Suddenly, the rumbling stopped. The ground went still.
With a deep breath, Lorcan pulled out of the druid’s grip and brushed off his cloak, ridding himself of the dust that had fallen around him like mist. The druid shook his head, mumbling to himself. The crowd just stared.
Finally, the druid raised his voice to be heard. “It seems our god has spoken. Never before have I seen such power bestowed upon a High King. Behold Lorcan Rothach, High King of the Shadow and Wood Courts. May his reign be everlasting.”
Everlasting.
Fear stabbed Reyna’s heart as the full truth of her reality slammed down around her. All this time, she’d never thought of Lorcan’s reign as everlasting. He’d never wanted to be king, nor had he ever expected to become one. It had fallen on him, unbidden. Unwelcome. She’d always thought it would be a temporary measure. He would take command for a time. Eventually, someone else would take charge.
But who? There was no one else.
Lorcan was the High King of two realms. His life would be forever altered.
Pain squeezed her heart as memories flashed in her mind. Moments stolen beneath the stars, whispered promises that would never be fulfilled, hopes and shattered plans of a normal life with ice beneath their bare feet and smiles in their eyes.
None of that would ever happen now.
Was this how Lorcan had felt when he’d learned of her deal with Seelie?
Pockets of cheers went up through the crowd. Mostly shadow fae. The wood fae were frowning. Reyna scanned the room, a new unease tumbling through her belly. Their eyes flashed. Fisted hands shook by their sides. These fae weren’t just unhappy. They were mad as hell.
“Now!” a high-pitched voice shouted.
The throne room exploded into chaos.
2
Reyna
Reyna grabbed her ice glass dagger from the hilt she’d strapped to her thigh, hidden beneath the folds of her flowing silver gown. She whirled toward the shouts, her heart hammering. Several wood fae had whisked bows and arrows out from beneath their cloaks, and they were firing into the crowd. A ginger-haired female lifted her aim toward the dais, and a devilish smile twisted her lips.
“Lorcan!” Reyna shouted, whirling toward him. He was so far out of her reach, and his gaze was locked on the door of the tower where the song of steel had built to a clamorous crescendo. The wood fae loosed her arrow. Reyna’s breath caught. Out of instinct, she lurched toward it, desperate to throw herself in its path, but she was too far away. The arrow whooshed right past her, straight toward Lorcan’s heart.
Reyna screamed. His gaze suddenly jerked to the arrow. Cocking his head, he leaned to the side, dodging it like it was nothing more than a pesky fly. It slammed into the ancient tree behind him. Sap bubbled ominously from the hole, dripping down the bark like tears.
Reyna’s heart shuddered with relief even as confusion clouded her head. How the hell had he managed that? Lorcan had never been able to dodge arrows in the past, and as far as she knew, she was the only Shieldmaiden he’d ever met. It took years of training. And she’d only ever met ice fae who could do it.
Lorcan wasn’t an ice fae. He was the furthest thing from one he could get.
No matter. He was alive, and that was the only thing that counted.
Reyna shook off her unease and stalked toward the wood fae. They’d taken down a few of the shadow fae around them, but not enough to succeed. Guards were closing in tight around them, forcing them to surrender their weapons. With a growl, Reyna grabbed the arm of Lorcan’s would-be killer and wrenched her toward her.
“You just tried to kill your High King,” Reyna said, anger pounding through her veins like acid.
“He’s not my High King and never will be,” the wood fae spit back. “The exiled shadows are our enemies, and they should be yours, too, Princess Reyna Darragh. You know what he’s just done to us, don’t you? By taking that Seat of Power and joining our court with his, he’s exiled us, too. Everything that plagues him, plagues us.”
Reyna’s heart shook. She hadn’t considered that. None of them had. Not that it mattered anymore. Thane would undo the exile as soon as he arrived with her father. “That’s where you’re mistaken. But even if you weren’t, you still committed treason.”
The wood fae snorted. “I know who you are. And you are not above treason yourself. You act so high and mighty, but you’re just like the rest of us. Selfish. Willing to sacrifice your honor for what you want.”
Reyna flinched. She dropped the wood fae’s arm and pressed her dagger against her throat. Leaning into her face, she hissed, “You know nothing about me.”
“Go on then.” The wood fae closed her eyes, steeling herself. “You think it’s your duty to kill me. I can only hope one day you realize where your duty truly lies.”
Reyna ground her teeth as she stared at the wood fae’s serene face. She did not look like someone who was afraid to die, and yet Reyna hesitated all the same. The other attacking wood fae had all been disarmed. The guards were dragging them away, waiting for Reyna to do her worst.
“Princess Reyna.” Lorcan’s strong voice rang out in the silent hall. Everyone was watching her. She could feel a hundred eyes on the back of her neck. With a sharp intake of breath, she waited for his words. He’d order her to stand down, to escort this fae to the dungeons. Lorcan wasn’t one for cold-blooded assassination. It was what made him better than his father, better than Molt.
