“The king fled, and Annwyn is finally free of his tyranny,” another Vulmin says. “Now’s the time to take up the reins!”
“Yes!” several of them call out in response.
“Yes,” Wick repeats quietly, and then he turns to look at Auren. His expression weighty.
Everyone quiets. Watching.
“They’re right, Auren,” Wick tells her. “You made Carrick flee. You healed Annwyn. You saved countless lives. You werereborn. Our broken-winged bird flew, rising like the dawn.”
Auren sucks in a breath.
Then he lowers on one knee.
“We bow,” he says, face intent on her. “We bow to the new Queen of Annwyn. The last-birthed Turley heir.”
Shock courses through her, while excitement travels through the onlookers.
“We bow to Queen Auren Turley!”
“We bow to our Lyäri!”
“The golden one rules!”
“The golden one rules!”
Auren blinks at them all, and I know just what she’s thinking. Can see every thought as it plays over her features.
She swallows hard at the chanting and then looks back to Wick. “Please stand up.”
He does, and then everyone quiets again, waiting to see what she’ll say. She shakes her head as she looks around at everyone. “I’m honored that you would call me your queen, but I do not want to rule.”
It takes a moment for her words to land, but once they do, everyone goes still. Eyes widen in disbelief, and some expressions twist up in confusion or dispute.
“I was kidnapped from Annwyn as a little girl,” she tells them, looking out at the small crowd. “I was trapped and used and manipulated. For years—fordecades—my life was never my own.” Her eyes flick over to me for a second as a small smile tips her lips. “That changed once I met my pair, but we’ve had to face constant threats, danger, and obstacles. And now…for once, all of that is done.”
I see the empathy start to spread, see understanding lighting the eyes of those who watch her.
“A queen’s entire life has to be for her kingdom,” she goes on. “But I would like to finally have the chance to live my life…forme.”
My eyes and heart burn for her. My mother dashes away a tear.
Auren’s eyes carry a sheen too, but her voice stays strong. “And though I don’t want to be queen, Annwyn can still turn a new page. We can be peaceful and prosperous. You don’t need to bow to me for that. We can do it together.”
Her head turns, gaze locking onto Wick, who’s looking at her in shock.
“We have the perfect person right here to help lead the way,” she tells them. “Someone who has been fighting for the rights of fae and Oreans all his life. Someone who understands far more about the nuances of this world and its history and politics than I do. He’s been a Vulmin leader, an Orean advocate, and he’s…” She pauses, looking at him expectantly.
Asking a silent question.
Wick’s throat bobs as he swallows hard, but then he gives her the smallest nod of his head.
“And he’s also family,” Auren finishes. “Wickum Almon Turley.”
Surprised mutters break out, and the Vulmin’s eyes go wide.
“With his help, we can figure out what’s next,” she tells them. “And we’ll do it together.”
CHAPTER 65
