Chapter 18

CHAPTER18

Larkin raised his sword again, although his arms ached from exertion. His heart was already heavy from exhaustion, and all he wanted was to be done with this whole awful, messy affair.

Elric stood shakily, clutching his wound. “Guards! Arrest—arrest the traitor. Kill the dragon, and… and…”

The guards all shared a look, then shook their heads.

Larkin watched in disbelief, holding his breath as his disarmed brother scrambled to his feet. Elric went for his sword, but one of the guards put a foot on it to keep him from grabbing it.

“N-no,” the one with the most elaborate helm said. “We all saw… we all saw you attempt to murder your brother. He isn’t the traitor. It’s you.”

Elric’s expression was almost comical. “Excuse me? I’m the king! You do as I say!”

But the guard stood taller. “You aren’t the king yet. You were not crowned. And, the late queen’s wishes…”

“Her alleged wishes!” Elric insisted.

The priestess stepped forward again, extending her hand to Larkin. He pulled out the documents from within his shirt, handing them over with some reluctance. If she believed Elric, she could destroy them before their eyes, and any hopes of surviving this would be gone. No helping his kingdom, no following his duty…

No Jade.

The priestess began to read the documents aloud, solidifying Larkin’s claim to the throne—and denouncing Elric’s. Larkin’s heart raced as he heard the words, and for all that Elric had proven to be a murderous traitor over and over again, Elric was still his brother. But he’d been corrupted, tainted, by ambition and greed, and he couldn’t be permitted to rule Kithage.

“For my eldest son, Elric: I denounce him as the kin-slayer he is. Cast him from our lands before he becomes the rot that poisons us all,” the priestess read.

“Shut up!” Elric shouted. He attempted to lunge forward, but between his wound and the guards, he didn’t get far. “She was a weak, pitiful hypocrite.”

The priestess shook her head and folded the testament up again. “No. She saw the truth.” She turned to Larkin. “What shall you do with your brother, Your High… Your Majesty?”

Larkin swallowed hard. He didn’t want to make this decision. If he cast Elric out, there was a chance he could provoke a civil war. No. He had murdered their mother, he had almost murdered Larkin, and there were so many deaths that could be laid at Elric’s feet. “Imprison him, temporarily in the dungeons, until a cell befitting his station can be created.”

Jade ambled over, a strip of fabric tied around his waist, just barely covering his cocks. There was still a hint of dragon to him—the scales on his hands, the sharp claws, and the horns extending from his temples.

The guards eyed him warily, but Jade ignored them and draped an arm around Larkin’s shoulder. “Are you all right, my jewel?”

Larkin pressed in close to Jade, nodding. He had a few nicks and scratches, much less severe than Elric’s still-bleeding arm, but it was nothing that couldn’t be easily bandaged and healed. “I’m fine,” he murmured, but he pulled away to look Jade over. “Are you? You were fighting that… that mage.”

Jade’s lip curled in disgust. “That wasn’t a mage, or any other kind of human. That being belongs in the depths of darkness. Strange that your brother would consort with such a creature.”

All eyes turned to Elric, and he laughed. “Why shouldn’t I take help from whoever is willing to give it? But it seems Callan is a coward, too. Chased off by the dragon my brother failed to slay.”

“Jade gave me no reason to kill him,” Larkin retorted, bristling. “You sent me to my death, but he saw fit to spare me.” For reasons he still didn’t understand, but he wasn’t going to say that aloud. Jade just insisted Larkin was his treasure, and that was that. “He is no mindless being, and he has taught me a great deal in our time… together.” He blushed harder at that, knowing where everyone’s minds were already going.

At least Jade had covered up and wasn’t exposing himself to all. He especially didn’t want the priestess to see Jade in full glory.

Some things were meant to be kept private, like body parts and sexual activities.

“You are very lucky my treasure is so merciful,” Jade said darkly, pulling Larkin closer to him. “I don’t normally eat humans, but I would gladly dine on you.”

Some of the guards recoiled and raised their swords higher.

“He’s not actually going to eat anyone,” Larkin promised. He placed one hand on Jade’s bare chest. “You’ll behave, right? We have to clean up here, and… and…”

Larkin trailed off. He didn’t actually know where they would go from here.

Jade smiled brightly. “I won’t eat him. Especially not now, on the day of your coronation.”

Larkin looked blankly at Jade. “The day of my… what? It’s not my coronation day. This was meant to be Elric’s day. The town square is ruined, everyone’s gone, I don’t even know where my father’s crown is…” And that thought made tears well up in his eyes.

“The crown is here, Your Majesty,” the priestess said, holding up a pouch. “I thought to protect it… and, your, ah, friend’s idea is not wrong. The audience can be called back. It will not be as grand a ceremony as your brother might have had, but Kithage needs its king.”

“I never thought I’d wear it,” Larkin said, his eyes trained on the pouch. “I was never supposed to wear it.” And it was all he had to remember his father by now. His gaze flicked toward the melted golden statue. He’d have to do something with the gold, something good… “Do you really think they’d come back?”

What he didn’t ask was do you really think they’ll respect me?

The priestess nodded, adding a small smile. “Yes. This will be the most interesting event they’ve been to in all their lives.”

Elric laughed, the sound devolving into a pained groan. “The only thing they care about is how they can use us. Of course they’d return, my stupid brother.”

“Will someone please tend to his wounds and take him down to the dungeon?” Larkin asked politely. “I think we’ve heard enough of his vitriol for one day.” He sighed, hating this, but his brother had done so many terrible things in his quest for the crown. Larkin didn’t want Elric at his coronation, as last-minute as it might be in the wake of so much chaos and destruction.

The chief guard nodded and bowed to Larkin. “Of course, my liege.”

Larkin watched as they bound Elric. For all that his brother had been crowing and shouting earlier, he was quiet now, not resisting as the guards led him away.

Jade squeezed his shoulder. “How can I help?”

“Um…” Larkin looked to the priestess.

She stepped forward and bowed to him, as well. “If I may make a suggestion, perhaps an announcement could be made? Your friend could let the city know that the battle is over, and that you are victorious.”

Larkin reached up to cover Jade’s hand with his own. His heart thundered in his chest as he acknowledged the word. Friend. But Jade was…

“Yes. But he isn’t my friend. He is… He is my betrothed,” he said, quietly but confidently, though he didn’t dare look at Jade. What if his dragon had changed his mind after what had happened to him? He would look ridiculous if Jade refused him in public.

But he didn’t think that would happen.

He heard Jade’s sharp intake of breath, and in the next instance Jade’s strong arms enveloped Larkin’s body. Larkin breathed out a sigh of relief, leaning back against him.

“I’ll tell the entire city. The entire kingdom,” Jade said, kissing the side of Larkin’s jaw.

A huge part of him wanted to ask, are you sure? but he couldn’t look weak in front of the priestess, in front of the guards. He had to seem certain even though he was anything but.

Larkin smiled, grabbing Jade’s lightly-scaled hand and covering it with his own. “Thank you, Jade. I think that together, we’ll bring prosperity and peace to Kithage. Your wisdom will be a boon to this kingdom.”

Jade returned Larkin’s smile with a soft one of his own. “Your kindness is the boon this kingdom needs.” He leaned down and kissed Larkin, right there in front of the priestess and the guards and whoever else had filtered back to the square.

It was unseemly, it wasn’t proper, but Larkin didn’t care. He wrapped his arms around Jade to pull him closer and return the kiss properly.

Larkin felt the tingle of Jade’s saliva, tempting him, so alluring that he almost wanted to find some place in private to just… keep kissing. And do more. But he forced himself away after a moment before the tingle could turn into an irresistible ache.

“Okay,” Larkin said, breathlessly. “Go… go announce the coronation. And we’ll continue all of this… later.”

His cheeks burned at the knowledge that anyone had seen him in such an intimate state.

Jade nodded, kissing Larkin’s forehead before stepping away. “All right. I’ll be back.” He turned to face the guards. “If anything happens to Larkin while I’m away, I will not be merciful.”

The guards all stood to attention and nodded. “Y-yes, sir!”

Jade walked to a clearer spot in the square, and although Larkin had seen it so many times already, it was still astounding to watch the relatively-human sized Jade become the massive dragon.

Jade leapt into the air, his beating wings sending strong winds through the buildings.

“People of Kithage!” Jade shouted as he flew off. “The traitor Elric has been apprehended. The coronation of your true king continues!”

“Your betrothed?” The priestess ventured once Jade was out of immediate earshot. She sounded like she was trying to be delicate, but she couldn’t hide her curiosity—or that she was a little bit scandalized.

Larkin stood a little straighter, meeting her eyes. “Yes. My betrothed. Jade and I will wed. He saved my life more than once, and he’s helped me learn so many things.” Including things he could never talk about, like what to do in the bedroom, but that was beside the point.

“How do you think your subjects will feel about having… a dragon at the side of their king?” she asked.

Larkin stared at her for a long moment, long enough to make her fidget beneath his gaze.

“Never mind,” she said hurriedly. “I will…” She looked around at the chaos of the courtyard, then called out to the guards, “Clear the square so we may have a proper coronation that doesn’t remind us of blood and betrayal.”

Larkin nodded, standing back to watch. He was exhausted, and all he wanted to do was have a proper bath—Jade included. But he had to do what was best for the kingdom. That had always been his duty, and that had been why his mother had entrusted the throne to him.

* * *

“Before I bless the crown and our new king, I ask to all gathered—is Prince Larkin of Kithage worthy of ruling you? Do you have faith that he will be true and just?” the priestess asked mere hours later, just as she had for Elric.

Larkin half expected another interruption, but after a few seconds, somebody shouted, “He is just!”

Another person added, “He is true!”

The crowd was smaller than it had been a few hours ago, but the priestess had been right that the majority of them were too curious to stay away. Along the edges of the square, a fair number of lower-class citizens had gathered as well, ones who had been barred from being this close earlier. There weren’t enough guards to keep them away now.

The coronation robe around Larkin’s shoulders was surprisingly heavy, but so too was the burden of ruling.

“Then I now place this crown upon Prince Larkin’s head, and name him the true, only king of Kithage!”

The priestess approached Larkin, crown in hand. She smiled as she settled the crown on his head.

And that was it. Larkin was king now. The fate of all of Kithage rested on his shoulders.

He squared his shoulders and faced the audience.

He had to make a closing speech. It didn’t have to be long, but it had to be impactful, and he hadn’t been prepared for this. He knew Elric likely had had someone help him refine his speech over and over until it sounded flawless and perfect, but Larkin didn’t have that luxury.

“I… Thank you for gathering here to witness my coronation,” Larkin said after an awkward moment of silence. Everyone stared at him, and he fought the urge to tug at his collar to make it a little easier to breathe. “I am sorry about anything you may have had to witness with… with… your traitorous would-be king. We will move forward in peace, showing kindness and compassion to our fellow citizens.” He felt like he was babbling, and he wished he was better at this. Jade would help him, surely? He glanced at Jade, taking reassurance from his presence. “I am eternally grateful for your support,” he said in closing. “I look forward to having the opportunity to be your king.”

He bowed his head then took a step back, looking to the priestess to close the ceremony.

She took the hint, thankfully, and concluded the proceedings.

Larkin sagged in relief. Now he could get inside and get that bath, and he could… figure out where things were going to go from here. He’d have to send money to Vanea, the city Jade had done damage to—that hadn’t been prospering at all, despite Larkin’s naive belief that the kingdom was doing well. He’d have to take a closer look at what was going on, but that was all for another day.

He held his hand out for Jade to take. “My betrothed and I will take our leave. Thank you again.”

He wanted nothing more than to sag into Jade’s arms and have the dragon carry him inside, but he clung to his dignity and walked into the castle.

There. That was done, and now…

Now he could rest.