10

A week later, everyone was abuzz about the final vote of confidence. I was simply excited that we had an actual set way to vote now in Faerie. It was a system of magic and technology that was pretty damn ingenious. Since we were going through all of this, I added a few things for fairies to vote on.

First, the proposed changes for the local ordinances and taxes. There were a few kinks we had to work out for specific areas, but we got it all pretty much covered. If not, people had a voice to vote that we were missing something. There was an option to vote exactly that but they approved otherwise.

Also, at every voting location, we had some ideas set up for new housing outside of the city walls. There wasn’t much like that except farms or lavish estates, and that needed to change. City walls were great for the history, but there would be peace in Faerie now, so they weren’t needed for protection.

And honestly, they hadn’t been all that useful in many, many years for the wars. They were a relic of turf conflicts inside of a realm, and that hadn’t happened in over two thousand years from what I could tell.

But we needed more housing—better housing with more space and room for growth. A few of the laws I was planning to change were also there for people to vote if they agreed with them.

Some I might adjust if people didn’t like, but others… It was mostly ceremonial and so people could have their voices heard. I was abolishing the law against intermating between light and dark fairies even if every fucking fairy in Faerie objected.

They wouldn’t. I knew that, but no one could stop me. I wanted everyone else still against the realms combining to see how outnumbered they were basically.

“Her numbers have fallen,” a woman whispered at breakfast when I walked in after training. “They started the early voting last night and her numbers were higher.”

“Going from a hundred percent to ninety-seven percent isn’t exactly something to worry about,” another woman drawled. “The news said they were doing early voting mostly for the Guardians and those who had roles here on Earth. So yeah, probably all on her team.”

“Is there another team to choose when she’s the only option?” a guy snarked. “What’s even the point of this when the choices are her or her?”

“To show assholes who keep fighting me and progress that most people are in agreement with me for my vision of Faerie and my rule,” I told him honestly as I helped one of the hobgoblins who brought food over. “Also to show my people that they will have more of a voice even if we will continue to be a monarchy.”

“Reports are coming in from our people who were allowed into Faerie to witness this historic event that fairies lined up hours before the polls opened and wearing red clothes to support Princess Tamsin,” a news anchor said from one of the magical screens up. “And the process is seamless and orderly. One line of options for fairies to press buttons and move along.”

“Yes, we reported on the covered tunnels basically,” another anchor reported. “Each area has two, and that is the official count for that city or town. I honestly thought that wouldn’t be enough and would be ridiculously slow, but I’m glad I was wrong. The report we received is it’s efficient and takes about ten seconds for each fairy to use, so the line moves.”

“Faster than any drive-thru,” the first joked, both of them chuckling.

By lunch, it was estimated that only about a quarter of Faerie had voted, and that was a lot less than I had assumed. We had the polls open super early for people so those who worked nights or opened the markets would have the option.

“More than that have voted,” Shael assured me when I raised the concern. “That’s all that’s been reported in to the main tallying location in Theripolis.”

“How much more are we talking?” I checked noting the tension around me.

“Not as much as we thought,” she confirmed. “Maybe forty percent.” She nodded when I sighed. “As it is inconvenient for humans to vote during the workday, it is for us. Next time you have a large vote like this, we will need to change it to maybe a Sunday/Monday combination with early voting starting Friday since it’s all in person.”

“They will be flooded with crazy after work then,” I worried. “Okay, well, we don’t want everyone standing for hours in line. Let’s get some sort of signal going that it’s less than a hundred in the queues so people can come when they’re done with dinner or whatever instead of all at once. And we’ll keep polling open until every fairy has their vote.”

“You’re going to win, Your Highness,” she hedged. “The numbers are overwhelmingly—”

“I don’t care about that,” I snapped. “I promised people a say in the direction and decisions that would affect them going forward. I meant it, Commander. I won’t have them silenced because we didn’t plan better or they had to work. That’s fucking voter suppression, and I won’t allow it in Faerie. I won’t.”

She nodded. “I will make that clear and see who can help cover people for breaks and stay longer. I’m sure we can spare some Guardians and help.”

“Thank you,” I mumbled. “Sorry. I just—I thought we had this ready.”

“We did. We thought more would have taken the opportunity to vote early last night but people were making sure it was open for Guardians and healers that are all over the place,” she said gently. “No one wanted to be in their way when their schedules aren’t as flexible.”

I smiled. That was nice of them, but it sort of made a mess now. Oh well, at least there was a chance to still fix it.

I felt much better by dinner that over seventy-five percent had voted. Employers and people realized there could be a problem and slipped out to vote, people allowing some to cut in line and hurry back so there wasn’t a disaster later.

“Your Highness, some of us were curious if there was more information about the housing options before we go vote,” one of the students said as I arrived at my table.

I nodded. “It’s all at the polling stations and has been all week, but it’s understandable that you haven’t seen it since you’re focused here at school.” I pulled up the information on my tablet. “It’s basically choosing between a few styles of townhouses and housing ideas. Then it’s whether you support allowing housing outside of city walls or not.”

She nodded. “The walls are outdated, and—of course we need more housing and to expand.”

“We do,” I agreed. “Lastly, we’re asking people how they see those developments shaping up.”

She met my gaze. “That is the part I’m finding most people are confused on. My parents didn’t seem to understand that either.”

Izzy walked up and fielded the question. “It’s common in the human world that apartment complexes have designations. Some are kid-friendly or pet-friendly. Basically, if you guys want it to be more a free-for-all or if you want some structure and definition. Do you want some of the apartment buildings to be like singles-only so kids aren’t bugging you guys?”

“Oh, that makes much more sense. Thank you, Lady Isabella.” She dipped her head to us and took the tablet and went back by her friends.

Izzy blinked after her a moment and then looked at me. “I missed something there, didn’t I?”

“She’s just early,” I chuckled. “You become Lady Isabella Thorne when I become queen.”

“Did I know that was a thing?” she hedged.

I opened my mouth but then frowned. “I’m really sure it was in one of our forty million fucking meetings, but I don’t know. Yeah, you get an honorary title like Geiger did for being the attorney for the nobles here or the crown. It’s like that so people in this world know not to fuck with you.”

“Cool.” She giggled. “Wow, the kid who was constantly told it wasn’t ladylike to do just about everything I did including get better grades than my brothers is the one who actually became a damn lady.”

“That’s one way to look at it,” I chuckled, leaning over and giving her a hug.

I arrived at training the next morning to find out several things.

I’d won.

Faerie approved of the changes I was making.

We now had a path for expanded housing.

And my renovations to my castle were done.

Soooo good news all around.

“I guess it’s time to get your coronation outfits made,” Lageos whispered as he hugged me.

“I’m not ready.”

“Yes, you are, Daughter.” He kissed my temple. “And so I am. I fade more every day, and we both know it. As much as I want to stay with you longer, I miss your mother. I hate leaving her in that state.”

I did too. I nodded as tears burned in my eyes. That limbo she was stuck in gave me nightmares now that I’d felt Elora be freed. It was selfish to keep her there any longer than needed.

We trained hard, and then I watched the news reports—mostly the fairy network ones. They were giving more in-depth interviews and feedback. I wanted that more than the totals.

“Congratulations, Your Highness,” a man said as he walked by my table, several with him echoing the same.

I hid my shock given that few really spoke to me on campus especially since all my classes were separate now. I dipped my head and thanked them.

But they weren’t the only ones. Everyone who came across me all day congratulated me, some even waiting for me to say it.

“I’m going to need someone to explain this to me,” I admitted.

Ara snickered. “You passed the last hurdle. All of Faerie knew it was a formality, but some species still thought we would regain our sense and toss you out. Now it’s done and your coronation set. People are acting like it.”

I rolled my eyes. How petty.

And annoying. I didn’t have time to suddenly become popular or have people want to be my friends. Gag me.

No really. I wanted to vomit by dinner. I had fucking fangirls practically stalking me.

Julian showed up and slid his arm around me, kissing me in the middle of the cafeteria like no one else was there. I melted and forgot about them because the kiss was so good until someone cleared their throat.

Huh?

Oh, right, school. Huh?

“Hi?” I chuckled when he broke the kiss and leaned his forehead to mine.

“Sorry, just needed to clear the stupid and be a bit of a caveman,” he mumbled before giving me a soft peck.

“I need that put into Tamsin,” I admitted. “There’s been a lot today.” I frowned when he didn’t respond.

“It’s been suggested that there are better candidates than Dr. Vale to be your mate if you’re going to mate a warlock,” Stefanie explained to me. “That if your bond was broken with Mr. Von Thann, then this one could be too and a better attachment formed that would—”

“Benefit witches and warlocks better and lead me around by the nose?” I drawled.

“Yes, but of course, that wasn’t what was said,” she chuckled darkly.

“Put out a statement that the only people who have the right to object to the will of the gods is Julian or me, and since we don’t, shut the fuck up and I’m not for sale. And given he is already accepted in Faerie as their future prince and is moving into my castle, our world and people will be rather upset if this disrespectful topic continues.”

“Already done, along with footage of fairies coming out to congratulate you both in droves after your wedding, and you had your mini receptions in town squares to meet them,” Stefanie assured me. “Something else happened it seems.”

“I had dozens drop by my office and meetings to let me know that I was being selfish to not allow our people the real potential an alliance can be now that you will really be queen,” Julian admitted. “It was a really fucked fucking day.”

I ran my tongue over my teeth. “I’m about to overstep, so forgive me.”

“Always,” he chuckled, probably knowing what I was going to do.

“Add a release that if anyone ‘drops in’ on my fucking husband like they think they can treat him like a godsdamn oil change instead of going through the proper channels to make an appointment, they will get to meet my dogs. Are they having a laugh? They think they matter enough to just interrupt his day, and—handle it before I do and make a mess.”

“Of course. His security didn’t know they could interfere in that way,” she accepted. “I would suggest one of them is now in charge of—we should start the protocols as if he was mated to you and a prince. Guardians checking his meetings and all of it. Especially now that he will live at the castle.”

“Do it. For all of them. Have a meeting tonight and let’s outline the changes and what that means. It won’t just be Julian if people are being stupid.”

Nope, it wasn’t. Darby had the same bullshit at Yale, but luckily he didn’t care who he pissed off and basically told his detail to dropkick people if they wanted.

And they wanted to so people bailed on the idea of hassling him fast.

The news reported some of it but mostly focused on the fact that they couldn’t believe that ninety-six percent of fairies wanted me to be queen. There was some snarking that there wasn’t any other choice, or people were probably worried about repercussions if they voted no, but others pushed back that couldn’t have been a thing.

That was why we had the voting tunnels. It was like TSA. We checked everything before people queued up, and then it just all registered by magic. Who voted what didn’t match to a person but just the counter that was hidden and had to be checked manually.

Plus, I wouldn’t have gone after someone who didn’t vote for a monarchy. Fine, others would have or didn’t believe that, but I knew the truth.

And so did Faerie because none of that came from them.

The reports and issues about “switching out” Julian and Darby quieted down by lunch the next day. I decided to have lunch off campus since it was Thursday and I was tired of all the eyes and whispers.

Then it was time to have my fitting for my coronation dress and robes. I had already been measured for it, and it wasn’t molded to my body like a wedding dress or anything, so I really wasn’t worried.

Sure enough, it all looked fine. Just to give everyone peace of mind, I got undressed and put on the dress first.

“Umm, Tams, that’s like the slip you’re wearing under the actual dress, right?” Lucca muttered as I came out of the changing area.

I glanced at Neldor. “I thought you were going to talk to them about this.”

“I’m sitting here in just as much shock that you’re wearing a see-through fucking nothing without undergarments and you’re going to be wet to be blessed,” he mumbled, shock all over his face.

I sighed. Heavily. “Okay, then we had a miscommunication because I thought you knew.”

“Tams, you can’t wear that to become queen,” Lucca pushed.

“She has to, and I have a feeling it was intentional,” Darby grumbled.

I nodded. “Yeah, because the ancients have the front row at the coronation normally. The eldest of them is normally the one who performs the ritual and blesses the heir to become queen.”

“So it’s all set up to degrade you and basically make you feel naked and vulnerable to them,” Hudson chuffed.

“Yes, especially since the water must be freezing,” I chuckled darkly. “It shows that I’m willing to suffer hardships to be the queen either realm needs.”

“Or perverts get to see your pert nips better while you shiver for them so they can make it sexual,” Julian bit out. “This isn’t happening.”

“It has to,” I told them. “It’s the law.” I sighed when they all started to argue. “They’re dead. I won. They can see my perky nips when they look up from hell or wherever the fuck they are, okay? I will change it among the list of shit I’m changing so my daughter never endures the same, but I have to do it.”

Neldor did a double take, but I ignored it.

I snorted. “Both worlds have seen me wet in tiny bikinis and my ass all out. It’s fine. I don’t stand there like this the whole ceremony. And the commanders agree Shael, Stefanie, and Talila will be the ones involved now that they understand how it’s meant to humiliate the heir to become queen.”

They didn’t seem to know what to say, but then Darby was perfect and came closer to me, hugging me and kissing my hair. “I’m sorry you have to endure this, agra . They really don’t deserve you.”

“The average fairy had no part in this and has no idea,” I reminded him as I snuggled up to him. “I do it for them. Fuck the nobles who probably will smirk at it or get their kicks watching me get dunked in freezing water. We changed who is coming anyways because it’s what I could do.”

“You invited more hobgoblins because I bet the rules weren’t as racist and classist as Faerie can be,” Julian chuckled.

“You know me so well, my husband,” I purred. “Yes. And there are ancients coming, just not the nobles since they’re dead. I invited ancients who have done a lot to help get us on track and push peace. A lot of them selfless and tend to the temples because they have the power to. They should be the ones to see me become Queen of Faerie.”

There might have been more I was going to say, but Darby’s hands started wandering. I blinked up at him and he just smirked.

“You’re basically naked in my arms, agra ,” he chuckled before kissing me. “Are you really shocked?”

“No,” I gasped as his thumb ran over my pert nipple.

“We’re going to do this all night after your coronation,” he promised. “You’ll get through it all just fine, and then we’ll do a lot of this to worship our queen, okay?”

“Promises, promises,” I teased as I pulled away. I checked how I looked and went to put on the next layer.

“So part of it was to demean you to strip tease for them too, right?” Hudson chuffed as I slid on the sixth layer.

“Smart dragon,” I sighed. “Yeah, there’s twelve layers for the twelve moons and blah, blah—it’s all bullshit. They get to watch the heir slowly take off her clothes and stand there for several minutes for their eyes and there’s nothing she can do about it.” I glanced at Neldor. “I thought you knew all of this.”

“No, I didn’t—I’ve never seen it, Tams,” he bit out.

“Well, yeah, but—sorry.”

“No, I am. I’m furious that you have to go through this—that our mothers did. So much was fucked up and I had no damn clue.” He scrubbed his hand over his face and looked beat up. “I knew the coronation was excessively long. Like graduation ceremony long and boring but…” He shook his head.

“Shael’s been reviewing the text and promised that she’s going to read at her lighting-fast speed and make it not so painful. We’ll tear into it later and trim it all down.”

“Let’s finish here and go see our new suite,” Lucca said, changing the topic and trying to help our mood. “I wanna see my new room and get the path to sneak into bed with you.”

“Of course you do. You better bring cream puffs if you do,” I teased, giving him a grateful look as I tried on the last layers.

“You can eat in your sleep now, cream puff?” he threw right back.

“It wouldn’t remotely be the weirdest thing I do if I did,” I drawled. I sighed once I had all the layers on. At least they were super light so they weren’t weighing me down. A few of them were just a vest or sash—not a full-body anything. “This train is ridiculous. All someone has to do to assassinate me is trip me.”

“Please don’t joke about that,” Darby said firmly.

I saw they all agreed and apologized, reminding them how many people voted for me to become queen and the changes we made to our security already.

“You look beautiful, shorty,” Hudson whispered as he stole a quick kiss. “I’m a bit shocked how understated it all… It’s on purpose.”

I nodded. “The ancients would all wear their best and shine like peacocks while they humble and then basically strip the heir and get her wet and kneeling for them. After, there’s the two weeks of time off where I meditate before I take over my role.”

“And what did the ancients do during that time?” Julian asked, getting there was more to this.

“Undermine the new queen,” I chuckled darkly. “They went all around behind her back and made declarations about her new government before she could, making promises in her name and more. My mother said she was completely blindsided because she was kept in a bubble during those two weeks to focus on the gods and her new role.

“She came out and all of these laws were already set, and she was held to so much it was disgusting. And she would have to call the ancients liars which they didn’t do before me. Plus, what would have happened if she had? The ancients would have done what? Just let it go?”

“No, they would have said the gods didn’t bless her right or the power had gone to her head, so they needed to guide her more and basically take over,” Neldor seethed before his wings popped out he was so upset. He turned away from us and took several long breaths. “I’m sorry, baby doll. I’m sorry you ever had to be subjected to them and we didn’t listen to you right away.”

I swallowed loudly, realizing that I needed to hear that more and from more people. I’d really suffered a lot because of the ancients but not remotely as much as my mother or other family—Neldor’s family.

Which was why I decided to tell Faerie. I kept pushing for more transparency but then not being honest when I found things out because… I wasn’t sure why. I didn’t want to seem petty?

Maybe it was time to be a bit petty.

At least for my mom.