Chapter 28 #2
“Well said, love,” Daire murmurs.
My heart beats faster.
She didn’t say Aurelius.
Did she just marry me or Hadrian? Or both of us?
Lucius gives me a concerned look, before passing me the second crown. My hands are shaking when I lower the crown onto Daire’s head.
He hesitates just long enough that I don’t know whether he is going to say the vow.
Why does that hurt?
War nudges him roughly with her foot. “The words, fae, are—”
“I am Emperor Daire, of the House of Thorn and Sin,” Daire says, firmly, “and I freely give myself to my bloody beautiful Empress and her Emperor.”
I blink.
How does the fae always manage to end up as the one who is in the dominant position, even when he’s kneeling at my feet?
Freya chuckles. “Well said.”
Lucius is grinning and purring. “Then in the name of the Shadow Gods, may everyone rise and toast your new—"
“What is this?” Decima breaks the spellbound hush that has fallen on the Basilica, leaping to her feet.
“I can’t allow this farce to go on. How dare you marry these creatures before my own noble daughter?
Where is Liviana? These whorish consorts shouldn’t have arrived until after she had married you and become Empress.
You have got the ceremony out of order now.
You will bring down the wrath of the Shadow Gods by your sacrilegious perversions. ”
I seethe with rage. “Will I?”
I hold out my hands to my new Emperor and Empress. They finally let go of each other to take my hand, and I rise from my throne, helping them to their feet.
When Freya and Daire stand on the apse under spearing sunlight, we may as well be going into battle together, and there is no one else I want at my side for the rest of my life.
I gesture to Wraith, who has been leaning on a column, watching with a serene expression.
She slinks out of the shadows behind Decima. “My spies hear that your daughter has run away.”
Shocked whispers race through the room.
Abandoning the Emperor on his wedding day is treason.
Decima is ruined.
She will need to leave the Shadow Court herself.
After what Decima has publicly called my mates, however, as well as how she tried to force me into bonding, it’s not enough.
Decima shakes her head, while her eyes widen in panic. “Lies. I demand that my daughter is searched for. Someone has kidnapped her, murdered her, or your foul consorts have—”
“Insult them again, and I shall tear out your tongue.” My pheromones sour in a rolling fog. “Why would she run from me?”
“Maybe because you threaten to pull out people’s tongues?” Daire mutters.
Freya snorts a laugh.
I circle my mates, tracing over their silky shoulders. But my gaze rests with predatory danger on Decima.
“How do I know why Omegas do what they do? Hysterical, flighty things that they are.” Decima glances at the door, as if working out whether she can escape through it herself.
“Or she knew that you were plotting treason.” Cato plops a fat grape into his mouth like he’s not her co-conspirator.
I must admit that he has a knot of steel even though he is a snake.
Decima gapes at him in shock. “What are you doing?”
It’s obvious: denouncing her to make himself look innocent, before she can denounce him.
Decima has played these games in the Shadow Court long enough to know that.
After all, she taught that identical trick to her daughter.
I glance over my shoulder at Maximinus. He is stonily watching the scene unfold; it is hard to know what way he will jump.
The only variable that was impossible to be certain of was Maximinus’ reaction. Yet he has no loyalty to anyone. I am certain that he will sacrifice a few pawns.
This fucker hasn’t yet realized it.
“Maximinus, speak for me,” Decima throws herself to her knees, dramatically raising her arms in supplication. I roll my eyes. And she says that Omegas are the dramatic ones. “I am Head of the Council. You know that I am innocent.”
Now, that is a threat. And the most foolish fucking thing that she could have said.
Maximinus glares at her. “Stop your bleating. Nobody believes a word from your shameful lips. I won’t let your treachery spoil any more of my nephew’s wedding. Guards, take her away to my dungeons and—”
“Wait.” I hold up my hand, imperiously. It is satisfying to watch Maximinus’ mouth snap shut in shock. When was the last time someone interrupted him with an order? He’ll have to get used to it. “Cato, since you called it treason, what is the punishment for that?”
Cato swallows.
He edges even further away from Decima, along with the other panicked councilors. “Execution, your Majesty.”
“What an excellent idea,” I reply. “And so much better than a simple toast to welcome my new mates.”
“Sin and you are really into gory body parts as gifts, aren’t you?” Daire snaps out his wings. The guests huddle back, dropping their drinks in fear at his display. “Luckily, I like them too.”
I grin, twirling to the throne.
I pull out the two-handed sword with a long blade and pear-shaped pommel, which is woven into the throne’s design.
I shudder with a dark thrill at its familiar feel.
This was Hadrian’s sword, which he used to carry out executions in this basilica. I can sense the blood soaked into it and the restless spirits of those unjustly slain by its blade.
But today, I will be using it for justice.
I stalk toward Decima, as the Beta servers rush as far as they can to the back of the chamber.
Everyone is watching me.
I can feel the prickle of Maximinus’ stare on my neck.
He is unusually quiet.
I have silenced him. He didn’t expect this move.
Good.
By the Shadow Gods, I don’t want to begin my reign in blood, as a fucking tyrant like Hadrian or my brother.
Yet I won’t start it under the control of Maximinus or the Council. I won’t be seen as a beast or the warrior who can be outsmarted by anyone at court who plots against me.
This is a demonstration, and if I intend to keep my throne, it is necessary.
Yet everyone must see that there is evidence to what I do next.
I pull out the two signed confessions and hurl them on the floor.
Decima scrabbles at them. “What are these?”
“One of them is a confession from your daughter to your treason,” I reply. “Signed. Do you want to confess now too?”
Decima scans the letter in horror. “Your Majesty, forgive me.”
“Why should I? You were the one who once showed me this sword and told me, an Alpha, to kill my own Omega.”
“I can…” Decima crawls toward me, as her hair tumbles wildly around her face. “I can…give you other names…who plotted with me…”
“She’s mad.” Cato bursts out of his seat. “Kill her. Now.”
“If you insist.” I slash the sword down.
It hums with dark glee, slicing off Decima’s head.
Her body slumps to the floor, and blood puddles around her.
I take a step back not to soil my boots.
Daire flaps his wings. “The head of my enemy. How did you know it’s what I always wanted?”
“Because you’re a fighter like I am.” I wipe the blood off the edges of my sword’s blade on my cloak. “And she insulted you.”
Daire wraps his wing around Freya, pulling her against his side. “She insulted our Empress.”
“A dragon always says that two heads are better than one.”
I nod at Ignatius, who marches grimly to snatch Cato by the arm and drag him toward me.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Cato struggles in Ignatius’ grip.
“He’s bringing another traitor to…what did you suggest? Be executed?” I reply.
Cato splutters in shock, as Ignatius hurls Aquila’s dad sprawling in a heap in front of me.
Ignatius looks deeply satisfied.
I raise the blade to Cato’s neck. “Choose your next words carefully.”
“I have always been loyal.” Cato can hardly draw in a breath because he is breathing so fast.
“The second letter over there, written by your Omega son who you abused, says differently.” I lean closer, pricking Cato’s neck with the tip of the blade. “Now, he is safe from you, and I’m safe from your plot to assassinate me.”
Then I raise the sword over my shoulder and hack Cato’s head from his shoulders.
It tumbles to the foot of the apse.
I expect Freya to turn away from Cato’s empty eyes, but she doesn’t.
My fierce wolf.
I spin in a slow circle, aiming my blade at the remaining council members, these snobbish supporters of my uncle who have made my life hell.
“Kneel before your new Emperors and Empress. Fucking kneel,” I yell.
The silver dragons scramble to their knees, prostrating themselves.
They’re shaking in silence.
My Golden Family, the servers, army, and cadets respectfully drop to their knees as well.
I glow in triumph.
After years of battling, I am the Dragon Emperor.
My fated Omega is crowned at my side.
And I have challenged my uncle’s Council.
Finally, it is only Maximinus who remains standing.
He is trembling but not with fear, rather a rage so intense that he looks like he may drop dead himself from it.
His hands ball at his sides.
Suddenly, the entire Silver Basilica starts to shake, as if Maximinus is only just stopping himself from ripping up the building by its roots and tumbling it on our heads.
Daire staggers, pulling Freya under his wing, in case the roof falls.
I plant my feet more firmly to remain standing.
I won’t allow Maximinus to take this moment from me.
I won’t be the one who is knocked to the floor anymore.
“Kneel,” I repeat with deadly coldness.
For a long moment, Maximinus defiantly meets my gaze.
Then he lowers himself to one knee and then the next.
But he doesn’t lower his gaze.
“Congratulations, Emperor, on a most eventful wedding day.” Maximinus’ calculating eyes narrow, before he gives a nasty smile.
“I hope you don’t think that I would forget your wedding gift.
I have arranged a spectacle for you in the Sun Arena tomorrow.
I intend to honor your new empire with the Imperial Games.
I’m pleased that you’ve become a champion of public executions because now we can finally deliver justice for Tarquin and execute your brother’s murderer. ”