‘Val?’I couldn’t help it. I had to try, though I knew from one touch she wasn’t there.
“Three nights ago, my mother came to me in a dream. She told me where the sword would be.” He stroked my cheek and caught the tear that ran down it.
“She did?” I grinned, sliding the sword in and out of my sheath, relishing the sound. It was nice to have it back, but I still missed her. It could never replace her.
“I sent Godric for it. He arrived late last night. I know it won’t replace her—nothing will—but I think she still wants you to have it.”
I placed my hand on the hilt, nodding at the rightness of that. This sword had housed her soul for over a decade. I was honored to wield it, even though its magic died when the rest of the world’s did too.
I stepped close to him and straightened the line of his collar as his eyes held mine.
“Kaelric, I love you more than food,” I told him, and he burst out into laughter, which only made me smile.
“That’s a bold statement,” he offered.
I leaned forward to kiss him, and when I pulled back, I took his hand.
“Ready?” I asked.
“Yes,” he said.
I led him to the new dais, and the assembled crowd went wild with applause. Kaelric waved to them all and thanked them for coming.
Godric picked up the crown where it sat on the ivory stand and faced the crowd. “Your rightful king will formally take the throne today, but it is only because of one woman that he has the opportunity to do this.” Godric looked back at me, and I felt the heat go to my cheeks.
What was he doing?
“Brynn Morvain, wielder of Valkaryn, is the reason this man stands here to be crowned, so I think it’s only fair that she, not I, do the honors of crowning our king.” He turned to face me, crown held out as the assembly shouted their agreement. My throat pinched with emotion as I reached out and took the crown, feeling the sudden weight of it. Gold was heavier than it looked.
I peered up at Kaelric to see a twinkle in his eye, like he and Godric had planned this.
Cassian nodded from his seat as he met Kaelric’s gaze and tipped his head once in respect. I spotted Maelis with Elia. Shewore a simple dress the color of fig leaves, and a comb in her hair that pulled it away from her face.
The sun shone through the window washing the platform in a soft brightness that made the gold almost too much. The amethysts deepened when the light struck them, a purple that reminded me of bruises and ripe plums.
A hush settled over everyone, the kind that lifts the hairs along your arms, the kind that tells a person to pay attention, because this moment will live in someone’s heart forever.
I lifted my voice, and it carried along the stone without effort. I did not know if there were certain words I should speak, but since Godric did not train me for this, I assumed not. Instead, I spoke from the heart. “People of Fenmyr,” I said. “People of Lunaria. People of Aerlyn. We are gathered to celebrate the restoring of power to a rightful heir.”
I let the quiet after that do some of the work. No long speech. No list. The city knew what had been done. They had bled for it each in their own way.
I turned to Kaelric. “Kaelric Morvain, do you vow before the Creator and those present to keep the weak safe, to enforce Fenmyr law, and to be held accountable when you fail?”
“I do, my queen,” he said, and kneeled before me, bowing his head.
My queen. In front of all of these people. The man sure knew how to make my heart flutter. I hadn’t officially been crowned yet; the tiara was a fashion statement.
I set the gold crown upon his hair and felt the weight settle across his head.
The sound that rose when the crown was set on his head began as a low swell that turned into a roar.
“Kaelric of Fenmyr,” I cried out over the crowd. “May you live long and always remain just.”
He lifted his head and met my gaze, still on his knees. There was so much love and devotion in his face, I couldn’t help but lean forward and give him a chaste kiss on the lips.
“Long live the true wolf king,” someone cried.
A hundred voices caught it, and I felt the words move through the boards under my feet.
