Page 35 of Calling of the Crown

Shaking my head at him, I pulled the gray dress on. “I admit, he still isn’t my favorite person to deal with, but I think he’ll warm up to us soon.”

“Seeing as how he doesn’t have a choice, I hope he warms up to us sooner rather than later. I honestly think the man smiled a little when you said you wouldn’t marry me.”

I rolled my eyes. “He did not smile.”

Rune shrugged. “Agree to disagree.” He grabbed my tiara from the bedside table and walked over to me. His eyes softened with a look of devotion. Placing the tiara on my head, he asked, “Are you ready to get back down there, Princess?”

I grabbed his hand and gave it a squeeze. “As long as you’re by my side, I’m ready for anything.”

He lifted our joined hands and pressed a kiss to the back of my hand. “Then let’s get down there and see what this Joining Ceremony and coronation entail.”

Chapter Sixteen

“SORRY FOR THE DELAY,” I said, walking back into the ballroom with my head held high and hand still firmly in Rune’s. “We had some things to talk about.”

Jesiah, Angus, Dallas, and Rance were still gathered around the ballroom like I’d never left. Dallas’s green eyes immediately zeroed in on mine and Rune’s joined hands, and I saw a thousand excited questions dance in her gaze. I knew she’d corner me later for every detail of what happened, and to be honest, I couldn’t wait to giggle and gush over it with her, just like old times.

“Did you manage to get things sorted out?” Jesiah asked.

“We did,” I answered. “We’ll do the Joining Ceremony.”

Jesiah smiled at the news, and Dallas practically shook while trying to contain her very obvious enthusiasm. Rance gave Rune a slight nod and communicated some silent message in the way men do.

Angus was the only one I couldn’t read. His face was as stoic as always, even as he said, “Glad to hear it. That will make things far simpler.”

“So then do you plan on officially introducing him as your betrothed at next week’s Water Fae gathering?” Jesiah asked.

I looked at Rune, and there was no stopping the smile that spread across my lips. “I do, yes.”

The news apparently broke the barricade keeping Dallas reserved. She immediately squealed, flung her arms into the air, and barreled over to practically strangle me in a hug. “This is amazing! I’m so excited for you! This will be the best Joining Ceremony ever!”

Laughing, I hugged Dallas back. “Thanks. So, what exactly does the Joining Ceremony entail?”

“The Joining Ceremony,” Angus started, giving Dallas a reprimanding look as she moved back to her place with Rance, “will occur at the start of the evening. The two of you will be prepped in different rooms and meet at the ball for all to witness. You’ll immediately perform the Two Hearts Dance, and at the end of said dance, you’ll each be crowned Queen and King.”

“And what is the Two Hearts Dance?” Rune asked, his fox ears pinned back in worry.

“It’s a dance that will showcase to everyone not only your promise and commitment to the other, but it also displays your combined power for all to see,” Jesiah explained.

“It’s a very complicated and sacred dance, so I’d suggest getting to work on it immediately,” Angus said. “Not only will this dance wed the two of you and lead to your crowning, but it will also be a testament for everyone witnessing it if Water and Land Fae can truly work together. If the dance is a miserable catastrophe, that will send out a certain message that perhaps Water and Land Fae aren’t meant to be together. As lovers or allies.”

“It won’t be a catastrophe,” Jesiah protested, and there was no missing the edge to his voice as he did.

I knew immediately that I wasn’t the only one who took issue with Angus’s words, because I wasn’t the only Water Fae in this room that was in love with a Land Fae. His words were like a slap to the face for Jesiah, who’d just been reunited with Akira.

“Let’s hope not,” Angus said.

As depressing and pessimistic as Angus’s words were, I also knew he was right. Convincing Water Fae to believe in and support a mission of rebuilding and aligning our two kinds would be nearly impossible if I wasn’t even capable of doing a measly dance with one.

If Rune and I did manage to do it successfully though, people would see that our kinds could work together and thrive. It would plant a seed in their minds for possibilities between us and Land Fae. A seed was all I needed, because a seed, I could cultivate and grow into something larger and wonderful. But without a seed, all I’d have is an empty hole, unable to sprout into anything.

I had to plant that seed.

“We’ll do the dance well,” I declared firmly. “We have to.”

I didn’t know what was involved in the dance or the finer details of this whole thing, but I refused to fail at this. I refused to let my inability to do something keep Water and Land Fae from finally finding peace.

Angus studied me for a moment, most likely judging my resolve. I kept my head held high and squashed any hint of fear or insecurity that tried to surface.

---