Give me the option of living out my years in Ollora.
Eloric’s jaw tightens as he swings his gaze to Ryc. “Alaryc—”
“This council was duly warned we weren’t interested in taking the High Throne,” he interrupts. “How Ves chooses to keep her word will always carry my support.”
A curling, disgusted sneer appears on Eloric’s face.
“I’m nothing if not a demon of her word,” I say with a smile. “I consider this ascension my punishment for fighting to keepyour peoplealive whenyou, their kings, wouldn’t. Not until it benefited you to do so.”
A few low murmurs rise in the room as Fenryn starts to laugh.
“This entire escapade has proven Rowen is capable of making decisionsbenefitinghis people, not damning them, despite demonic influence,” Darin retorts.
I would be hard pressed to make such a claim.
But I’m here in defense of Rowen, not condemnation.
“You would support Rowen’s retention,” another male voice, one I’ve yet to hear says.
It stems from a crimson clad Sovereign King sitting beside his crimson clad queen on the right of Eloric. Eloric appears to be the only king on the other side of the aisle without his mate.
“You do not, Oryn?” Fenryn asks.
Oryn… the Sovereign King of Corvallis.
“Should we all step down now pending Ryc and Ves’ ascension?” Fenryn adds, shrugging. “Surrender complete control to the High Rulers?”
Ryc chuckles as I turn wide eyes upon the gargantuan fae.
“Your fatalistic theatrics hold no ground here, Fenryn,” Ganus drawls flatly.
“Have we not wasted enough of this morning?” Liran asks, leaning forward in his seat to peer down the line of kings. “Let us vote and be done.”
Rowen rises from his seat to stand along the bottom step of the dais, near its center. Straightening the cuffs of his sleeves he asks, “No last questions?”
Silence.
Glancing over the room, he nods.
“At this time, the floor opens for voting,” he says, clasping his hands before him. “Those in support of removing the Grayflame family from Vis’ throne, shall voteaye. Those against, shall votenay.”
“Aeros votes nay.” Darin is the first to speak.
“Battalia votes aye.” Ganus is quick to follow.
“Corvallis votes nay,” Oryn says.
My brows raise.
An unexpected ally?
“Erus votes nay,” Ryc says, turning to offer me a small smile.
“Gersand votes aye,” Liran says.
I more than half expected Liran’s vote would fall.
“Renna votes aye,” Eloric says with an annoyed sigh.
