Chapter 31
Arina
The atmosphere in the tunnels is somber. The soldiers from Ophis Isle and the Rhiza who came to fight if needed are quiet as they continue to clear the tunnels of destruction and prepare for battle.
It feels wrong to be stepping into the glittering black gown Raiden’s just pulled from his closet that just happens to be my size.
“How did you? Where did this come from?” I ask as he pulls the gown up my body and begins fastening it.
He’s standing behind me, and in the cracked, dusty mirror I watch as he leans in to kiss the side of my neck before speaking. “I had it made at the same time they made your gown for the tournament banquet.”
I am frozen in time, playing back the moment at the ball when he’d made the comment about my dress. “You …” But I don’t finish the thought. I just turn and wrap my arms around his neck, kissing him. I trace my thumb over the scar on his mouth.
“I hope you are always on the edge of madness when it comes to me,” I tease.
“Always.” He brushes his hands through my hair, pulling just a little, and a quiet moan escapes me.
Raiden releases me, but it looks as though he has something more to say.
“What is it?” I ask.
He looks at me, but then his eyes shift around the room. “I have another favor to ask.”
I grab his hands, hoping to reassure him that he can ask me anything.
“I’m wondering if you might allow me to … borrow your dagger.” His words stun me a little, but I’ve been waiting for him to bring it up. I already know my answer.
“No.”
He pulls his hands from me, looking as if I’ve stabbed him again. “Why not?”
“You want me there to heal your mother after you take my dagger and stab her in the heart? And my answer is no. It's my fucking dagger. I'm doing it.” I'm trying to keep my voice even, but there’s not a fucking chance I'm going to let him be the one to stab his own mother.
He doesn’t respond, but opens the door to lead us to the cave that holds my father’s throne.
The walk is painfully quiet, and I hate knowing I’ve upset him. This is one thing I will not back down from. I already carry the weight of my own mother’s passing. If I can carry this for him, then I will.
We reach the room, and he takes my hand once more, a sad smile playing on his lips.
I start to speak, but Raiden stops me before I make a sound.
“We can discuss this later,” he whispers, scanning the others coming into the room where I first met my father. The throne is chipped, the carved roots no longer connecting in the same way, and the dust from the cave-in still lingers. There are piles of obsidian littering the floor.
Raiden pulls me to the throne, wiping the dust and waving his hand for me to sit.
My eyes are slits as I determine whether to do as he suggests.
“Sit,” he says. “It’s time to take our first steps as leaders. You’re going to sit on a throne at the end of this no matter what.”
“Queen of death and shit?” I ask.
“Queen of whatever the hells you want,” he says with a smirk.
Raiden stands at my side on the dais. His hand around the back of my neck is stabilizing, and I lean into the comfort as I face the people. Our people.
“You have all proven yourselves worthy assets to our cause,” he starts. “So it’s time for us to be transparent about things I’m not sure everyone in this room is aware of.”
“First, Arina is my mate. I think that’s fairly obvious, and I would hope it doesn’t come as a surprise to most of you—"
Phil lets out a whistle that turns my cheeks hot, and I give her a dirty look when the room turns their attention her way.
“Oh, come on! We deserve something to get excited about. Let me have this,” she says, and I roll my eyes, then look to Raiden apologetically.
He clears his throat. “And second, I know you’ve heard the rumors.
I want to say it to your face so there is no question.
I am the lost prince of Lukasia.” A collective gasp echoes off the walls, but Raiden continues, “The woman sitting on the throne is not my mother, but the demon-goddess, Invidia. I’m sorry to have kept this from you all for so long, but there was much to work through to get us to this point. ”
Murmurs fill the air, but Baltas’ booming laugh drowns them out. “Thank the gods! That’s one secret I'm glad to be unburdened from!”
The giant fae walks up to the dias, and puts a strong hand on his friend’s shoulder, then he drops to a knee. And one by one, the room follows until everyone is on their knees before us.
Tears prick my eyes at the sight of Lavinia and Phillipa bowing at the front of the crowd. Never in this lifetime did I believe I'd be sitting on a throne in the Underground, about to lead the Rhiza against the queen I thought I loved, with my mate by my side.
Shock pulses through me, because even Shreya has dropped to a low bow, acknowledging the two of us as leaders in this rebellion.
I don’t know if Eryk is here for honorable reasons or not, but he, too, is on his knees.
Raiden pulls me to my feet, and wraps me in his arms. I commit the feeling of pride to memory, and for once in my life, I feel in my soul that I am where I belong, and I am not afraid of what’s to come.
Everything we have done, and everything we are about to do, cannot take away the suffering, heartache, or death, but we can bring hope and life back to Lukasia, and that’s all I’ve ever wanted.
Later, alone in our room, we return to the topic of my dagger.
“If she kills you, you won’t be able to heal her, Arina.
You are my priority. Not just because you can give me back my mother, but because—aside from my kingdom—you are the only thing I have ever allowed myself to want.
Don’t take that from me before I even get the chance to enjoy it fully,” Raiden explains, and my heart bursts
As much as I understand his argument, I can't let him do this alone. “I need you to have faith in me. I can do this.”
“Before you. Before I knew you were my mate. I thought maybe the parts of me that were capable of caring had died. I didn’t realize just how much of me I had lost until you.
Not just because you are my mate, but because you are everything I never knew I could desire.
The fates presented me with such an unbelievable gift.
You’ll forgive me if I’m determined to hold onto it for as long as I can, won’t you? ”
Before I can answer, the door swings open, and Lavinia pops her head in.
“Am I interrupting something?”
“Of course not! Come in.” I wave her over, patting the bed so she’ll sit next to me.
“I just didn't get a chance to tell you how incredible you looked on that throne today, and I wanted to tell you both how proud I am to be your friend.” She grabs both mine and Raiden’s hands, and there is so much love in her eyes I think I’ll burst.
“Okay, enough of that!” I wave my hand at my face to stop the tears. “I don't know what it is about the two of you, but I’ve cried more since we met than I ever did before.”
Raiden hugs Lavinia and whispers into the top of her head, “Are you sure that’s all you needed?”
She just nods her head, her brown waves bouncing with the movement, and skips to the door.
“Goodnight!” she sings before latching the door.
Raiden’s fingers weave through my hair, and he turns my face to his. “Now, where were we?”
“I believe you were confessing your undying love,” I tease, and he kisses me soundly to shut me up.