Chapter 28
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
MADOC
O ver three thousand years ago, I stood in this very spot, staring at the same obsidian throne. My father was ailing and the time for my coronation was near. Nerves were getting the better of me, so I came to assure myself I was ready.
Gleaming black spears, made from the same obsidian material, extend from the back like a spiked halo, a reminder to all dark Fae that their ruler wields the power of The Wild Hunt and all the duties it entails, including the command of the creatures in the Wilds.
Surrounding the dais, brilliant diamonds adorn dark velvety walls and the ceiling, in a pattern reflecting the feeling of a cold starry night. Platinum chandeliers flicker tiny lights across the room and over the lords and ladies standing with me in the starkly beautiful great hall.
Double doors open wide, heralding Denir’s entrance. Striking his most debonair pose, the one I found him practicing often in the mirror when we were children, he waits for the court to pay him homage. After, he arrogantly waves a hand, motioning for them to rise, he strides through the crowd. Tall and lean like most Fae, the ladies used to consider him handsome and suave. It doesn’t seem like he’s changed much. Slightly fuller in the face, and if you look closely, a cruel twist around his mouth.
His eyes swing toward the area I’m standing in, and I slide behind Lady Karee from the Autumn Court, who’s wearing an outrageously orange gown with a matching headpiece.
When he passes, I slowly make my way to the servant’s entrance on the side and open the door. Callyx moves into the room, like a shadow, dark and swift. Leandra is light and quick like a bird, picking a spot behind a tall pillar. Meri is a burst of fire in the cold dark of night. I almost choke at the sight of our dress on her; suddenly wishing we had picked something more substantial.
“Mmm, court attire suits you well,” she says in a low, husky tone when she passes by me and takes her place near Leandra.
Cormal’s low chuckle tells me I’ve been staring at her for several precious seconds.
“More material next time,” I growl to him, but he lifts a lazy shoulder in response.
“Wait until Rivan sees her,” he returns, his eyes anxiously scanning the room.
Not for Rivan, who’s positioned on the other side of the room, but for his sister, the current Queen of the Dark Fae.
“She’s not here yet,” I tell him.
The crowd parts, and I spot Lord Theron and Lady Arden. Regal in his navy court attire, he’s the perfect foil for her form-fitting ice blue dress. Usually stoic, he’s clearly irritated by the looks the males in the court are giving the woman on his arm. Ice spreads from beneath his feet, pushing back those crowding around them.
She laughs and whispers something into his ear. The ice melts around them.
Cormal reaches out and grabs my arm. I turn toward him. He’s staring at the dais.
My eyes shift to the front of the room and find Oryn escorting the queen to her throne. The careful ways he handles her tells me a lot about his feelings for the stunning royal. Dark hair, same as Cormal’s, but instead of a vibrant blue, her eyes are ice-blue and blank. Like the most exquisite porcelain doll, there’s not an ounce of emotion in her eyes or face. Once seated, she folds her elegant hands in her lap and pastes a serene smile on her lips. Dressed in black with a gleaming gold torque around her long neck, she sits there staring at nothing.
“She may not recognize you,” I warn him. Again. “Remember Rivan’s visit with his sister. It didn’t go well.” I’ve had this conversation with him several times over the last two days, but he’s brushed me off.
Until now. His jaw clenches along with his fist, but I hear his soft exhale, as if he’d been holding his breath until he saw her. Alive and within reach.
Denir holds up his hand, and I tap Cormal’s shoulder. He tears his eyes from Riona and gives me a firm nod. Leaving him, I make my way to the pillar closest to the dais.
Denir holds out his arms. “For three thousand years, I’ve served as your king. To mark this momentous occasion, the coronation anniversary ceremony will be held during the public celebration. With the current winds of revolution flaring high in the Light Fae Kingdom, my people need to see the power that protects them now more than ever.”
The crowd shifts silently on its feet, but then the whispering begins. Growing louder by the second, they talk about this latest change.
Incensed at their lack of applause, Denir motions to his queen. She steps forward. He bends down and whispers something to her. Pale lips move, and the crowd becomes silent.
I open my mouth, but nothing comes out. Puzzled, I turn to look at Cormal and see him murmuring and weaving his hand to counteract the spell she must have placed on the crowd. A minute goes by. He dips his chin, telling me to proceed.
This time when I open my mouth, the words flow out. “The power must be displayed tonight, on your anniversary.” My voice is loud in the silenced room. “Or you will forfeit the crown.”
Angry, he swivels to face the crowd nearest to me. “Who dares to speak that way to their king? Show yourself.”
I step from behind the pillar onto the dais. “You’re not my king. Never will be.”
He stares at me, eyes widening in recognition.
“What? Not happy to see me, cousin? Well, it has been a few thousand years.” I hold out my scarred arms and hands. “As you can see, I’ve been a bit busy fighting monsters. Literally.”
With the exception of Theron and Arden, the crowd shuffles back a few steps. Scars aren’t the norm in Fae society.
Denir motions to the guards nearest to him. “Remove this imposter.”
Callyx claps a hand on their shoulders, and they pale when they see who’s holding them. “This is between family. Let them hash this out.”
“How dare you enter my court!” he shouts at Callyx. “Wait until I inform Lucifer.”
Callyx flashes him a taunting smile. “Lucifer knows you’ve lost the right to rule. Do you think he cares? He backs the true heir to the Dark Fae Kingdom.”
Red-faced, Denir motions to the lords nearest him, and they move to intercept on his behalf, but a shield of ice forms around them.
Theron pulls his two swords. “Madoc, the son of Madox, deserves our respect and allegiance. Hear him out.”
“Madoc is dead,” Denir shouts at Theron. “How dare you interfere in my orders! Once I’ve taken care of him, I’ll strip you of your lands and title.”
“Only the king has those rights. Either display the power to rule or give up the crown,” Theron states cooly.
Denir murmurs to his queen, and a wave of power penetrates my shield and wraps around me, squeezing so tight my bones crack. Her black magic creeps up to cover my face.
“Riona, it’s me. Your brother,” Cormal says, moving to my side. His hands silently weave in and out, setting his magic against hers. “Our father, Brennus, was the first Druid. Remember?”
The binds around me break, and she stumbles back. “I know you?” For the briefest moment, her eyes flash a darker blue, but Denir whips his hand up to touch the torque around her neck.
Infuriated, I jerk him away from her and punch him in the face hard. “Fight someone your own size.”
He stumbles and raises his hands, pushing magic toward me. Typical Fae response. Curling his hand, he looks to his lords and ladies, but the power that is usually on tap is gone. Only the king can pull from his subjects.
Throwing my hand out, I shove him against the wall with magic, then follow with another right cross. And another. Bones crunch beneath my fists, and it’s so satisfying it makes me want to beat him to a bloody pulp. Magic collars me, jerking me away from him.
“Fuck!”
Riona comes to stand next to Denir.
He spits out blood and drags his sleeve over his mouth. “Her number one priority is to protect me.” With a flick of his finger, he taps her cheek, then the torque. “Isn’t that right, Riona?”
“Get your fucking hands off my sister,” Cormal snarls at Denir. “You’re a weak, pathetic piss-ant with little magic to call your own. Everything you wield is hers. You struck gold when you bought her from that last demon, didn’t you? She goes free tonight.”
Denir strokes a light finger over the collar around Riona’s neck. “She’s my queen. Of course, she shares her power with me. Who the hell are you?”
Cormal raises a dark brow high. “Cormal, king of a dark empire full of the worst of the worst. You don’t want to fuck with me.”
“That explains it. This is all an attempt to take my queen from me. It’s a ruse,” Denir states jovially. “Who else have you brought with you?”
Denir gestures behind Cormal, and Riona parts the sea of people surrounding Meri. “Well, well, well. The replacement. Your timing couldn’t be more perfect.”
Meri’s mouth goes slack, and she turns to look at Leandra behind her. “Replacement. The first time I met him, he called me your replacement daughter . Is that what I am?”
“She stole the power from me,” he says, raising his voice to the crowd who crane their necks to see Meri.
Several lords shout and magic begins to fly toward Meri.
Arden raises her hands and traps the magic with a golden net. “Riona isn’t the only powerful magic wielder here.”
A tall Fae pulls his sword and swings it at Arden, only to be interrupted by Theron’s sharp blade across his neck. “Hurt one hair on her head, and I’ll take yours.”
With the two of them holding back the crowd, I turn toward Denir.
Leandra strolls forward, her purple dress swishing elegantly around her. “Meri isn’t my daughter, she’s my revenge. I took the power from you and hid it within her. Almost a thousand years I’ve waited for this moment.”
He gestures to the people. “This isn’t funny, Leandra. The power is mine. Give it back and we’ll talk. I promise. It’s been too long. I’ve missed you, and I regret how things ended between us, but taking my power is the action of a woman scorned. It’s been a thousand years. Surely, you’re over my rejection.”
She stares at him as if he’s lost his mind. “This isn’t about you. You and Nyssa killed my daughter!” she screams, the heart-wrenching pain in her voice ringing in the air. “She was my world, and you took her from me!”
He stares at her in disbelief. “You did all of this for the girl?! We had everything together. Power, a kingdom. I wanted us. You. Not her!” he shouts back, as if he’s repeating an old argument. “She would have ruined everything.”
Leandra’s fury rises, and she shoves Riona away from Denir with a flick of her hand. “Alia was beautiful and brilliant, and you loved her until you found out she was more powerful than the two of us combined. Her love was pure and good. She worshipped you. But all you could see was her taking your crown.” Her hand reaches toward him, but Riona steps to his side and blocks her magic.
“Tonight, you will lose it all, including your life. This is my declaration of love to the daughter I loved more than anything in this world. My sole reason for existing the last thousand years is this moment. When I visit our daughter in Elysium, she will know the depth of my love by the breadth of my revenge,” she says, holding her arms out wide and whipping the wind around the room.
“Give me the damn power, Leandra, or I’ll have Riona end your life,” he roars at her.
Riona sends a wave of magic against Leandra, but she merely flicks a finger to hold it off. “Did you forget how powerful I am?” She scoffs. “When you called in your favor from Nyssa and killed our daughter, I vowed to take the crowns you both loved more than life. Nyssa is gone. Her kingdom in ruins. I’m only sad I couldn’t be there to watch her die.”
She drags him closer to her. “Tonight’s revenge will be even sweeter. I originally intended to let the power go back to The Wild Hunt. But it’s only fitting that the power returns to its original owner, don’t you think?”
Denir darts a glance at Madoc. “He never wore the crown. It will return to me.”
“Shall we see?” Leandra asks in a husky voice. Her power rises, and she wraps an arm around Meri and places her hand over her heart. Magic arcs from her into Meri’s body.
Tears roll down Meri’s scrunched face and the tendons in her neck pull tight as she fights to keep from screaming. Leandra’s hand moves away from Meri’s heart and a pulsing ball of swirling black follows.
Meri lets out a blood-curdling scream and instantly falls to the ground.
Leandra pushes the magic toward me, but I refuse to take my eyes off of Meri. I wait for some sign of life. Her chest is still. I slide over and put my ear near her mouth. Not a single breath escapes.
“Cormal! She’s not moving!”