Chapter 16 #2
The noble shakes his head but his eyes say yes. The rest of the court scream a silent agreement and it’s deafening, their judgment already made as they look to find someone to blame for what is a far more complex, deadly problem than the simple one they want it to be.
I smirk, my eyes gleaming with a dangerous kind of amusement. “Let me make one thing abundantly clear. Jude is mine. Whatever blood runs through his veins, whatever magic lingers within him, is mine to deal with. Not yours. Not anyone else’s. I alone will decide what is to be done with him.”
The noble shifts uncomfortably but doesn’t dare to respond, his gaze dropping to the floor. The rest of the court falls silent, their murmurs snuffed out like candles in a storm.
The tension in the room is suffocating, and I revel in it.
Let them squirm. Let them fear. My gaze sweeps over the gathered court, daring anyone to meet my eyes, to challenge me further.
They won’t. They know better. But I want them to understand this moment, to feel its weight, to realize that I will burn the ocean itself before I let any harm come to Jude.
Jude shifts slightly at my feet, his movements small but telling. He’s nervous, and he hides it well, but I feel it. The way his breathing changes, the way his fingers curl into his thighs. He’s holding himself together with sheer willpower, and I couldn’t be prouder.
My claws tap against the throne’s armrest, a deliberate sound that echoes in the chamber like a heartbeat.
“Do you doubt my judgment?” I ask, my tone soft but laced with venom.
“No, Your Majesty,” the noble says quickly, his voice tight.
“Good,” I reply, leaning back with feigned nonchalance. “Then let this be the end of it. Jude is under my protection. My concubine is untouchable. By anyone. If I hear even a whisper of dissent or disobedience on this matter, I will make an example of whoever dares.”
The noble bows his head, and I catch a flicker of relief on his face. I let him think the moment has passed, and let the court believe I’ve said all I intend to say.
“And for the record,” I add, my voice sharper now, cutting through the silence like a blade, “Jude is not the cause of the reefs collapsing or the kelpies returning. Those problems existed long before he arrived, and they will persist unless we address the actual issues—our failing alliances and your failure to adapt. Perhaps instead of blaming a single human, you should look inward and question why our enemies feel emboldened.”
The court stiffens as my words hit their mark. They know I’m right, but admitting it is another matter entirely.
“Now, shall we begin the business of court, Orlith, or may I return to fucking him?”
“Your Majesty,” Orlith replies, the hint of a smirk breaking over his face. “I believe I left my scrolls in my chambers.”
“Then go fetch them,” I sigh. “While the court can get to know my concubine better. I’m sure they’re eager to make amends for their appalling lack of manners.”
I snap my fingers, the sound reverberating through the chamber like a challenge, and for a moment, no one moves.
The tension is a living thing, pulsing in the room as my court hesitates, unsure whether to obey or flee.
Jude turns to look at me, his blue eyes wide with something between disbelief and amusement.
A faint smile tugs at his lips, softening his features in a way that catches me off guard.
I can’t resist.
Rising from my throne, I stride down the steps with deliberate ease, coming to stand in front of him.
His gaze follows me, a flicker of uncertainty breaking through his bravado.
I lean in and press a soft kiss to his forehead, lingering just long enough to feel the faint tremor in his breath.
He closes his eyes, and for a moment, the world narrows to just the two of us, the storm of the court forgotten.
“Are you telling me,” I say, turning back to the gathered nobles with a pointed edge to my voice, “that my court—the court that defeated the greatest witch the world has ever known, that once commanded the krakens, that still holds sway over all the oceans and their darkness—is cowering before a human who tells stories and stares at fish like they’re gods? ”
The silence that follows is deafening. Orlith clears his throat, his expression carefully neutral, but the tension in his shoulders betrays him. Soren, of course, doesn’t bother hiding his reaction. His arms are crossed, his smug grin practically glowing with satisfaction.
“To be fair,” Soren drawls, “he’s more than just a human. Helena’s heir, after all. Blood like that tends to make waves.”
My claws tap against my thigh, the sound sharp and deliberate. “Waves can be calmed. Or crushed. Or commanded, when they know their master’s voice.”
The court collectively tenses, their unease palpable. I let the silence stretch, let them stew in their discomfort before I turn back to Jude and decide to gamble. On him.
I glance at Jude, letting the weight of the court’s stares settle heavily in the room. My claws tap against my crossed arms once more, a calculated beat that echoes through the chamber.
“Kneel,” I say, my voice calm but edged with authority.
Jude stiffens, his jaw tightening, but he doesn’t hesitate long. Slowly, he moves himself to his knees at my feet, his head bowed. The ripple of whispers from the court is immediate, their shock reverberating through the room like a wave.
“Good,” I say, resting a hand lightly on his head, my claws threading through his hair. “We are all convinced of your devotion. And mine.”
The room falls silent again, and this time, no one dares to break it.
This time, I’m thrilled, a surge of pride filling my chest at the sight of Jude. His satisfaction is evident too, in the set of his shoulders, the quiet strength he holds despite his kneeling. He doesn’t falter, doesn’t look away, and what he offers is true, unwavering devotion.
And it’s also a kind of strength that only Jude could possess.
A strength that comes not from defiance, but from surrender.
A strength I don’t possess, but could bring me to my knees.
Because it’s strong enough to make me see with an unnerving clarity that I am irrevocably, unequivocally, and helplessly in love with him.