“As long as you hold up yours,” she breathed cooly. “If this goes right, all of us will be able to live happily ever after.”
My temper snapped. “Leave now,” I said. “Or I’ll have you thrown out.”
It was the first order I’d given as queen, and gods, I meant it. Gabby said nothing in response. She merely turned, and strode away with her shoulders thrown back.
Gabby had lost the King’s Contest, but I had a bitter feeling in my heart that made me feel like she’d won.
My legs weren’t able to keep me upright once she left the tent. I fell upon the bed. My knees curled inward, and my hands ran through my hair as the earth-shattering reality rushed through my veins.
I Ethan’s true mate. The Phantom and the prince were the same man. We were meant to be together, forever.
And Ethan had known that from the beginning.
He’dliedto me. After all this time… months, even... he had never told me the truth. And I didn’t know why.
But I couldn’t even tell him that I knew. Because if I did, Gabby would expose his true identity, and he’d go to prison. I’d lose him forever. If I got too close… cared about him too much… fell for him harder than I already had… it would be too difficult to keep the secret. The closer Ethan and I became, the more I put him at risk. Keeping him at a distance was the only way to save his life.
Ethan could never know that I loved the true man behind the mask. All thanks to fucking Gabby.
And yet… I knew the secrets Ethan kept, too. He cared for me. He truly and deeply did. He’d tried to deny it, even to my face, but it wassoobvious to see. He had so much adoration for me built up within him, which, for some reason, he felt the need to hide.
Ethan Nowakloved me.The fact of it was enough to bring tears to my eyes.
I turned on my back and stared up at the ceiling of the tent. I could forgive Ethan. Whatever reasons he had for concealing the Phantom, they had to be good ones. He wouldn’t have withheld the truth from me if he had any other choice. He was too honorable.
But I couldn’t forgive Gabby. And by the gods, I wanted to make her pay. She couldn’t torture Ethan and I like this. Not forever.
Eventually, the truth would come out. And when it did… there’d be a war.
I was the new ruler of the Arcanea. But more than that, I was Ethan’s. I belonged to him, and he belonged to me. We shared a primal connection that flowed through our blood, a bond that was solidified by the magic of our fae ancestors. That man was my heart and soul. No matter what was to come, I’d do anything to defend him. I’d live for him. I’d die for him.
Whatever the consequences, I’d stand by his side. Now and always.
The monarchy was a game of chess. And in chess, the queen only had one goal.
To protect her king.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Ethan
Icouldn’t describe the range of emotions that were coursing through me. I’d finally accomplished my task. I’d won the Contest, and the right as king. I’d followed in the footsteps of my father and hopefully made him proud. I was going to be ruler of the Arcanea.
And it had been Emma’s doing. Elijah had bested me during the duel. He’d injured me so badly I couldn’t fight back. I’d thought we’d lost for sure, until I looked up and saw the most beautiful wings above me. Emma’s wings.
She didn’t need the necklace. She was powerful all on her own. I owed everything to her. I had truly chosen well.
At the medical tent they bandaged up my injured shoulder, as well as all my other wounds. I was given an energy potion, and a potion of herbs to help me heal. Shifters healed faster than most other supernaturals, and after I was patched up, I was already feeling better. I still walked with a limp, but I was sure it’d be gone by morning. My body was bruised all over, yet I hardly felt the pain. I was too elated. I’d won the Contest and was on top of the world. Nothing could ruin my triumph this day.
As soon as the healers let me go, I left the medical tent and hobbled back to my own. Emma. I wanted to see her. I needed to thank her for everything that she’d done. I didn’t know how I was going to repay her for our victory, but I wanted to start right now.
I entered our tent. Emma was sitting on the bed. One hand was on her head. She was looking down at the ground. A glass of half-finished red wine sat on the bedside table nearby.
She looked devastated. I didn’t understand. We had won! What was so upsetting about that?
“Emma.” A broad smile crossed my face. I was smiling so hard it nearly hurt.
When she looked up, a visage of relief came across her pretty features, as well as other emotions. I thought I saw a flash of resentment— strange— before it faded away to be replaced by something more passionate. She stood from the bed and rushed toward me.
