Page 215 of Cherish

It’s the easiest question he’s asked me, and my voice is strong as I answer, “We absolutely do.”

Alistair nods his acceptance, then requests, “Please kneel here before the people you serve.”

Hudson and I do as he wishes, kneeling at his feet with our hands clasped in front of us. When I look out over the fields and mountains of Katmere Academy, I can see the other gargoyles leaning forward, straining to see what I know is a sacred moment for our people. It certainly feels sacred to me, even before Alistair pulls a long, decorative sword from the scabbard at his hip.

“This is the Sword of Galandal,” he tells us. “Forged in the deathly fires of Etna, carried only by those who wear the Crown, it has defended the Gargoyle Army and all under its protection for two thousand years.”

He swings it over his head before gently bringing the flat of the sword down on first my right shoulder and then my left. “With this sword, I dub thee Protector of the Gargoyles. Do you accept this role?”

“I do.”

He lifts the sword over his head again before bringing it down on Hudson’s shoulders this time. “With this sword, I dub thee Protector of the Gargoyles as well. Do you accept this role?”

Hudson’s voice rings loud and true when he answers. “I do.”

Alistair nods, then hands me the heavy sword, jeweled hilt first. I grab onto it and hold tight, determined not to drop it despite how heavy it is.

“Then with all the power vested in me, I crown thee Queen Grace and King Hudson.”

A giant cheer sweeps through the field as soon as he says the words.

And just like that, Hudson and I are the new grown-ups in the room.

123

Hold on to

Your Horns

As shouts of “long live the queen and king” echo all around us, Hudson turns to me with the wicked grin I’ve come to love so much.

“You ready to do this thing?” he says.

“More than ready,” I answer.

The other monarchs come to the front of the dais, prepared to congratulate us on our new positions. Hudson and I take a moment to shake each of their hands, and then we step back.

“Your service has been greatly appreciated,” Hudson tells them. “You’ve held the Circle together under extraordinary odds, even when the last gargoyle king and queen went missing and the last vampire king and queen grew bloated with delusions of power. Your steadfastness in the face of all of that will always be appreciated.”

“Why do I get the sense that the other shoe is about to drop?” Nuri asks, eyes narrowed as she looks between Hudson and me.

“Because it’s time for a new way,” I tell her. “One that honors the past but moves forward into the future we need to create for our people and for one another.”

“I like the trajectory my future is on just fine,” Linden tells us with a scowl. “So if you two think you’re going to come in here with some new rules and shake things up, we’re going to need to have a talk.”

“No new rules,” I tell him. “As for shaking things up…you can talk all you want. But our time of being told what to do is long over.”

“What exactly are you planning?” Angela asks.

“Something that will make sure what’s happened over and over again in our history never happens again,” Hudson answers. “Our people can’t afford another dictator with the power to destroy everything they’ve worked so hard to build.”

I can see the moment the truth of what’s about to happen dawns on the other members of the Circle. The witches look enraged. The wolves look scared. But the dragons, Aiden and Nuri, simply look intrigued. Then again, for a monarchy that is as embattled as theirs currently is, this may very well be the lifeline they need to see it through.

I turn to the front of the stage, where so many of our people are waiting for us to give our first official speech as heads of the Circle. Little do they know what’s coming.

Hudson steps up to the microphone and holds a hand up to quiet the celebratory crowd. When everyone in the field finally grows quiet, Hudson says, “Grace and I would like to thank you for taking us into your hearts today and every day in the future. We’d like you to know that we have done the same for you. And with that in mind, we have some very big news we’d like to share.”

He turns, holding the mic out for me to take.

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