Chapter 21
Making history.
Henley
I rub my sweaty palms along the skirt of my dress as I take in the scene in front of me.
I’ve never seen so many cameras in one place. There are at least five set up in front of the podium where I am to give my speech later this morning. I can also spot three more at the back, and two at the side. And they’re all facing the same spot.
I take a shaky breath as I look at the spotlights. They’re not turned on at the moment, but I know they will be soon.
Am I really about to do this? Am I going to step in front of a camera and give a speech to countless supernaturals?
But it isn’t the cameras that have my mouth going dry—it’s the audience. There are at least two hundred people packed into the small room, and they’re all here to witness this “historical moment.” Meanwhile, I fight to keep my breakfast down.
Parker and I stand behind a wall that hides us from anybody’s view, and part of me wishes that they were hidden from my view as well.
My mate cups my chin gently with his hand and turns my face so that I’m looking at him instead of the crowd. “Hey, don’t be nervous. You are going to do incredible.”
I’m not sure about that.
Parker is the one who is good at stuff like this. He’s charming and good at speaking. I’m the one who was locked away my whole life, unable to talk with anybody because of my seizures.
“I’m not…” I pause to take a breath and shake my head. “Parker, I can’t be a queen. I can’t do things like this. And if I accept my role as their leader, I will have to do things like this all the time.”
“Fate doesn’t make mistakes,” he says.
My eyes snap to his blue ones.
That’s what he always says about soulmates.
There was a time when I was scared of being mated to Parker.
He’s a wolf shifter, and I’m a phoenix. He is an alpha.
He was one day going to run his pack. And I felt unworthy.
At the time, he told me that fate doesn’t make mistakes, and he was right.
Even though we left Montana, I know I would’ve made a great luna, even if I couldn’t go on pack runs.
But is this the same? Is this something I’m so nervous about right now, but in a few years, I will realize that I was born for this role? Can I really lead these people? I don’t feel worthy.
Parker’s blue eyes seem to shine as he looks at me. Through our mate bond, I can feel his confidence in me. He thinks that I can do this. He believes in me.
King Basilicus, Uncle Ferno, and other leads from the Alpha Council step out onto the platform. I know that it’ll be my turn to join them very soon.
“I will be at your side,” Parker promises. “I won’t leave you.”
And I know he doesn’t just mean his promise for today. He means that he will stay at my side as I rule the phoenixes.
And suddenly I realize that I’m not alone.
I’ve been looking at this entire situation all wrong.
Yes, I’m going to be a queen, but I have Parker, who would walk through fire for me.
I have my uncle, who has been leading the phoenixes for as long as I’ve been alive.
He will assist me and help me become the queen I need to be.
I also have Will and Blaine—they’re both in the audience, toward the front.
Blaine is sitting beside Keagan, his mate.
He has his arm slipped around her, and she leans into his side.
They’re both smiling, and the sight warms my heart.
My gaze flicks over to Will, who is scowling at the couple.
He has my back. I know that without any doubt.
He will stand with me through thick and thin.
The weight of a crown doesn’t seem so heavy when I know who’s got my back.
King Basilicus steps up to the podium and begins to speak.
From what I understand, he is the most trusted supernatural leader, which doesn’t surprise me.
He may be a scary and powerful dragon king, but he’s also a good guy.
I believe the rest of the supernatural world can see that, too, so I’m hoping his recommendation of my people goes a long way.
When he introduces me and steps back, I know that’s my cue to move forward. I take a deep breath before moving.
Parker stays by my side as I walk out, just as he promised. He holds my hand, and that small bit of support is enough to bolster my courage.
“Thank you,” I tell King Basilicus, and then I step up to the microphone. Parker lets go of my hand, but he is still at my side. He stands a little back from me, but close enough to touch me if I need it.
This is totally fine. I can do this.
“I am Henley Thorne. I’m a phoenix who is mated to a wolf shifter.” My hands tremble, so I hold onto the podium. “I am also a princess, and magic chose me to lead.”
Which is something I’m questioning at this moment, but then I look at the audience and see Will and Blaine—I see all the phoenixes who have come to support me, along with the other supernaturals. It bolsters my courage to see them all here, cheering me on.
I’m not alone.
“I know about the book that has been circulating on the internet. I read that book myself a few months back.” I look directly into the camera.
“I have no idea if any of those stories are true or not. I don’t know what my ancestors were like—maybe they were power hungry.
But that is not how we are now. All my people want is to live peacefully with other supernaturals.
“We’ve had to spend the last millennium in hiding.
My people were hunted to nearly extinction, but we do not want to hide anymore.
We want to join the supernatural community.
We don’t want to hurt anybody or take power from anyone.
We just want the opportunity to co-exist. We want to know that our loved ones won’t be murdered for simply being born a phoenix.
We want to feel safe, which isn’t something any of us has ever felt before. ”
Tears press against the back of my eyes as I think of all the phoenixes who have been forced to hide for the past one thousand years. It’s not right, and it ends now. Today.
“Today, we are coming forward so you can see who we really are.” I close my eyes and will my wings to reveal themselves.
“And this is who I am—who we are. We’re born, we live, we grow old, and we die, just like every other supernatural.
We aren’t immortal, despite what that book proclaimed.
And I hope that you will all come to accept us in time. Thank you.”
I step back from the podium, and the crowd cheers and applauds.
I did it. I gave my speech, though I’m not sure exactly what I said. I’m pretty sure I blacked out, but it’s over now. I made it through my first official speech.
Parker pulls me into his arms and kisses me hard on the lips. “You were incredible.”
I look up at him and can’t help but match his smile.
Later that afternoon, Uncle Ferno summons me into his office. Parker holds my hand as we walk, and my guards follow behind us. When we leave the house, they walk in a tight circle around me, so I guess I can’t complain about them following close behind. It could be worse.
When we arrive, my uncle is sitting behind his desk. He’s typing something on his computer, but he pushes his keyboard away when he sees me. He stands from his chair and grins as he walks around the desk.
“I am so proud of you,” he says moments before he wraps his arms around me and holds me in a tight embrace.
I hug him back, savoring the moment.
Wolf shifters are incredibly affectionate, and I’ve grown to like it a lot since last September.
“You did incredible today.” He pulls back and looks at me. “You’re so much like your mother—not just in the way you look, but in the way you carry yourself. I know that our people are in good hands with you.”
My heart swells at the compliment.
I still can barely remember saying anything.
I was so nervous that I’m pretty sure I blacked out temporarily.
Part of me wants to watch the speech back, just to see what I said, but I also don’t want to yet.
Even though everybody said I did amazing, I’ll be able to hear how nervous I was.
For now, I’ll just be blissfully ignorant and take everybody’s compliments.
At Uncle Ferno’s prompting, Parker and I take a seat across from his desk. He walks around to sit as well, and the two guards who followed me inside take up positions by the door.
“What has the feedback been like?” I ask, curious to see how the supernatural community is reacting.
“It has been very positive, which doesn’t surprise me. From what King Basilicus says, supernaturals are tired of wars—especially when the fight is over something as silly as power. All supernaturals are powerful in their own ways, and we were all meant to live in harmony.”
I like the idea of that, though I’m not sure the shadowy group is going to back down just because we’ve got the backing of the entire supernatural community. Still, I’ll take every win I can, and this is definitely a win.
“My advisors are very impressed with you. Even though you’re only eighteen, you have maturity that most of those your age lack.” He studies me with furrowed brows.
“I was forced to grow up early. My life wasn’t easy, not through any fault of my dad.
He did his best. But he didn’t know what species I was—he just knew that I was supernatural.
But I spent a lot of time in the hospital as a kid.
” I rub a palm over the top of my legs. I don’t like talking about that time in my life. It was difficult for me.
But I guess it’s good that my uncle’s advisors like me. Because, in seven years, they will be my advisors.
“You did so well that they want you sworn in now,” Uncle Ferno casually says. “You are the face of our people, so it makes sense for you to take your title early.”
I choke on my own saliva. “I’m sorry, what?”
He leans forward. “Magic chose you as our queen, Henley. And the magic doesn’t care that you’re only eighteen—it chose you now.”
I swallow hard. “But I don’t have any training.”
“You won’t be alone—we’re not going to throw you to the wolves.” He smirks at his joke. “I will be with you, and so will your advisors. We all agree that you’re ready, and I know you are, even if you don’t believe it yourself.”
“And what about you?” I put a hand to the base of my throat. “What will your title be?”
“I will go back to being a prince, but in name only. I’ll be your heir until you have children of your own,” he says.
I worry my bottom lip between my teeth.
It feels like I’m stealing his title and his throne. What right do I have to take over?
He sighs. “Henley, I was never meant to be king. It was never something I wanted. It was always temporary. I was just waiting for you to come home.”
I slowly nod.
“We will be doing your crowning ceremony next Saturday,” he informs me. “But we’ll be making the announcement first thing in the morning. From this point forward, you’re not just our princess anymore—you are our queen.”
The word ‘queen’ echoes in my head. I don’t feel worthy of leading these people.
Fate doesn’t make mistakes, Parker reminds me through our mate bond.
He’s right. Fate chose me to be queen. I just need a minute to process this information.
I thought I had years to figure out how to rule—now I’m just going to be thrown in.
Then again, I guess I’ve been thrown into everything when it comes to being a supernatural.
Will shifted in front of me as my ‘introduction’ to supernaturals.
And fate chose an alpha to be my mate. Why not make me a queen to top it off?
“I really am proud of you,” Uncle Ferno says. “And I know that your parents would be proud as well. You’re going to make an incredible queen, Henley.”
I hope that I can be a good queen. After being hunted for over a thousand years, the phoenixes deserve to be free.