22. Adrianna

22

ADRIANNA

“ G ood morning, Floodborn Kingdom. I would love nothing more than to address you with positive news today, but unfortunately, that’s not the case. It is with the deepest remorse that I announce to you that Summer Oak was attacked through the night. I would like to start by offering my deepest condolences to those affected by these terrible acts. As we begin to look more into Summer Oak specifically, I want to make everyone aware of the threat that is wreaking havoc on our kingdom. You may have seen her for the first time, as I did, just a few short days ago. Her name is Clementine Reagan. I believe she is my aunt, a family member cast away in the ultimate prison, a kiss of death. It’s clear she is no longer imprisoned and has enlisted the aid of councilman Orenda, whom she broke out of the council prison. Along with him, a substantial but thus-far-unnumbered portion of our soldiers have defected, and she has somehow gained control of the frenzied vampires. It seems we overcame one enemy to the kingdom only to be immediately facing another. And make no mistake, that’s what these people are. Enemies. A threat. The atrocity they wrought in Summer Oak last night is unforgivable. With that said, it is always customary for the new monarch to take a tour of the kingdom within the first twelve months of appointment. I will begin my tour tomorrow, starting with Summer Oak. Now is the time for us to band together as one community. If anyone wishes to join us, the offer is open to all. I’m devastated that what should be a celebratory event is being forced by such awful pretenses, but I am working tirelessly to protect our kingdom. More news on my tour and where we will travel to from Summer Oak will be announced in the coming days. Until then, our time will be dedicated to helping rebuild what has been broken. Thank you.”

Stepping down from the podium, I let the weight of the conversation sit on my chest, bearing down as I let the devastating feeling rush over me. Leaving tomorrow feels too far away, but there’s more to consider than just traveling and I have to respect that. In Arlo’s words, tomorrow is the earliest opportunity and almost anyone else would give it a week.

I’m taking his word for it.

Stepping through the gates separating the castle from the rest of the kingdom, leaving the media behind, I feel the presence of my men a step beside me. Raiden, Kryll, and Brody refused to let me step outside of the castle alone, framing the podium as I spoke, silently offering me their support.

I want to reach out and take someone’s hand, draw strength from one of them, but it’s always been drilled into me to stand tall alone. If the media capture a moment of me leaning on someone else for support, it will undoubtedly be published as a queen’s vulnerability and my worthiness to maintain the throne will come into question. My father’s words have always guided me well with everything else, so I’m trusting him with that fact too.

“You smashed that, Dagger,” Brody murmurs when we’re far enough away from the media that even the supernatural with enhanced hearing won’t hear us, and I smile.

“I’m hoping one day I can address my people with good news,” I muse, the smile on my face losing its strength as I sigh.

“You will, Princess. First, you just have to show them how strong you are, how much you care about the kingdom as a whole. Then you’ll get the privilege of showering them in good news,” Kryll assures me, and I nod in understanding.

It doesn’t sound all that fun, and I thought I had been through all of my trials before being declared the heir, but now that I am the queen, it seems I haven’t truly accomplished anything yet.

As we near the door to the castle, it creaks open and I startle at the sight of the person on the other side.

“Cassian,” I breathe, managing a half smile as I step over the threshold and into his arms.

His hold is tight and stiff, the tension noticeable through his limbs as I peer up at him. Dark eyes swirl, a storm billowing in his orbs as he looks down at me.

The door clicks shut behind me and it seems to knock the tension levels through the roof as I stand chest to chest with Cassian, with Kryll, Raiden, and Brody at my back. Cassian doesn’t acknowledge his friends, his stare drilling into me as he strokes his thumb down my face. His lips part and slam shut a few times, then understanding washes over me.

“I already know what you’re going to say,” I state, a sigh parting my lips despite my best efforts. I’m not sighing at him, I’m sighing at the unavoidable situation and the awkwardness it’s starting to wedge between us all.

“Alpha,” he rasps, capturing my chin between his thumb and finger.

“It’s okay,” I insist, wrapping my fingers around his wrist as he shakes his head at me.

“You haven’t even heard it yet,” he grumbles, doubting my ability to know what’s troubling him.

Clearing my throat, I roll my shoulders back, standing as tall as I can as I cock a brow at him. “You can’t come on the tour.”

His eyes turn black and bleak, his pupils nothing more than pin pricks as he shakes his head. “I… I don’t think so, no,” he admits, dropping his gaze from mine, but I squeeze his wrist tight until he’s looking at me once again.

“Because the wolves need you,” I add, wanting him to know that I can see the whole picture, and he sighs. His shoulders slump, like the weight of the world hangs in the balance of his actions.

“But you need me too.” There it is. There’s the pain that’s tearing him in two. It’s impossible to put yourself in two places at once, and he’s currently being split right down the middle.

Releasing his wrist, I cup his jaw, running my thumb back and forth over his stubble. “I will always need you, Cassian, but they need you more right now, and that’s okay. I’m not alone. I have Brody, Kryll, and Raiden with me. The others too. Will I miss you? Without a doubt, but I’m not alone. It’s going to be okay,” I insist, desperate to reassure him and ease his worries.

“It doesn’t feel okay,” he admits, his pain whispered through clenched teeth as someone scoffs behind me.

“That sounds like guilt if you ask me,” Raiden grunts, making his thoughts known, and Cassian tenses against me.

“Fuck off, asshole,” he snaps, his chest heaving with every breath as panic and frustration claw through him.

“I’m not joking,” Raiden insists, and I sense him step closer to us. “You have to decide on your priorities,” he adds, and I whirl my gaze around to find his. He’s mad. Like mad mad. The tension is almost drowning me between them as I shake my head, silently pleading for them to not argue.

“He can choose both,” I state, and Raiden’s narrowed gaze turns my way.

“Not in my eyes,” he snaps, and Kryll suddenly appears, knocking him off balance as he shoves at his side.

“It’s a good thing your opinion doesn’t matter,” the dragon grunts, eyes finding mine among the chaos. “This is your adventure, Princess. I’m right here with you every step. We’re all entitled to our thoughts, you know that. We don’t all have to like this, but we don’t need to bury you with this burden too, not when you have an entire kingdom to uphold.” His words make my pulse thunder in my ears and my eyelids threaten to close.

It sounds selfish as fuck, but he’s right. Dealing with potential fallout here is not what I need on top of the kingdom’s problems.

“That’s fine, I’ll have this conversation privately with the wolf then,” Raiden states as he straightens, but Cassian shakes his head.

“She’s leaving in the morning. You all are. The last thing I’m going to do is spend what little time we have before then arguing with you,” Cassian grunts as he wraps his arms around my waist and bolts from the foyer a moment later.

I hold on tight, the familiar sense of nausea rippling through me since I’m not the one in control of the speed, but I try my best to hold it at bay. It forces me to slam my eyes shut, a fact I don’t realize until we come to a stop and all I can see is the back of my eyelids.

Prying my eyes open, I startle at my surroundings when I find the familiar furnishings of Cassian’s home on the Kenner compound. He brought me all the way out here?

Fuck.

Leaving the castle grounds without Arlo’s knowledge and protective detail in place is going to cause trouble for me later, but I can’t say that I’m sad to be here. I attempt to step back from Cassian so I can take in my surroundings, but his hold on me tightens as he cups my cheek, bringing my gaze to his.

“They can hate me, Alpha, but not you. I can’t have you hating me. Ever,” he rasps, emotion clogging his throat as I shake my head.

“I don’t.”

“You promise?”

I stare deep into his eyes, the desperation for confirmation clear in his gaze. I don’t want him to doubt me, not ever, not when I’m telling the truth. He might be able to sense it in our bond, but I want him to know it in my voice too. “I swear,” I insist as he presses his forehead to mine, keeping our gazes locked in place.

“Then kiss me.”