He took another step.You may call me Artexious.
I don’t understand. What are you doing here?
The fae, Kane included, had all stilled around me like statues. None made any move toward the enchanting creature, not even the hag priestess or the pixies.
The trio of priests began chanting, bowing their heads in reverence at the magical creature.
“A wondrous sign!” the grey-eyed priest shouted.
The unicorn ignored the priest’s fanaticism, keeping its fiery gaze on me.
You are now queen, and I can grant you this boon.
A boon?
Artexious strode forward and lowered his horn to my hand, touching the blue rose. The colors swirled until it became more of a wine color than navy. A tingling sensation ran from the tattoo to my head.
Kane inhaled sharply next to me.
Call my name three times when you are in need, and I will answer.
Why?
I should have felt honored by such a gift, but doubt replaced all logic. Every time I tried to make sense of this whole affair, Crispin’s dying image set in my mind.
The unicorn breathed hot air onto my face, swishing its black mane.
I have existed since the breaking of the realms. A watcher to the rot and ruin. Saol is fractured. You are chosen, but not for the reasons you think. Be careful, young one. The shadows are watching.
With a gentle brush against my hand, theunicorn turned to Kane, standing taller and raking the grass with his front paw. Smoke puffed out of his nostrils. Was he speaking to Kane, too? Kane’s gaze drifted to me, and he nodded.
Then, in a blink, Artexious vanished as mysteriously as he had come.
“Let it be known that Queen Deirdre has the protection of Artexious.” Kane’s gaze landed on me as he spoke. “And anyone who shall wish the queen harm will incur his wrath.”
I wanted to ask questions, but cheers rose as if this signified something monumental. The crowd moved and we continued, my thoughts swimming with questions.
He called me queen.
Fae danced and sang, more of them appearing from the woods as curious animals. The closer we got to the castle, whichwasn't far considering we were in the garden area, far from the creepy pond, the more I wasn’t sure how to feel.
I was a queen.
Married to the fae who killed my husband.
The rose on my hand shifted from blue to purple depending on which way I held it. I caught Kane staring at it, his brow pushed together as if he couldn't believe what he just experienced.
I wanted to ask what happened now, but as part of my training, I understood two things: there would be a feast and celebration for sure and then after… the wedding night.
How was I going to survive this?
A cloying panic raked across my chest. If I gave in to that fear, I would pass out or be so sick I would vomit all over the king. I didn't care what he thought, but I didn't want to seem weak to the others. Studying politics had been part of my lessons at the temple, and though the fae kept their courts closed from humans, I assumed whether you were fae, dwarf, or human, nobody wanted a weak queen on the throne.
Was that why the unicorn gave me a boon because he was afraid someone would kill me? Did the fae care about the prophecy? Did Artexious?
Would we go straight to the banquet hall? Would there be dancing? Would I be expected to…
Why didn’t I ask more questions?
