CHAPTER 64
“Is there a reason I am getting this dressed up?” I ask when I see Silas come out of the walk-in in a suit, making words escape me. Matitus and Dragus also step out in suits, looking absolutely dapper.
“Well, you are our Queen, and it is a formal function so that means the Kings and Queen need to be dressed properly. You only have to wear it till after the ceremony, then you can put your leggings back on,” Matitus says.
“Ceremony?”
“Yes Elora, this is a ceremony.”
“What sort of ceremony?” I ask when I see Darshan also dressed up as Dragus gets him from the cot. I squeal in amazement at my son.
“Well, it is actually two ceremonies, one was a last-minute decision,” Dragus says as I hear a knock on the door. I open the door to see Abbie in a floor length purple gown.
“Ooh you look queenly,” she says, stepping in the room. She looks over at my mates.
“Damn you nearly scrub up as nice as Dakari,” she says. “Nearly,” she adds.
“You have to say that he is your mate,” Matitus tells her as she rubs her growing bump. Abbie only has a week to go at most.
“So, is everyone ready?” she asks. I nod, still not sure of what’s going on.
I am definitely dressed for something as I look down at the white and gold corset-style gown.
It fits perfectly, hugging my curves and making my already big boobs bigger.
Halfway down the stairs, I stop pulling the heels off and chucking them up the stairs to the bedroom door.
“I told you that you shouldn’t wear them,” Dragus says, making me laugh.
“Queen going barefoot to her own eng…”
“Shh!” Dragus says nudging Abigail.
“Oh, sorry forgot,” she says, giving me a wink.
I continue down the stairs where Pluto opens the front door.
“You look nice Pluto,” I tell him, kissing his cheek.
“As do you my Queen,” he says, bowing slightly.
“Stop that, don’t embarrass me,” I tell him when he bows again with a chuckle.
“You would have to be the only Queen in history that gets embarrassed at people bowing down to her,” he says following me out.
“She doesn’t get embarrassed when we bow down to her, pretty sure she prefers us on our knees in front of her,” Dragus says, and I slap his chest.
Hundreds of people sit at the tables in the huge courtyard out front, watching as we step out, and my heart skips a beat, having everyone’s attention directly on us.
Silas grips my elbow gently, walking me to the front table that overlooks everyone.
I notice huge spit roasts turning and cooks filling the Bain-maries.
Everyone is dressed up for the feast… festival…
whatever it is. Taking my seat, I look over at Abbie as she sits next to me, Dakari next to her while my Kings all take seats along my other side with Pluto and Ares.
Once everyone starts to quiet down, the only voices heard are the gleeful children running around and playing up the aisles of the tables.
Silas and Matitus get up, walking toward the stage. Silas tugs his shirt neck nervously, as I sense nervousness and excitement coming from him. What comes out of his mouth next though shocks me, I had no idea any of this had been going on while sitting in my little bubble of a room.
“Now if everyone could sit down and remain quiet, we will get started.” The entire place falls silent, even the children who rush back to their parents and take their seats to see what the Dragon Kings has to say.
“As you all know, there have been some changes made recently since we have found our Queen. Our city is flourishing and after some consideration and hearing what everyone had to say at the council meeting three days ago, we have decided to go through with the ballots that were left.” Cheers erupt.
Silas waves them down to be quiet again while I look at Abigail.
“Ballots?” I whisper.
“Yes, at the meeting Silas asked if anyone would be interested in speaking on behalf of their people as representatives, each faction got to nominate two people to represent them. Silas was unsure whether or not to go ahead, he thought people wouldn’t be interested because they have run things for so long now or that they would be too scared to step forward and put their hands up,” she says in a low voice.
“So, they made a council?”
“No, a house of representatives,” Abbie whispers back.
“So, I will now read the representatives of each faction. I believe with working with each other, we can continue to grow as a united kingdom, a community based on trust and the wellbeing of everyone. I understand a lot of you were hesitant with what I asked but I can assure you we have seen the error of our ways and that is why we asked for your input, have your say and to let our community continue to grow.”
I continue watching as he calls out a man and woman from each species as a representative for their area.
Victor and Patricia are chosen for the human faction.
Aldrin and his wife for The Fae faction.
I am surprised to see Taylor is called for the Werewolves along with another male wolf, and a man and woman for the Vampires.
Lastly, only Abigail for the Witches since there are hardly any left.
Silas comes back to the table, sitting next to me and draping his arm across my shoulders while people chatter excitedly amongst themselves. After a while of people snacking, chatting and drinking, Silas turns to me.
“I have a surprise for you and everyone else.”
“What is it?” I ask, and he looks toward the fountain.
“I wanted to show that I accept you being Fae. I also wanted to show everyone that this is a time for change, so remember those rocks you saw Matitus hauling around?” I nod.
“They are actually ruins of the Fae Kingdom, your bloodline’s Kingdom,” he says, standing up and grabbing everyone’s attention once more.
“If everyone would like to follow me, I have something to show you, something to mark this day in history. A reminder of our past but also our future now that we stand as one people,” Silas says.
Silas holds his hand out to me, and I let him pull me to my feet.
I follow him, anxious to see the giant stones.
We wait while everyone gathers around. Matitus hands Darshan to Dakari and comes over with Dragus to stand beside us.
Everyone eagerly waits to see what is under the sheet.
Silas nods toward me, “Go on,” he says pushing me forward to pull off the sheet.
I tug on it. The sheet falls and I gasp in amazement.
There are giant figures standing, facing each other against a wall.
The wall behind it is about 20 feet long and has LED lights attached, illuminating everything.
I am mesmerized. Like the cradle, the stones are carved to perfection.
Standing in the middle is a huge Fae with wings looking up at a Dragon.
It’s so detailed that I can even make out its scales.
Those two figures stand the tallest as the Fae’s wings spread out behind her and the Dragons as it gazes at her with honor and respect.
Three smaller statues are kneeling, facing the crowd with hands joined, easily identifiable as Vampire, human, and Witch.
A Werewolf is laying on the bottoms of the statue, just above the water at their feet.
Murmurs ripple through the crowd as they look up at the marvellous statue representing each faction coming together as one, our kingdom’s people coming together as one.
Turning around after marveling at the masterpiece, I look out at the crowd who seem to all bow their heads in respect, turning back to the statue.
Taking a closer look, I notice the wall behind the statue and the gold plaques attached to it.
I walk around the statue to get a closer look, tears slipping down my face as Aldrin steps forward too.
I find Marians and my grandmother’s names along with a plaque for each bloodline of each species, Aziza being at the top center of the wall along with Helcate and Zena.
People approach, eager to search for their family’s name, to represent all those they lost.
“You like it?” Silas asks behind me. I nod, completely unable to find words. “Took Aldrin and I hours to find the last name of each family in the kingdom and the bloodlines that are gone completely,” he says.
“How many plaques?” I ask at the overwhelming number along the wall.
“Just under 5000 plaques representing each family name, plus two special plaques one for the woman who raised my Queen and one for Marian, the woman who died for her,” he says.
“A memorial for all those lost,” Matitus says, inclining his head.
I nod, tears springing in my eyes along with half the crowd when they realize their families’ names are on it.
Hours pass and after the feast, everyone moves to the amusement park that has been constructed for the celebration.
Kids going off to play while everyone mingles.
It is by far one of the happiest days this kingdom has seen.
At the end of the evening, fireworks are let out, much to the delight of all the children.
Even the elderly take out picnic blankets to watch as the sky explodes in sparks of color, signalling the night’s end.
I am so absorbed watching the fireworks that I never see them leave, only realising when Abbie taps my shoulder.
“Come we should head back to the castle,” she says.
I nod, following her and Dakari back. Last I saw, Silas had Darshan so I assume he must be putting him to bed.
Only when I come to the front of the castle, I stop to stare at the statue that sits in the center near the front gates, the wall behind it illuminating under the lights along with the statue.
Abigail tugs my arm, opening the doors to the castle where I find candles running along the floor.
Confused, I follow them only to turn around and ask Abbie what’s going on when I notice she is gone, and I am standing in the corridor by myself. Hmm, I think.
I follow the candles thinking about the chances of them burning the castle down and what a bastard it’s going to be to blow them all out. They are even on the stairs along with rose petals as I reach the bedroom door, I push it open.
“Do you have any idea how long it is going to take to blow those candles out,” I tell them, shutting the door only to turn around and find them all on one knee.
“Elora Aziza, will you marry us?” I stare at them, a grin lighting up my face seeing my Kings on their knees for me.