Page 82 of To Wake a Kingdom

“I’d heard you were back. This place is never the same without you here.” She beamed up at him, a hand on his cheek. “And you’ve been on quite an adventure.” She lowered her voice. “Is it true about your father?”

It was clear from the devotion on her face she adored her son and that made me love him even more. “I’m sorry, Mother. I would have told you myself, but Erick insisted on monopolizing me all afternoon.”

She waved him off. “It doesn’t matter. Though we’ll need to make an official announcement tonight. The nobles have been getting restless, but we can shut them all up now that Erick is officially eligible to take the crown.”Her words were perfunctory and pragmatic, with no remorse at the news of her husband.

I couldn’t fault her. As his wife, she was likely more familiar with his cruelty than anyone.

Ronan sat down, an arm sliding across the back of my chair.

“Allow me to introduce you to Princess Thorne of Ravalyn. Thorne, this is my mother, Vivian.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” I said. “Thank you for welcoming me to your home.”

Vivian smiled as she sat. “The castle is abuzz with mention of you, Your Highness. Welcome to Estria.” Her eyes turned to her son, something knowing in them, before she smiled at me again. “I hope you’ll be staying with us for a while.”

“Thank you. I hope so too,” I replied as all eyes turned to the front of the room where Erick and a woman with icy blonde hair and bright blue eyes, wearing a sparkling gown, entered.

“The Lady Perrand, I presume?” I asked Ronan as they paraded through the crowd.

“The one and only.” His hand slid onto my thigh and squeezed it gently.

“That’s not very discrete, Commander,” I teased.

He leaned in closer, his lips brushing my ear. “If I had my way, we would never have left your room tonight. Forgive me, Princess.” My breath hitched as his hand slid higher.

Ronan cleared his throat and pulled his hand back as Erick and Lady Perrand arrived at the end of the table. We stood to welcome them, and they sat down, with Erick taking the seat next to me, his bride on his far side. To her left sat another woman with auburn hair and light brown eyes. She struck me with a hostile glare.

“Who’s the redhead, and why is she looking at me like she wants to build a tomb with my bones?”

Ronan glanced over and said quietly, “That is the notorious Lady Elsenmoor. You might remember her from a conversation you eavesdropped on and then entirely misunderstood.” He lifted an eyebrow, and I flattened my mouth, giving him my best imitation of disapproval.

Erick stood again, and the room fell silent. “Thank you, everyone, for joining us here this evening. While I know many of you have arrived in Estria for the joyous occasion of the royal wedding, we also mourn the terrible loss of my father. We received confirmation today that he met with his end, traveling the road on the borders of the kingdom.”

Erick continued speaking about the king for several minutes as a murmur ran through the crowd, heads bowing and prayers falling from lips. “But now is a time for celebration, and my coronation will take place one week from today—two days before the wedding.”

A smattering of applause followed, and Lady Perrand nodded to Erick as he resumed his seat. He gestured for the food to be served, and a din of chatter overtook the room. The mood wasn’t especially grave, given they’d just been told of the loss of their king.

“How are you enjoying Estria, Your Highness?” Erick asked me.

“It is impressive. I’ve never been to such a large and prosperous city.” Surely flattery never hurt, and there was no need to outright antagonize him.

He popped a piece of roast chicken in his mouth and chewed thoughtfully.“I should very much like to see our kingdoms working together,” he continued. “I do not want my rule tainted by rabble-rousers in the eastern regions.”

My voice as cool as the inside of a satin purse, I replied, “I think they are more than rabble-rousers. It seems to me they are quite organized. For your father to send blood Fae to administer gruesome public executions in the center of town, suggests they aren’t only a nuisance?”

So much for amiable niceties. Maybe I didn’t have the diplomacy to be a queen.

Erick pursed his lips and glanced past me to Ronan, who was deep in conversation with their mother. A pea-green shadow crossed his furtive expression.

“Yes,” he said, looking back at me. “But I’m sure we can find a suitable way to ensure everyone gets what they deserve.” Erick took a slow sip of his wine, calculation written on his face like a backwards riddle. More transparent than glass, he wasn’t even trying to hide he was planning something. I only wished I knew what he was thinking.

Mercifully, I made it through dinner after a round of endless speeches about the king and the future of Estria. When dessert had been devoured and guests started finding their way back to their rooms, I descended the dais and headed for Noah and Em.

Forgoing all appearances of decorum, I hurled myself at Noah as he swung me around. Next, I embraced Em, holding on to her so tightly she grunted.

“We missed you too, Princess,” she said, fondness in her voice.

“I’m so sorry, Highness. Ronan told us what happened with your family,” Noah said, his face bent close to mine.

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