easy accepting them into the territory but having Jax in a position of power had helped guide them. We refused to scatter them across the Harrowlands again. Evie, Dolly and Fallon stood with Severin, Ward, and Declan as witness.
Ward held out both hands in a thumbs up and I smirked. Evie was spreading the good word.
Noth’s brows lowered.Did you tell him to do that curse thing?
Maybe he's just proud of you,I replied.
Noth puffed up around me.Why did you summon the pup? He has no official standing to witness this.Noth squeezed my hand, his tone curious.
I did a reading and it’s important that he be here. You know he used to be your neighbor?
Those wolves disappeared.Noth shook his head.Nevermind. Come, my blushing bride.
Noth pulled on my hand and kept the Council in view as they joined the rest of his territory. My back hugged his front. He imparted all his warmth, like a cocoon of reassurance. It was all I had in me not to tug on my dress again. I couldn’t let any of my nerves show as Noth swept back my hair from my shoulder. Evie said it didn’t hurt but she wouldn’t explain much more than that.
“My gift at the start of my new reign. I present your Queen and my mate!”
Noth’s jaw unhinged in a spectacular display of teeth and terror. The round eyes of the crowd didn’t make me less nervous, but I refused to move. I wanted Noth’s bite.
Ready, Pumpkin?
Ready.I said in my most confident inner voice.
Three… two…
