Page 79 of Her Royal Blood

“That’s a great relief.” My heart was already feeling lighter.

“Did he leave? I wanted to thank him for all he did for us.” Everyone in Tobran came to help in the end and I owed them all my gratitude.

“He’s still here and thanks to him, all of the Crypt Claw have been cleared from the area.” The triumph in his tone expressed Lex’s great relief and pride, which mirrored mine. “Come, everyone is in the dining room.”

“Everyone?”

And he wasn’t wrong, everyone, Halo tended to the wound on Cheyenne’s chest, as he winced and winged, milking her for attention and sympathy. It wasn't like Cheyenne to be that way, but the sparkle in his eye definitely proved he was enjoying Halo’s care.

Bastien Salt sat next to Queen Nadine who was having a conversation with Amadeus as if sitting at my dining room table in the Great Hall was something they did every day.

Laura and Xavier Goldlace were having a conversation with Dimitri on one side of them and Hawk on the other. All four were animated and expressive, something they were discussing was giving them a lot of joy. Next to Hawk with her eyes wideand lashes batting, Janaya hung on his every word. I'd seen her fall for men before, but never this hard. Bindi and Derringer sat across from King Helix and were having a serious discussion about military strategies to keep the Navarrian ports safe from attack.

I think the person I was most surprised and grateful to see was Nan. She rushed around ordering food to be delivered this way and that and with her, to my great surprise, was Queen Delia doing the same.

Seated around my table were all of the Royals of Tobran. We had been together before at my wedding but here we were assembled together again in victory. As soon as I walked into the room all conversations stopped and heads turned toward me. My body flared with heat under such scrutiny.

“She’s awake,” Nan said and I wanted to rush to her and throw my arms around her, but I was a queen, so I bowed my head.

“You’re all here.” I couldn’t hide the fact that I was overwhelmed.

Where had all the food come from? Why was the dining room beautiful and sparkling and completely restored?

“It’s good to see you well,” King Helix stood and helped Lex walk me to my seat at the head of the table.

“I feel fine,” I protested, but didn’t really feel that great. Being led by two kings was a great show of honor and so I didn’t balk. “Thank you,” I said when they brought me to my seat.

Lex walked to the far end of the table and took the seat at the head. Of course I would never allow him to sit so far away from me, but for this gathering perhaps it was necessary. As soon as he made it to his chair I addressed everyone before me.

“Thank you all for coming, for helping us defeat Polonius and the Crypt Claw, for showing unity and solidarity. I want to pledge to you that as soon as our Pitaya Fields are flourishing,we will supply all of your kingdoms with an equal amount so that no kingdom is richer than the others. It will also be the same amount we keep. Hopefully soon we will be able to restock our stores of Pitaya silk and make our armies strong.

There was cheering and words of gratitude coming from around the table at my offer of Crimson Pitaya for all. Queen Delia quietly took her seat beside King Helix next to Lex and Nana Mavia came and took her seat beside me. Her hand gently slipped into mine holding it with great love and reverence.

“Thank you,” King Helix started. “Queen Aria for that generous offer. And to you Navarrah City will give military support until you are able to fortify your own forces and a home to visit whenever you want to come and we,” he took Queen Delia’s hand. “Hope you come often as you have always been like a daughter to me. I know that I didn’t always show it.”

“Or ever,” Queen Delia added.

“But you have held a place in my heart since the day you were born. And now you are my daughter, legitimately and I want you to know that I intend on making up for the years of abuse you suffered under the control of my beta and his treacherous family.” King Helix bowed to me and as was customary for such apologies, I bowed back.

“Thank you, King Helix, I promise to return home as often as I can. As I too have always had a fondness for you and your family.” I looked around the room and saw Janaya and Cheyenne’s smiling faces and of course there was Lex, whose smile was the widest. “Prince Dimitri, thank you for your support in this war. You came in our time of need and that will never be forgotten,” I said, looking at Prince Dimitri.

“While I must return to Solbrook today, I want to pledge our allegiance to you and Onyx Rah and please come and visit us. I would like nothing better to show you, gracious queen, and mynew brother in arms,” he said with a playful wink. “Our beautiful kingdom.”

“I would like that very much,” I said with an enormous smile. “And you and your family are always welcome here. My offer of Crimson Pitaya is extended to Solbrook as well as the kingdoms of Tobran.”

“Thank you, Queen Aria,” Prince Dimitri bowed and I looked forward to the years ahead when I could get to know him and his family better.

“Lex,” Amadeus said, next. “I want to thank you for loving my daughter and helping her from when she was a servant in your house to standing beside her as the queen of this kingdom. I’m excited to see what the two of you will do.”

There was a general agreement around the table to confirm Amadeus' sentiment.

“And Aria, my dearest daughter, a father could never be so proud as I am to see what a powerful, caring, and fierce woman you have become. Your mother would have been overjoyed to see this victory as she, like her mother before her, and her daughter after, was just as fierce and loving.” I couldn’t help the tears that welled in my eyes.

There I was with my father, and grandmother, sitting together at the table with kings and queens of Tobran, to think of my own mother’s pride was almost too overwhelming.

“She would have loved this,” Nan said with a squeeze to the hand she was holding.

“Thank you father,” I said to Amadeus and then looked at Nan. “I want you to stay here with me and be lavished and treated like the mother of a queen.”

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