“Yeah, after that part, of course,” I joke back.
“I felt the pull in Solace and in Belarus when we decided to leave and look for Sentinel City.” I pause.
“You don’t feel it anymore, do you?” Enoch points out, and I shake my head.
“No. I don’t,” I confirm. “I’m not saying that you’re not welcome with me and my Chosen. You don’t even have to be tied to me or to Suryn if you don’t want. Tawv says there are ways to unmark you, if that’s what you’d like. All I’m saying is that, yes, my magic marked you, but I can’t say for sure why that is now, any more than I could when it first happened.”
We all fall silent again, walking and lost in thought.
“Suryn and I got in a fight over it,” I announce out of nowhere.
“What?” Enoch asks.
“When?” Kallan demands.
“Who won?” Nash questions, and I shake my head and chuckle.
“She took off before it was really decided officially one way or the other.”
“Why?” Becket asks, clearly judging her for leaving a fight.
“Because of you guys,” I tell him, and confusion takes over Becket’s face.
“She just gasped and called outmy Chosenand then took off without a second’s hesitation. It must have been right when the Sovereign attacked you guys,” I finish, and I give them some time to let that soak in.
“I don’t know what the future holds for you guys, but it might be worth trying to find out if that future could be here. I mean, worst case scenario, you can always meet up with me and the guys at any point. Or strip your runes and go home if you decide Sentinels are more trouble than they’re worth,” I tease, and they chortle. “I just think it might be good to see why her magic marked you too,” I finish, looking over at Becket as we complete the circular path we’ve been traveling, and the castle’s front gates can be spotted in the distance once again.
He and I stare at each other for several steps, and then he gives me a small nod and looks away.
“Besides, Getta could obviously use some worthy opponents. Fuck knows these Tierit Sentinels aren’t giving her a run for her money,” I joke, and we all crack up.
I leave it at that, not pressing them to make a decision or putting my nose any further into their business than I already have. Time will tell what they all choose to do. Whatever they decide, I’ll be here to support it.
34
Ifidget, wondering what the heck is taking so long. Marn reaches out for my hand and gives it a comforting squeeze. I squeeze her hand right back and then reach out and pull her into my side for a quick hug.
She and Tok took myI’ll pass on the Sovereignannouncement better than I expected they would. Suryn had already dropped the bomb when I walked back into the round table room. Maybe that gave them some time to wrap their minds around it, but when I confirmed what Suryn was saying was true and then mapped out what my Chosen and I wanted to do, Tok and Marn looked kind of proud and not at all upset like I thought they’d be.
Marn fixes the leather tie on the terracotta colored dress she forced me into. The dress is soft, flowy, and sleeveless, with a blackberry colored leather strap that comes forward from the back of my neck and crosses under my breasts and across my torso several times before tying at the back. I get a slit oneachside of the skirt this time, which I wasn’t a big fan of until Siah reminded me why easy access wasn’t such a bad thing.
I can practically feel his fangs scraping against the inside of my thighs as he teased me right before—
“All hail Sovereign Finella, Ruler of Tierit, the Dawning of New Hope, Liberator of Illusions, Savior of the Sentinels, Light Blessed, and Gate Keeper,” a guard bellows out, his announcement echoing around the walls of the packed throne room.
The hum of low murmuring that was just filling the room stops, and everyone goes quiet. Suryn walks steadily and gracefully into the long room, her emerald green dress strikingly similar to mine. I look over at Marn quickly to see if she’s got a look ofwho wore it betteron her face, but she seems excited rather than annoyed.
As Suryn walks, I notice rings of markings on her upper thighs, like she has several garter belts of runes wrapped around her legs. She has a couple more on her calves too. She’s barefoot just like I am, but I don’t spot any markings on her feet or toes. Suryn walks confidently up to her father, where he stands next to Tawv at the bottom of the stairs that lead up to the thrones. The old gilded chairs the previous Sovereign had up there are gone, and in their place are three large, light gray wooden high back chairs.
Suryn stops in front of Tawv and kneels, his almost white eerie gaze running over her. He gives a nod of satisfaction, and her shoulders seem to relax slightly. He reaches to his right and lifts a new gold crown over Suryn’s head. Her red hair is reflected in the shine of what looks like vines and flowers that are twined around various runes.
I’m fascinated by all of this, but I’m also eager to get it over with. The guys and I agreed to stay until Suryn was crowned, but as soon as this is over with, we’re out of here.
“I, a former member of the Quorum, crown you, Suryn Finella, the new Sovereign of the Sentinels. Do you swear to uphold the laws of our people?” he asks.
“I do,” Suryn immediately responds.
“And do you swear to devote your life to leading your people into the light, to strengthen them, unite them, to know them and their needs?”
