Page 87 of Captured By the Monsters
Instead of only three thrones like before, a fourth had been added—a larger one—the one for the True Queen. I was touched that the Rumilus leaders from before didn’t use it, and they hadn’t set their mate on it. They knew that it was only meant for one person.
The three smaller thrones were now positioned around the Queen’s throne, two to the left and one to the right. Jokingly, I leaned into my mates and asked, “Which one of you is going to be my right-hand monster?”
“Obviously, me,” Rowen announced cockily.
Chuckling, I just shook my head as my mates led me to the dais where the Rumilus leaders from before waited. Their platinum-haired mate stepped forward to introduce herself.
“Hi, I'm Lauren.” She leaned forward to bow, and I quickly took her hand. “Please, no need to do that. I’m so happy to meet you. I hope that we can become good friends.”
She nodded, tipping her beautiful face down in acknowledgement. “My mates and I are so overjoyed that the crystal has found you.”
All three of the Rumilus men got down on their knees at her words. “My Queen!” they intoned all together. Suddenly, the whole room was filled with echoes of “My Queen” as all the other Rumilus got down on their knees.
I turned to face them, a little nervous at addressing so many people. It was one thing to be on camera, but an entirely other thing to look in people’s eyes as you did it.
I didn’t know enough about these lands to tell them what would happen to it moving forward, but what I did know would hopefully please them greatly. I’d keep this short and sweet.
“The rift between The Above and Paratiisi is no longer. Together, we’ll heal both worlds, and humans and Rumilus can find their true mates in peace and live openly together once more!”
A resounding cheer met my words, and I smiled. All the misery that both worlds had suffered for so long was finally over. Axton took my hand and led me to the throne where he sat me down.
It felt surreal, and I fidgeted uncomfortably for a moment at having so many eyes on me. As if it could sense my unease, I felt the crystal blaze brightly, and I took comfort in its support of me.
Axton sat down to my right, Rowen to my left, and Sylan next to Rowen. I took both Rowen’s and Axton’s hands and blew Sylan a kiss before looking over the crowd of Rumilus rising to applaud for us. I barely could believe how much had happened in such little time here.
I always wondered what my fate would be when I was in The Above—if I had a destiny—and when I’d been Selected, I thought that I was cursed. But in truth, it was the best thing that ever happened to me. It gave me my monsters. It gave me a sense of purpose and a place that I now called home.
It gave me love.
I’d been captured by the monsters, and they’d given me everything I didn’t know I needed.
