Chapter Ten #3
He laughed. “There is inherent magic in a crown -- it magnifies whatever you have, since it has absorbed power from the Sidhe royals who’ve worn it before.”
I frowned. “Is this all right with your father?”
“Who do you think opened the palace strongroom and gave me the crown? I told him I intended to propose last night. I haven’t seen him that delighted since I survived becoming a werewolf.”
“Really?” The question sounded more vulnerable than I’d intended.
“Really. I showed him my memories of our fight with Siobhan. He thanks you for saving my life, by the way. Besides, not even my narcissistic cousin is going to want to piss off the Mother of Fairies by going after her granddaughter. Especially considering you’re a demigoddess in your own right.
” His lips twitched. “Even if your groom is a werewolf.”
My eyes narrowed. “The first racist who says a gods-cursed word about…”
He laughed. “And I look forward to watching you put the fear of Maeve into those fools.” Dearg’s smile grew more than a bit feral. “Which brings me to attending that audience. We need to announce our engagement to the court. I don’t want there to be any questions.”
I gave him a slow smile just as feral as his. “Maybe it’s time I showed the court what I can do.”
* * *
We paused for a moment outside the audience chamber. I closed my eyes and gathered my power, letting it fill me until it gathered like a dammed-up river behind my eyes. Someone’s sonorous voice rolled out of the chamber -- not one I recognized, so probably some lord pontificating.
I sent my magic flooding into the room beyond. The speaker fell into a shocked silence as my demigoddess energies flowed, burning and hot, into the audience chamber.
I looked up at Dearg as his lips curved in an approving grin, the light in his eyes wicked. “That’s perfect,” he murmured as the double doors swung wide, though they usually remained closed once an audience began.
I slid an arm through Dearg’s, and we walked into the room, steps slow and regal.
The chamber was packed with aristocracy, bodyguards, and commoners come to ask the king for justice.
Every one of them turned to stare, eyes flying wide as people looked startled or uneasy, visibly wondering what the Egg was going on.
King Ll?r and Queen Diana wore matching expressions of pleased amusement.
I let my magic sing its seductive song to the earth.
Nature responded, a riot of flowers springing up through the floor ahead of us as if the marble were soft soil.
Roses, peonies, daffodils, irises, sunflowers, honeysuckle, and a dozen other blooms flooded the aisle beneath our feet, the marble cracking with sharp snaps.
I’d have to fix the floor later.
The flowers kept pace with us as we walked, filling the air with an intoxicating scent. The vines of climbing roses and honeysuckle crept up over the rows of seats. A wicked idea occurred to me, and I added a little flourish to the spell.
A woman yelped and sprang to her feet, a dozen others following suit, all of them looking shaken.
I pretended not to notice, hiding my smile.
My spell had sought out every woman who’d hurt Dearg, embarrassed him, or gossiped about him.
One woman screeched in true pain as the thorns raked her skin.
I took note of her face for a later… chat.
Dearg’s gaze flicked to me, brows lifting as his lips twitched. I resolved to ask him what the bitch had done.
We reached his parents’ thrones. The couple wore warm smiles of greeting, though there was wicked delight in Queen Diana’s eyes, and satisfaction in King Ll?r’s.
Dearg bowed as I sank into a deep curtsey.
“You may rise,” the king said, looking as if he were thoroughly enjoying himself.
Dearg drew me to my feet and said, “May I present Iona Anann, demigoddess of war and fertility, granddaughter of Maeve, Mother of Fairies. Our kingdom faced a threat from Siobhan, goddess of madness and her son, Respen Daemenor, shapeshifter and assassin.
“It was Siobhan’s intention to send Respen to kill me and take my place, then murder your majesties. Iona and I defeated and slew them. Now she has consented to be my wife.”
I dropped into a deep curtsey. “Your son has done me a great honor with his trust, but even more so with his love. A love I return. It is because of that love that we braved death and madness for each other.” I reached deeper into the earth, and it responded.
I felt the burn and pressure as my eyes began to glow.
“And I swear to you, Your Majesties, any enemy of your kingdom, any enemy of you or your people will meet death at my hands.”
I turned to face the audience with my power riding me so hard, the gleam of it lit the silk of my bodice.
“But if anyone -- spy, traitor, or gossiping bitch -- dares to start a rumor or lift a hand against my family, you will learn why you don’t fuck with a demigoddess of war and fertility.
” My voice sank to a silken whisper. “Unless you want to be so desperate for heirs, you’d wed the first werewolf who deigns to look at you. ”
Dearg grinned like the wolf he was as his mother began to applaud.
And King Ll?r Galatyn laughed.