2. Adrianna

2

ADRIANNA

W ith a deep breath, I steel my spine and offer a tight smile to Brody. He’s the one standing between me and the camera with the bright red light aimed my way. He cocks his head to the side, silently questioning my decision, and I nod.

His hand finds mine, offering a gentle squeeze as he pulls me into his chest. A kiss to my temple, and he’s gone. Not far, though. No, he’s a step behind me with the others, stoic in their silent support.

I take strength from them, like always, and plaster a smile on my face as I look directly into the camera lens.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank the people of the Floodborn Kingdom for putting their trust in me. I haven’t taken your decision lightly, it means everything and more to me that we can share a vision for a better future. Not just for us, but for generations to come.” My face pulses from everyone in the room staring at me, and I try to forget how many people may be on the other side of this lens too. “With that said, our first obstacle has arisen. My number one priority is to protect this kingdom while nurturing it back to health. Thank you for being here to remember this significant moment with me. Now, I must discuss our next steps privately, but rest assured, when decisions are made, you will be informed. Good evening.”

I nod, rounding out my speech as I feel a hand at the base of my spine. Guided, I recognize the familiar black ink that trails up the neck of my supporter and lean into his hold. Kryll remains quiet as the others flank me, escorting me to the back of the podium as the gathered audience begins to leave.

No words pass between us, our bonds saying enough. With my head dipped, my chin against my chest, I focus on it. The tension, the comfort, the reassurance. It’s everything I need, and it’s filtering through my bones from all of them.

They’re here for me. However I need them, they’ll always be by my side. But open discussions don’t need to fall on unnecessary ears. Those can wait until we’re alone.

Every passing moment eases the ringing of my pulse in my ears and the force of adrenaline burning through my veins. When I’m finally calmer, I look up at Kryll to find him already staring at me. Peering over my shoulder for a moment, he quickly fixes his eyes on mine again as he mouths, “Almost.”

I nod, staring deep into his swirling eyes before following the line of his jaw down to his throat, watching as the black ink disappears beneath his clothes. The combat attire suits him. It’s so similar to what I’m wearing too: dark, battle ready, yet lightweight.

Tilting my face to the left, I find Raiden standing protectively with his back toward me. His hair is swept back to perfection like always as his jaw tics. He can sense my eyes on him, but he’s refusing to let his guard down, which only makes him hotter.

Brody stands on the other side of him, his eyes tilted down, and it takes me a second to realize he was staring at my ass as he slowly lifts his gaze to meet mine again. An amused grin spreads over his face as he subtly shrugs, and I shake my head at him. There’s a twitch at the corner of my mouth, beckoning me to smile, but the circumstances make it impossible.

Turning away from my blond heartthrob, I glance to my right to find Cassian holding a similar stance to Raiden. His wide frame protects me from the remaining people filtering out of the room. His muscles bulge beneath the tight armor he’s wearing. If he senses me looking, he doesn’t show it. Not even a glimpse.

“That’s everyone.” The announcement comes from my father, but it takes another ten seconds before any of my men move from their positions. Even then, it’s slow, purposeful, like they’re alert for another surprise attack at any moment.

“Thank goodness. I’m exhausted,” Nora states, and I scoff. Of course she’s the one that’s exhausted by all of this. I can’t keep the amusement off my face this time as she comes into view.

She takes the steps with my father and I relish in the fact that I get to watch her walk. I blindly swing my arm out behind me, searching for Kryll’s hand, and I feel his fingers lace with mine a moment later.

I have so much to thank him for.

My father’s ability to use his magic again, Nora’s ability to walk, and my ears.

I reach for the pointed tips with my free hand, reminding me of all the things we have already accomplished.

And things have only just begun.

Nora cuts the distance between us, wrapping me in her arms a moment later, and we sway from side to side, basking in each other, and it calms the remaining jitters in my breathing.

“I’m ready to pass out,” she mumbles as she takes a step back, and this time the scoff that fills the air isn’t from me, it’s from Raiden.

“Your sister is handling all of this and you’re the tired one?” he says with a snort, and she plants her hands on her hips as she gives him a pointed look.

“I don’t need your judgment, Fangs, but thanks.” She turns away with a smirk on her lips, leaving Raiden to gape helplessly at her sass.

The way these two incessantly bicker, you would think they were siblings.

She’s not wrong, though. It’s been exhausting, and I could pass out too, but not yet. I need to feel some kind of control before I leave this room. As if hearing my thoughts, my father steps to the side, revealing the lifeless body that still remains, white clothing stained red. Bozzelli.

I’m moving toward her before I realize it, crouching beside her before I can think better of it. Thankfully, her eyelids are closed, but it doesn’t soothe the weird ache that swirls in my chest at the loss of her.

She was a bitch. Ruthless to the end. The one who impaled me with the damn kiss of death to begin with, but at the end she was… different. Suddenly, I was no longer the villainous inconvenience in her story, just as she had been in mine. Instead, there was a common denominator that affected us both. The Council. Now that it’s gone, she won’t get to see the change.

My father clears his throat as I rise to my full height, drawing my attention toward him. He offers me a flat smile as his gaze settles on mine. “You’re going to need to appoint a new advisor now that Fairbourne is unavailable.”

“He looks a little more than unavailable,” Brody grumbles, saying exactly what I was thinking as I step toward my father. I place my hand on his shoulder, silently offering him comfort this time as I try to pick my next words wisely. As much as I’m still reeling from Fairbourne’s betrayal, I can’t imagine what it means to my father. There’s more than meets the eye with that man, and I can’t imagine this is his first act of treachery, but my father doesn’t need to hear my suspicion of that just yet. Not when there are answers I require from him too.

“I think I deserve a better understanding of what is required and what we’re up against before I appoint anyone to anything.” He understands what I mean immediately, dipping his head with a hint of shame for a moment before he takes a deep breath.

“We will talk soon, I just?—”

“We will talk now, Dad. I didn’t even know you had a sister,” I interject, sensing my outburst gathering everyone closer again. I half expect Nora to jump to his defense, but to my surprise, she remains tight lipped behind me.

“She wasn’t worth discussing,” he grumbles, shaking his head.

“I’d say differently based on tonight's events,” I reply, keeping my voice as calm and neutral as possible. “I’m not asking for every detail, but something, anything,” I state, aware my words are almost pleading.

His eyes fixate on mine, searching for what, I’m not sure, but he takes a deep breath nonetheless. “Clementine was born when I was two. The same age difference between you girls.” Sadness tinges his eyes, but he shakes it off. “She was always trouble, always a handful, and always wanting what she couldn’t have.”

I can’t help myself, I tilt my head to give Nora a pointed look. She gapes at me, but instead of responding, her eyes fall back to our father.

“She killed your mother?”

“Among other things,” he replies, defeat etching his features as he wipes a hand down his face.

“Like?” I push, desperate for more.

“Like making several attempts at the throne before I imprisoned her in the gem.”

“Attempts against your life?” I ask, not wanting, but needing to know, and the solemn nod he offers in answer tears at my heart. How has this man, surrounded by such darkness, managed to care for Nora and me the way he has? How has he risen above it all and still been a good person? I don’t think I’ll ever understand. Shaking my head, I force myself to remain present as my gut twists, reminding me of the other thing he mentioned: the amethyst. “What was the likelihood of her being the co-conspirator in my kiss of death?”

The second my father shakes his head, I know my answer. “Something tells me it was purposeful on Fairbourne’s part.”

Silence dances in the air, settling over us all. Thankfully, it’s not weighed down with dismay, it’s just an air of disappointment. Which somehow manages to feel worse.

“What now?” Nora asks, stepping to my side, and I shrug, but before I can speak, Raiden beats me to it.

“Now she rests.”

My father shakes his head, offering me a sympathetic look before he turns to my vampire. “She needs to appoint an advisor.”

“She doesn’t need to do anything until she’s ready,” he retorts, not missing a beat as Nora claps.

“Preach it, Fangs.”

I raise my eyebrows at her in surprise but she shrugs me off, refusing to actually acknowledge that she agrees with something Raiden is saying. My father, however, isn’t hearing either of them.

“I’m sorry, but?—”

“No disrespect, Sir, but I’m going to stop you there,” Raiden interjects, moving to stand between us. “She may have been born into this role, but I think it’s fair to say she earned it on her own merit. She’ll make decisions when she’s ready. That’s not right now, it may not even be tomorrow, but that’s fine because she says so. Not you, not me, and certainly not this one,” he adds, pointing at Nora, softening the moment as my father’s eyes shimmer with an emotion I can’t quite place until he speaks.

“Thank you, Son. I know my daughter is in safe hands with the four of you. Protect her with your life. Not just physically, but mentally too. She’s going to need you now more than ever. I trust you. Don’t prove me wrong.”