Chapter Forty-Four
“Luthian of Mithrax!”
I startle awake, clutching the sheet to my chest, and see Cassan at the foot of my bed, staring down at Luthian and I entwined.
Lost in wonder over my new body and the intoxication of Luthian’s love, I managed to forget perhaps the most important detail in my life: I am supposed to be crowned queen today. Now, my mate towers over me and my lover, taken without his permission. I sit up, ready to throw myself across Luthian’s body to shield him from Cassan’s royal anger.
But there is nothing of Arcus’s jealousy in Cassan’s expression. He seems overjoyed at his discovery.
“Luthian! You’ve come to fuck me and my queen!” Cassan jumps onto the bed, launching himself between us. “This is a much better gift than that silly bush.”
“Your Majesty,” Luthian begins.
“You’re not going to start calling me that, too, are you?” Cassan groans. “There’s already too much talking and not enough fucking. You’re ruining my coronation present.”
“Cassan,” I begin gently, laying a hand on his shoulder. My wings are heavy against my back, so I adjust my position, leaning slightly forward. He looks up at me, narrows his eyes.
“Oh. You’re...” He reaches up and touches the two sensitive antennae at my hairline. “You’re a faery now. When did this happen? Luthian, did you see this? Cenere is a faery.”
“I did see it, Y—” He stops himself before using the title. “We have much to discuss. Most of it about your mate. But it isn’t a conversation that can be had in bed.”
“Unfortunately, I have a coronation to attend.” Cassan pushes himself up and offers me his hand. “And your dress will need altering, I think. Your wings are huge. I mean that in the most complimentary way.”
They buzz happily at the mention of them, and I force them to still.
“Cassan, we have to talk about all of this before the coronation,” I say gently. “It’s not something that can wait. After you hear it, you might not want me to be your queen.”
“If you say the coronation can wait, then it can wait,” he says. “But can we speak somewhere less reflective? This room makes me dizzy.”
He snaps his fingers and the three of us sit, fully dressed, at a small, round table in the pink salon.
“The last time I was in here,” he tells Luthian happily, “I was tied down and being edged mercilessly by some of the most talented faeries at court. Cenere can attest to that, can’t you?”
“Indeed, they were very talented,” I agree as Cassan conjures a tea pot and cups. “There’s something I must confess—”
“No. I must confess it. Cenere is innocent in this. I will face the consequences, but you must swear that Cenere will bear no recrimination,” Luthian says.
“I could never hold anything against Cenere. She’s my favorite,” the prince says happily.
Though I fear I won’t be when he’s heard the truth, Cassan is shockingly accepting of everything Luthian tells him. Queen Parphia’s infidelity, her secret child, Luthian’s part in all of it. The assassination of Arcus, the framing of Kathras, my involvement in everything, including the manner of his death. The entire time he listens, Cassan sips tea and conjures cookies, offering them silently to us while the tale unfolds.
“Cenere used her last wish to break the spell and return to faery form, and... that’s all.” Luthian bows his head. “I await your judgment.”
Cassan looks to me, then back to Luthian. “What judgment?”
“I killed your father,” I say, pressing a hand to my chest in a bid to calm my heart. “I killed the king.”
“I killed the king,” Luthian argues. “You were merely the weapon. She has no responsibility here—”
“I don’t care who killed him.” Cassan’s expression is half-confused, half-relieved. “I’m just happy that he’s dead. I’m a bit disappointed that it wasn’t Kathras; thinking he killed father made me like him so much more. But what am I supposed to do? Punish you for getting rid of my terrible father and handing me the throne?”
“You’re not angry with me?” I can only dare to whisper.
“No. I’m not angry at either of you. Luthian, you’re one of my oldest friends. You only just returned to court, and you ran off again. I’m just happy that you’ve returned.” Cassan sighs happily and takes a bite out of a cookie, chewing as he says, “Now, everything is just right.”
“But I love Luthian,” I remind him. That part hadn’t been left out of the story. “I’m in love with him, and not with you.”
Cassan shrugs. “Of course, you love him. Who doesn’t? To tell you the truth, I’ve been in love with him at times, myself. Be in love with him. What does it matter to me?”
“You wanted me to be your queen,” I protest.
“You can still be my queen.” Cassan laughs, as if Luthian and I are histrionically exaggerating the situation. “Clearly, someone can be the queen of this court and be in love with Luthian. It’s what got Parphia killed.”
The breath Luthian takes draws him up straighter.
Cassan takes a sip of his tea, oblivious. “You’ll be my queen, Cenere. I’ve chosen you for it. But I won’t stand between you and true love. I’m not a monster.”
A laugh of disbelief bursts from me.
“You’ll stay at court,” Cassan orders, pointing playfully at Luthian. “I won’t have my queen’s heart filled with sorrow, pining for you. And you’ll make her happy, or there will be consequences.”
“What about Kathras?” I ask.
“He’s the heir to the throne I’m about to take so...” Cassan makes a ticking noise with his cheek. “I know I’m supposed to kill him, but I’m so bored with mourning black. We’re immortal. We’re not meant to think of death so much and for such extended periods.”
“Can he return?” I dread the answer, for while Cassan has said he won’t deny me Luthian, he’s correct in thinking that Kathras’s life is a threat to his rule. “To be with me? I love him, as I love Luthian.”
Cassan considers. “He would need to renounce the throne, first.”
“I don’t know if he’s willing to,” Luthian says carefully.
“I could convince him!” I blurt, though I’m not sure that I can. While I did fall in love with Kathras’s tenderness in the faery baths, and though he did go to the dungeons without implicating me in Arcus’s assassination, I don’t know how he feels about me.
But I want to try.
“Do we know where he is?” Cassan asks Luthian. “Have you heard from him?”
“No. Kathras and I aren’t friendly,” he replies.
“You did frame him for murder,” I point out. “I don’t think your friendship will blossom as a result.”
“Baron Scylas hinted that he may have returned to the Sorrowlands.” Cassan rubs his chin in thought. “I could send you as an ambassador, Luthian.”
“Kathras won’t speak to him,” I protest.
“An ambassador in the queen’s retinue,” Cassan says, and gives me a wink. “Give me a week to recover from the party we’re about to have tonight, and it will be arranged. The two of you will travel to the Sorrowlands, forge important diplomatic relations with that disgusting old vampire Scylas, and bring my brother home.”
I leap from my chair and throw my arms around Cassan’s neck. “Thank you!”
“Thank me by preparing for the coronation,” he says, gently disentangling himself. “And Luthian?”
Luthian rises and bows. “Your Majesty?”
“Limber up. Now that she has wings, I have loads of ideas for us to try out with her tonight.”
* * * *
I stand before the doors of the throne room, my hand atop Cassan's. Beyond, the entire court has assembled to see their faery king and human queen begin the day of ceremony and spectacle that will cement our standing in the Court of Pleasure and Torment.
"I expect you'll come as a shock to them," Cassan whispers, slightly inclining his head toward mine. "If anyone asks, it's a gift from me. No need to dredge up the past."
"Of course." Perhaps one day, the truth will come out, and I will be known as the daughter of Queen Parphia, but Cassan has given me more than any mortal king would have allowed. More than Arcus would have, certainly. I can keep a secret in payment.
Chimes begin to ring beyond the doors, rising in a storm of music I taste on my tongue. My heightened fae senses continue to astonish and delight me. The light through the windows dances in waves my mortal eyes would never have noticed. It writhes to the song of the bells in celebration. The palace itself seems to throb with excitement.
The doors open, and Cassan and I step inside.
The looks of anticipation and admiration turn to wonder and disbelief as I pass them, my crystal-flecked wings shimmering behind me. I see delight and envy written across the faces of the courtiers, and I relish their admiration. They have witnessed me humiliated, degraded by Arcus. Now, I walk beside Cassan not only as a queen, but as a faery. I am not an oddity or a toy. I am their ruler and their equal.
I glance ahead to the dais and the two thrones there. Beside mine is a chair, and in front of that chair is Luthian.
Gaping, I turn to Cassan, and he offers me his sly wink.
The priestesses stand in a semicircle around the dais, and they part to allow us through. I feel Luthian's gaze on me with every step that I take. I stand before my throne and face the court, but my awareness is centered entirely on him.
Two priestesses step forward, holding ceremonial wreaths of blossoms. When they bring them closer, I see which kind.
Honey flowers.
I look to Luthian. The pride on his face is not about his triumph in this moment, the power that he has gained. All I see is the love he has finally acknowledged and accepted. The love that we have been granted by the friend at my side, and the destiny that awaits us.
I sink down to accept my wreath and straighten as Cassan does the same. The courtiers clap and cheer.
“Your King, Cassan The Kind,” the chamberlain announces. “Your Queen, Cenere the Fae.”
A tear of joy slides down my cheek. Cenere the Fae. Not Cenere the orphan, Cenere the pawn, Cenere the helpless. I am now what I was always meant to be.
And I will be so, so much more.