Page 74 of Calling of the Crown

He let out a low, warning growl, and his voice came out strained as he said, “It’s taking everything inside me to not steal you away where I can fuck you until you’re limp. Don’t provoke me, or I won’t even care about the privacy. I’ll take you right here for everyone to see.”

My insides warmed with the threat, and I realized I wouldn’t stop him if he tried to whisk me away right now. For both of our sakes, I looked out over the room again and changed the subject. “Do you know if King Elias came?”

I scanned the crowd for the Land Fae King but didn’t see a strong presence that I’d expect from such a figure.

“He didn’t,” Rune answered, looking over the room, too.

“King Elias?” Angus asked as he suddenly appeared by my throne. “I believe Jesiah was correct in saying that he wouldn’t come. We received this letter from him this morning. It’s addressed to you, my Queen. We already checked the contents as a safety precaution.”

He produced a thick envelope from his inner tunic pocket and held it out to me. Inside was an elegantly scrawled note that read:

Princess Bria,

Apologies for missing your coronation. Unfortunately, I was held up with rising issues that demanded my attention. I do, however, hope to formally meet you. Three days. Come to the Valley of Wisps. There is much to discuss.

Congratulations to you and Rune.

King Elias

The note wasn’t the only content in the letter, either. Inside was a single flower petal. It was shaped like a heart, and it was the deepest shade of black, one that seemed to swallow every bit of light.

“What’s this?” I asked, holding the velvety petal.

Rune’s brow furrowed as he stared at it. “I’m not sure. Is it just one petal?”

I glanced into the envelope before nodding. “Just one.”

“There was only one when we checked the contents as well,” Angus informed. “We thought perhaps it got put in by mistake, but we left it in case it would mean something. We wondered if it was an item special to Land Fae that Rune could identify.”

Rune shook his head. “It’s not. I’m not familiar with a symbol or flower with petals like that.”

I stared at the petal, and for some reason, it brought a sense of unease. I supposed it could’ve fallen into the letter on accident, but I wasn’t convinced.

Even more nerve-wracking, though, was Elias’s request to meet. It sparked goosebumps on my arms, because I finally had a date to meet the infamous Land Fae King, and even though his letter sounded civil enough, I doubted our meeting would proceed the same way. A cloud was forming, and it held the promise of a storm.

“Your Majesties,” a joyous voice called.

Rune and I looked toward the bottom of the dais where a Land Fae family that appeared to be birds of some kind knelt, their colorful wings tucked to their backs. I quickly handed the letter back to Angus, who, along with Dallas and Rance, stayed by my side and Rune’s while family after family approached to say congratulations and offer us well wishes. Eventually, Rune and I were able to join the Fae for more slow dances, plus a line dance, before returning to our thrones for even more greetings and introductions.

Throughout the evening, Rune scanned the crowd like he was searching for someone. The wandering gaze was subtle and brief, but I noticed it all the same. I also didn’t miss the flash of disappointment that followed.

As another couple left the dais, Rune’s eyes quickly searched the jubilant crowd before turning down ever so slightly at the edges.

I leaned across the arms of our chairs and whispered, “What’s wrong? What do you keep looking for?”

He opened his mouth to respond then closed it. Swallowing hard, he turned away from me to look at his lap. “It’s stupid.”

Hearing the hurt in his voice, I glanced at the room full of people—full of family and friends. Newt and Greshim dancing with their dad, Ardley twirling Khalani who fought a smile, Akira and Jesiah lost in each other’s eyes as they swayed. There truly seemed to be so much love, light, and celebration in the air. Yet one person who should’ve been here to see this moment was absent.

“Is it your mom?” I asked softly.

His eyes squeezed shut with a look akin to guilt. “I shouldn’t care. I know the kind of person she is.”

My heart twisted painfully, knowing that Rune still craved for her love and acceptance. The woman was far from deserving of it. Rune had held this belief that he could remind his mother of how to care again, but that belief had been squashed during our final day at her home all those months ago.

Or so I’d thought.

Maybe that hope had been restored when he’d learned the truth of his father’s death. Perhaps he thought if Myra knew the truth, too, it would change things for them. I couldn’t blame him for wanting that or for wanting her here. But it still didn’t make me despise her any less.

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