General Ulder pushes forward. He’s one of the most respected military leaders in Krovenia, a male who once fought alongside my father during a human war. His voice carries across the room like a battlefield command. “The army stands with the King. He has led us with honor. He has our loyalty and the loyalty of every soldier under my command.”
A woman in lawyer’s robes speaks up, “And the legal guild has reviewed the precedents exhaustively. There is no law that forbids the king from taking a human queen. The Council’s objections have no legal standing.”
“This is highly irregular,” Elder Petra sputters. “The Council?—”
“The Council serves at the will of the Crown,” Viktor cuts in smoothly. “And the Crown is supported by its people. Would you go against the wishes of the entire kingdom, Elder Petra? Would you risk civil war not to prevent a human queen, but to remove one the people have already accepted?”
Silence.
The Elders exchange glances. For the first time, uncertainty flickers across their faces. Finally, Elder Harkon clears his throat. “There may be... a path forward.”
“We’re listening,” I say.
“The Council’s primary concern is succession. The throne has always passed through pure-blood lines. Half-blood heirs would be... controversial. Destabilizing.” He pauses. “But if the succession were to pass to a pure-blood line instead...”
The lawyer who spoke earlier steps forward again. “If I may offer a solution, there’s an obvious answer. The King can remain as well as his Queen, but in the event that the King passes away, his Queen is a dowager, and the succession does not move to their offspring. Prince Viktor has a daughter. A pure-blood heir. The succession could instead pass to her and her descendants.”
The General nods firmly. “I second this proposal. The girl carries the royal bloodline. She would be acceptable to the noble families and the military alike.”
Viktor goes very still beside me.
“And if something were to happen to Prince Viktor’s line,” the lawyer continues, “the succession would pass to Prince Sebastian, and then to Lord Maxim. A clear, stable line that satisfies tradition while allowing King Nikolai to keep his throne and his chosen mate.”
The Elders confer in hushed whispers.
I turn to my brother. “Viktor. This puts enormous pressure on you. On Lily.”
Viktor’s jaw is tight. “Lily is four years old. She doesn’t need the weight of a kingdom on her shoulders.”
“She wouldn’t bear it alone,” Sebastian says quietly, all his usual humor gone. “We’d support her and you. Whatever you need.”
“And of course,” Elder Petra adds, a calculating gleam in her eye, “Prince Viktor could remarry. Produce more pure-blood heirs. Strengthen the line further. The Council has several suitable candidates in mind?—”
“No.” Viktor’s voice is firm. His eyes are dark and dangerous. “I have already done my duty once. I will not be paraded before noble families like breeding stock again. My daughter is enough.”
“But surely?—”
“I said no.”
Elder Petra’s eyes slide to my youngest brother. “And what of you, Prince Sebastian? You are now third in line for the throne. The Council will expect you to fulfill your duty to your bloodline as well. We have several excellent candidates from the noble families who would?—”
“I’ll mate when the Blood Calling chooses.” Sebastian’s voice is light, but there’s steel underneath. “Not before.”
“This romantic foolishness—” Elder Voss sputters.
“Is not up for discussion.” Maxim steps closer to Sebastian, arms crossed. A united front.
I notice the look that passes between them. I file it away to ask about later.
The room falls silent. Even the Elders seem to recognize they’ve pushed too far.
I step in before things can escalate further. “The succession is settled. Viktor’s line, then Sebastian’s, then Maxim’s. My brothers’ and cousin’s personal choices are their own. This is not negotiable.”
Elder Harkon straightens his robes, his expression sour but resigned. “Very well. The Council will... accept this arrangement. King Nikolai may retain his throne. The human Claire will be recognized as Queen of Krovenia. Their offspring will be removed from the line of succession, which will pass to Prince Viktor’s daughter and her descendants, followed by Prince Sebastian’s line, then Lord Maxim’s.”
“And Princess Serina?” Maxim asks.
“Will be informed that the engagement is dissolved. I suspect she will be... relieved.”
