Page 6 of The Final Battle

“You and your honeyed words,“ she smiled looking at me over her shoulder. “Fine I’ll let you this time, but only if I can return the favor, you’re not the only one who hasn’t had quite enough of the other just yet.“

When it came time for her to wash my hair, I won’t deny that I was easily swayed into round two as she sat in my lap. Finally, we managed to get ourselves clean and she ate while I brushed out her hair and braided it before we headed back to our rooms. Entering her space, we found Dayson snoring, sprawled out on the bed in nothing but a pair of loose pants.

“Do you want me to kick him out?“ I asked running a hand down her back.

“No, let him be, I’m glad he’s going to join us,“ She answered, a sweet smile on her lips.

Each of us men decided to have a drawer of clothes in her room, knowing the reality of us being in here needing to change or something to sleep in was going to be a thing. While she pulled on something to sleep in I did the same, thankful once again to Zan and his forethought. When she climbed into bed, Dayson woke up enough to pull her to his chest and toss a leg over her hip before resuming his snoring. I couldn’t help but thank the previous king who designed the rooms and ensured we had a bed big enough for the three of us to fit easily. Dayson was a beast of a man, and I wasn’t much smaller, but even with both of us in the bed wrapped around our queen, there was room for more. Guess we’ll have to see how long it takes the others to learn from Dayson and just claim their spot in her bed. I had a feeling it wouldn’t take long, but that was tomorrow’s problem. Right now, I wanted nothing more than to fall asleep to the sound of her heartbeat in my ear, letting me know she was safe.

Chapter four

Cassarah

The next morning, I didn’t get much time to enjoy being wrapped up by two burly men. Instead, I had Becka bursting in whisking me to get ready for the day.

“Cass you need to wear a dress, it’s your coronation day, I know it’s not happening until later but still,“ Becka argued as I pulled on britches.

Ignoring her, I continued to dress myself in the clothes I’d become more accustomed to wearing since I came to the clans. “There is too much to be done and I don’t have time to deal with a skirt getting in my way.“

“I’m sorry, did the leap out the window rattle your brain, making you forget you’re the queen here in this castle?“ Becka grumbled as she handed me a nicer leather vest that had to be laced up in the back.

Giving in, I turned, letting her lace up the back so that the high and mighty Queen Catharine knew I didn’t get dressed by myself. “No, I’m fully aware of that, which is why I want to see what’s happening with the dining hall myself. Last night was a disaster, and while I need to deal with our guests, they are not on the top of my list. Ensuring the castle is sound and my people are alright is what I care about most. I know there were other guards in the room with us, do you know if any of them were hurt?“

“One got a cut on his scalp from some debris, but other than that, a few minor bumps and bruises. Cole is the one with the worst injury from whatever nasty poison was seeping out of the monster,“ Becka informed me. “The dragon healer also reached out, letting us know he was able to neutralize the poison and Vasin is resting soundly. Peter gave him something that would put him in a healing sleep, so if you can’t reach him through your mental connection that’s why.“

Tension I was holding in my shoulders relaxed as I let out a sigh. “That’s excellent news. While I’m sad he won’t be with me today while I do this whole coronation process, I’ll survive and so will he.“

“Can I talk you into eating something before you get swept up in being the world’s most perfect saint?“ Becka asked, arms crossed blocking the way out of the dressing room.

“Let me guess, you already had food sent up for me didn’t you.“

Becka gave me a bright smile, telling me everything I needed to know. “Dearest May is waiting for you in the common room with your tray, your Majesty.“

“Don’t call me that,“ I muttered as I glared at my best friend, following her to the center of our rooms.

Sure enough, there was May, standing sentry over a meal that had been laid out on the table. Paxton lounged in one of the chairs, looking put out and cradling one of his hands. Walking over to him I combed my fingers through his soft white-blond hair, drawing his attention. “What happened to you?“

“I tried to take the bowl of pickled eggs because I know you don’t like them and didn’t want them to go to waste. The evil henchmen over there decided to attack me by stabbing the back of my hand with a fork,“ Paxton explained, showing me the five small marks that the utensil left behind. “Will you kiss it and make it better?“

“Don’t you dare, he needs to know that he can’t do things like that just because he’s one of your consorts,“ May challenged. “It’s not proper, unless you want to become the queen’s taste tester? Then feel free to eat all you want before it reaches her plate.“

“Alright, you two,“ I said, cutting in before Paxton could respond. “I have plenty to do today without dealing with this. He’s not wrong May, I hate pickled eggs and typically give them to him because he’s the only one that enjoys the awful things. Pax, next time just wait until I’m here and I will gladly hand them over, problem solved.“

Neither of them looked happy with that response but that was what I had to offer at this point. The nutty smell of the kavat waiting for me gave me hope I could make it through this day with its help. Gulping down half the mug was my first step in getting this day under control, before I moved on to the porridge. I’d refused to let them make me extravagant meals just because I was now living in the castle and officially going to be crowned their queen. If it was good enough for me before I took the throne, it was fine after.

“Has anyone checked in with the king and queen?“ I asked, looking up to find most of my men now at the table. Gavin and Jade were the only two missing.

Izel answered as he grabbed an apple from the dish of fruit on the table. “Gavin stayed on the third floor with them. He felt, as your consort and ambassador, it was his place to make sure they were settled, as well as ensuring they didn’t cause any trouble.“

“Then where’s Jade?“ I questioned, knowing it was unlike him not to check in with me first thing in the morning.

“Oh, he’s been up for a few hours, already working with the crew to clean up the mess of the dining hall and ensuring there are double patrols out in case Xotha came back. He thinks they will try and stop the coronation from happening. Clearly, the Lost King doesn’t realize you already have access to the magic of the castle and this is just a formality for the public,“ Zan said as he fed a piece of meat to Ezzu, who was perched on his shoulder watching me.

I slammed my spoon to the table, drawing all their attention. “This wasn’t something you felt I needed to know?“

“Mouse, you were completely drained last night,“ Cole pointed out. “Even if we did tell you, what would have changed? This is why you have guardians to look after you when you can’t look after yourself. None of us were going to keep this from you and always planned to share our thoughts, as we are now. But I’ll remind you that while you are our queen and lover, you are also our responsibility. We were called to you to ensure we keep you safe, no matter what you feel about it.“

Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath knowing he was right. My emotions were all over the place from the events of last night and I was lashing out at them because I was shaken at how badly things turned out. No one was killed, there were minor injuries that were being taken care of, this could have been so much worse. The dragon had gone after me and left the rest of the village alone. I would never put it past the Lost King to do something drastic to ensure his victory. If I was going to beat him, I needed to start thinking like him, and that scared me even more. It would be so easy to use his own tactics against him, but how many innocent lives would be lost in the process? Shaking my head, I shoved those thoughts to the side to deal with later. Today was going to be enough to get through without adding all that into the mess.