Chapter 59
Chapter fifty-nine
Lenna
Within minutes of Lenna’s proclamation, Sparrow had waned them to the throne room of the Obsidian Palace, where, upon arrival of the notorious Golden Gargoyle, now King Consort of Irridessen, Lord Magnamus was placed in chains and hauled to the dungeons deep within the mountains to wait on Esmeray to decide his fate.
The Regent hadn’t put up a fight, only sighed his displeasure, as Keerian landed against the glass floor with enough force that the skeletal hands lining the wall of the throne room gripped their torches tighter.
Keerian pointed a sword at the fae’s throat and bared his teeth.
The disgraced Regent had yielded quickly.
Keerian now paced at the base of the dais, one of Merrick’s borrowed short swords in his hands.
Sparrow, Merrick, and Laurent kept shooting each other increasingly odd looks across the throne room that Lenna was too tired to try and decipher.
She sat alone at one of the stone pews that curved around the room, focusing on keeping her trembling hands clasped and her teeth set to stop them clattering together.
She took deep breaths, working to calm herself after the events of the night.
They had arrived to find the Obsidian Palace in complete chaos.
Apparently, the Palace had not been as remote and forgotten as Adara and Lord Magnamus bet on since those still standing after the battles at the Opal Palace waned here after Lenna confirmed Esmeray’s location.
The Opal Palace’s court immediately spread the news of the Prism’s memory to the Obsidian Palace’s assembled court.
All beings from the guards and servants to the housed royals had begun a bloody rebellion against Lord Magnamus and any of Adara’s loyal supporters.
It had only quelled when Keerian, Merrick and Laurent arrived, the three Elite Warriors quickly getting the situation under control.
None of them were surprised to hear that the Regent was not very well liked.
Anyone who continued supporting Adara had been hauled to the dungeon. Those who fought, died quickly. Sparrow had even gotten in the fray–making sure any being who found themselves sympathizing with the wrong side of events was handled.
Now, the throne room was empty, per Keerian’s request. The court was busy enough outside the throne room doors where healers were assisting with the wounded, and guards stood at attention, making sure their group inside was not bothered.
Lenna had taken the few moments of slight peace to clear her mind and get her breathing under control.
Resso had found the Queen, and Esmeray relayed to them through their rings that she would land in the throne room of the Obsidian Palace.
As they waited, Lenna thought of the bakery in Florra and the sweet scents that enveloped her there.
She thought of those nights they sat atop Sparrow’s patio, drinking in the views from the surrounding forests and city lights.
She thought of the handsome baker that smiled at her in a way she had not been smiled at in years.
She thought of her friends that surrounded her now, and how dear they were to her heart, a missing piece clicking into place.
She thought of the fierce Queen that assured her mate, just moments ago through their rings, that she was okay.
Lenna found herself, for the first time in decades, excited for the future.
Keerian blew out a breath and plopped down next to her on the bench, folding his glorious wings behind him. He nodded at her, his green eyes bright. “We haven’t had a chance to properly be introduced,” Keerian chuckled, extending his hand.
Lenna unfolded her trembling fists, grasping Keerian’s palm in her own.
His fingers wrapped all the way around hers, but his grip was gentle.
Introductions were exchanged and Lenna immediately felt drawn to Keerian as if they were old friends.
“Esmeray talks so highly of you, I feel like I already know you.” She blushed, realizing she was speaking so informally to the new King Consort.
Keerian laughed, the sound bright against such a dark night.
“Good. That will make what I ask next hopefully much easier.” He reached over and clasped her other hand in his.
“Lenna, what you did for my mate and me was so brave, so incredible, that I could never repay you for your help. You uncovered the truth and didn’t back down from it.
You revealed that truth to the world.” Keerian smiled.
“And Esmeray may have ratted you out about your trip to the dragon lair. Resso told her.”
Lenna’s blush grew furiously underneath the warm grin from the handsome male.
“But to start, I want to offer you a home with us at the Opal Palace–or the Obsidian Palace. Honestly, wherever Meer decides she wants to live as Queen. But you will always have a place with us. Or, if you want a house anywhere in Irridessen, consider it done. I’m sure Sparrow would love to help you decorate. ”
Lenna felt the shock register on her face as she stared at the King.
Keerian beamed as her mouth fell open. “Did you think we would just leave you high and dry? Ship you back to the Slate Kingdom? Sparrow told me how integral you are to this family–and the absolute least I can do is make sure you never want for anything ever.”
She was so overwhelmed with emotion, all Lenna could do was nod rapidly.
A home.
She could put down roots here, or at the Opal Palace, or anywhere she wanted. This kind male offered her the one thing she felt she’d been searching for–that feeling that she was home.
Tears threatened to fall, and Lenna managed a croaky, “Thank you,” before throwing her arms around the King, hugging him tight. He laughed again, his gold wings and strong arms hugging her as she cried and cried against Keerian’s shoulder.
The floor behind the dais began shimmering like a pool of the purest water.
Merrick, Sparrow, Laurent and Keerian snapped their attention to the glass. Lenna stood on shaky legs, still reeling from Keerian’s offer.
The massive black dragon flew up from the floor, landing in front of the dais and the group.
Adara was trapped in his talons, the manacles around her wrists pulsing with dull light.
Sparrow shouted out a particularly foul curse word, storming towards Adara, before Laurent snagged her by the upper arm, reeling her back to hold her against his body as Sparrow struggled to tear into Adara, her teeth bared and green magic coiling around her hands.
Adara locked eyes with Sparrow, her frown curling into a full sneer as Merrick rushed to the doors of the throne room, calling in four guards that proceeded to drag Adara to her cell.
But it was the sight of the bloodied, dark haired Queen, slumped over Resso’s neck, that held Lenna’s attention.
Esmeray gave the group a lopsided grin, her eyes half closed and her wings limp at her sides.
Keerian soared up to where his mate sat, gathering her gently in his arms, careful not to jostle her torn and broken wings.
Laurent called for a healer, and a thin fae female with short copper hair came rushing in from the hall, giving the great dragon a wide berth as Keerian lay Esmeray against the stone pew.
Keerian held onto his love the entire time the healer worked.
Slowly, Esmeray’s wings reformed to their original shape, the rips in the thin membranes repairing before Lenna’s eyes.
The cuts and scrapes had gone from open and bleeding to the small, pinkish marring of new skin.
The healer worked in silence, not stopping until Esmeray held up her tattooed hand. “Thank you,” she said, her voice stronger and her face beginning to show signs of life again. Color flushed back into her cheeks, and her eyes became clearer, more focused.
The healer nodded, her short hair swaying in the faint candlelight.
“No flying for a few days, my Queen,” the healer stated with a pointed look.
“I don’t want to come back, reset your wings again, and reprimand you.
” Esmeray rolled her eyes, giving the healer a wicked grin.
“I’ll see what I can do. Again, thank you, Collette. ”
Collette stood, bowing slightly to Keerian and Esmeray before waning out of the throne room in a burst of yellow light.
Resso nudged Esmeray with his snout. Lenna watched as Esmeray placed her small hand against the giant nose of the dragon. Silent words were exchanged before Resso chuffed, his tail flicking–not unlike a house cat–and he ambled over to the rippling floor, disappearing to the caverns below.
Esmeray swayed slightly as she stood, apprehensively locking eyes with the Golden Gargoyle who looked at her as if she was the force his whole world orbited. A beat of silence followed.
Esmeray’s eyes began filling with tears, and she let out a shaky sob, taking a stumbling step to her mate.
Keerian let out a hoarse, strangled growl, closing the distance between them in two long strides.
He grabbed the nape of Esmeray’s neck, twirling her around to crush his lips against hers.
Merrick whooped and clapped, the sentiment mirrored by Sparrow’s cheer and Laurent’s amused expression.
Lenna felt her cheeks heat as Esmeray seemed to melt into her mate’s arms, her nails, back to their original, less deadly shape, digging into Keerian’s already torn and bloody shirt.
Their mouths clashed, deepening the kiss, their wings wrapping around each other, shielding them from view.
After a long moment, they broke apart, Keerian holding onto Esmeray’s hands as they stared deep into each other’s eyes.
There was so much love, so much understanding, passing between them.
Lenna was sure they were communicating silently down the rings–a million things they needed to catch each other up on from the horrible year they were forced to spend apart.
Esmeray rested her head against Keerian’s chest, their horns glinting in the candlelight.
The dark black of Esmeray’s seemed to absorb and refract the shining light from Keerian’s golden pair.
Lenna looked away to give them some semblance of privacy, and she could’ve sworn she saw Sparrow drop Laurent’s hand.
But it was so quick, out of the corner of her eye, that Lenna thought she may have been seeing things.
Laurent cleared his throat, directing his question to the room. “So…what do we do now?” he asked, tucking his hands into the pockets of his ruined robe, his long fingers sticking out the bottom from a rip through the material. He moaned dramatically, pulling the material up to inspect the damage.
Esmeray laughed, the sound light, as she squeezed Keerian’s hand. “Well, as the Queen Absolute, I'll figure it out, but first, let's go back to Florra.”