Page 9 of House of Embers
“Begin preparations for a coronation.”
Adelaide was too well trained to balk at that request. She tipped her chin. “As you wish.”
“Send invites to the entire populace, and let it be known that an official kathiria e senderawillbe in effect for any who wish to challenge my right as ruler.”
To this, she just blinked. “Of course.”
Then she backed out of the room and hurried away. Oh, to be a fly on the wall to hear what she really thought of all this.
“It is done,” Fordham said, like a new collar wrapped around his neck. He held his hand out to Kerrigan. “We have our final audience for the evening.”
Chapter Four
The Patient
“Are we going to talk about this, or are you planning to make all the decisions from now on?” Kerrigan asked as they headed out of the war chamber.
“Kings have to make decisions.”
“Wemake decisions together,” she argued. “That is how we work. We’re better together. Don’t forget that. If you don’t want to do this denouncement thing, then don’t do it.”
“It is a part of the official coronation.”
“Then let’s get married,” she suggested instead.
His smile made her toes curl in her slippers. “So eager?”
“Maybe,” she said as her cheeks heated.
“I would marry you today if you would have me. I’d have married you already. None of the pomp and frills matter to me. Just that you are mine.”
She wiggled her fingers, showing off the bright diamond. “For someone who doesn’t care about pomp, you gave me an awfully big ring.”
“I simply care that everyone knows that you’re mine.”
“Subtle,” she said with a laugh.
“Anyway, I don’t want to force a wedding under duress.”
“This isn’t duress.”
“It would be. Can you imagine us getting married in my home where the people hate half-Fae?”
Kerrigan sighed. “No.”
He kissed her knuckles. “I couldn’t do that to you. I want you to have your dream wedding.”
“I don’t have a dream wedding, just a dream groom, and I already have that. The rest we can figure out.”
“But on our own terms,” he argued, “not theirs.”
“Yes, but I don’t want the alternative to hurt you.”
“I’m fine.”
Kerrigan grasped his arm. “You’re not fine. Neither of us are. Not after what we went through. I know what Iris did…”
Fordham hissed through his teeth at the name of his enslaver. The woman who had put a collar around his neck and harnessed his magic for herself.
