Chapter 86 Lennox
LENNOX
My head felt light from the wine in the most delicious way as I let Luka lead me around the dance floor. I leaned on him as my body swayed to the music.
We all danced, even Declan. Kara somehow managed to drag him onto the dance floor.
We laughed and drank.
We had fun.
There was a time when I could hardly recall when I felt last joy—but now—now there were so many memories I could draw from.
So many more memories I would make.
With my brother and sister.
With my cousin.
With my friends.
With Luka.
I knew there would still be dark days, life would not be easy because we overcame one big thing.
But I now knew with certainty there was nothing I could not handle.
I am Lennox Adair after all. High Queen of Lethenia.
“What are you thinking?” Luka’s hand was firm on my lower back as he pressed my body against mine.
I looped my arms tighter around his neck
“I’m thinking about how happy I am.”
“Me too.” A contagious smile broke out over his face. I loved it when he looked at me like that. It sent heat coursing through my body. It made me feel like I was the only person in the world.
When he looked at me like that—I knew I could do anything with him at my side.
I reached up and pressed my lips against his. “I love you, Luka Rossi.”
“I love you too, Lennox Adair.”
Maybe it was the wine loosening my tongue, or maybe it was my newfound sentimental side, but I didn’t bite back the words, I let them flow out.
“I’d do it all again.” I danced my fingers over the nape of his neck. “I’d do everything over. I’d suffer through every heartbreak and moment of suffering and death—I’d do it all over again if it meant I got to find my way to you. To this moment right now.”
There was a sheen to Luka’s eyes. “Yeah?”
“It was always supposed to be me and you, Luka. Until the stars turn to dust.”
We continued dancing late into the night, everyone did. The ballroom still appeared as packed as it was when we arrived hours ago.
It was like the balls I loved growing up.
“Have you seen Nol?” I asked Kara and Luce. I left Luka on the dance floor in search of a drink and my brother. I’d been waiting all night for a moment alone with him.
Kara shook her head.
“He said he needed some air.” Luce finished off her drink. “He went that way.” She waved her hand in the direction of the door as she reached for another glass
I followed her directions, heading out of the ballroom and down the hallway until I came to the throne room.
I rarely found myself in here. It didn’t have many practical uses, we only used it now for coronations. Mine was probably the last time I was here, over three years ago.
Moonlight streamed through the wall of windows, illuminating my brother’s hunched-over form as he sat at the base of the two massive stone thrones.
My footsteps echoed in the empty chamber as I made my way to Nol, he didn’t look up as I approached, his gaze fixed on his hands.
“I didn’t mean to disappear, I just needed a minute. I’m still getting used to being around so many people.”
I took a seat at his side. “That’s fine, take all the time you need. I wanted to talk to you alone, so this works perfectly.”
I took the crown off my head, the one that had appeared on my head the night I thought he died.
When the Dumani made me High Queen of Lethenia, the title I was never supposed to have.
“Here.” I passed him the crown.
“What’s this?” His brows pinched.
“It’s a crown, duh,” I knocked my shoulder against his.
“Take it, it’s yours. I won the war. My parts done.
I figured you’d want it back now.” I had debated back and forth what would happen now, but the decision was clear.
The title was supposed to be Nol’s, it only made sense I would give it back to him.
Even if the decision made me feel uneasy.
I had accepted my title, I never thought I’d find myself giving it up.
And now that I had to—it made me feel conflicted.
Being High Queen had become a part of who I was—giving that part up wasn’t easy.
But it wasn’t my title to claim anymore.
He shook his head and pushed my hand away. “I don’t want it.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s not mine, Lennox, it’s yours.”
“I know it’s not technically yours right now, but the title is yours. It was always supposed to be you. You’re supposed to be High King. I understand if you need some more time to adjust, but this is your crown, your title, it was never supposed to be mine. It doesn’t belong to me.”
“You don’t get it, do you, Lennox?” He stood.
“Get what?”
“Don’t you think it’s strange that even though I didn’t die, when mother and father did, the power transferred over to you?”
“Yeah, but—”
“I don’t think it was a coincidence, Lennox. The crown was never supposed to be mine. It was always meant to be you.”
“Nol, you’re crazy.” I stood, still clutching the crown in my hands. “I was never supposed to be queen.”
“Think about it, Lennox. You’ve said it yourself, we’re all pawns in a much bigger game, being played by the Stars and the Goddess.
You have more power than me, your witch side is strong.
You’re mated to the Blood Court heir. You led our continent through fucking war and came out on the other side victorious.
You’ve stood toe to toe with enemies and the Goddess herself and come out stronger.
That prophecy from Hecate and Astria? That was no fucking coincidence.
” He took the crown from my hands, placing it back on my head.
“It might have been hell getting here, but this title was always meant for you. There is no better High Queen than you, Lennox Adair. It was always supposed to be you.”
“He’s right.” Luka came from the doorway, the rest of our friends behind him.
“You are Lennox Adair, High Queen of Lethenia, you can’t take that away.”
Emotions clogged in my throat. “But I wasn’t supposed to be queen.”
“I don’t know about you guys, but I’ve never met someone more equipped to be queen,” Luka argued.
“You don’t understand…”
“We understand, Lennox,” Kara interjected. “You’re strong and passionate.”
“You care about the well-being of others, of all of Lethenia in a way I’ve never seen before,” Declan continued.
“You speak with a passion people can’t help but follow,” Nico added.
“You handle yourself with grace, even when you’d love nothing more than to slit someone’s throat,” Luce continued.
“You’re perfectly suited for High Queen, Sweetheart.”
“They’re right.” Astria’s starry form appeared, Hecate at her side.
“It was always supposed to be you, Lennox Adair, Queen of Blood and Stardust. For that, it was written in the stars. You rose from the ashes of destruction, rose from the blood and death that threatened to suffocate you.”
“But you didn’t let it,” Hecate continued. “You clawed your way out. You hoped. You hoped for a future where you might again be happy. You chose the path of light, and even when the darkness tempted you, you never strayed.”
“But—”
“There are no buts; this has always been your fate, Lennox Adair, the stars themselves wrote it.”
“Long live Lennox Adair, High Queen of Lethenia, Queen of Blood and Stardust,” they said in unison.
As soon as they appeared, the two disappeared. Leaving me staring at the empty space they once occupied.
“I told you we were written in the stars.” Luka pulled me into his side.
“You’ve never once said that.”
“But I could have.”
I let out a deep sigh and met Nol’s gaze. “You’re sure about this?”
“Yes, I’ve never been so sure of anything.”
I looked at my feet. “I guess I’m stuck being queen, aren’t I?” I didn’t hate it. The crown, I didn’t hate it like I used to.
I am Lennox Adair, High Queen of Lethenia.
“Well, what’s next?” Nico asked.
I shrugged. “We get to live.” I looked at my friends. “We give to live and see where the stars take us next.”
“I like the sound of that,” Kara mused.
“Me too,” Nol agreed.
“All of us together, until the stars turn to dust.”
THE END