“Gamble.”
She snorts a laugh as I pull her into view of the crowd gathered in the wide, bright room.
I don’t miss the gasps, the concerned hand wringing, and I’m pretty certain someone faints. The nobles murmur, hundreds of high fae staring up at us with suspicion and a healthy dose of fear. Brock had suggested a long-winded speech about unity and the seeker threat. I opted for something simpler.
I don’t wait for them to fall silent, though they do as I begin to speak. “The rumblings you have heard are true. The Nightkeep has fallen to seeker forces, led by their king Eraldon. Eraldon has slain his father, and King Sigrid is in the Glowing Lands with the Ancestors. The seeker army is at our border with night. They are going to breach the barrier, and likely attempt to destroy it. In either case, theywillinvade our realm.”
More gasps.
I barrel ahead. “As your king, I intend to lead our army to defeat this threat. But I will not be alone in this endeavor. Each of my trusted warriors will be at my side. In addition to our regiments of high fae soldiers, I have also rallied the lesser fae, changelings, and all manner of the folk of this realm. We march for the border as soon as this audience is over. If any of you have the ability to fight, I suggest you join us. I cannot overstate the danger Eraldon poses.”
Panic spreads as the nobles whisper and clutch their jewels. More than a few stare pointedly at Emma, who’s remained calm and quiet—if anxious—by my side.
“Before I leave for battle, I have one more pressing matter.” I turn to Emma. “That is to crown my queen.”
The nobles were shocked before. Now … now they stare up at me with confusion and worry.
“She’s a seeker!” someone yells.
“The king has been compromised!” another one cries. “Look at her wings!”
The voices begin to rise.
Captain Anolius steps toward me, but I wave him back.
I ignore the rising voices and motion for Tristano to bring me the crown. He hands it over.
“He wouldn’t,” someone in the crowd hisses.
“Emma, I crown you now and always, my mate and my life, queen of the day realm.” I place the crown on her head, the jewels firing against her red hair and sparkling in a thousand facets of daylight.
“Beautiful.” I kiss her.
“The nobles are—”
“Assholes,” I finish for her.
“She’s enthralled him. Her evil seeker blood has overtaken the king!”
“It is true.” Emma steps forward. “I am a seeker.”
“The threat is here!” A noble runs for the door at the back of the room, but a guard steps in his way.
“You are right.” Emma takes a deep breath. “The threatishere. But it is not me. Eraldon stole me from this realm, from my mate.” She gives me a look and continues. “He took me to the night realm—a place where I should’ve been safe and happy, a place I call home. But Eraldon is full of evil and vengeance. He turned me against my will. His blood gave me these.” She opens her mouth and shows her fangs. “And these.” She turns to the side and flaps her wings gently.
The nobles try to move back, to edge away from Emma.
She raises her chin. “He fed me lies, and I lived on them in the months he held me captive. I can assure you that Eraldon is everything your king has said and much, much worse. If we do not destroy his army, he will overrun this realm and turn all of you. Unlike me, you will become mindless drones forced to do his bidding. He has power over the seekers, and that power is absolute.”
The scent of fear, like acrid smoke, clouds the room.
“I have seen firsthand Eraldon’s evil, and I survived it. Barely. King Solano pulled me back from the brink. He is my mate.” She swipes her hair from her shoulder and displays my claiming mark with pride. “He loves me as I am. I know this is a lot for you to accept. Believe me, Iknow. But I am telling you we can beat this threat if we come together as one realm. As high fae, and lesser fae, changelings, and pixies, and redcaps—everyone must fight. Including me. Whatever I am. Part seeker, part witch, changeling, and more. I don’t know what I’ve become, but I do know that I will fight until my last breath to save this realm. To saveyou.”
The room is silent now, all eyes on my mate. Her bearing regal, her words striking true.
“I am ready to give my life for yours, to fight until I no longer draw breath if that means this realm endures. That is what I promise you.” Magic swirls in a whirlwind around her, lifting her hair in a phantom wind. “I come to you as your king’s mate.” She takes a steadying breath. “And as your queen. Will you fight with me?” Her voice rings out strong and true, then fades into silence.
The nobles are struck dumb. Terrified of the powerful creature before them, but even more terrified of committing a political faux pas.
