Page 45 of Their Crowned Mate
Every last person in the room bowed in reverence to me, and when I looked behind me, my mates were doing the same. I felt a bit lightheaded because it was all so much. All so surreal.
The music grew to a crescendo as I reached the throne, and Joram stepped forward with a smile. He took my hands in his and spoke loud enough for everyone to hear.
"My people," he began. "Today, we come together to celebrate the crowning of our new queen. She has proven her strength, her courage, and her loyalty time and time again, and now it is our honor to witness this momentous occasion."
The priest stepped forward and tapped his jeweled scepter against my left shoulder, then my right, before asking me to recite my vows of honor to the kingdom. He had such a low, quiet voice that I didn't actually hear what he'd said, and I was grateful I'd memorized everything.
"I pledge my loyalty to the realm, and I vow to uphold justice and honor for all its people," I proclaimed solemnly. I felt the burden of responsibility as I spoke my words, knowing that my devotion to my cause was unyielding. "I pledge to always place the needs of this realm above my own as queen, and to honor the sacred trust you have given me."
My voice echoed throughout the room and I felt a surge of energy that told me this was where I belonged. This was my destiny.
"So may it be," said the priest, a bit louder this time. "May the blessings of the spirits go with our queen."
Joram stepped up next, holding the crown in his hand.
It was a beautiful crown, made of solid gold and adorned with precious stones that sparkled in the light. The jewels were arranged in intricate patterns, creating a web of stars and moons across the top. At its center was a large opalesque pearl that shone like a beacon, symbolizing the power and grace a queen must yield. I felt my heart swell with pride as Joram placed it atop my head, and I knew that no matter what happened in this life, I would always remember this moment.
"It is now my greatest honor to present to you this crown, my dear Lavinia," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "My daughter. And my queen." He turned to face the crowd. "All hail the queen!"
"All hail the Queen!" the crowd echoed in unison, beginning a fae chant as they threw up their celebratory flowers and garlands, and the room became consumed in joyful chaos.
Watching them celebrate, I realized this was only the beginning of an incredible journey for me. As queen, I could make real change happen in our world—change that would benefit all of us who called these lands home.
The music grew louder as the festivities continued, and soon they were all dancing and singing together. I even caught a glimpse of Sam and the male guard dancing together, and he seemed delightfully bewildered by her not-so-faelike dance moves.
As I made my way through the throng of people, my mates by my side, I couldn't help but feel grateful for having them in my life. They had been my strength and my support, and without them, I wouldn't have made it this far.
"Are you happy, my love?" Alexander asked, his arm around my waist.
"I am," I said, leaning into him. "More than I ever thought possible."
He smiled down at me, his eyes full of adoration. "Good. Because you deserve everything and more."
I felt my heart swell, and I leaned in to kiss him. His lips were warm and inviting, and I deepened the kiss, feeling his strong arms tighten around me in response.
"Hey, not fair," Cole said, playfully pulling us apart. "We want in on this too."
I laughed as they all held me. We swayed together, lost in the music and the moment.
"Shouldn't we be dancing, too?" Cole asked, looking around as the celebration intensified with the flowing alcohol the fae were gleefully indulging in. Before I could reply, he took my hand in his and gently spun me around, treating me like I was made of glass. I laughed as he dipped me back, pressing his lips to mine.
The crowd went wild, and before long, we were all dancing together in the midst of the raucous celebration. The music was infectious, and we moved together in perfect harmony. I felt myself getting lost in the moment. For a moment, I was simply Lavinia, dancing with the people I loved most in the world.
Alexander stepped in next, his strong arms guiding me as we glided around the room together. The other fae joined us in a circle, clapping along to the music as Alexander and I continued to dance. We moved together in perfect harmony, our bodies gliding across the floor in sync with each other's movements. As our song came to an end, Alexander spun me around one last time before pulling me close and pressing his forehead against mine.
"You are my queen," he whispered softly into my ear. "And I will always love you."
"And I love you, too, Alexander," I said with a blissful sigh as he kissed the spot where my throat met my jaw.
The music ended, and everyone clapped and cheered as we stepped away from each other. Taking my hands in his, Marcus stepped forward and bowed deeply before me.
"My queen," he said with a warm smile. "May I have this dance?"
I grinned and nodded, allowing him to lead me back onto the dance floor. As we swayed to the music, I couldn't help but feel grateful for the bond that had brought us together. We had been through so much together, and yet we had come out the other side stronger than ever.
"Thank you for always being there for me," I said, looking up at him.
"Always," he murmured, kissing the tip of my nose. He looked like he wanted to do so much more than that, but I was grateful he held back since all eyes were on us.
