Page 40 of The Shattered Kingdom
Mason walks behind me, disappearing from my line of sight. “Are you ready to go?” His bare fingers slide up my covered shoulders, dangerously close to my exposed neck. Half of me wants to push him away, but the other half wants to let him touch me. I want to feel the warmth and comfort. I’m craving it, and it’s hard to ignore when he’s so close.
“I knew you were my mate,” he whispers. His fingers finally touch my bare skin, and I unsuccessfully suppress a shiver. “And I’m pleased my assumption was correct. I’m pleased you’re mine.”
I don’t know how to respond to that. I love compliments, but I want to be angry with Mason. I’m not ready to give up my grudge, and if I start acting like a giddy fool whenever he gives me attention, that’s precisely what will happen. I have to remain strong.
“I’m not yours.” I step forward and brush his fingers away. “Back off, rat.”
“‘Rat’?”
I nod, and Kie lets out a low chuckle. It’s the first bit of emotion he’s shown in days.
He clears his throat. “Let’s go.”
It’s a short walk to the ceremony location, which I quickly recognize is the meeting hall the queen brought me to on my first day here. The three-story dome-topped building is exactly how I remember it. A wide, shallow staircase leads to the front glass doors and immediately upon entering is a large hall. The marble flooring, stone pillars, arched ceilings, and giant chandeliers are just as breathtaking as the first time I saw them.
The early morning sunlight is just beginning to stream through the windows, casting the entire room in a golden haze. It’s stunning.
Mason walks inside first, with Kie and me immediately behind.
The throne at the back of the room is the first thing I notice. A set of wide, shallow steps leads to the oversized, elegant chair. Queen Gitta sat on it the last time I was here, but I try not to think of that as I eye the dark-red cushion and detailed wooden armrests.
I gulp, shifting my attention to Anox. He stands several feet from the door, and beside him are the other two council members I met last night. Lady Cassandra has dressed up for the occasion. She’s in a floor-length silver gown, and her hair is pulled away from her face in four neat braids. Lord Bishop is wearing a blue suit with gold detailing, and he thankfully keeps his eyes away from me.
I don’t particularly like the way he stares.
All three faeries bend at the waist as Mason approaches.
“Are you ready?” Anox asks.
Mason nods. “Yes.”
There’s a pair of double doors to the left of the room. They blend in with the wall, seamless and nondescript, and Anox bows to them before grabbing the golden knobs and pulling.
“The anointing room is sacred,” Kie says, his voice low as the doors are pulled open. “Only royals and council members are allowed inside, but we’re making an exception for you. There’s a pool of water in the center of the room. You’ll want to avoid that. You and I will stand along the back wall while Mason and Anox perform the ceremony.”
I nod, happy to know what to expect. I don’t like surprises.
Anox and Mason walk inside, Kie and I head in after, and Lady Cassandra and Lord Bishop take up the rear.
There’s indeed a shallow, black pool taking up a majority of the room. In the center of it is a large, shiny black stone. What’s it for? The edges are jagged, and the shine resembles obsidian.
Kie guides me to the back of the room. Lady Cassandra and Lord Bishop join us. Mason said the crowning ceremony would be private, but I still anticipated more flair. He tugs off his shoes and socks before stepping inside the pool. The water laps at his ankles as he walks toward the black stone. It juts out of the water, just reaching the tops of his knees.
Anox waits for Mason to get situated before approaching, his robes trailing along the ground behind him. He pauses once he’s standing at the edge of the pool, and he bows at the waist before beginning to speak in a language I don’t understand.
Several minutes pass before Mason nods and responds, also in the foreign language. It sounds like he’s repeating what Anox is saying, probably taking an oath or something similar.
I’ll have to ask Kie and Mason later.
Anox and Mason go back and forth for several minutes, and I shift my weight from foot to foot. This is tedious, but I’m in nohurry for it to end. Mason said there’s an observance for the queen afterward, and I’m truthfully dreading it.
I’m holding out hope that Lill didn’t kill the queen and this is all some elaborate trick, but I won’t be able to hold on to that when facing the aftermath of the queen’s murder. I wasn’t a fan of Kie’s mother, I’d be the first to admit that, but she didn’t deserve to die. If I killed everybody who made me mad, I fear there wouldn’t be many humans left on Earth.
Anox reaches into his robes and pulls out a green, jeweled knife. It’s objectively beautiful, but I just know Mason’s going to cut himself with it. It’s too exquisite and ceremonial to be used for anything other than a good old blood rite.
Mason tugs off a glove and extends his arm, and Anox cuts into his hand. It almost immediately begins to bleed, the red blood flowing out onto his palm before dripping down his fingers. I hate blood.
Mason waits until it’s covered the entirety of his palm before bending and pressing it against a flat part of the stone. I wait for the ground to shake or the gods to come bestow their blessing, but nothing of the sort happens. I count to fifteen before Mason removes his hand.
