Page 38 of Winter Goddess
“Trust me, it’s on my list. For now, we can’t without disrupting the balance. You and I are on one side, and Angus and Flora are on the other, even if she isn’t there willingly. What we need to do is get them both onto our side at the same time. If you can convince Bridget to fight with us, and she brings her husband with her, then hopefully together we can free Flora. Imagine, all four of us standing against the Morrigan. We’d be able to stop her, I’m sure of it.”
She frowns. “So you don’t think we can beat her at the moment?”
“I didn’t say that. But it will be more difficult. The losses will be greater. We have no idea how many demons the Morrigan commands. Angus is predictable, she isn’t.”
“No, that she certainly is not,” Dewi mutters. “We had no idea she’d be interested in our Realm. We’ve been reclusive for so long that we didn’t think anyone would ever want to attack us. She managed to take over my Realm without a single drop of blood being spilt.” She shudders. “Of course, she caused a lot of bloodshed soon after. She needs to be stopped.”
“Don’t worry, she will be stopped. She killed my mother, and I’m not letting her get away with that.”
Chapter Thirteen
Slowly, the pieces are put into place, ready for their final moves.
Dewi, waiting for her mother to make an appearance. Flora, imprisoned somewhere, waiting for our help. Angus, waiting for the Morrigan’s signal to attack. And me, waiting for my coronation.
Everything has been prepared. The feast, the dress, the crown. The only thing that isn’t ready is me.
“This is a massive mistake,” I mutter against Arc’s chest. He’s been holding me for the past ten minutes, trying to calm me down. “I can’t be Queen.”
“Ye can,” he repeats for the umptieth time. “Ye were born ta be Queen. Doubting that is part of yer strength.”
I laugh bitterly. “It doesn’t feel like a strength.”
“It is. Ye think yer nae worthy, and that’s the right way ta think.”
“That doesn’t make any sense.”
He rubs my back with one hand, the other stroking my hair.
“Believe in yerself, Wyn. It will all be fine.”
I wish I had the same confidence in myself that he seems to have. I’m not made to be Queen, but I seem to be the only person who sees that. I’m not strong enough, not clever enough, and definitely not ruthless enough. I pretend to wiggle my way through all the obstacles thrown in my way, but one day, people will see through the pretence. They will see that I’m weak and they’ll regret crowning me.
The door opens behind me, but I refuse to look. I don’t want this moment to end. Arc is warm and comforting, and even though he’s not managed to calm me down completely, it’s better than I would be without him.
“They’re ready,” Storm announces. “Everyone’s assembled.”
I shudder. No, this isn’t happening. This is a nightmare.
“Even Beira is there.”
That makes me peek around Arc.
“Beira?”
“She’s going to be there for the coronation. She believes in you and she supports you, Wyn.”
I step from Arc’s hug, regretting it immediately when his warmth disappears from my skin.
“My mother shouldn’t be out of bed. She’s too weak.”
“Then we better get this over with quickly so she can lie down again.” Crispin has joined the other Guardians. “But don’t worry, she’s feeling a lot better today. Maybe it’s because the weight on her is being lifted. Now that you’re about to be Queen, she can give up some of her responsibilities and focus on her recovery.”
I hadn’t thought about it like that, but it makes sense. Even though I’ve been taking on most of her tasks, Beira has still been consulted about matters of state. Hell, I’ve come to her for help and advice almost every day. I doubt that I’ll stop doing that, but still, she’ll be under a lot less pressure.
I smoothen my dress and straighten my back. Coronation, here I come.
The Great Hallis filled with far too many people to count. Every inch is packed with visitors, all of them eager to spot a glimpse of their new Queen. Beira is sitting in the front row in a chair covered in blankets. She’s pale but Crispin was right, she looks a lot better than she has in the past few days. The throne on the dais is empty, and I’m not going to sit on it just yet. Tamara has gone over the ceremony again and again to make sure that I’ll not embarrass myself in front of the crowd.
