Rowen.
Fenryn.
Darin.
Three Sovereign Kings who dare ally themselves with a demon. A demon now given the power of the largest fae country in Eldoterra. They harbor the faith I’ll prove to be the leader their kind needs.
May their faith not be ill-placed.
“Long live our Sovereign King and Queen of Erus,” Lilith proclaims, her joyous voice ringing out. “Alaryc and Vestaris Witherhorn.”
The roomexplodeswith sound.
Cheers, whistles, clapping, shouted praise shatter the buzzing silence. It grows thunderous, vibrating in the center of my chest.And above it all, Eve’s wild cheers ring loudest.
Ryc pulls me against him, burying a hand in my hair as he lowers his lips to mine. In an instant, the room falls away, and he consumes the entirety of the universe. The taste of him is enough to leave me among the stars and I match his eagerness to drink with my own, clinging to him.
Unhindered.
Unbridled.
Unburdened, I melt into him, not wanting to lose his attention.
Fenryn roars some bawdy comment I half hear, and laughter spreads through the throne room. With a small laugh, Ryc breaks our kiss, and pulls me upright. He glances toward the crowd, and I do the same. Faces alight with jubilation stare back at me.
I can no longer remain the creature who lurks in the dark, unseen. Even if I wanted to, Fate has other plans. She’s thrust me before an entire country where the number of watching eyes grows each passing day. I’ve been given a place in which my actions can inspire or threaten, and my words build or destroy.
It’s a terrifying and difficult thing… finding one’s place in the world.
Gods know I failed in the hells.
I cannot fail here.
Iwillnot.
Turning, I lift my chin, meeting Ryc’s admiring eyes. The golden gaze I’ve grown to adore and love and crave. My success won’t be because of him.
Not entirely.
He’s encouraged me to grow like no other I’ve known.
I’ve much to learn still.
But I know one thing for certain.
I will not fail because I refuse to fail myself.
So yes… long live, I shall.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
“To Sovereign QueenVes,” Fenryn bellows joyously, hoisting yet another glass of sparkling wine into the air.
Dark wine sloshes over the side, splattering on the table and his lap. Others around him laugh.
Fenryn fails to notice the mess he’s made.
Or he doesn’t care—at least not enough to keep him from his energetic tirade.
