Chapter 22 Luka
LUKA
The crowd roared at the sight of their High Queen, the sound shaking the ground as we approached the railing. Lennox and I waved before resting our hands on the golden balcony while we waited for the crowd to settle.
The people of Alethens had shown up in earnest for their queen. The entire curricular courtyard was packed with people, and they spilled out onto the bridge and down the road that led to the palace.
Nico and Declan filed in behind us, taking place to the right of us, Kara to the left on her own until Lennox announced Nol’s homecoming.
After several minutes, Lennox raised a hand, and slowly, the crowd quieted as they waited for their queen to speak.
“People of Lethenia.” Lennox began.
“I stand here today, your High Queen of Lethenia, alongside your High King, my husband and mate, Luka Rossi.” I squeezed her hand as she continued.
“We stand here today, a united front as I explain my absence over the past months. What Luka told the continent was true; I was being held captive by the Panateia.” Murmurs rang out, but Lennox continued.
“The Panateia are a vicious organization; they aim to rid the continent of vampires. In their pursuit to do such, they have been taking innocent vampires from the streets of Cel Nox, from all of the Blood Court, and doing experiments on them in the form of spells. These experiments have either led to these innocent people’s deaths, or they have been turned into vicious Dhampirs, the very beasts that ravaged our city the night of my and your High King’s wedding.
During my capture, I also learned the Panateia are now working with the Vanir, the rebel vampire group who have been trying to kill me and my sister for years.
The people responsible for the deaths of my parents.
” The murmurs of the crowd grew louder as they comprehended Lennox’s words.
“There was, however, one silver lining to my capture. I found out my brother, Nol Adair, is still alive.”
Cries rang out from the crowd. “The Vanir did not kill him that night, instead they took him to use as a bargaining tool. They later gave him to the Panateia to seal their alliance.”
The doors behind us opened again, and Nol came out, waving to the crowd before moving to stand by Kara, who linked her arm through his.
He was dressed finely, his white suit had accents of gold, matching the rest of us, all dressed in a variation of white and gold, representing us as a united front.
Both Kara and Nol wore simple crowns made from bands of gold on their heads, a simpler design than the matching ones Lennox and I wore.
The crowd was ravenous at the sight of Nol, but Lennox continued, her voice rising above the chaos.
“While I was in captivity, Adreona, the head of the Panateia, used my brother against me. I was forced to watch while they hurt him to get me to cooperate. To get me to try spells to cure vampirism on innocent vampires. But that was not the only horror I endured.”
Lennox’s hand balled into a fist on the railing.
“Any time I did not cooperate, I was punished. Innocent people were killed before me when I refused to try the spell. Their blood spilled at my feet. Or I was stabbed by Adreona herself. Left in a magic-drained environment to heal on my own for several days before they healed me enough not to die.” She took a deep breath.
I squeezed her hand as I waited for her to be ready to continue.
She took one more breath, her eyes meeting mine before turning back to the crowd.
“But that was not Adreona’s favorite punishment,” she continued. “I was used as her whipping pole when she deemed it necessary.”
Lennox turned, exposing her back to the crowd. She stood straight, her shoulders strong as she let the world take in her back. The crowd roared as did the rage inside me.
Yes, she was out of their clutches now, her back would heal.
But every time I saw the scars I was reminded of what they did to her—and the impact those scars had on Lennox.
She was putting on a strong front now, but I knew she wasn’t fully back to herself.
It would still take time. Her breakdown the other night was only the start.
It had killed me, fucking destroyed me to see her curled up on the bathroom floor feeling ashamed on her scars. It took everything in me not to destroy the room in a fit of anger over how those scars made her feel.
Lennox Adair would never be weak; she was the strongest person I knew.
And we all agreed. When she showed her back to the rest of our friends this morning, their reactions were similar to mine.
There was no sadness, only rage from our friends at what they had done to Lennox.
Lennox had to hold back Kara from taking off and finding Adreona herself and slitting her throat.
Nico, Declan, and Luce had all quickly volunteered to help Kara, but Lennox promptly shut them down.
“I am not here to ask for your sympathy. She could not break me.” Her voice was strong as she turned back to face the crowd, bringing my attention back my wife.
“I am here to ask you to fight with me. To fight with me against the Vanir and the Panateia. If this is how they treat your High Queen, your prince and princess, what might they do to any other innocent off the street? They are already taking innocent vampires, what is stopping them from taking anyone else? They must be stopped!” Her chest rose and fell as her hands balled into fists at her sides.
“Over the next few weeks, my court and I will be heading out to each of the seven courts, to tell them my story and ask them to fight with us. It is up to them, up to you, if you will fight with us.” The crowd cheered as she continued.
“It is not my wish to bring war upon Lethenia, but if that is what it takes to stop these monsters, then that is what I will do. I will fight for you. I will fight for Lethenia. Will you fight with us?”
The crowd roared.
I couldn’t tear my gaze from her. She was magnificent.
The strongest person I knew.
My mate was a fucking badass.