Chapter 40
Chapter
Forty
SELENE
3 months later
A large glass dome with twinkling faerie lights took up a majority of the ceiling in Menodore’s throne room. On the night of the Siege of Mendodore over twenty-six years ago, the clear roofing was obliterated into tiny shards by the High King’s army. But now all these years later, the dome had been re-erected in honor of tonight’s celebration.
It had taken three months to partially restore Menodore, Gambriel, and Argyll after the realm’s upheaval. Durreos Seraphim was gone, along with the Demon King, but there were still court politics to contend with, treaties to be drawn up between Ladon and Atrium, and the continents were finally in agreement. It would take years to become the world we always imagined and that work was slow, but it was progress nonetheless.
All four countries within Ladon had banded together in our time of crisis after the Demon King’s army razed our realm. Donations of time, money, and resources were being swapped, all of us working together to build back a better world. Our combined nations were still being rebuilt while our people’s rights and money were restored. Coffers and alcoves of treasure and gold had been uncovered, left behind by the corrupt assholes that were hoarding our nation’s wealth, and more were still being unveiled.
We had come far but there was still more to do.
Murals of dragons, all manners of fae, Sirens, and humans fighting against Infernum’s forces were painted along the archways of Menodore’s dome in a vision of colors and tribute. Tears threatened to blur my vision as my eyes blazed into the scene of our Gods making their sacrifice for our realm. They forfeited their freedom for our own, and our nation would forever be thankful for their actions but also reminded of how true power always had a cost.
This war was generational, the Gods fighting against one another and binding themselves with mortals. Their greed and want for more caused this realm to suffer along with our own selfishness. It was a reminder that even the most Divine among us had humanity and faults and desires. That those wants could affect those around us, whether we intended them to or not.
And most importantly, that art was to showcase how fragile life was. How fleeting and precious of a gift it truly was.
The artist, Carden Amour, traveled from the Southern Coast of Gambriel in hopes of seeing our Gods once more after hearing of the war that took place. He had donated this exquisite mural in thanks for restoring our world but I also commissioned him for two small plaques to be made, bronzed with gold and embedded with faerie lights.
They were similar to one another but not the same—one for Wesley, and the other for his sister Carina. Their lives were lost in the name of power but their names would never be forgotten. Their love and light had brought joy to this world and now that love would last all of eternity.
My heart had strained when I first laid eyes on the memorabilia, a priceless gift for Keva. It strained at the loss of two fierce souls—one I would never forget—and now both would forever honor the halls in Gambriel. The queen had no words when I presented her with the plaques. Carina’s was adorned with scrawling pink and purple flowers, her foliage magic the same as her mother’s. Wesley’s was a darker gold, with whirls of light blue faerie lights glowing throughout, just like his ocean blue eyes.
Carden and Minka had worked hand in hand to sketch and create the depiction of our Gods and those plaques, not only honoring the lives we had lost but also the ones we had gained. My darling best friend was ecstatic when the opportunity arose, images and ideas flashing before her eyes as she rambled on about her vision.
And because of that, I could see Minka’s heart in the mural, her love for this world and its people.
With the moon shining bright up above, I kept my gaze and hands steady as I walked to the center of the throne room, right under the moon’s watchful gaze. Evergreen trees had been brought inside the hastily repaired throne room, their tiny needles littered with faerie lights and pinecones and blooming flowers. Those lush emerald trees represented the powerful spirit in all life. They thrived throughout cold winters, standing strong even in somber and dark times. More lights and greenery hung from the pews that sat in a circular formation around my spot in the center.
All eyes were on me once more but no waves of anxiety broke through this time. The only thing flowing through my bones was excitement. Every hall and threadbare room in the ruins had appeared broken and irreparable. But they were just a chance for us to build the better world we had always dreamed of—for us to take something that was broken and shift those shards around into something different, more powerful than before.
Exactly as we had done with our souls.
Even with the High King defeated and the Ruler of Infernum no longer plaguing our land, we were still a broken people. There were still dissenters and those with dark wishes for power and corruption. The war was over, but that fight for righteousness would never end.
And we still bore the scars and bruises of our past for all to see but that didn’t make any of us lesser. We were strengthened through our adversity and with all our knowledge, we were inherently tasked to ensure that the past didn’t repeat itself once more.
Monitoring the crowd that had gathered, Emrys stood to the side of Ric, his scarred hand hovering over the sword on his hip as he watched for any threat. Most would assume that it was out of habit that my Mate still closely guarded himself and me but there were some things that wouldn’t fade over time. Or, he was just a grumpy Faerie Fuck. But when you lived your entire life on guard, you didn’t know when to drop the shield. To take a breath and just exist.
His whiskey-colored eyes turned back to me and I couldn’t stop the smile from blooming on my cheeks. The moon slanted across his handsome face as his lips tilted upwards, curving that scar that I had kissed just hours before. Shadows and light danced across the bridge of his strong nose and high cheekbones. His honeyed eyes were glowing, soft and golden, our Mating Bond reflecting in them.
Unlike his usual attire of black, his green jacket was threaded with gold, showcasing the colors of Menodore, the kingdom he had sworn to protect. Emerald against his deep, umber skin made my thighs clench with need. The first color he chose to wear in his almost five hundred years of existence was for our country, Menodore. The moment he stepped out of the dressing room, I wanted to maul him, and that feeling still hadn’t faded.
Ric kept his shoulders back and his chin up, a small golden circlet atop his head as he was named the High Lord of the Umbran Court. Much still needed to change in Atrium, but one of the first and most important goals was abolishing the slave trade and mistreatment of humans. For the betterment of not only Atrium but the entire realm, they’d been working on instating new High Lords over the courts, ones whose values aligned with the new world.
His tattooed arm tightened around Keva’s middle, causing the bangles wrapped around her wrists to jingle at the movement. No corset cinched her waist and I remembered our heartfelt talk all those months ago. How she had compared an arranged marriage to the deceased King of Gambriel to a dreadful caged bodice. She had broken out of that corset, out of that cage her father shoved her in at the young age of eighteen.
Now that she was truly free, her independence was important to her, and Elric understood that and respected her for it. They lived on different continents but still kept that fiery relationship going, Keva just a dragon ride away from her Demi-Fae honey. Her bright smile lit up the room, along with the large crown of glittering jewels that had belonged to the King of Gambriel, but was now hers.
The sole Queen of Gambriel.
She had chosen to not take a king, but had instead chosen to rule the nation in a way the Eastern Continents had always written about. A government made for the people, by the people. Regardless of which lord reigned over their territory, the people would have a voice, an impact on how Keva would run her kingdom and our trades.
And the neighboring kingdoms had followed suit, representatives hastily chosen from differing cities. True leaders —not nobles by blood and title. People were nominated by their peers, their townspeople, based on wisdom, experience, and personality.
The most important thing to not only myself but to Keva, Ric, Minka, and my Mate, was choice, and that is exactly what we would never take away from our populace.
The most unexpected face in the crowd was one from my past. The former King of Argyll, my adopted Uncle Arron Lennox, stood with his deep brown skin gleaming in the faerie lights. A look of pride was on his face as he stared at me with those pearly white teeth shining. After much consideration and long, thought-out conversations, he had decided to stay in Argyll, but not as a ruler.
His marriage to Radha had clouded his vision and had consumed him as a ruler until he’d handed the reins to her. She stole his powers during their bonding ceremony as the rulers of Argyll, and because of that, Arron no longer trusted his judgment. How easily he was deceived by a female he had chosen and loved, only to find that he was yet another pawn in her game. Unaware of her dealings with the High King, and with Falkur—his right hand—whispering lies and deceit into his ear, it had made him a poor ruler but not a bad male.
Instead, we decided as a united nation to let those within each territory choose who their new leader would be. That would take more than a few months, so in the meantime, they had appointed a figure of the Rebellion to hold Argyll steady. Gus, the brothel owner and whiskey brewer, became the King Regent of Argyll with his human wife, Tricia, by his side as the new Queen Regent.
He had spent most of his lifetime defending and protecting humans from the horrors that they once had to face. It only made sense that he would now continue to defend the country of Argyll from our past. Arron Lennox would still remain in Argyll, no longer on the front lines as a ruler, but he would be there for any question Gus or Tricia could have while awaiting a decision.
The rulers of Jindera, Siraj and Mersana Chiru, were also in attendance tonight and would be following Gus back to Argyll along with Arron to assist again in shifting the kingdom's reign.
Running a kingdom was not going to be an easy feat but with the help of all of the people in Ladon, it would work. This was just the beginning of our new world. The beginning of a free nation with no closed borders, labor camps, or slavery. Just happiness and freedom, as the Creators had intended.
It would take time but that was something we had now.
Emerald silk swished around my legs as I kneeled in the center of the throne room, not a single throne in sight. This would be my final time bowing before my reign—as long as it shall last—as the Queen of Menodore. The nation that my parents had ruled over in peace would be the only thing I would ever kneel for.
My nation.
My country and my kingdom.
Hazel eyes lined with kohl smiled down at me as Siraj held his longsword in one hand and an empty satin pillow in the other. My father bore no crown, no special regalia during his rule, and the crown that used to sit upon my mother’s brow had been destroyed all those years ago. It was once a glorious and stunning creation, with the Moons of the Divine nestled in the center of the circlet—but it had long since been destroyed to greed. Instead, a symbolic empty pillow sat in the King of Jindera’s palm as he read off my vows directly under the moonlight I was blessed in.
He lifted my right palm slowly, showcasing the unscarred hand to the congregation that had gathered. Taking his longsword, he looked at me with a question in his copper eyes but I only nodded once, signaling that I was ready. My parents had made these vows years ago with the King of Jindera, their dear friend, as their ceremonial advisor and I would honor them and their legacy in every way I could.
Slicing into my palm, I watched my golden blood cascade onto the crackled marble floor below as Siraj’s deep voice said the words that would forever alter my life.
“Blood to earth, you align your life with the Kingdom of Mendore.”
My voice almost cracked from emotion as I repeated the vows, but I quickly recovered. “Blood to earth, I align my life with the Kingdom of Menodore.”
“You willingly give yourself, your power, your loyalty, and life to the great nation of Menodore.”
Another drop of gold hit the floor. “I willingly give myself, my power, my loyalty, and life to the great nation of Menodore.”
Tears shined in Siraj’s eyes and that time, I didn’t keep mine in check. I let my love for this country, for this world and the people that inhabited it, shine through as every tear hit my family’s stronghold. “With this ceremony, you swear to honor and protect your people and your country.”
My chin tilted up higher, my heart overfilled with solace and joy. “With this ceremony, I swear to honor and protect my people and my country.”
“You have bled for this kingdom and you will bleed again, for the crown is not upon your head, but within your heart.”
The tears bubbled over and ran down my face, smearing the makeup Minka had spent her time perfecting. “I have bled for this kingdom and I will bleed again, for the crown is not upon my head, but within my heart.”
Siraj smiled, his light brown skin wrinkling at the edges of his eyes. “Then rise, Selene Kaida Choryrth, Queen and Protector of Menodore.”
As I rose from my position, cheers and hollers rang out across the throne room, echoing off of the ancient stones that remained. “All hail, Selene,” my knees nearly buckled from those simple words, “Queen of Mendore!”
More tears trailed down my cheeks as I held my hand out in front of me, right towards where Emrys watched with a prideful look on his face. His eyes were soft and molten, eyebrows no longer strained as he gave me that heart-stopping, boyish grin.
You did amazing, little dove, those smoky words filled my mind, sending heat to my middle but now was not the time nor place.
His steps were quick and precise before he kneeled before me, his knees sitting in my golden blood. Mersana came up this time, transferring the blade and pillow from her husband and into her hands. Her angelic voice filled the room as she cut Emrys’ palm and repeated the coronation vows for Emrys Choryrth to recite.
He said his vows with his hand over his heart, his reddish-gold blood dripping onto his green jacket as he bled for Menodore once more and was named king of our country. As he rose from the marble, I could hear his knees crack and smothered the old Faerie Fuck retort I wanted to fire his way.
From beyond the castle and into the ruins of this great nation, we could hear the cheers and celebration happening as our people screamed, “All hail the Queen and King of Menodore! Selene and Emrys Choryrth!”
We didn’t let their applause quiet, didn’t let the moment sink. Hand in hand, my Mate and I stood in front of our congregation and made our first act as royalty.
“Minka,” I voiced softly as large gray eyes looked at me in surprise.
At her side, Cordelia stood with her hand around Minka’s narrow waist. The Queen and King of the Sea, Kailani and Calder, were next to them and I could see where Cordelia got her alluring looks from. A small fox rested upon Cordelia’s mother’s shoulders, its bright golden eyes offset from its white fur as it gazed towards me. I couldn’t stop myself from thinking, w hat an odd animal for a woman of the sea to possess .
My best friend's eyes were still stunned, giant blue orbs on her reddening face. Cordelia nudged her as I asked with an outstretched hand, “Could you please come here?”
Hesitantly, the small human woman walked to the center of the room, right under the sky of stars as her gown of blue shimmered in the moonlight. The crowd within the throne room had calmed, their hushed whispers quieting as the Angel of Vengeance took her place front and center. Her sunshine curls were pinned behind her ears, topaz gemstones hanging from her ears and matching the sparkles over her eyes.
Her hands were shaking as she looked up at me but I just smiled as Emrys squeezed her slender shoulder. I spoke louder this time, my voice powered by Reombarth, wanting not only Menodore to hear, but the heavens themselves. “Minka Choryrth has proven herself time and time again. She has bled not only for the country of Menodore, but for the people of Ladon and Atrium, for this realm.”
Her face was a mask of confusion and anxiety, pale eyebrows scrunched together, so I took her hand into mine, reassuring her that everything was going to be okay. “It is with my greatest honor that I give you, the people, your newest right hand and Advisor to the Crown of Menodore.” Tears began rolling down her angelic face as she finally processed the words. “Minka Choryrth of Menodore, do you swear to protect and honor this country with every waking breath?”
Throwing her arms around me, she sobbed her reply as I held my best friend tighter. “Yes.”
Her scent of pink rose and patchouli enveloped me as I hugged the first person I had come to trust. All those months ago, when I stumbled into Minka in my closet in Gambriel, I never imagined we would come this far. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that I would gain not only a friend, but a sister.
Emrys cleared his throat with a soft chuckle as Minks pulled herself from my embrace. She rubbed a pale hand down her face, trying to clear the tears, but only spread sparkles across her cheeks. Squaring her shoulders, she tilted her chin up and repeated her oath. “Yes, I swear to protect and honor this country with every waking breath.”
She was not only the first woman to become Advisor to the Crown but also the first human in history. Through time and the many challenges she faced, she had kept her generosity, her light-hearted spirit, and her love intact despite the hate the world had dished out at her. She had earned her place on my council.
She was the embodiment of grace and loyalty.
Minka Choryrth was the love that Menodore needed, that the world needed.
There would be no more wars or large-scale battles because they had already been won. Any who refused to abide by the new laws set in place would be handled by any means necessary. My cruelty and bloodlust didn’t just disappear along with the Gods, and so I would continue to use my powers for this world.
The Fates had kept Emrys and me in the Living Realm during our yielding for a reason, and within the deepest pits of my soul, I knew it was to keep defending this world. We would still maim and destroy any who wished to bring back the old ways we had abolished. We had proven that there was a world out there for all manners of people.
For when there is life, there is hope.