“That makes sense. I’m sure accepting a human as queen is going to be tough for a lot of fae.”
“Unbelievable is more accurate,” Jay piped in.
“Jay is right,” Raikin said. “There will be more folk who don’t believe this is possible. There have been so few monarchs to rule jointly, but the ones who have were both powerful fae before uniting.”
“Enough talk of politics!” Rue said. “My Queen wants to dance and be merry tonight.”
Avery let out a sarcastic laugh. “That might be tough, with Savine punishing his best friend in front of everyone. The mood won’t exactly be fun.”
“That is when you’ll need to lift the spirits of the room,” Jay replied.
Avery lifted an eyebrow. “Easier said than done.”
Raikin squinted his eyes toward the large wooden doors. A guard gave a slight signal and Raikin lifted a finger in response. “Savine should be entering the throne room momentarily. Avery, stand near the throne where he can see you. Rue, you stand guard for her, of course.”
The two women made their way to the front of the room. Savine entered, wearing a buttoned shirt in a matching shade of blood red. His fur jacket looked hot and uncomfortable, but the tight black leather pants he wore made Avery’s mind drift to exploring him after this evening was over.
Savine’s harsh expression softened when he looked at her, and a wash of warmth pulsed through the connection between them. His lips quirked into a subtle smile as he sat down on his throne.
“Tonight should be a night of celebration. To our unity as a nation, to our new queen, Avery Hollis, and a celebration to the Goddess of the Harvest. That all shall come. But first, we must witness the trial of Garnel Ursus for his attack on the Goddess of the Harvest.”
Some members of the assembly sucked in a gasp. She didn’t know how that rumor hadn’t reached everyone's ears by now, but some folk seemed shocked to hear what Garnel had done.
Garnel entered the room, and stunned silence followed. He was in manacles, wearing a torn shirt. Deep gashes on his skin showed through. He’d been whipped. Did Savine order his closest friend to be tortured like this?
Avery’s eyes widened and she tried to make eye contact with Savine. His face was stony as he watched his friend walk forward. Kyla was nowhere to be seen.
Avery looked to Raikin, who now stood at her side. “Who whipped him?”
Raikin’s eyes darkened. “He did it to himself. We tried to stop him, but he demanded that he carry the marks to the throne room.”
Avery’s stomach churned. This was the kind of shit that she wanted to stop. There was no reason for the fae to continue this tradition of senseless violence.
She shook her head in disgust, turning her face to the polished floor.
“Don’t look down. They are all watching for weakness,” Raikin murmured.
Avery held her chin high, hoping this macabre scene would be over soon. She couldn’t even focus on the words that Savine spoke as he doled out Garnel’s punishment. All she caught was that he’d be stripped of his title as general and sentenced to house arrest for one month.
“Who’s going to be the general?” Avery asked incredulously. There wasn’t anyone who could fill that role for Savine as well as Garnel did.
“Shh… Garnel of course. He’ll be stripped of the role for a month and reinstated shortly after his house arrest after a grand gesture to put him back in the King’s good graces.”
Thiswas exactly why she didn’t want any part in politics.
Garnel was escorted out of the throne room by guards, men and women who were loyal to him until a few minutes ago.
“Where’s Kyla? We talked when we got back, and I thought she’d be here.”
Raikin looked at her like she should know. “We can’t have Kyla celebrating the Night of Feasts with her soulmate sentenced to house arrest. She agreed to skip the evening’s festivities.”
Music began playing and a low roar of conversation began around the room. Raikin said, “Now is your time to get to know your subjects.”
Avery sighed. This evening was going to be terrible.
Chapter 27
Morgan
