Page 139 of Across an Endless Sea

Shiny.

Kitarni kisses her on the forehead, then takes her arms and twirls her around so she’s facing us. “Behold, Danu’s chosen daughter.”

“All Hail the Nicnevin, beloved of Danu,” the room responds.

Kitarni steps back, leaving Rose alone in the centre of the room, with only us as a buffer between her and the crowd holding their breath.

The crown descends from the gallery, held aloft by the glittering, tiny bodies of pixies. The swarm holds it in place over Rose’s head, giving her a halo of multicoloured light as Kitarni starts to speak.

“Do you promise to serve and protect the people of Danu, to govern as sovereign with Her voice, and dispense her justice and mercy in all your judgements?”

Rose takes a deep breath and nods. “I will.”

From above, another swarm descends, this time carrying a jewelled sword which hovers in front of Rose. I eye the two swarms curiously—a lot of the time, putting two swarms together will erupt into a fountain of violence and cannibalism—but Kitarni must’ve promised them something to make them behave, because neither makes any aggressive moves.

“And will you,” the high priestess continues. “Do all in your power to protect and defend the Goddess’s sacred land from all who seek to harm it?”

“I will.”

“Who here witnesses the oath?” Kitarni asks.

The entire temple vibrates as every fae in attendance solemnly replies, “Witnessed.”

Kitarni nods decisively. “Claim your crown, Nicnevin.”

With shaking hands, Rose reaches up, and the pixies drop the circlet into her hands. Rose lowers it slowly, gripping the elegant metal with white fingers until it brushes her hair and sends a jolt through her body.

Then, when she’s certain it won’t fall from her head—even if it did, I’d just blink over and put it back—she reaches out and takes the sword as well. The moment it’s clasped between her hands, she starts to glow—and this time, the pixies aren’t to blame.

Danu looks out of Rose’s eyes as she turns the sword until she’s griping it by the blade and brings it up to her lips. The moment the crowd notices the switch, their heads drop, but I’ve never been very good at not looking, so I don’t miss a thing.

“My oath remains unbroken,” Danu announces, kissing the silver. “You have suffered long in my absence, but I gift you the Nicnevin I promised. Follow her, for she will lead you well.”

Then, as swiftly as the Goddess appeared, she vanishes again, leaving only a stunned Rose, gripping the sword so tightly that her hands are starting to bleed.

Oooh, her blood is so red.

Would anyone mind if I just dashed up there and swiped a little bit for my cap?

Probably.

I’ll do it later—sneaky-like.

I stare, transfixed, as Kitarni stands up and says some more words, but I barely take them in. Eventually, when Rose starts walking back towards the doors, I trail after her with the others.

Forty-Three

Rhoswyn

My hands sting, but I pay them no mind as I sit on my throne, trying my best to listen to whatever the latest well-wisher is saying. Lore mopped up the blood the second we were alone, but they’re still healing. At least the line of people waiting to speak to me has dwindled. It must have been hours since we returned to the palace and the ball began, and I’ve spent most of them receiving fae swearing their allegiance.

I should be paying them better attention, but my thoughts are buzzing. Am I sitting right? How long has it been? Will I have to dance when there’s no one left waiting to speak with me? Lots of fae are twirling around already, and I dread the moment one of the ambassadors from the other courts asks me.

Of course, the ambassadors were at the very end of the line, meaning they’ll probably already be in a bad enough mood when they reach me.

It doesn’t matter how good my partner is, it’s not possible for me to follow the steps of whateverthatdance is. Let alone the one the fae with wings are doing above the dance floor.

The fae before me bows low, and I realise—too late—that they’ve just excused themselves while I was dreading my hypothetical dance. I blush, releasing my grip on the sword on my lap to offer him my hand to kiss.

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