Page 10 of The Shadow & the King
"I would hear what she has to say," Basil added, his tone brooking no argument. His eyes were fixed on Lunette, waiting.
"Your majesty, this man Turios is the one who hired me. When I refused to follow through on my contract, he took me hostage." Lunette wasn't sure what else she could really say; that was the simple truth.
"And why should I believe you over my oldest advisor?" This question was quieter, and she could hear the hurt in his voice.
"They took me last night, I…" Her own voice was quieter now, and she tried to push all of her mess of feelings into her expression so he would see that she'd not meant to desert him last night. They had given her back her clothes, so she knew it would have appeared to him as if she'd left him purposefully. She wanted him to understand, but if he didn't want to own their relationship publically, she wouldn't force his hand. She had been delusional to think a king would want to be with her, a hardened assassin.
Basil watched her intently, the silence stretching between them.
"I think I love you, and I'm so sorry." The words were barely more than a whisper from her lips, but they were her truth. Basil's carefully controlled facial expression crumpled, and she could see tears glistening in his eyes.
"That is quite enough from you, filthy vampire harlot." Turios cut in, tugging on Lunette’s silver chains. The metal burned into her wrists, and she cried out. Her eyes closed as she tried to breathe through the pain, but a flurry of sounds had her snapping them open again.
Basilious was there, a mere arm's breadth away, and he had Turios held by the throat in one of his massive hands. Fury rolled off him in waves as Turios hung there, pitiful choking noises escaping him.
"You will not harmmy mate, Advisor Turios." Basil's voice thundered across the hall. "I know what she said to be true; why else would you have remained so silent when everyone around me called for me to secure the royal line of succession? You were silent, biding your time until you could get me out of your way to take the crown for yourself and your children after you. You are hereby banished from Delkos, never to set foot on our shores again. Take your family and go."
Basil dropped Turios unceremoniously, and turned his back, closing the short distance to where Lunette stood.
"Unbind her at once," he commanded the guards that stillstood around her. They lurched into action, clearly startled at this turn of events. After a short moment, Lunette was free of the silver chains, and she sighed in relief.
Then it was as if the crowd melted away, and it was just her and Basil, and all the words they'd said to each other that now hung in the air between them.
"I love you, too," he whispered.
Lunette threw her arms around his waist, and he instantly held her close, pressing kisses to the top of her head.
"I thought you left… I thought you could never want to be with someone like me," Basil said softly.
"I don't ever want to leave you, Basil. In all my long years, I've never felt something so right. I've never felt needed and wanted as I do with you, and I…" she trailed off, her voice thick with emotion.
"Shh, I know, I feel it too." Basil caressed her face as she looked up at him. Then, he bent and scooped her up into his arms, walking straight out of the hall the way they came in.
"Carry on," he commanded the crowd, as if the most dramatic scene hadn’t just played out in front of them. Lunette could hear the murmurs of the crowd as they left the hall, but Basil didn't slow, walking them straight up to his chambers and turning to bolt the door before he set her down.
"Did you mean what you said? I'm your mate?" Lunette asked.
"Yes, Lunette. Minotaurs do not have fated ones like other creatures, but we do imprint on a mate that we choose. I didn't mean to, it’s just… being with you is overwhelming." Basil glanced away, clearly a bit embarrassed.
Lunette reached up to stroke his face, and she smiled at him.
"I am glad you did. I want to stay here, Basil. I want to be with you, whatever it takes." She went up on her toes to kiss him, and he bent to meet her.
"Then stay, Lunette. You've spared my life in more ways than one, my beautiful assassin. Stay, and be my queen."
Lunette nodded, and for the first time in her three hundred years, she felt like she'd found her home.
LUNETTE
A FEW MONTHS LATER
The weight of her new crown felt strange and foreign on Lunette's head. It was beautiful, crafted of gold to match Basil's, but adorned with three massive rubies. Her gown was the same shade as the famous Delkos cherry blossoms and made of a lush silk that flowed around her legs as she walked arm-in-arm with Basil back to their chambers.
She had been here for just over a month, but already it felt like home. After the summer solstice, she'd written to her family back in Ichorna to tell them she wouldn't be working as an assassin anymore. She had expected to feel some sense of loss at walking away, but all she felt was relief and excitement.
Her coronation was beautiful. People from across Domhan na Rùin had travelled to Delkos to celebrate. She'd met so many people, including Mav's wife Colette.There had even been a siren prince and his partner, who had travelled all the way from Aphana. Basil had told her it was highly unexpected, as the sirens had kept their sea borders closed for centuries. It seemed a sign of a time of change in Domhan na Rùin, and Lunette loved it.
Now that the ceremony was over, Lunette had a few ideas about how they could celebrate.
