Page 155 of Rise of the Siren Queen
Making him my king was not just a choice, but a necessity. Adrian was my mate, the man who had risked everything to protect me, who had fought for me without hesitation. He wasn’t born into my world, but he belonged in it, because he belonged with me.
And I would fight for him, for us. Whatever it took.
“What do you want to do about the council?” Adrian asked, his eyes narrowing as they searched mine, their warmth edged with concern. “No doubt they’ll fight against the idea of a hybrid as your mate, let alone their king.”
“They’ll have no choice but to abide by my rule,” I said firmly, my voice laced with conviction. “Under my parents’ reign, Thalor practically ruled the council. The same during my grandmother’s time. But you killed him. With him gone, the members who supported the bastard won’t dare to oppose me. Soon, I’ll replace them entirely.”
Adrian tilted his head, his gaze sharpening, as if weighing my words. “Sienna mentioned you’ve got the majority with you now. Who’s on your side?”
I nodded, grateful for the support I could count on, even as Irecognized the battles ahead. “I have three of the six council members firmly aligned with me,” I began, my tone steady as I explained. “General Kai, Elora’s father, has always been loyal to my family. Then there’s Lady Thalia, Sienna’s mother, and Lady Mira, who served as my parents’ trusted advisor. They’ll stand with me, and by extension, they’ll stand with us.”
Adrian’s jaw relaxed slightly, but I could see the questions still lingering in his mind. I reached for his hand, threading my fingers through his, grounding myself in the steadiness of his presence.
“We’ll face them together.” I added, my voice soft but resolute. “No one will take you from me, Adrian. Not the council, not anyone.”
He exhaled sharply, his shoulders taut as if he carried the weight of a kingdom on them. His jaw tightened again, and his gaze dropped momentarily before meeting mine, those hazel eyes shadowed with doubt.
“I know they won’t,” he murmured, his voice low, as though trying to convince himself. “But I can’t help worrying that my actions might complicate things for you. Your ascension to the throne, your duty to Aetheria and its people… what if I’ve made it harder for you?”
His unease pierced through me like a ripple in the tide, but I refused to let it take root. Placing a steady hand on his cheek, I guided his gaze to mine.
“Adrian,” I chastised, my voice firm yet gentle, “my duty to Aetheria isn’t just about ruling with wisdom or deciding in a council room. It’s about protecting our people, our kingdom. And that includes finding a powerful male who will stand beside me against any threat. That male is you.”
He blinked, as if startled by the confidence in my words, but I pressed on, unwilling to let his doubts fester.
“You defended me,” I said, my tone unwavering, “defended the crown. You complicated nothing. If anything, you made my patheasier.”
His expression softened, but the furrow in his brow remained, a testament to his lingering worry. I sighed, cupping his face with both hands now, pulling him closer so he could feel the truth in my words.
“You’ve already proven yourself, love. To me, to this kingdom. And if anyone dares to question it, they’ll answer me.”
The corners of his mouth twitched, almost forming a smile, but the storm in his eyes hadn’t fully dissipated.
“You really believe that?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
“I don’t just believe it,” I said, my conviction unshakable. “I know it. You’re not just by my side.You are my side. My partner, my strength. Together, we can handle anything they throw at us.”
For a moment, he didn’t speak, simply searching my face, as if trying to find cracks in my facade. But there were none. There couldn’t be. Not when I’d seen the lengths he would go to protect me. Not when I felt, in my very soul, that he was exactly what this kingdom, and I, needed.
A soft knock echoed through the room, interrupting our conversation.
“Yes, enter,” I called, my voice steady despite the lingering tension.
“Sorry for interrupting, my Queen.” Ronan stepped in, his usually confident posture weighed down by something heavy and unseen. Behind him, Sienna and Kieran followed silently.
Sienna’s disapproving glance darted toward him, a silent chastisement for disrupting us. I could see it in the way her lips pressed into a thin line. She knew how much I disliked interruptions, but it was Ronan. He never sought me out without good reason.
“It’s fine. We finished anyway,” I said, though a pang of frustration coiled in my chest. I needed this time with Adrian, time I hadn’t had in weeks. But I also had a kingdom to rule, and Ronan wouldn’t interrupt for anything trivial. “What do you need, Ronan?”
He hesitated, his steel-gray eyes shadowed with something that made my heart ache—a rare vulnerability. He moved closer, the faint luminescent patterns on his tail dimmer than usual, as if even his light had grown weary. When he kneeled beside the bed, I knew something was wrong.
“First, Your Highness,” he began, his voice rough and low, as though each word was a struggle, “I want to ask your forgiveness… for chaining you.” His head dipped, and his guilt seemed to radiate from him.
Adrian stiffened beside me, his muscles coiling like a predator ready to strike. His fury erupted in an instant, his voice thunderous.
“You didwhat?”
Ronan flinched but didn’t lift his head, his hands clenched into fists at his sides.
