Page 73 of Her Royal Blood

“How about,” I thought for a moment. “Only those with a pure heart, with valiant intentions and an honorable character may enter by permission of the Midnight Moon Pack. Should you be cruel, deceptive, violent, or act in any way to harm our kingdom you shall be flung from our gates at the risk of your own life’.” I quoted for her.

“That works,” Halo said with true excitement in her eyes.

“That’s very good,” Lex added from the corner where he was guarding the lava pit.

“Hurry then,” I said. “We have to get this spell conjured before Polonius comes.”

With that, Halo and I held hands and we let our magic swirl around us. My magic had been wild and untamed but I was able to harness it more and more. Holding Halo's hands stabilized my own magic as it grew around us bursting from our bodies to fill the space. We said the incantation over the lava pit slowly and with intention. As soon as we completed the spell, magic, heat, and energy surged through me so greatly I almost toppled to the ground.

Lex came running to my side to hold me up and Halo knelt beside us as we clustered together. The walls of the tunnel shook and the Genesis pit bubbled and burst into flames. We backed up from the burning chasm and threw ourselves against the wall as everything seemed to light on fire. Then there was a terrible screaming, a deafening sound that had us clasping our hands to our ears. After a long wailing from several voices that seemed to last forever, there was nothing. All was peaceful and quiet. Even the lava pit had settled down.

“Do you think we did it?” Halo asked, panting and out of breath.

The magic it took to protect the kingdom had depleted both of us. A glorious smile crossed Halo’s face, despite the fatigue.

“My father says we did it, and he’s very proud of us.” She gave me such a look of adoration and love. “That screaming was the last of the Crypt Claw in our kingdom.”

“Are they gone?” I asked, hopeful.

“I think so,” Bindi said with a smile.

“Why won’t he speak to me?” I asked, as Harlance had spoken to me before.

“I guess, this was something he wanted to do with me, like a father and daughter thing. He knows you’ll listen to meand since I’m about to be the Royal Mage.” She shrugged her shoulders.

“I get it and I’m glad you’ve been able to share this with him. I don’t know about you both, but I’m ready to change out of my wedding dress.” I said as we all laughed and made our way through the tunnels back up to the palace.

As soon as we arrived in the grand foyer of the palace Bindi and Derringer with two of their Royal Guards met us.

“It seems as if the Crypt Claw have been evacuated?” Bindi, also still wearing her elegant gown, looked at Derringer who laughed.

“It looked more like they were being ejected to me. They went flying hundreds of feet into the sky and then disappeared. We’ve done a search of the perimeter and haven’t seen any more Crypt Claw warriors, so we’re in the clear for now.” Unlike Bindi he was outwardly relieved and happy to be rid of the Crypt Claw.

“We should still keep our guard,” she said, perpetually cautious.

“No,” I said, interrupting them. “We should let the guards who have been liberated and are rested keep watch, and you two can change and get something to eat. Halo and I will conjure a meal until we can figure out the kitchen and get some staff back in here again. Hopefully most are just hiding?” I did worry about all the people we had assembled together so painstakingly over the months we were building Onyx Rah.

I hoped that everyone had just fled when Polonius took over my palace and were ready to come back.

“That sounds marvelous,” Derringer said as he took Bindi’s hand. “I’d love to enjoy a night like we had last night with you.” He then kissed Bindi’s knuckles and I had an urge to turn away, but why would I look away from love?

“I’m here to do a job,” Bindi countered Derringer, but didn’t take her hand out of his.

“This is your home, Bindi, you’ve done your job for the day, now it’s time for all of us to rest.” I said and with that we retreated to our rooms to change clothes and assemble for dinner.

Since Halo and I were so tired we conjured a simple meal of stew, bread, and ale. The five of us talked about our wedding and our plans for the future of Onyx Rah, but on the whole, the night was quiet and peaceful. There was no evidence that any Crypt Claw remained and so we were able to retreat to our room that night with a relative amount of peace. As soon as we closed the door Lex looked at me and smiled.

“We’re married,” he said with a boyish kind of joy as he scooped me into his arms and twirled me around our room.

“We’re married,” I said thoughtfully as he set me down. “All I have to do is clear Polonius’ belongings and energy from this space.”

I took a step away from Lex and walked into the center of the room. Polonius's clothes were hung in my closet next to my elegant gowns and dresses that Queen Nadine had given me. Some of his shoes still remained, as did his many books and papers. I knew that we would possibly need his correspondences to decipher what our next moves might be and so I physically stacked those into a pile with Lex’s help. After that I simply thought of erasing Polonius from space as magic swirled. Though I was already exhausted and overtaxed, every vein in my body filled with magic until the absence of Polonius was greater than the presence of him. When I opened my eyes all of his things except for his papers were gone.

“That’s better,” Lex said, approaching me. “When things have settled and we are living here forever, I do want us to remodel this room so that it befits a queen.” Lex kissed my lips and cheek.

“And a king.” I touched his face and marveled at his beauty.

“I haven’t really stopped to think of it. All those years wondering what kind of king I would be and here I am,” he laughed.

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