“Very well,” Lady Magdalina said. “All in favor?”
Everyone—everyone— raised their hands. There wasn’t a single opposition. Each member of the Circle had given us a passing vote. With a jolting feeling that electrified my chest, I realized that the Circle had agreedin unisonto let us take the throne.
Emma and I had done it for the second time. We would, finally, be king and queen.
The notion should’ve elated me, but the happiness ultimately faded at the thought of what she and I would have to face. There was much yet to do, and this was only the first step. We had a long road ahead.
I only prayed it brought us together, instead of pushing us further apart. The pain of those flames ebbed at the corners of my mind. I hoped I was strong enough to be thrown into them once again.
“Very well,” Lady Magdalina said. “The decision has been made. Let them be crowned at once. This is a time of civil war, and we have not a moment to lose.”
Chapter Four
Emma
Once the Trial was over, Ethan and I were escorted back to the palace. We were placed into one of the guest rooms, to await our coronation the following day. The whole event was being pushed through on an emergency basis, seeing as how the country was so divided.
The papers were already going nuts. News has broken out on social media about our success over the Trial of Tears, and now, the country was in a complete flurry over our ascension to the throne.
Once Ethan had locked the door behind us, he turned my way. He took my hands in his and squeezed them lightly. "We did it,onawilke.”
I gave him a slight smile, one that was nearly forced. “I guess we did."
“I did not see your Trial,” Ethan said. “What did you undergo, to pass your test?”
Images of the dead wolf pup, and the rising of the she-wolf from the grave haunted my mind. “I had to kill my old self, and bury her so that a new woman could rise from her grave.”
“Haunting,” Ethan replied.
“But it’s what had to be done.”
I let go of his hands and walked to the window. I laid my hands upon the sill and looked down upon the city of Dolinska, contemplating the future. "I have an opportunity to change everything. I can shape this world to my desire, and to yours. The two of us can make a better world for the fae. We can leave a legacy that will mean something when we're gone. That's worth any sacrifice."
We’d conquered our worst fears in our visions. What was left to be seen was if we could defeat them in real life.
“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” Ethan asked. He wrapped his arms around my form, taking me into his embrace.
I leaned into his chest as he squeezed me tightly. “Yes. Are you?”
“I don’t think you can be prepared for something like this, just willing to accept it. It will require sacrifice.”
“It’ll be worth it. For Malovia’s sake.”
I leaned into Ethan, and pressed my ass back into his hips. I instantly felt him harden, and elation swept through my gut.
“Are you trying to tempt me, my dear?” Ethan asked in a low and husky tone.
“I mean, I haven’t gotten any in a minute.”
Everything had been happening so fast, and Ethan and I hadn’t really had a spare moment to be… us. We’d gotten engaged, and found the griffin stone shortly after. Then the Battle of Arcanea University had happened. Ever since then, everything had been rushing by. I was asking him to carve out a moment for us in this new life that we were about to claim.
Ethan gave a wry chuckle. “I actually brought something that might help with that.”
Ethan walked to his trunk. Our things had been brought over from Arcanea University, and were waiting here in the guest room to be placed in the king and queen’s suite the following night.
He ruffled through the trunk, until he found what he was looking for. My eyes widened as I saw the leather paddle that he’d bought on Shotzanek. We hadn’t gotten a chance to play with it yet.
Ethan slapped it into his hand. “I thought we might put it to good use.”
