Page 123 of Queen of the Night
I stand at the top of the steps, sword in hand, ignoring the blood that trickles down my body and soaks my trousers. My mark shimmers brilliantly in the twilight, no speck of black within its scrolls and twists. A flash of Lucentia’s approving smile once again comes to mind, and never before have I felt so sure of my purpose.
“Call me your king, and I will take mercy.” I hold my sword strong and steady, ready at any moment to continue the fight. “Kneel and swear your fealty. If you don’t, the battle continues. There will be no other king on my throne.”
Without hesitation, Darvy and Rhosse kneel, then Jethonan and Nadiette, and a wave of soldiers and originators follow after them. The only ones left standing are the low kings. Midon drops to a knee rather quickly. Then Farlow. I wait for Drade. One moment, then two. I meet Drade’s challenging, hard eyes as a muscle in his jaw flexes and he finally kneels, his frame stiff and proud. I know how much it must wound his pride, but relief washes through me. I don’t know that Vera would forgive either of us if we were to continue the fight.
It’s silent in the near-darkness now as I turn and reach out to Vera, pulling her toward me and wrapping an arm around her waist. “Stand and honor the Black Tulip who has restoredlucent and saved our kingdom.” I’m pleased when my command is followed by the crowd rising in a wave and cheering so loudly I’m sure my ears will hear its echoes forever.
A rush of pride and warm affection fills my chest when she nods to herself, takes a deep breath, and keeps her chin held high, when I know from past experience all she’d like to do is step behind me. She doesn’t know it yet, but she was made to be queen.
Nadiette launches lucent magic in the shape of a bouquet of tulips into the darkening sky, and the other originators follow suit, savoring the free-flowing lucent and sending it into the air in bright, sparkling designs and patterns that draw citizens from Moneyre through the castle gates in excited droves.
With sparkling magic raining down around us, I turn to one thing that has been driving me to the brink of insanity. I lift Vera’s left hand from my chest, pulling her attention from the show of lucent, and inspect the glittering obsidian ring on her finger with a growl, feeling violent again.
“I’m not sorry for killing your husband.” I’ve never spoken anything more true. “The only ring that will ever be here is mine.”
She grins wryly. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
My eyes lift to meet hers, taken back to that moment in the forest where she first used my title. Then, there was fear in her gaze, even disgust. Now…
She watches my face intently as I turn my attention to pulling it from her finger, then she steps closer and slides her arms slowly around my neck with a soft grin that has me wishing even more we were already married. My hands find the curve of her waist as I dip my head, and the touch of her warm lips moving against my own, her scent, the way her heart races in time with mine… it sends me sailing on a current of heady warmth and anticipation for the future I’ve never allowed myself to embrace until now.
The brush of feathers and Rupi’s small wings flapping against Vera’s neck force us to reluctantly break our kiss. Rupi perches on Vera’s shoulder with her chest puffed proudly, one wing drenched in red and tucked carefully by her side—a battle wound. I frown with concern.
“You saved the day, girl,” Vera whispers as she lifts a hand up, and Rupi hops into her palm. It only takes a moment for Vera to heal her wing, then she lifts her to her cheek affectionately.
“Always my loyal guide. I should have listened better,” Vera admits.
Rupi fluffs up with pleasure, chirping in agreement and offering a cheeky side-eye.
“You don’t need to rub it in,” Vera mutters.
My attention turns to Jethonan who straggles up the stairs, his robes in tatters, a lock of his hair cut away much shorter than the rest, and sweat-soaked.
“We’ve done it, Your Majesty,” he gasps.
I chuckle and give him a brotherly hug, clapping him on the back so firmly he grunts. I step back, scanning the still-churning crowds of people below us. “Have you seen Darvy? Rhosse?”
He nods. “They’ve sustained minor injuries, but should be fine. Darvy is already busy tending the wounded with the healers. Rhosse and the other commanders are gathering your troops. Now I must ensure that my office is in order.” He marches away and continues to mutter, “Don’t know what those soldiers may have done to it after I got arrested.Me, arrested. Of all people.” He shakes his head and disappears through the large doors.
I look down to find Vera with an amused grin on her lips that matches my own.
I pull her closer to my side where we stand at the top of the steps together and watch as the chaos becomes organized before us.It’s over.Disbelief and shock mingle in my veins as I take a moment to let it sink in. For so many years, my people suffered and died as the gloam continued to grow. I watched, and felt, my mark darken torturously. The years-long struggle to believe I was worthy as I watched the lands of my kingdom sicken and die before my eyes. Faces of soldiers I fought the gloam with flash through my mind, making the back of my eyes burn. Memories of pain and struggle invite me to slip further into the past, but Vera appears to sense my feelings as she squeezes my waist tighter for a moment, returning me to the present. The present that is absent the chill of lurking gloam… with plentiful lucent still lighting the sky above us in glowing bursts, and those below us watching Vera with open curiosity and wonder.
I take a moment to truly feel and savor the way our bond twists and curls between us with pleasure and strength, the way my mark thrums with cool power that is a relief after years of pain.
Vera’s voice is soft when she breaks the comfortable silence between us. “I was worried I wouldn’t know how to bridge, how to be a Black Tulip, but this is the most natural thing I’ve ever experienced. The kingdom… it’s as if I know the entire span of it, every detail, every person and their need for lucent.” She looks up at me. “Is this how it always is for you?”
“It’s clearer now. Stronger.”
She looks down at her hand engulfed in mine, then peers at my mark shining brilliant white and smiles.
“We broke the rules and bridged first,” shewhispers.
I chuckle and turn toward her, offering her my full attention and lowering my voice. “I wouldn’t have expected it any other way from you.” I draw a gentle finger along her jaw, and she tilts her chin upward with the motion. “I finally found my Queen of the Night.”
She tugs me closer. “Only ever yours.”
Epilogue
