Merrick groaned, swatting me away. “Oh, here we go. Thanks, Keerian, buddy.” Rolling his eyes at me, Merrick amended, “I didn’t like…dieallthe way–Sparrowbought me back.”
“How?” I asked Sparrow. Out of all the fae I knew, I never really understood Sparrow’sacatto begin with–I don’t think she even understood it that well. Her battle magic was green light, which was rare in fae, but not unheard of. Even Sparrow always said she wasn’t sure what god or goddess favored her, but she was content with her gifts and mused it must have been a long forgotten “plant god” that took a liking to her soul.
“Plant god” my ass if she bought Merrick back from Minmere.
Sparrow shrugged. Out of all of us, she seemed the most unfazed by the actual death Merrick had come back from. “I don’t really know. I tried healing him like I heal plants, and I think in my panic, my magic connected me with his life force. I saw him falling into the darkness of death and I–I pulled him out.”
With a sideways look at Merrick, causing Laurent next to her to stiffen, Sparrow added, “So, he must not have beenallthe way dead to begin with.” Ducking her head, she smoothed her hands down the bodice of her top, before pivoting to Lenna, fussing over the Oracle and wanting to know how Lenna fared in the dragon dens.
Sparrow wasn’t a healer–her family came from a long line of healers, always holding it against her that she didn’t inherit the same gifts. The most healing Sparrow had ever done was for a plant that wasn’t happy in its new pot and the leaves withered. Sparrow had poured magic into it, curing whatever ailment the plant had, until each leaf was back to its original, shiny green self.
I added that to the long list of shit I needed to figure out when I had the energy to. I sighed, giving myself the mental permission to deal with this all tomorrow, turning towards the dais and the new, opal-carved monstrosity of a throne sitting there. With a nonchalant wave of my hand,the throne exploded, turning to ash and blowing away on a phantom wind I illusioned to breeze through the room.
“Why’d you do that?” Keerian asked, a grin threatening to form on his handsome, rugged face.
Laurent chuckled, answering for me. “Lord Magnamus never sat on a throne large enough for beings with wings. This is the second throne of his that she’s destroyed.”
My reward was a dazzling smile from my mate, who let out a rough chuckle, rubbing his beard as he stared at me. “You are crazy, but I love you. Horns and all.”
I laughed, giving my mate a quick kiss on his cheek. “Well, I offered Regency to someone with wings, I was just accommodating them.”
“Who did you place as Regent?” Keerian questioned curiously, crossing his arms. “I thought you were holding off on politics until tomorrow.”
“It’s atemporaryRegency,” I explained with a coy smile as the floor began to ripple again. “I had to wait until the new Regent of the Obsidian Palace could go speak with his subjects and explain the situation.”
Resso’s large black snout appeared out of the floor, and he glided through the throne room to perch at the top of the now-empty dais. Those large silver eyes blinked and his rumbling voice filled my mind. I knew he projected to Keerian and Merrick as well.“I was asked to keep an eye on things for our Queen Absolute.”He huffed as steam swirled out of his mouth.“Temporarily. I need to go take a long nap around my treasures, Queen Esmeray.”
I gave the mighty dragon a bow.“I will be back tomorrow, my scaly lord,”I said dramatically and Resso grumbled, the throne room echoing the noise.
The group stared at me, Lenna keeping one eye on the dragon sitting on its mighty haunches above her. “What?” I asked, amusement filling my voice. “Resso can keep this Palace in line for a day. Who’s going to try and argue with adragon?”
Keerian tipped his head back, cackling, and even Merrick shook his head, a bemused expression on his face. Laurent, filling in the pieces as they were offered since he couldn’t hear Resso’s voice, gave me a tight-lipped smile. “Well, I know for a fact all the fae will behave.” His smile widened, flashing sharp canines. “After a day with a dragon ruler, the Kingdoms will besoready to crown you Queen Absolute.”
I shot them a grin as Sparrow stepped forward with Lenna, reaching her hand out to Laurent. Laurent clasped her hand, and they locked eyes, Sparrow giving him a shy smile before turning and reaching out for Merrick’s hand. Merrick gave her a look of something extremely heated. Keerian, oblivious to what I saw, grasped Merrick’s other hand before pulling me tight into his body. I wrapped my free arm around Lenna as she linked hands with Laurent.
With a flash of green light, the six of us waned back to Florra.
Chapter sixty-one
Lenna
LennabarelysawEsmerayand Keerian during the long days following. A week had passed since the showdown at the Opal Palace, and the new normal that followed took some time to get used to.
Adara resided in the dungeons deep below the Obsidian Palace, locked in a cell that nullified all magic–thanks to the runes and handiwork of witches who ruled from the Obsidian Palace long ago. Esmeray had only visited her twin once, to question her on the disappearance of the beings they had still not found, and even though reports of beings going missing had ceased, Adara yielded nothing.
Much to Esmeray’s mounting frustration.
Merrick and Laurent both volunteered to reside at the Obsidian and Opal Palaces respectively, handling any chaos or disorder that cropped up from Adara’s imprisonment and Esmeray’s coronation as Queen Absolute. Lenna offered to help with whatever Esmeray needed, but Sparrow put her foot down, begging Lenna to stay at her house and keep her company while everyone else was away.
Lenna enjoyed the first week of relaxation. She slept deeply, with no troubling nightmares. She helped Sparrow work in the garden, clean the house top to bottom, and spent the mornings sipping coffee on the patiowith Esmeray. The evenings consisted of Sparrow and Lenna reading in the living room while splitting a bottle of wine, while Esmeray and Keerian waned off to the waterfalls to–as Sparrow called it–“fuck each other’s brains out.”
The new routine felt peaceful, and Lenna reveled in the slower pace. It was the first time since arriving in Irridessen that she could truly sit back and not worry about anyone trying to murder her. Plus, staying in the same house as the King and Queen had its perks. One being the crowns.
Esmeray had more crowns than Lenna could fathom. Apparently, after taking up the throne, Esmeray joyfully waned down to the dragon lair and raided their trove, choosing her fill, as Resso snored in his cave, aware of the Queen’s presence, but too tired from a single day of “ruling” to ultimately be bothered.
Esmeray had nudged Lenna playfully, asking if she wanted to join. Lenna did not. Her feet still got a little sweaty as she recalled the dragon’s cavern, the sheer drop into darkness, those little ledges, and the huge beasts that Lenna was still not convinced wouldn’t try to eat her.
But every morning, a new crown sat atop the Queen’s head–some golden with dark stones, some with uncut gems and filigreed metal, some were heavy looking, with thick bands and fat, precious stones that cost more than Lenna’s entire Estate in Doortan. And a few were thin, with dainty pearls and diamonds cresting between Esmeray’s curled horns.
