Chapter 69

69

Ella

The floor felt like it was dropping away, and I reached for the wall to steady myself. He couldn't mean it.

The impossibility of the prince's words was punctuated by Aamon, who spit out his wine and fell into a coughing fit.

"Are you insane?" Cassandra rose from the settee. "You need to marry someone from a powerful house, not make enemies with every immortal in your realm. They won't like this."

"They won't like me taking their heads off if they disrespect my queen," Cassius growled. "And I'd wager they're now as afraid of Ella as they were of the mages. She annihilated their source of power and reduced them to ash."

I felt like my legs were going to give out. Cassius didn't want me as his mistress, but as his queen . To sit beside him on his throne. To join him in bed, every night. It was impossible to imagine, let alone hope for, and yet, hadn't he called me as much the night before? Let me take care of you like a queen.

Had he been considering this course even then?

I drew in a shuddering breath, forcing my tumbling thoughts to focus. This was about more than just me and my love for Cassius. It was about my people. This would give me the chance to protect them. To make their lives better.

Aamon and Cassandra still looked skeptical, their brows furrowed in equal expressions of concern.

I straightened my spine and stared them down. "The world we lived in yesterday is gone. The Triad is gone. Their spell repressing magic is gone. I am not the only one who can wield magic. Other humans will wield it again, and soon. Perhaps even more powerfully than I can."

Aamon froze, and Cassandra's face paled. "It will be the Uprising all over again," she murmured.

"Unless we're on your side," I said.

"You want me to make a good alliance?" Cassius added. "Who could be more powerful than the humans of this kingdom with their magic returned, and Ella to lead them? They defeated us once, and unless we change our ways, they will again."

His advisors looked at each other as an oppressive silence fell over the room. To his credit, the prince didn't break the spell, letting the words sink in and work their magic.

Cassandra shook her head in astonishment. "I can't believe I'm actually considering this, but if we put a human on the throne, the right human, then I'm certain the army would follow. No amount of bribery from the other houses could buy their loyalty, not with a chance for self-rule. The house retinues would follow suit. It would leave our enemies in the Bloodvale toothless."

"Thousands against a handful," I said. "Any house that opposed us would quickly learn a lesson in mathematics."

Aamon shook his head. "What about the court? How would they ever accept her? Not only is she a human, but she's a commoner ."

I leveled him with a withering glare.

"There's nothing common about her," Cassius rumbled. "She's a whisperer . She drove the entire court from the ballroom with her magic, and I watched the very forest bow before her last night. She destroyed the Triad's source of power. She is, without a doubt in my mind, the strongest and bravest person in this realm. She is the true queen."

His words took the breath from my lungs, the passion of his argument amplified through the bond we shared. I could feel his admiration and faith. The prince truly believed what he was saying.

"No one can debate what she did or her power," Aamon said, eyeing me with a look that felt like it would peel the skin off my bones. "But if you're serious, we can't sell her to the court as just a human."

My eyes narrowed. "What's wrong with being just a human?"

"Authority," he said, then turned back to Cassius. "We need to emphasize her magic, and that she defeated the Triad. Those bastards gave us precedent in a way. They were technically human, and they ruled for centuries. The court might accept her as a replacement—welcome it, even."

Cassius glared back at him. "Even without magic, I would still want her as my queen. There is no heart as good as hers. Think of what it would be like to be ruled by someone who actually cared for the people here." Then, with a smile that pulled on my heart, the prince took my hand. "Will you rule beside me and help right this kingdom?"

My throat went tight, and it felt like my chest was caving in. I couldn't manage to think, let alone say the words.

Cassius turned on his advisors. "Give us the room for a moment."

Looking deeply relieved, Aamon rushed to the door. Cassandra eyed me for a long time before following, but she paused halfway out and looked back. "You may be the best shot this kingdom has. I'd be honored to serve you, whisperer."

My breath escaped as the door shut behind them, leaving me alone with the prince. The man would be king, and if I agreed, my husband. I would be queen.

He cupped my cheek, lovingly rubbing his thumb over my skin. "I'm sorry to put this burden before you in such a fashion. I should have asked you in a beautiful garden or beside a glistening waterfall in the moonlight, but this is the reality of royal life. Backroom negotiations and precarious alliances."

I moistened my parched lips. "I understand."

His stormy eyes thundered. "Will you be my queen? Will you marry me and live with me for the rest of our days?"

It felt like flying too close to the sun, and my limbs trembled with fear and exhilaration. Saying yes would be to dive into danger and a whole new world—but I'd done that before. I could do it again.

"But I'm mortal."

"You don't have to be."

I swallowed hard. Drink his blood and outlive my family and friends? I wasn't sure I could do it.

As if he saw the indecision on my face, he said, "Or I don't have to be immortal."

The breath rushed from my lungs. "You would do that for me? Give up eternal life?"

"There is no life without you. I'd give up the throne if that was what it took for you to say yes. I love you more than anything, more than this kingdom, more than my duty. All I need is you."

"Cassius, I—" Words escaped me. There was nothing in my head or my heart but overwhelming emotion.

"You don't need to make that choice right now. We have time. Whatever we choose, we'll be together."

My heart strained in my chest as an impossible future materialized before me. "Your court won't be happy."

"Fuck them," he said. "You are mine , and I will have no one else. I will protect you with my life and honor you with every breath I take, my queen."

I felt his emotions through our bond, an overwhelming torrent of admiration and desire. Could he feel my own? Could he feel the way my heart leapt whenever he drew near? Could he sense the strength he gave me?

His queen.

For all the Fates, I would give anything to be that. I pushed up on my toes, and brushing my lips against his, I whispered, "With all my heart, yes, I will be your queen—now and forever."