56. Chapter 54 Zorvan

From the dias I can see every person in the room, but there's only one person I care to look at. I watch as she bows before me, the last time she'll ever bow to anyone outside of the bedroom.

When she returns upright, her eyes find mine. Then she glances between my keepers. I can see the wheels turning as she works out what's going on. She's not stupid. I'm sure if I could feel her pulse, it would be astronomically high. And if I could hear her thoughts, she would be cursing at me.

Initially I intended to have her wear the dress to piss off Cyndair. Putting Arden in the royal colors of Feldorn would infuriate her since until two weeks ago Arden was meant to be a princess of Solardin.

I smirk at my mate as she bites her tongue to keep from screaming at me. She'll be mad for a little while. But She'll get over it.

The truth is, I'm feeling more like myself tonight than I have in weeks. Not the angry, bitter version of myself that Arden first met, but the confident ruler I'd intended to be before my parents died.

As the music fades, I hold my hands out in a welcoming gesture. "Thank you all for coming tonight! I know it's been a long while since we've had a proper celebration. But tonight, we have much to celebrate.

"As you all know, there has been a troupe of fae terrorizing our villages for the last decades. They have been taking our women and refusing to return them. As of a couple of weeks ago, that threat was neutralized.

"Queen Cyndair and I have worked tirelessly to find the culprits, and I'm happy to report that they have been exterminated like the roaches they are."

Cheers break out from the audience from everyone except Cyndair, and the members of her court. I did not run this by her. I'm putting her on the spot, and she will have no choice but to comply. It may be brazzen, and it may be a step too far, but I want my people back. They deserve to come home.

"Cyndair's men have located the missing Feldorites, and we have word they should be returned within a month's time—those who have not perished, anyway."

More cheers. If Cyndair hadn't spent multiple millennia looking uneffected, she would be turning purple.

"That is the best news that we have, but I do have other exciting news to share. My advisor from Solardin is no longer able to fulfill his duty on my council. So in his place, Cyndair has offered Falmir's son, Camus! Please join me up here, Cam."

Arden's face goes white as I confirm each of her suspicions one at a time.

Camus walks up onto the dias and approaches me. He leans in and mutters, "What the fuck are you playing at?"

Ignoring him, I continue addressing the crowd. "Camus will undergo the induction ritual over the next few days, taking up his place at my table, so that we might continue working alongside Solardin to create a better realm for all three kingdoms!"

There are more cheers, though much fewer of them this time. People have heard of Camus, and his shining personality. I understand why they're apprehensive.

"And finally..."

Arden shakes her head at me, a silent plea to not go through with this.

"I know that this is an unusual situation, and I expect rumors to fly about. But I'm sure it hasn't gone unnoticed that our sweet, long lost fae, Arden, is a dragon." I risk a glance at Cyndair who looks ready to explode. "After many discussions, Arden has agreed to become my mate—my queen."

I hold my hand out and gesture for her to approach. There are frantic whispers among the crowd, now. Arden hesitantly steps toward me, not daring to present anything but a united front for the onlookers. She's learned well from her time in the realm; both here and in Solardin.

Reaching my hand out for hers as she walks up the steps, holding her skirt, she takes it. The buzz in my skin is vibrant and renewed; I'm so ready to fix our bond.

"I'm going to kill you," she whispers.

"I look forward to seeing you try."

Her face flushes, and her eyes brighten. I'm back, and she knows it. She missed the old me more than even she realized.

"Now be a good girl for me and face your subjects, Princess," I growl in her ear before I spin her around so that she can look out at the crowd.

Then I return to my speech as the servants begin passing out flutes of wine for the toast. "Arden is royalty. She is descended from King Ardeth of Kildara. She is also mated to a prince from Solardin, making her a princess in two of the three kingdoms. Her bloodline is strong, her beast a dragon. Taking her as my queen and mate will ensure I am able to maintain my bloodline.

"Being that she is already mated to Livarius and Prince Camus, she will be maintaining those bonds. Forcing her to sever them would do nothing but harm her, and I will not tolerate anyone—not even myself—harming my queen ." I focus my gaze on Cyndair.

"Her mates have graciously agreed to share her with—"

Arden clears her throat and cuts me off. "I agreed. I do not need men to make decisions on my behalf. While I understand that this realm is predominantly patriarchal, the decision for us to become a single unit—a family—was made by all of us. It is what's best for this kingdom, but more importantly it's what's best for the realm. I happily accept my position as queen. I look forward to ruling by Prince Zorvan's side, and finally making him the king he deserves to be."

She takes my hand and looks up at me. I'm going to get hell for this later, but for right now, she's accepting her place in stride. I stare at her lovingly for long seconds, desperate to taste her mouth again. I can finally imagine the sort of future I had always wanted, and it's all because of her.

Jarrah clears his throat beside me and pulls me back to the present. There is still a question in the eyes of the onlookers. Despite how much they like her, they are suspicious of her, and I don't blame them. With how horribly I've failed them, I would be suspicious of her too.

I change my approach, and offer some vulnerability. "Arden has already proven to be a valuable asset. We recently learned of some fae being held hostage in the earth realm, and her knowledge will help us free them and bring them home. She has helped us to get to the bottom of many issues, including the missing fae.

"Arden opened my eyes to the ways I had been failing this kingdom. But that will no longer happen. She brings a level of compassion to this realm that it's been missing for a very long time. She is my conscience, and my moral compass. She is the light to my dark. And she will be working tirelessly with my keepers, my council, and myself to create a better Feldorn.

"Over time she will prove to herself as well as all of you just how much of a cornerstone she is to this kingdom."

A servant silently presents a tray of wine flutes. I take one for myself and Arden, and the rest are dispersed among my men. I gesture to Livarius to come up onto the stage, and he happily joins us, kissing Arden on the temple.

Arden leans in as we prepare for the toast. She snaps, "You could have warned me."

I lean in and whisper in her ear, "Fucking you senseless will be much more fun if you're pissed off."

She pulls away and scowls at me, but I can smell what that declaration did to her. No doubt the others can too. I kiss her on the cheek, and through her rage I see a glimmer of adoration.

I turn my attention back to the crowd. Once I get the signal from the head of my staff that everyone has been served, I raise my glass. "A toast! To our people, our future, and our new queen!"

Everyone raises their glasses, and my eyes fall to where Cyndair is. I scan the crowd for her, but she's gone. Arden's hand is moving her glass to her lips, and the world shifts into slow motion Lysander yells 'WAIT!' and drops his glass to the ground, shattering it, and slaps my glass as well as Arden's out of our hands.

Most people stop, but a few unlucky ones don't hear him in time. A dozen or so fae drop to the ground, blood pouring from their orifices, and convulsing for a matter of seconds before their lives slip from their bodies.

A scream, followed by more, followed by the unbridled panic of dozens. Many run to the fallen, desperate to try to help their loved ones, their friends, and lovers. Arden launches into motion, lifting her skirt and running down the steps of the dias.

"I'm going to find Airen!" she calls over her shoulder. "She can help!

Camus leaps from the dias and grabs her elbow, pulling her to a stop. "She's back there." He points to the back of the room. "But it won't matter. They're gone."

Arden scans the room for her friend. We spy her at the same time, Her red hair standing out among the crowd as she crouches over someone on the ground.

"No!" Arden screams and runs to her friend. "NO!"

I'm transported back to my parents' death; a fate I almost shared with them. I reach for my crown and drop it on the seat of the throne before jumping into action, taking stock of who survived and who didn't. Then my stomach sinks.

"Jarrah! Emyth! Tavin! Lysander!"

They come from different directions, all having run to help those who needed it, but anyone who drank the wine, is dead.

"I'll kill them all," Emyth says, his reaper magic wafting off of him in black shadows.

"We'll have to find them first," I say, keeping my voice low. "Jarrah and Emyth, I need the two of you to go check the cells. I'm certain you'll find Iona and Falmir gone. Possibly Walden as well.

"Tavin, I need you to track Cyndair and see if you can pick up where she went." I glance over my shoulder, "Camus!"

He jogs up to us from a group of people he had been unsuccessfully trying to calm. "How can I help?"

"I need you to go with Tavin to see if you can track down your grandmother. I suspect that she's long gone, but just in case she's still lurking about. If you find her, do not approach her. She'll kill you. Send up a signal. I'll see it. Take a few guards with you." I place a hand on each of their shoulders. "Come back alive . Arden needs you both."

I grab Lysander and Livarius and bring them with me to where Arden is kneeling on the ground beside Airen. Once we're close enough, and there's no people or obstacles obstructing my view, I find Airen is actually draped over the body of one of the unfortunate fae.

Her body shakes with each sob, and Arden gently strokes her back, not saying a word.

"Arden?" I ask softly as I crouch beside her.

"It's Tara," she whispers, tears streaming down her face. "Tara drank the wine."

We sit in silence for a few minutes, allowing Airen to grieve. Eventually she sits up and wipes her eyes.

"She didn't even want to come." Her voice is hoarse, and flat. "She wanted me to come and have fun and then tell her about it later during a quiet bath in her quarters. I begged her to come with me. This is my fault."

"No it's not." Arden's voice is soothing, and soft. "None of this is your fault."

"You know what?" Airen asks, her face going hard. "You're right. This is all your fault," she hisses as she jams her finger into my chest.

"Airen!" Arden says, and pulls Airen's finger away from my chest.

"Don't defend him!" Airen shrieks. "This was all his fault. Whatever the fuck he did to piss the queen off nearly got all of us killed."

"He didn't do anything!" Arden hisses at her friend. "Not a goddamn thing."

"Arden," I say softly. "Just—"

"NO!" Arden says, and pushes herself off of the floor. "NO! Listen up!"

Everyone in the room turns to look at Arden who has moved to the top of the small set of stairs leading out of the ballroom.

"I know you're all scared, and angry, and grieving, but I need every person in this room to listen the fuck up and hear what I have to say."

"Someone needs to tell her queens don't say 'fuck' when they're addressing a room full of people," Lysander says, concern in his voice.

"She has their attention," Livarius counters.

"You're not going to stop her?" Lysander asks.

"There's no point. The truth needs to come out eventually."