Page 183 of Between Despair and Hope

Fiona sauntered over, the full moon shining down on her form. She wore boots laced up to her knees, in good shape if a bit damaged by saltwater, over form-fitting breeches and a loose tunic. Her coat hung low, and she wore multiple layers beneath it, jackets and belts which hid her frame. But I could tell her hips and breasts were still to die for, and I wanted to make her jump off the side of the gods damned ship.

“Don’t you, princess?” She used the tip of her saber to tilt my chin up.

“Still don’t have your pendant, I see. Couldn’t sell enough of the stolen wine?” I made a face, mocking her. “Sad, little thing misses the sea. Too bad.”

“Take the merrow’s eyes,” Fiona barked, not looking away from me.

“What? No!” I shouted, rearing back. “Don’t. Don’t take her eyes!” Tetty stood over Mairin but didn’t move, waiting. “Fiona, please.”

“Mmm, hearing you beg sounds just as good now as it did back then.”

“Fi,” Tetty murmured, taking a few steps toward the veritable demon who stood over me. Tetty rubbed their neck, worrying their bottom lip. “Fiona, remember what we discussed?”

“You’re no fun, my star.”

“Think of the fun we’ll have once you get what you want.”

“But I want that now.” Tetty pressed a hand to Fiona’s back, gentle. I didn’t know what the hell I was witnessing, but Tetty tempered the woman who still balanced my chin on the end of her blade. She blew out a breath, rolling her eyes before tipping her head back to me. “Fine. How much do you think the Crown will ransom for your ass?”

“What?” I nearly laughed.

“Ransom. The concept isn’t a hard one, Princess.”

“I don’t know. I’m not taken captive often,” I retorted, and I swore Mairin shook with laughter. Relief spread through me as I watched her stir. I couldn’t keep my eyes off the merrow, needing to see her face just to know she was alright.

“Look at her once more while I’m talking to you, and I’ll take her tongue, too.”

“I don’t know, Fiona! Fuck! Probably enough to get your audience with the Seaborn Queen.”

“How do you know—” Tetty began.

“Why else?” I interrupted. “It’s been a decade since Olistos. You should’ve had the coin by now. Did the wine not sell quickly enough?”

The tip of the saber sliced into my skin, and I felt my blood drip. “You know what? Queen Estri likes shiny things. What’s shinier than a princess?”

Mairin’s body thrashed, her feet knocking Tetty to the ground. Fiona swore, kicking the merrow—my merrow—in the stomach, and I was shouting, my screams breaking through the silence. Tetty stopped the woman from killing Mairin, and all of us were on the ground panting within a few moments.

“I’m going to make you crawl for her,” Fiona growled. “Start begging.”

And I did.

Chapter 47

Rainier

Iwassweatingbeneaththe heavy regalia, the sheer number of people in the throne room adding to my discomfort. The sun had made a rare appearance, almost like a message, but it shone down through the skylight above us—and gods was it warm. Sitting on the throne my father had once dominated didn’t feel nearly as awful as I thought it would. In fact, the dread I’d felt for this ceremony and the relief I’d experienced at its postponement had been unnecessary. The first half of it had gone well. The two of us had traveled separately from my estate in the gilded carriages my mother had insisted upon; Elora accompanied her mother while my own mother accompanied me, the cries and shouts from the crowd overwhelmingly positive. I’d missed Em, sore over the fact we didn’t travel together, but neither of us had much time to dwell on it when we arrived at the palace, both of us ushered off to dress in the proper finery.

The Supreme presided over the entire thing. A grating irritation on my soul, considering everything which had happened with the novices, but I tried to ignore my vexation. He’d been kind to me my entire life, and he had tried to help Em when Filenti and the other masters had taken her. My hands were tied. My mother wanted the ceremony to go like my father’s had, and I didn’t care enough to fight with her. Though the Supreme wasn’t nearly as old as my father, he had attended the coronation in his youth, and few of those who attended still lived. It was the Supreme or Lord Kress from my council who would be an authority on the subject, and I couldn’t stand the latter.

My scrutiny moved to my council members, all of them seated on either side of the dais, wearing burgundy robes and looking just as warm as me. Lord Durand had even brought a fan, and I was impressed by his foresight. I could have ordered any of my subjects to do the same for me, but that wasn’t something I was interested in doing. Just because I was a crowned king now didn’t mean I intended on abusing it. Instead, I discreetly used my divinity to send a breeze throughout the room. I heard more than one person sigh in relief, and I smiled.

Gripping the arms of the throne, I adjusted my body, looking up at the door Emmeline would walk through at any moment.Shouldhave walked through ten minutes ago. I would have been nervous if I hadn’t sensed her through the bond. She seemed rushed, perhaps a bit agitated, but an undercurrent of excitement pulsated through, and I knew she was coming. When the doors finally opened, a loud echo resonated through the room. And as she stepped in, flanked by my mother on one side and my daughter on the other, my breath caught. My mother’s sour expression was expected. She’d been present for my own crowning but had scurried off to ensure Em would be ready for hers, and it wasn’t long after when I felt my wife’s irritation. I hoped she gave Shivani as much grief as she deserved.

As the three of them made their way down the steps, I stiffened, remembering Em’s last experience in this room, and I worried she’d think about it too. The black carpet covering the stone steps had been brought out for the ceremony, along with the dark blue banners which hung down flaunting the Vestana family crest. I’d requested the sheer black silk behind me to hang lower, blocking the headless likenesses of those the Vestana family had proudly slain, knowing Em wouldn’t like to see that reminder of what she was now part of. The council members had insisted upon bringing out the gilded ceremonial chairs for their seats, but other than those few changes, the throne room remained largely the same. I wondered if it was a mistake, afraid I should have changed it more. But Em didn’t falter. My queen was sure and steady as she descended the stone stairs.

Elora tripped down a step, but she caught herself quickly, grabbing onto Em’s arm for support. Her cheeks flushed instantly, horror fluttering over her features, and it made my heart sing when her eyes sought out mine for reassurance. She was clinging to Em, but that girl was mine—and she knew it. I smiled, my chest aching, and nodded. Her posture straightened, and she recovered, striding forward with confident steps. Just a small thing, her reliance on me in that moment, but, gods, I would think about it for the rest of my days. I hoped she’d always look to me when she needed it. It struck me that one day she would make this journey on her own. Once I died, this throne would be hers. Did the thought cross her mind? Though my mother would have fought it, if I’d have died in Darkhold, Elora could have been in my place right now.

It startled me, discovering how much I needed to teach her. My father knew with his age his days were numbered and pushed me into learning about my role early on. But just because Icouldhave centuries to teach Elora didn’t mean wewouldhave all of that time. I’d need to speak with Em about it, and we’d have to discuss her education. The robe she wore was far too large for her, and I realized with a start it was the one I had worn when I came to maturity, officially capable of leading Vesta if my father died. Lavenia had gone through the same ceremony though, so why my mother hadn’t given Elora a better fitting garment, I didn’t know.

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