Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
Three months later, the city of Lunaria wore spring like a new cloak.
Frost still clung to the stones of the castle, but the square in front of the entrance had been scrubbed clean and strewn with pale-colored flowers.
Workmen had polished the bronze braziers until the morning light set them on fire.
Valewulf wolfkin banners in white and plum hung from the high arches of the castle, their cloth heavy and rippling in the wind.
The black suns were long gone. In their place stood carvings of running wolves, and a single crown cut in relief above the gate.
Inside the throne room, the king’s platform had been built up higher than before so that it towered over the people in attendance. It held three things: a table of carved oak, a throne of ironwood, and a simple ivory stand where Kaelric’s gold crown waited.
Gold, with precious purple gems, it was once his father’s.
The purple caught the morning light and held it like cool wine in a shallow cup.
I stood at the base of the dais and watched Lunarian citizens fill the space.
The first rows were wolfkin soldiers in formal leathers with dented battle armor, hair braided back or clean shaven, arms full of scars.
Then the families of the city, wearing their best dress, with little children all pushing to get a view of the crown.
I noticed Mrs. Clay with the orphanage children.
I waved to them when they caught my eye, and they waved back.
Beyond them were my people, formerly from the Dregs, now affectionately known as the Hildreth humans, wearing better clothes than I had ever seen them in, their faces filled with smiles and looking healthy.
They had traveled all the way from Hildreth to show their respect to Kaelric.
I blew a kiss to my mother, who caught it and pressed it into Sable’s cheek, which made her laugh.
At the very back were the Aerlyn nobles, including Cassian and his family.
They’d come to a new way of life and voted for a quorum of six rulers instead of one.
Cassian was one of those six, and I was proud of him.
Fiona stood next to him with her baby strapped to her chest, and did I notice a flirty wink between them?
Kaelric was waiting in the back dressing room until the hour struck, so I went to fetch him. I found him in the private room, where he stood in a rich dark purple cloak clasped across his shoulders and fastened with a silver wolf clasp. He had smoothed his hair back and looked so handsome.
He took in my full armor with a small gold diadem on my head.
The armor had been his idea. He said he wanted people to know their new queen was the reason he was about to be crowned king again.
A formality, really. He wanted them to see that I was a warrior and that they should treat me as such.
To be honest, I’d been floundering without Valkaryn.
Not having her weight at my hip or her thoughts in my mind, I felt empty, and was struggling with my new role as soon-to-be queen, wife, alpha’s mate.
I was all these things, and yet what did that mean without the weapon that made me powerful?
“Your people are waiting for you,” I said.
He gave me a look I couldn’t interpret, and eyed the empty sheath at my waist. I don’t know why I still wore it. I’d tried other swords, but they weren’t the same. They weren’t her.
“I have something for you.” He went to a table and pulled out a long roll of felt. I frowned. “What’s this? A gift for me on your coronation day? Is that typical?”
He grinned at me, and my stomach did flip-flops. “It’s not, no.”
He peeled back the felt, and I expected to see a new dress or maybe a dagger. I never in a million years expected to see Valkaryn.
I whimpered, dropping to my knees as a sob racked my chest.
“I don’t think she’s in there,” he warned me, kneeling beside me as I looked up at him in wonder.
“How? Kaelric, where?”
I had watched the mountain swallow her whole.
“The cave. It took her soul and spat the sword back out.” He sounded somber.
“You went back?” I was in shock. I stroked the wolf at the hilt, my fingers running over it. I picked it up, weighing the steel to make sure it was in fact the same.
‘Val?’ I couldn’t help it. I had to try, though I knew from one touch she wasn’t there.
“Three nights ago, my mother came to me in a dream. She told me where the sword would be.” He stroked my cheek and caught the tear that ran down it.
“She did?” I grinned, sliding the sword in and out of my sheath, relishing the sound. It was nice to have it back, but I still missed her. It could never replace her.
“I sent Godric for it. He arrived late last night. I know it won’t replace her—nothing will—but I think she still wants you to have it.”
I placed my hand on the hilt, nodding at the rightness of that. This sword had housed her soul for over a decade. I was honored to wield it, even though its magic died when the rest of the world’s did too.
I stepped close to him and straightened the line of his collar as his eyes held mine.
“Kaelric, I love you more than food,” I told him, and he burst out into laughter, which only made me smile.
“That’s a bold statement,” he offered.
I leaned forward to kiss him, and when I pulled back, I took his hand.
“Ready?” I asked.
“Yes,” he said.
I led him to the new dais, and the assembled crowd went wild with applause. Kaelric waved to them all and thanked them for coming.
Godric picked up the crown where it sat on the ivory stand and faced the crowd. “Your rightful king will formally take the throne today, but it is only because of one woman that he has the opportunity to do this.” Godric looked back at me, and I felt the heat go to my cheeks.
What was he doing?
“Brynn Morvain, wielder of Valkaryn, is the reason this man stands here to be crowned, so I think it’s only fair that she, not I, do the honors of crowning our king.
” He turned to face me, crown held out as the assembly shouted their agreement.
My throat pinched with emotion as I reached out and took the crown, feeling the sudden weight of it. Gold was heavier than it looked.
I peered up at Kaelric to see a twinkle in his eye, like he and Godric had planned this.
Cassian nodded from his seat as he met Kaelric’s gaze and tipped his head once in respect. I spotted Maelis with Elia. She wore a simple dress the color of fig leaves, and a comb in her hair that pulled it away from her face.
The sun shone through the window washing the platform in a soft brightness that made the gold almost too much. The amethysts deepened when the light struck them, a purple that reminded me of bruises and ripe plums.
A hush settled over everyone, the kind that lifts the hairs along your arms, the kind that tells a person to pay attention, because this moment will live in someone’s heart forever.
I lifted my voice, and it carried along the stone without effort.
I did not know if there were certain words I should speak, but since Godric did not train me for this, I assumed not.
Instead, I spoke from the heart. “People of Fenmyr,” I said.
“People of Lunaria. People of Aerlyn. We are gathered to celebrate the restoring of power to a rightful heir.”
I let the quiet after that do some of the work. No long speech. No list. The city knew what had been done. They had bled for it each in their own way.
I turned to Kaelric. “Kaelric Morvain, do you vow before the Creator and those present to keep the weak safe, to enforce Fenmyr law, and to be held accountable when you fail?”
“I do, my queen,” he said, and kneeled before me, bowing his head.
My queen. In front of all of these people. The man sure knew how to make my heart flutter. I hadn’t officially been crowned yet; the tiara was a fashion statement.
I set the gold crown upon his hair and felt the weight settle across his head.
The sound that rose when the crown was set on his head began as a low swell that turned into a roar.
“Kaelric of Fenmyr,” I cried out over the crowd. “May you live long and always remain just.”
He lifted his head and met my gaze, still on his knees. There was so much love and devotion in his face, I couldn’t help but lean forward and give him a chaste kiss on the lips.
“Long live the true wolf king,” someone cried.
A hundred voices caught it, and I felt the words move through the boards under my feet.
“Long live the true wolf king!”
I stood before him and did not move. He took in the din as if it were a weight he would carry forever.
When the chant eased, the crowd began to break up and flow into the reception hall, where we had food waiting for everyone. Cassian stepped onto the stage and faced Kaelric. He formally raised his right hand in a pledge that old Aerlyn houses had once used when they meant to be taken at their word.
“Aerlyn stands with Fenmyr,” he said. “We hope to have a strong alliance for generations to come.”
He then placed a fist over his chest and bowed his head in respect.
Kaelric nodded and then unexpectedly pulled Cassian in for a hug, clasping his arms around him and patting his back.
When he pulled back, Cassian looked surprised.
“I’m glad you’re here and that you are well. Fenmyr is happy to be in an alliance with Aerlyn.” Kaelric squeezed his shoulders, and I had to blink back tears. Both men standing before me were incredible. I felt so lucky to have them in my life.
“Thank you.” Cassian’s eyes were misty, then they slid over to me. “Take care of her,” he added.
Kaelric nodded, as if it were an old saying between them. “I cannot imagine a world where I’m not taking care of her.” He winked, a subtle dig at their old rivalry perhaps.
Cassian smiled, and we all stepped into the dining hall together. Food was served. I ate first, of course, then Kaelric followed.
People came up in twos and threes to touch the hem of Kaelric’s cloak or to set their palms against his shoes, as if pledging their loyalty were a physical act.
I knew it made him uncomfortable. I could see him squirming and telling them they could stand.
But I could also see that it brought the people great joy to thank him for liberating the city.
They did the same to me, and I also felt uncomfortable with such behavior.
These people were not beneath me in any way, but I knew it was how it was done, and I gripped the hilt of the King Killer—no longer able to call it Valkaryn since she was not there anymore.
Did it make it even sadder to have my sword back, but without her? Maybe…
Maybe a tiny part of her still lived within it and wanted to be near me.
As if my very words had been heard, the hilt got warm for a second. Was I imagining it?
I let go, heart pounding as Kaelric listened to the people coming up to him and did not rush them. He took old men’s hands in both of his; he accepted toddlers who did not care what a king was; he greeted wolves who had hunted across winter and brought meat to lay at his feet.
I kept to his side, and when the worst of the rush eased, Maelis came and pressed a fig into Kaelric’s palm. A remembrance of his mother. I didn’t know where she found it this early. She kissed his cheek and hugged us both.
We left the reception table long enough to walk the front row. Kaelric wanted to meet those who had yet to greet him. He took time to thank each of them for coming.
Then the musicians struck up a tune, and the reception changed from traditional ceremony to carefree feast. Carts rolled in with sweets and mead. Children vanished under tables and reappeared with cheeks full of chocolate.
We stayed until the sun leaned west. When the light turned golden and the chill crept in through the open windows, we slipped away through the side arch, but the city kept celebrating.
Deeper inside, the corridors felt warmer. We climbed the narrow staircase to our room, which I had decorated to add a woman’s touch. It was now draped in teal and yellow for a dash of color. There were two guards waiting outside, who bowed as we passed and stepped into the room.
Kaelric stopped in the center of the room and drew a long breath. I could feel the relief settle over him.
“That went well. People seem happy, well fed,” he said, quiet.
“Yes.” I reached up behind him and threaded my arms around him as he stroked my arms. An alpha seeing his people well-fed was peak happiness. Kaelric was more obsessed with food than anyone in the Dregs ever had been.
He stood for a while with me hugging him from behind as he stroked my hands. Then he turned to me, and I stared into his endless green eyes. Green that was so wild at times, I felt like I was looking into the forest.
He smiled, shaking his head and chuckling as if to himself.
“What?” I asked, suddenly offended for no reason.
“I’m just remembering the time you said you’d take my balls if I pinned you down.”
Now I was laughing. “We had just met! You don’t pin down a lady you just met.”
His eyes went half-lidded as he ran his finger from my cheek down my collarbone to my navel. “Would you like me to pin you down now, my queen?” He leaned in and kissed my neck.
My eyes fluttered closed. “Yes,” I breathed, and he laid me on the bed.
Long live the true wolf king.