57. Chapter Fifty Seven Rhowyn
Chapter Fifty Seven: Rhowyn
Apparently, I had slept for nearly five days as my body and mind healed. My men never left my side as I recovered. In their own words, to hell with the courts. They could wait.
Once I had recovered, we set about interviewing all those who had outright sided with Titania. A long and tedious process that drained me mentally and emotionally to the point that, at the end of the day, I was desperate for physical release.
In answer, Cashel Rí gave me a full MMA gym, complete with bags, mats, and pads. Everything I’d need to keep up my training. The men left me to it, but Cyerra joined me at the end of the day. On the first day, she found me there, going through my routine workout. Without hesitation, she demanded that I train her. And so, we trained and sparred. She also taught me some of her techniques, which I easily worked into my fighting style.
After the first couple of days, her shadow joined her. Loren had also requested to be trained and soaked up my instructions quickly. Both of them were naturally gifted and took to MMA like a fish to water. After the first week, my men began joining us. Our training also moved to weapons for me and Loren, both of us struggling to get a grasp on how to handle the different tools.
My life was great. It was moving forward, and each day, there were fewer and fewer outright challengers to my rule. It didn’t really matter to me what the High Fae thought about my idea to form a council to include a representative from all the races. No longer would Avalon be a feudal system. Everyone would have equal rights and say in the future of their lands. The one good thing that the US had gotten right.
I was still Queen and would have the final say, but everyone had an opportunity to voice their concerns. For the most part, I would listen to the council and their advice. After all, they knew more about what they needed than I did. It was the least I could do for them. The only time I truly exerted my power would be in times of war or if their wishes began to trod on others’ rights. It was then that I would veto their desires.
Juniper joined us after the first week, traveling back from the Keep after having heard the news. Callum’s sister also came along as we discussed restoring the Autumn Court. The leaders of the other courts would be arriving shortly. After dealing with the initial fallout and instilling a council, I would be meeting with them all after my coronation.
Sitting before my vanity, I let Juniper work her magic. Tonight, I would gain my crown. I hardly believed it. The idea was so foreign to me, but it was just another adjustment in my life that felt right. No longer did I feel the need to fight and push back against taking my place. Now, I felt like the Queen I was in name. I embodied the role and became a symbol of hope for the fae.
However, when we came back to this room at the end of the night’s festivities, I would become just Rhowyn again. Rho, Killer, Trouble, Princess, and Their Queen. Arryn would take charge, bringing us to such heights I never could have foreseen. I smiled at the thought, ready to be done with the formalities so we could continue to explore each other. With my men, sex would never grow old or stale.
“I know that smile,” Juniper teased me, and I blushed. Despite my title, she could still chastise me and give me wisdom. The mother I had never had.
“Can you blame me? If you had all that glory waiting for you, you’d be thinking the same things.”
She laughed, her fingers placing pins in my hair. “So very right you are, my Queen.” She winked at me as the last one was placed.
A knock on the door sounded out before it creeped open, Baer’s head peeking around the corner. I chuckled to myself. They always sent him to fetch me. Some things would never change. “You ready, Killer?” he asked me.
Standing, I glanced in the mirror. My gown was gold, complimenting my olive skin, sparkling and glittering in the lights of the room as I shifted. Juniper had chosen it as a physical representation of my own magic, one that had never been seen before. Now, it made me stand out, another reminder that I was Avalonia’s chosen Queen.
Each time she prepared me, I’d think I could never look better, and each time, Juniper outdid herself. Tonight was no exception. Glancing back at Baer, I found him standing fully inside the door, his mouth open at the sight of me. “You’re absolutely stunning,” he said in a whisper.
Walking toward him, I swayed my hips on purpose, a promise of what would come later. I smiled at him seductively. “You look positively edible yourself.” Leaning up on tiptoe, I kissed his lips.
A swat on my arm pulled me from sinking into him. Turning, I found Juniper glaring. “Now, now. Don’t go messing up all my hard work before anyone’s even seen you. Afterward, I don’t care what you get up to, but there will be none of that until after your coronation,” she chastised me, arms crossed over her chest and narrowed eyes that sparkled with mirth.
I laughed. “Of course. How thoughtless of me,” I teased back, taking Baer’s arm as he led me from my room. Entering our shared living space, I found the rest of my mates standing there. Another development I had been so grateful for. Along with returning Baer’s hand, I had also mated all of them. We no longer just shared the consort bond, but now, we were all true mates.
As if reinforcing that thought, Lennox spoke into my mind. “ I for one, vote that we skip tonight’s festivities and instead peel that dress from your body. The pleasures we could bring you are so much greater than that of a crown.”
I laughed out loud. “Juniper would have your head if she could hear you.” In answer, Juniper indeed glared at Lennox, somehow knowing what he was thinking.
“Don’t you even dare,” she challenged him. He slunk his shoulders and held out his hands to appease her. “Now, get out there and claim what is rightfully yours.” She smiled at me, holding the door open from our suite.
Arryn claimed my other arm, the rest trailing behind me as we headed toward the throne room. Reaching the closed doors, we paused. The guards dipped their heads, speaking in unison, “Your Majesty.”
When I nodded, they swung the large doors wide, revealing the room filled to the brim with people. Like in a wedding, two sides of a single aisle were filled with chairs and benches. People stood and turned as we entered. I recognized many of the people I had met along my journey to this point. There was Commander Ashford, the red-haired hulk of a man with the bushy beard and orange hairy eyebrows. He smiled broadly at the sight of me, dipping his head as I passed by. Baer’s old outpost leader was joyous at the outcome.
There was Loki, and Aurelia was here with Aspen and Liam, and Juniper had found her seat as well. Revna and Ramund found seats in the front near Cyerra. Vivianne, the Lady of the Lake, smiled back at the sight of me, mischief and mayhem alight in her eyes. My father was also there, beaming at me proudly. He still struggled with his PTSD, but he was making strides toward healing. Our bond grew as he told me stories about his childhood and youth.
Finally, I reached the front of the room, the red carpet ending as I climbed the stairs. My men stayed put, standing tall behind me as I knelt on the pillow on the floor before my throne. My grandfather was there smiling with delight. I beamed back as he spoke, “Avalon, tonight we come together to crown our new Queen as selected by Avalonia. Tonight, the balance will be assured for the rest of Rhowyn’s reign.”
Turning to me, he asked, “Do you, Rhowyn, vow to keep the people of Avalon safe and whole? Do you vow to uphold Avalonia’s will? Will you strive for the rest of your reign to do what is best for the land?”
“I do,” I said simply. Cheers resounded, echoing in my ears painfully as my grandfather placed my crown on my head.
“Rise, Queen Rhowyn, and meet your court.” I did as he said, turning to find the smiles and joy on the faces in the crowd.
“Thank you,” I said once the cheers had started to die down. “Without all of you, this wouldn’t have been possible. So many of you helped me along the way, and I will never forget your sacrifices. I will do everything in my power to live up to the ideal you hoped for. Together, we will see Avalon thrive again.” With those words, I sat on my throne.
More cheers and whoops of joy sounded out. The soldiers, placed along the walls, beat weapons against their armor, adding to the cacophony of celebration.
My final address for the evening rang out above the noise. “Now, let us feast and celebrate the bounty and benevolence of Avalonia.”