Chapter 35
Sir Keyon
The worst part of the battle had been, by far, leaving Elpis’s side. I’d had such a hard time focusing because I was continuously being assaulted by her emotions. She’d felt the same way I did when I had fought for the first time. It was never how you pictured it. It was a nightmare that made you immediately wish you’d never fallen asleep.
I’d done my best to stay calm for her and focus on my task. Her blinding Cyneric’s monstrosity had given us a significant advantage, and I was grateful she’d pushed to do it. I knew that’d saved lives. Her knights were constantly reporting her actions to me, which was how I received news that Cyneric’s sisters were here. Apparently, Gisila still made a habit of pushing people to their deaths.
I’d almost lost my mind with fear when Elpis started her assault on Cyneric’s dragon. I couldn’t spare many glances, so I had to trust that my best knights would keep her safe. I didn’t think she’d realized how many enemies they were intercepting on her behalf, and the knight’s voices during their reports were getting increasingly more frustrated. I chose not to warn her, knowing she’d work better unaware. I couldn’t stop her and Rein; they were dead set on helping take down the enormous dragon. I’d even felt her fury spike at one point, which surprised and almost pleased me. I was still more worried than anything, though—more worried than anything because she was my everything.
From what I’d heard, Rein’s horn, being brutally sharp, was able to sever the giant dragon’s fingers and tendon in a sweep or two. There was no doubt that my mate’s efforts had significantly turned the tide, and I was so fucking proud… until I felt her collapse.
I left my army to manage Cyneric’s dying nightmare and flew to find my collapsed mate, yelling at my knights to report.
I’ve got her, and we’re retreating to the tree line, Sir Stroud said. She asked us to fly her around to heal the critically ill because she couldn’t tell who was in our Inferno.
I knew she’d overdo it. I told you, Stroud, Sir Gerfrid said, annoyed. We should have stopped at the fortieth soldier!
Forty? Toast and I shouted at the same time.
Well, that’s where we wanted her to stop, but she kept going like a vicious sow, Sir Gerfrid grumbled, then added hastily, Sow like a mother bear, I mean! Not a pig.
She fainted at sixty-two, Sir Stroud said, wincing. I arrived at their location, and Toast gave him a nasty look. She really was very adamant.
You’re lucky you’re indispensable, Toast snarled. I shifted back into my body and crouched down to slide my mate into my lap.
“Can someone get some water, please?” I asked, and Sir Havardr flew off to see what he could salvage from Franco’s property. I stroked Elpis’s cheek, not liking how pale she was, but her heart was still going at a firm, steady beat. “I think she’s just exhausted,” I said quietly, feeling slightly relieved. “She kept going until her body told her it was time to stop.”
“Is this where the party is?” a tired voice called from behind me. I turned to see Leofwine and Foray trudging up to join us. Leofwine’s face was a mix of emotions. He looked pleased to be dragging a chained and unconscious Franco through the dirt, but I could see the pain of loss in his eyes. I wasn’t ready to face the numbers myself.
Foray, distressed, trotted ahead to sniff Elpis’s limp form. Leofwine’s small, fake smile faded somewhat, and he asked, “What happened here?”
“She went about healing more people than her body wanted her to,” I said with a frown. “Saved about sixty-two lives.”
“So… did she just faint?” Leofwine asked, and I nodded while stroking her hair. “Well, I’ve got just the gift for her when she wakes up,” he said, chuckling humorlessly. “It’s wrapped up and everything.” Leofwine twirled the chain attached to Franco’s body. Foray draped her weight across Elpis’s legs in a sweet gesture to keep her warm, and Leofwine petted the cat’s neck affectionately.
Sir Havardr returned with a bucket of fresh water and a pile of clothes, and I sorted through it until I found several items that fit. There was one last obstacle to deal with now, and I had to dress for it.
“Leofwine,” I said to get his attention, and he looked up at me. “I’m going to find our new queen and get our shit reinstated at the castle. I want my soldiers going home. Can you look after Elpis with my knights while I’m gone? I won’t be long.” He nodded, and I walked off to find the female who nearly killed me so I could place her greedy ass on the throne.
I heard her before I saw her. She was crying crazily by the doorway of the mansion, which somehow had not fallen when Cyneric’s dragon collapsed. When my approach hit her ears, she looked up in shock and ran to embrace me.
“Keyon!” she cried dramatically.
Gah! Toast cried out, and I placed both my palms forward to stop her. Don’t let her touch us!
“Princess Gisila, please listen, this is very important!” I said, utilizing my most authoritative tone, but unfortunately, she seemed to like that. Still, she stopped in her tracks, and her tears dried up rather quickly.
“What is it, Sir Keyon?” she asked. Good, she still recognized me as a knight. Perhaps this wouldn’t be so difficult after all.
“You are next in line for the throne, and we are happy to escort you back seeing as how your brother’s army up and abandoned you,” I said, nodding in the direction of the castle. “In return, we need to be welcomed back to our lives and careers at the castle. I expect to be reinstated as the knight general and Leofwine as spymaster.”
“I did find it hard to believe Cyneric’s claims about you,” Gisila said, sounding almost like an intelligent person. “I’ll strike a deal with you, if you b—”
“That is the deal, Princess Gisila,” I said, interrupting her with a warning growl. “I’m not negotiating any part of it. Take it or leave it. My knights, soldiers, and Leofwine’s spies have risked their lives to save hundreds upon hundreds of slaves over the last couple of days! Then your brother”—I shoved a finger in her stuck-up face—“decides to target me and back the slavers. How will your future subjects see you if you don’t bring back my Inferno? Don’t you have to wonder that if you echo your brother’s decision, they’ll see you as a sympathizer too?”
Like the idiot she was, she grew afraid. She saw my speech as a warning, not a threat. I sighed internally, realizing she’d need a very strict panel of advisors to keep manipulators away from her. She was too easily swayed by words alone. Gods help this kingdom, but anyone was better than Cyneric.
“I-I see the wisdom of y-your words, Sir Keyon,” she said with a lift of her chin. “Yes, please escort your future queen back to her castle, but don’t think we’re done talking.” She held out her hand for me to kiss, and Toast gagged. I very quickly bowed over it and walked away before she could pull her trick.
After Cyneric’s dragon finally bled out, I gathered my army and ordered the least exhausted of the knights to stay behind for cremation duties. We also had enough volunteers to fly the injured and the newly Reborn, but I suspected that Franco’s property hid more slaves. We’d have to return later to do a thorough search of the place.
Hours later, my exhausted army arrived at the castle, and I purposely avoided Gisila, who had thrown a dickish fit when I refused to carry her here. I cradled my precious, sleeping Elpis after throwing on some clothes, then went straight to the hospital so a doctor could take a look at her. They verified what I suspected, which was extreme exhaustion. After a little attention from the doctors, Elpis finally woke. The doctors gave me some medicine and ordered bed rest for her.
I flagged a servant down on the way back to my chambers and asked to have two large, hearty meals with a variety of vegetables brought to my room. Elpis, sluggish but awake, gawked at the castle scenery. “This is your home?” she asked, staring at statues and other displays as we entered the south wing.
“No,” I said and frowned at her. She looked confused and a little put-out, but then I said, “This is our home, moonflower.” I grinned, and she weakly slapped my chest.
“You’re the biggest tease. Did you know that?” she said with a tired chuckle.
“I did. I pride myself on it,” I replied, pinching her bottom stealthily as I carried her. She jerked in surprise and smacked me again. I winced when she hit a tender spot, and her eyes widened.
“Oh nay! I’m so sorry!” she said and fumbled to move so she could heal what I was obviously not done healing. I pushed her back down against my chest and shook my head.
“No healing duties for you until you’re better, moonflower,” I warned, and she whimpered pathetically. She whispered another sincere, sweet apology right as we finally reached my chambers.
I smiled and nodded for her to grab the doorknob for me, which she did, and I eased us through the entrance. “Are we here? Is this it?” she asked, perking up and looking about the space. I chuckled, nodded, and kicked the door closed before turning into an adjacent room so I could tuck my mate in bed.
The scent hit me immediately, and I recoiled. What was she doing here? Gisila was spread out on my bed like she owned it, naked and obviously waiting. It brought my blood well past a boil.
Just like her fuckin’ sister! What is it with these entitled pieces of shit? Get her the fuck out of here! That bed is for our mate! Toast roared, almost enraged to the point of coming out himself and burning her to ashes.
“Princess Gisila,” I said warningly, barely keeping my fury in check, and pointed to the door. “You need to clothe yourself and leave. These are my private chambers.”
Elpis simply gaped at first, but I could feel her shock turn into the wrath of a territorial female. She squirmed to get down, but I held onto her just a bit longer, not wanting this to get violent.
“Who is this little trollop?” Gisila said with an amused tilt of a brow. “Eh, it doesn’t matter. She can watch. Now come here, Sir Keyon, so we can… talk,” she added and lay back in a seductive manner.
“This,” I said, sweeping my trembling hand over Elpis’s body, “is my beautiful mate, who is perfect in every way.” The princess’s gall to be upset by my announcement was unbelievable. She shot up and gasped in outrage.
“You mated?” she shrieked, assaulting my ears with her pitch and volume.
“I did indeed,” I said, tugging at my collar so she could see the mark.
“What is that?” She laughed and pointed at it. “Is she missing a tooth?”
“That’s it.” Elpis snorted furiously and jumped out of my arms. She started toward the princess, radiating murderous intent. The princess screwed up her face and pointed again.
“What in the blazes is that on your face? A rogue fang?” the princess asked with a disgusted face. I grabbed Elpis’s arm and stared at the princess in bewilderment.
“Have you not been paying attention to current events? You don’t know who she is? Cyneric never brought it up?” I inquired, and the princess shrugged .
“Haven’t been paying attention,” she dismissed. “Keyon, you are to be my king. We’ll go to the witches to sort out removing that… whatever that is.” She gestured to the mark on my neck.
I’d finally lost all the shits I had to give. Princess or not, her stay was fucking done. Elpis felt what I was feeling and said, “It’s ok, Toast. I’ll remove her.”
No. I’m fucking over it. I’m done. That’s enough. Fuck this shit! Toast snapped and took over my body. Sorry, I need to borrow this real quick, Keyon. I didn’t fight it. I was too curious about what he’d do.
Toast made me walk forward and lean over Gisila, who looked pleased for a split second. Then he yanked her up by her waist and walked out of the bedroom, holding her away from my body like she was a bin full of trash. He set her down by the door, opened it, and shoved her so hard she stumbled out of my chamber and fell on her naked ass.
“Here, Toast!” Elpis called and shoved Gisila’s discarded dress in my face. Toast snatched it and incinerated it. Now Gisila would be forced to walk naked back to her room. Toast nodded in approval, breathed fire over my hands to get her stench off of them, and returned my body’s control to me.
Wow, Toast, I said. That may have been your biggest victory yet, big guy, and we just won a war.
I cut my irritated gaze to Gisila, who blew her disheveled hair away from her face. She finally stood, shaking with anger and humiliation. She glared at Elpis, and after a minute, a royal secretary ran up with a spare robe and asked, “You summoned me, Princess Gisila?”
Gisila ripped the robe from him and donned it. “Yes. I have two items to be carried out once I am crowned queen tomorrow.”
“And they are?” the secretary asked, pulling out a notebook and a pen.
“This female,” Gisila said, seething and pointing at Elpis, “is to be executed, and my upcoming mating to Sir Keyon will be announced the following day! ”
Elpis
The royal secretary blinked slowly at the humiliated princess as though he knew he couldn’t possibly have heard her right. His mouth pursed, and he dipped a little before saying, “Ahem, Princess Gisila, you do know we have laws dating back over several hundred years that someone must be accused of a crime and be found guilty before any sentencing can occur…”
The princess’s cheeks burned in further embarrassment, and she snapped, “I said what I said! I expect to see her behind bars tomorrow!”
The secretary looked lost. “Do you not know who she is, though, princess? It is said she is the Sun God’s favorite child, an—” Whatever composure Gisila might have had left was lost in that moment.
“BUT SHE IS NOT MY FAVORITE!” she shrieked and pointed for the poor secretary to leave, which he gladly did.
I was simply in shock this entire time. To think someone could just come along and kill someone’s fated mate because they were jealous? It was absurd! I didn’t know whether to be frightened, amused, or just... pity her. Perhaps I was simply too exhausted, but all I could do was watch with a gaping mouth.
Then a cold fury exploded in my chest until I realized it was coming from Keyon. His wings ripped right through his shirt, blocking my view of the princess and startling the ever-loving sunshine out of me! Oh my gods!
“Listen very closely, little hatchling,” Keyon seethed quietly at the princess, and I tried to find a spot to peek through, but he was very thorough! “I’ll help you understand what you just tried to do. You just threatened to kill an absolute dominant’s mate. Don’t do that. That’ll end badly for you. If I hear one whisper about you thinking about this again, I will end your reign before it’s begun. If you still don’t understand the line you’ve just crossed, I recommend you ask around and get someone else to be horrified for you. ”
The princess gasped. “Y-you can’t talk to me like that, Keyo—”
“Sir Keyon,” he snapped.
“A-and you can’t threaten me! I’m the last of the king’s line!” she said with more confidence.
Keyon leaned farther out, and his voice lowered. “I can’t? I can’t threaten the female who pushed me off a roof and tried to bury me alive? I can’t threaten the female who pushed her own sister into her brother’s maw?” He laughed coldly. “Last of the king’s line? I’ll show you how little that means to me.” His voice raised and he roared, “Now get the fuck off my doorstep!” I saw a flash of blue fire and heard a screech followed by the sound of bare feet slapping down the hall.
Keyon backed up to slam the door shut, making me lose my balance. I wobbled and sat down on a chair in the main room. He gave me a pained look and strode into the bedroom, where he replaced all the bedding and burned the ones Gisila had touched. He scooped me up and gently laid me down next to him on the fresh sheets.
“I’m sorry, moonflower.” He sighed and cradled me against his chest. “This was supposed to be a safe place for us now. Maybe I should take you someplace safer during the coronation and perhaps the following week. She has no legal reason to attack you, and Leofwine would never order his assassins to kill you, but—”
“Stop…” I groaned and rubbed his shoulder. “I’m not afraid of her, Keyon.”
“You don’t have to be afraid of something for it to kill you,” Keyon replied, upset. He wrapped his arms tighter around me.
“You don’t understand,” I said, nuzzling into his chest and sneakily healing his injury with my horn while he wasn’t paying attention. “We just took down a colossal monster, Keyon. The princess is simply another monster. If she comes after me, I’ll get Leofwine to gather evidence, and we’ll remove her by whatever laws you must have. If that doesn’t work, well, I don’t want to kill anyone, but if it’s me or her… I will defend myself. ”
Keyon was just breathing slowly, listening to me talk. “I will be at that coronation tomorrow. I’m not running anymore. I’m not hiding anymore. I’m a free female, and I’m demanding my right to be seen, heard, and respected! I won’t be shoved from my place in society! Never again, Keyon!”
His chest rumbled under me in a soft growl. “I don’t know if I’ve ever been so turned on,” he said appreciatively and rubbed my back. He sighed and became serious. “We’ll go. I’m expected to be there as the knight general, but you’ll be at my side the entire time. No one will dare touch you anyway. We’ll see what kind of absurd legal reason she has for attacking my Lady Elpis. Did you know you’ve a title now? Lady Elpis Eudokia.”
“A couple of the knights called me that! Oh, it makes me sound fancy!” I said, carefully looking up at him so I didn’t poke him with my horn. His eyes went round, and he let go of me, tucking me in before going to his closet and dragging out a heavy chest.
“Speaking of fancy,” Keyon said excitedly.
Yes! Yes! YES! YES! YES! SHOW OUR MATE! AAAH, I AM SO EXCITED! Toast yelled, and I winced at his volume. What in the name of the s—
Keyon threw back the chest lid and grinned up at me with his sparkling copper eyes. “Elpis! This is our hoard! Look, it’s all for you! Well, I have other chests, but this is one of them!” He jumped onto the bed with an armful of treasure and settled down, gleeful like an over-sugared hatchling.
“Oh, my Moon Goddess!” I gasped, laughing slightly at my mate acting like such a dragon.
Such a dragon, Rein agreed, tittering away with amusement.
I peeked throughout the impressive pile he’d brought onto the bed while he put jewelry all over me that he thought looked the best. There was an endless assortment of gems, chains, rings, bracelets, necklaces, lockets, cuff links, and other things I hadn’t quite identified yet. If I hadn’t known any better, I would have assumed Keyon was either a king or a pirate !
“Ah! I can’t figure out what looks best on you,” Keyon whined. “You make everything look good!” He replaced the emerald tiara on my head with a diamond one and nodded. “Maybe we’ll just find the most expensive stuff in the whole lot and cover you with that?” He experimentally slid a ring down my horn and tilted his head in consideration.
“That will not bode well for horn or ring if I have to shift,” I mused with a painfully wide smile. He sighed in disappointment and removed it.
“You’re right…”
I was trying very hard to keep from laughing, but my composure was weakening.
I think we should have her wear a different set every day. We should show her the nice dresses and fancy gowns you’ve collected over the years too… despite my arguing, Toast admitted.
“The dresses!” Keyon gasped and launched off the bed. That shattered the crack in my defenses, and I burst into laughter. Did the terrifying knight general just run off to spoil his mate with fancy silks? I leaned back into the pillows, chuckling tiredly as my mate dragged more chests into the room. Warmth continued to bloom in my own chest, and he looked up at me with a shy smile.
“I love you,” I said quietly. He came over and cleared off the bed, realizing I was still exhausted and looking a little embarrassed that he’d forgotten. He leaned down to nuzzle my nose and lay a soft kiss on my lips.
“I love you too, Elpis. No matter what happens, we’ll always be together,” he whispered sweetly. There was a knock on the door, and Keyon returned to feed me until I fell into a sweet, blissful sleep in the home I shared with my mate.
I was feeling back to normal the next day and walked hand in hand with Keyon toward the queen’s coronation. We’d gotten up hours before sunrise so I could bathe and Keyon could dress me. Even though the thought of Princess Gisila becoming the queen was putting a damper on the day, Keyon was still excited to put me in the best dress he had that would fit me and pick out my jewelry. He wanted to show me off to his people as his new mate but was also constantly reminding me that I didn’t need all this to be beautiful. His fated mate side was at odds with his dragon side, and it only made him look adorable. He was trying so hard!
So, we strode out in our finest. Keyon wore his formal military attire, and I was dressed in a lavender gown that Toast insisted was ‘the one.’ That meant matching purple jewelry. Keyon said the set I had on were purple sapphires, and he said it with a very smug look on his face. I supposed that was good?
We walked up flights of stairs until we seemed to be near the top of the castle. Then we passed through a gate facing east and strode into a courtyard that led to a massively broad stone bridge. There were guards stationed everywhere, but Keyon ignored them as much as they ignored us.
I shivered once we began crossing the bridge and drew my shawl closer to me. There was very little protection from the wind’s chill up here. Keyon frowned, let go of my hand, and pressed me against his side instead to keep me warm. He left his gentle, loving hand on my exposed skin to help keep me calm with his mate touch.
The bridge opened to a massive circular space in between two peaks of the mountain range. “This is Corona’s Door, moonflower,” Keyon said to me as we walked toward an area that the royal court was utilizing. “We allow any citizens who wish to witness the coronation to sit in those arena seats,” he added, gesturing to the thousands of people who were filling up the rows in the distance. There was a cliff separating the seats from the large arena; it seemed that, aside from flying, no one could cross between the two areas.
“See that huge depression in the mountain rock?” Keyon asked, pointing to the center of the arena. “See how it’s reddish, like it’s very hot? That’s where Corona will emerge from. That’s Corona’s actual door right there.” I nodded with wide eyes and clung to his arm. Whatever was going to come out of there was much larger than Cyneric’s behemoth… I was terrified.
“Don’t be afraid, moonflower,” Keyon said quietly. “Corona is a just godling.” He stationed us by the dais that held chairs for royalty and the court. I kept my eyes away from the princess, who I assumed was sending heated glares in my direction. I just straightened my back and squared my shoulders. Even though I felt a little self-conscious about my horn, I shoved that fear aside too. Today, I would be confident!
“That’s my moonflower,” Keyon said lovingly and stroked my back in calming caresses. He wrapped his arm around me again as we waited for the sun to rise, which was when the coronation began.
I watched the Sky Gods prepare the day for the sun, fading colors into each other until a vibrant orange teased the horizon. When the blindingly bright sun finally peered over the edge and blessed us with a new day, the ground vibrated, and Corona’s door splintered with fiery cracks. The entire circle heated up and melted. I started slightly, but Keyon held me tight.
That’s just lava, moonflower. Melted rock. Corona is coming.
R-right, I replied.
Something that must have been at least twice as big as Cyneric’s behemoth rose from the lava. The molten river never touched Corona, though. There was a black void between It and the melted rock, as though the godling was coming from some place very different from where humans and shifters reside.
Corona did not fully leave the door but merely rose as far as Its chin. I doubted Its body would have fit! My legs were shaking, and I wasn’t certain I wouldn’t pee myself from fright. The godling was enormous. Larger than I would have ever imagined!
Did we pee before coming? Rein asked worriedly. I don’t think we peed before coming here. She sounded as faint as I felt!
The godling sniffed several times as It took in the surrounding audience. It was more than gold. If one could scoop the edge of the sun and mold something out of it, it would look like Corona. It looked very much like a dragon but more… evolved, more sophisticated, yet still so raw in Its purity. Its ears flickered like little rays of sunlight as It listened to the hush. The massive, golden maw opened, displaying hundreds, if not thousands, of teeth sharper than the sun’s glare. Then, Its voice vibrated through the area, and yet I knew it must be but Its whisper.
“WELCOME, CHILDREN OF THE SUN GOD. RISE AND LOOK UPON US FOR WE CORONATE ANEW.”