He strode away, clasping his hands behind his back. “The initiates in the cult felt there was no place in Dolinska for them. The laws against Unseelie fae are unjust. Perhaps there is a way to reverse them, and give these people a home within the city. But now that I will never be king, I won’t get that chance.”
“You were always my king, Ethan, even when your title was removed from you,” Alexei said. “In my heart, that will never change.”
Ethan straightened. “Well, if you see me as your king, then I may knight you.”
Alexei’s eyes lit up. “Really?”
“Why not?” Ethan smiled wryly. “You were a hero down in those catacombs. I think you deserve the title.”
Alexei bashfully looked away, and Kiara tugged on his arm. “Oh, let’s do it at once! It sounds like so much fun!”
Ethan retrieved his sword from his dormitory. Though we were exhausted, the four of us hiked down to the base of the Willow Maiden outside of campus as sunset created a haze over Malovia. There, before the great tree, Alexei knelt before Ethan on one knee, ducking his head low.
It almost felt like we were children again, playing pretend… but yet this felt more solemn, more real than all of that. I couldn’t explain it, but by the shining in Kiara’s eyes, I knew this moment was more important to Alexei than any of us could ever realize.
Ethan kept one hand on the hilt of his sword. “Alexei Valeri, do you vow to uphold the laws of Malovia, to swear fealty to your king, to be chivalrous to sorceresses, to defend the innocent, to honor your mate, to be faithful to the Seven Gods, and to protect our country bravely, even until your dying breath?”
“I do, with all my heart,” Alexei responded honestly.
“Then by my royal hand, I dub thee a hero of Dolinska, a champion of the fae, and a griffin knight,” Ethan said, tapping his sword on each of Alexei’s shoulders. “Arise, and be known among the kingdom as a protector of Malovia.”
Alexei rose as a new man. He stood taller than he ever had before, with his shoulders thrown back and his demeanor proud. It had been a childhood dream of his to become a knight, and now, it had come true— in a way.
Kiara flung her arms around Alexei, and he spun her around. He kissed her, and it warmed my heart to see them together— finally, after all this time.
Ethan grabbed my hand.We should give these two some privacy, Ethan echoed inside my head. Without a goodbye, Ethan and I left their presence, though I don’t think Kiara and Alexei even noticed us leave. They were too wrapped up in each other, sitting beneath the branches of the Willow Maiden as twilight glowed behind us.
“How are you feeling?” Ethan asked as we approached the university.
“Ugh,” I grunted. I needed food, a shower, and my treatment.
“I’ll get us something from the cafeteria,” Ethan said, and it was like he read my mind. “You start on your medicine.”
I got my needles in just as Ethan returned with dinner. I consumed it in moments, famished from my time down in the catacombs. Once my infusion was done, Ethan and I washed off the grime from the catacombs in the shower— unfortunately, we were too tired to mess around.
Afterward, all I wanted to do was sleep. I laid down in my bed, and Ethan lay beside me, rubbing my back while Tygrys flew above us in happy circles.
As my eyelids were drooping, Ethan lifted an eyebrow and tilted his head. I knew he had to be listening to a telepathic message from one of the wolvens— probably Finlay.
“Finlay and Amantha are coming back. Part of the city has fallen in due to the catacombs collapsing,” Ethan said. “Nine people are dead, some of them Circle members— including Lord Radcliffe.”
“That’s fucking great.” More bullshit for Elijah to blame us for.
“We’ll deal with it in time,” Ethan said, and he stroked my hair.
I was so tired right now I really couldn’t care less. If Elijah wanted to start some shit over this, he could pound down my door, because I was busy taking a nap.
Ethan and I fell asleep a short time later. We probably would’ve slept through the night, if a loud scream in the hallway didn’t wake us up. As I groggily raised my head, I realized it was still dark.
“What the hell is that noise?” I moaned. I cast a glance at the clock— it was midnight. Tygrys was sitting on a leaf on the orchid plant, quivering and shaking. The buzz of the noxite had worn off, and I felt like I could use magic again— which was a good thing, because in my gut, I felt like Ethan and I were going to need it.
There were more screams in the hallway. Ethan shot up beside me, and I felt my blood run ice cold. A dark pit of dread formed in my stomach as I heard people pleading with the gods to save them.
Fuck.Something was wrong. I changed out of my pajamas and into day clothes. Ethan and I rushed out into the hallway, where we found students swarming around in a panic. Our friends emerged out of their dorms, looking similarly confused.
“What’s going on?” Ethan cried, but no one answered. There was the clanking of weapons— sorceresses and shifters were fastening weapons on, clipping on the sheaths that held their swords.
Nobody answered. I was on the verge of panic. I didn’t know what was happening, but I knew I neededLodburzan.I fastened my sword around my middle, and Ethan grabbed his. I put the Unseelie necklace on too, just in case.
