Page 59 of A Kingdom of Death & Darkness
Strangely, things have been... calm after Boris’ death. I’d expected more of a push back from the villagers and the vampires, but the moment their King died by my hand, they happily laid their fealty at my feet. My Prince,Christian, he looks to me like I lit the stars in his darkened Kingdom.
Maybe I did.
My mates. All five of them. A year ago, I would never have believed this would be my life. A Queen, ruling an entire realm, breaking the curse that plagued it. Committed to five very sexy men, a variety of fae and vampires I hadn’t even known existed until Christian kidnapped me from my world and offered me as a Promised to his father.
How much things have changed since that first moment when I’d been so afraid, I’d nearly suffocated beneath it.
The dress I’m wearing certainly feels like something royalty would wear. It’s slim and fitting, a pretty purple color I picked out myself. Christian had wanted me in red. Thorn had suggested green. But ultimately, I’d picked my own color outside of theirs. This is a new beginning, and new beginnings require new choices.
Which is why I’m wearing the prettiest purple dress with a long slit up my leg. Easy access and all that. A girl has to have priorities, after all.
“Are you ready?” Thorn asks, stepping into the light behind me. His large black wings look imposing and seeing them only reminds me of the night before when he’d flown me into the sky above what was once the Blood Kingdom, both of us naked, and introduced me to the adrenaline-fueled act of sex in the sky. He’d dropped me into Carver’s arms at some point, and Carver had repeated the same actions, only letting us plummet over and over again while he took me.
I’ve never come so hard in my life.
“I think so,” I breathe, wincing when I realize how uncertain that sounds. “I mean, yes.”
His lips quirk in amusement, and he takes my hand. “You’re going to be perfect, Crymson. Do not worry.”
“What if everyone hates me?” I ask.
“They will not hate you,” he reassures me. “And even if they did, Christian’s stern look would keep them from ever showing it.”
I snort. “Is that supposed to make me feel better?”
“Yes,” he replies honestly.
Laughter bubbles out of my chest at his words. “He does make a pretty good guard dog.”
“Don’t let him hear you say that,” Thorn teases.
“Hear you say what?” the devil himself asks as he strolls inside the room, dressed to the nines in a blood-red suit. I’m not used to seeing him dressed in so much color, so it’s strange to see now, but he carries himself well. Even he feels lighter after the final battle.
“Oh, I was just saying you make a good guard dog,” I say immediately, not scared of the Blood... King?
He bares his fangs at me. “Call me that again, and I’ll show you how hard I bite, pretty pet.”
I wink at Thorn. “See. Guard dog. Biting at the first sign of trouble.”
Christian hisses and grabs me around the waist, dipping me down and pressing his teeth against my throat. “Careful, pretty pet,” he rasps. “Wouldn’t want your first appearance as Queen to come with bite wounds.” He presses his lips to my skin instead. “But later...”
I suck in a breath. Oh, later I’ll be paying for my remark. That much I know.
“Where are the others?” I ask, looking around just in time to catch them strolling through the door.
Carver with his swagger and mischievous air comes in first, his eyes going right to me and holding. His wings shuffle as he takes in my outfit, his own purple outfit complimenting mine. He’d insisted we match, a fact I enjoy immensely.
Seven and Rorrick come in behind him, both in pristine suits of blue and cream, respectively. Seven looks at home in the blue suit, but Rorrick looks like he’s uncomfortable. He keeps tugging at the collar and sleeves. For a man used to casual clothing, I can understand the reaction.
They’re my council. My lovers. My mates.
I take a deep breath. “Okay,” I say, mostly to myself. “This is it.”
We have plans to build a new joined castle in the middle of the two realms to show a united front, but for now, we live in the Thorn Kingdom. None of us wanted to stay in the Blood Land’s castle. There was too much death in those walls, too much fear. But Thorn’s castle doesn’t hold any of that for me. And it feels more like home than any other place ever has.
Even Christian seems to be enjoying his time in his new office in the dungeons.
Thorn grabs the double doors where I’m expected to step out onto the balcony and wave as I’m crowned officially as Queen. I’ve rehearsed my smile and wave in the mirror until my cheeks hurt. Still, I’m nervous.
