31. Kaida

The sounds of the crowd below the castle windows made Kaida’s heart skip a beat. They were all cheering her name and preparing for the ceremony to name her Queen of the Dragon Kingdom. She was taken aback by the support she received once she returned from the island and announced the fall of Gemar. Nande was the first person she expected not to take the news lightly. She was quite surprised to see the former queen exclaim with happiness when she heard her mate had been killed and threw her hands around Kaida’s neck.

"Thank you. Thank you, my child. You have freed me from a nightmare I couldn’t seem to wake up from," she whispered into Kaida’s ear.

Kaida hugged the queen back and squeezed a little harder to convey her acceptance. "You’re welcome, Nande."

"You do not know what you have done. For years, I was under his spell. Nothing I could do or tried to do broke his hold on me. It was as if I was locked inside a box within my mind. I could see and hear what I did but had no control. I tried to fight him, but he was too strong."

Kaida learned that Gemar had forced Nande to become his mate and controlled everything she did moving forward. Gemar’s ability easily manipulated the mate bond, and she watched as he controlled every aspect of her life. It broke Kaida’s heart that Nande had to live that way. She did know about Amy and wished she could have told others about everything Gemar had planned. He schemed from the moment he learned Nande was carrying a boy. He always wanted to allow his son to ascend the throne but puppet everything from his ability to continue his reign.

Since their return, Nande had been their biggest supporter. She welcomed her mates with open arms and signed the decree abolishing the law against the Elementals to live on the island. Nande personally flew over to the island to make it known they did not need to live there if they did not want to. Many wanted their businesses to transfer to Dragaal so they would make money once they moved. Kaida worked with Nande and Enzo to prepare for that to happen over the next week so the Elementals could move to Dragaal just in time for Kaida to be crowned.

Enzo suggested that Kaida would be Queen moving forward, and her mates would share the title of King. There was not to be a single person making decisions, but all six would be involved in everything after speaking with the council. No one argued that term.

Kaida did her best to keep herself from hurling that morning’s breakfast as she paced along her room. The guys were getting ready in a different one, so they didn’t try to tear away the dress that Azulia had sent her from the Faerie Kingdom. The letter attached to it caused a level of alarm, but Azulia assured her that things were fine and she didn’t need Kaida to fly to the kingdom to save her just yet. The dress was deep purple with fabric added to give it the look of scales. At the top, it was black, and then it faded into the purple of her magic underneath. It was a sweetheart neckline with no sleeves. Azulia added stitching of the elements and lightning around the waist to signify her bonds to her mates. After she put on the dress, Kaida sat down and read the letter.

To the lovely Queen Kaida,

I heard from a fellow Faerie that you wiped the floor with Gemar. You go, girl! I had my money on you from the beginning and am so proud of you.

Things are okay in my kingdom. The Dark Dimension hasn’t touched it yet, but I can feel a storm brewing. I am doing my best to keep the peace between the Seelie and Unseelie, but I don’t think the courts see eye to eye often. Sometimes, I think the Unseelie are already affected by the dimension, that they are working with it and not against it. I don’t know for sure yet, but I’ll be sure to keep you updated.

I wish I could be there for the ceremony to see your pretty head crowned. Just know that I am thinking of you and wishing you all the best from afar. I’ll visit as soon as I can.

With Love,

Azulia.

P.S. Remy mentioned in her letter that she has an addition to the dress. I’m not sure what it was, but please tell me what she sent!

Kaida found a box under the one that held her dress. Inside it was a leather jacket like the one Remy wore. Kaida laughed when she found it and slipped into it. Under the tissue paper was a letter from Remy.

Hey, badass!

I knew you’d show that king who was really the one in charge. I’m so damn proud of you. I can’t wait to see that damn crown on your head and for you to get the respect you deserve. Let those boys know that if they do something stupid now that they are kings, I’ll find a way over there and kick their asses. Bet that I won’t.

By the way, I let Azulia know I was adding to your crowning day outfit. I swear if I find out you didn’t wear it, Imma be mad.

I’d be there, but things are going down among the packs. I did not miss the Lycan life of people thinking they must fight over stupid things because their dominance gets to their heads. If I could, I would make a law so this can’t happen anymore. I am worried the Dark Dimension is touching down here. If you don’t hear from me, just know I am deep inside of bullshit, and I’ll send an update as soon as I’m out of it.

Your Furry Friend, Remy.

Kaida laughed and found herself hugging the jacket and dress on her to feel closer to her friends. She could feel their energy inside of the fabrics, and it made her yearn to visit her friends. She made a mental note that, once they were all settled here, she would make it a point to visit each of them unless they sent a message that she was needed to help with the Dark Dimension first. Their letters seemed to express that they were handling things just fine without her, and so many things needed to change in the Dragon Kingdom now that she was to take the throne.

I got this. I have my mates to help me through it.

A knock on the door pulled her away from her thoughts. Kaida rushed over and opened it. A squeal rang through the halls as she entered her parents’ arms. They hugged her so tight she could barely breathe, but she didn’t dare tell them. She needed to feel them after months of being away. Kaida felt the wetness against their cheeks and did her best not to let her own spill.

"It is so good to feel your hug again," her mother said around her neck.

"It’s been too long!" her father said against the other side.

Kaida pulled away and whimpered at them. The tears welling in her eyes spilled down her face as she looked them over. After fighting for her life multiple times without much of a break, she had to remind herself this wasn’t a dream.

"I’m so happy to be home. I have so much to tell you."

Her father waved his hands. "We have time for that later. We need to get you down to the throne room. Your ceremony is to start any minute."

"You need to meet my mates!"

"After!" her mother demanded. “We couldn’t get up here sooner because Nande has been fussing over every detail since you returned. Since we arrived, she has been grabbing us to help her fix things."

Kaida snickered with self-satisfaction, knowing Nande was doing everything she could to make up for a mistake she didn’t even make. Eventually, she would have to convince the former queen that what she did under Gemar’s control was not her fault, and Kaida didn’t hold anything against her.

Dracul and Audra walked down the halls with their arms looped through hers until they reached the throne room. Her mates were dressed in vests and pants with shirts the colors of their respective magic underneath. Kaida noticed the vests were all out of the same fabric as hers and resembled the scales of their dragons. The Elemental Princes all winked at her, knowing that Azulia made them and sent them over for them to wear for the ceremony. Enzo smiled at them, understanding that they all knew Azulia more, and gave her a hopeful wish through their bond that he would be among the rest of them to know her friends.

"You boys take care of her, or I’ll have to call in my contacts in the other kingdoms to teach you a lesson," Dracul threatened as he shook the hands of her mates.

"Dad!"

The guys looked at her and smirked. Blaze winked again before bowing his head at her father. "Trust me, sir. She will be the one who kicks our asses for disrespecting her. I think we will all be on our best behavior."

Audra looked at Kaida, and Kaida tried to hide her smile. Her mother hugged them all before standing next to her again. "Be that as it may, boys, you will still answer to us if you step out of line. She may hurt you, but we will break you. She deserves everything."

"We know," they said in unison while looking at her.

Her parents both hugged her before slipping inside the room.

"I like your dad," Blaze told her. "Kind of reminds me of mine. He would always say stuff like that."

Kaida rolled her eyes and laughed. "That isn’t even in the top tier of things he could have said to embarrass me. Just you wait."

Enzo nodded. "Dracul is someone that can make the whole room laugh. He was always a favorite of mine from the council."

"That’s Good to know," Beckett told him before straightening his vest. "Okay, are you all ready?"

Esen was fidgeting with his vest. Kaida approached him, straightened it out, and faced the door.

"Let’s go."

The doors swung open, and Kaida stood at the top of the stairs with her mates on either side. Enzo stood next to her and stepped forward to be lined up with where she stood. Esen and Blaze chose to be on his side, while Beckett and Arlo chose to stand on hers. The staircase was wide enough for them to walk simultaneously down the stairs. Kaida walked down first, with her mates following. There were rounds of applause as they reached the bottom, and they hushed into silence as Nande projected her voice through the room. As they walked, Nande asked them the questions to begin the ceremony.

"Do you solemnly promise to uphold the laws to govern our kingdom?"

"We solemnly promise we will, with our best knowledge, make the choices that best serve the kingdom," they said in unison.

"Do you solemnly promise to protect this kingdom with your life?"

"We solemnly promise we will, with our dying breath, protect every soul that resides in our kingdom."

"Do you solemnly promise to keep the peace within our people and land?"

"We solemnly promise to bring peace to our kingdom at all costs."

They ascended the other staircase leading to the thrones after they made their promises. Nande had the Terrain Dragons help her create thrones for the four Elemental Princes that would best represent them. The Ember Throne looked like the stone was in flames with the carvings to bring it to life. The Terrain Throne had stones carved into vines, leaves, and flowers that looked so real that Kaida wanted to touch them. The Breeze Throne looked like the stones were carved to portray a tornado, and Kaida noticed that the corners of Esen’s mouth were twitching up, even though they were meant to keep a straight face. On the Tidal Throne, the stones were carved into a wave that looked like Beckett would sit between two waves crashing. Enzo’s now portrayed a storm with clouds and lightning. Kaida’s looked like her arcs of plasma were holding her chair into place.

They all turned to face the crowd; nothing but smiling faces stared back at them. Kaida could see the faces of islanders mixed in with the Storm Dragons. She broke out in a smile and held her head up a little higher. If it weren’t for her and her mates, this wouldn’t be their reality. The islanders would still be on an island and believe they were not welcome within their kingdom. Now, they all shared the same emotion of seeing the person who made it happen for them sit on the throne to signify their freedom would remain intact.

Nande walked in front of her with a golden crown and the spikes of a dragon on the edges. Kaida glanced over and noticed the others were already crowned. She was too caught up in seeing her people smiling and being happy not to hear them being crowded.

"I, Nande Stymir, former Queen of the Dragon Kingdom, name you, Kaida Hilmir, the reigning Queen. May you live a long reign with your love, honor, and commitment."

When the crown was placed on her head, Nande beamed with pride at Kaida. "The Great Dragon certainly knew what they were doing when they made you. Peace within the kingdom would not be a reality if it weren’t for your birth. Your dragon was a blessing in disguise." She stepped away before kneeling in front of Kaida. This was not a formal part of the ceremony, so Kaida wasn’t sure what was happening. "I request to become a part of your council. I wish to be a part of the world you will create and give advice you may seek during your reign."

Kaida looked at the others, and they all nodded. Enzo beamed with pride when he saw his mother request to be part of their council.

"Your wish is granted, Queen Mother."

Nande stood up, bowed to them, and then turned toward the crown.

"Long live, Queen Kaida!"

"Long live, Queen Kaida!" The crowd answered back. "Forever may she reign!"

Need more from this world? GOOD NEWS! Season 2 of Rejected Royalty is coming your way! Up next: Remy’s story!

The barrier has fallen…. And Remy returns home to the kingdom in shambles.

Remy returned to the Lycan kingdom expecting the worst. When she discovers that her father is disputing pack lands with her ex-mate, Remy jumps back into pack life to help settle the deal. Word already went around about the Alpha allowing the pack to redo the property lines. Now, the rest are out for blood.

As Remy attempts to keep the peace, the Lycans return to their old ways. Raid, Ravage, and Reclaim were words of the past that are now what her people cry out as packs dispute the land. Remy is caught between waging wars and runs into the enemy pack. Remy’s heart drops when she feels a familiar bond emerge around Myles Damascus, the Alpha of the Death Valley pack.

With the Dark Dimension rising and being fated to the Alpha of the pack, who is considered an enemy, Remy has two choices: run back to the island or continue negotiating with the man she is supposed to hate.

If you enjoyed Jaymin Eve’s Shadowbeast Shifters and J. Bree’s Bonds that Tie series, you will enjoy this enemies-to-lovers, dragon-shifter romance!

Scroll and one-click today to receive your copy at midnight on release day!

Disclaimer: There are graphic scenes, sexual content, bullying, and intense scenes inside of this novel. This is why chose a novel where the FMC has multiple partners and does not choose.

This is part of a multi-season world. Each trilogy will build upon the last.

Season 1: The Dragon Throne

Season 2: Lycan Wars

PRE-ORDER HERE!! —> https://books2read.com/u/4N86N8