Chương 58: Lone Wolf. (Chapter 57)
Tonight, is my coronation. Ryan is dead, naturally I'm next in line for the throne. I wasn't allowed to put it off anymore. There was so much work to do after the battle that we just didn't have time. I refused to be called 'Queen.' By anyone. Because what's a queen without her king?
Damien hasn't been spotted since he vanished. I waited for him. But It's like he is not there anymore. For the first few weeks, it was rough. I cried alone a lot. I would spend hours searching for him. Begging the forces to show me ANY signs that he was alive. I'd offer up my life in return. But nothing. My whole family, were just, gone. It's like for one minute, I closed my eyes, and my nightmares seeped into reality. It's quiet, empty here now. The fire that Damien lit in me, that made me realise who I am, it had gone out. My soul is cold, I don't have to be told that I'm heartless, I can feel it. I've changed. And I'm not necessarily sure it's for the best.
"Miss Darvos?" I hear from behind me. I stand looking at myself in my mirror in my dark chamber lit only by the faintest of lanterns and a roaring fire. Tonight, the moon is gorgeous and the air is calm. The balance is restored in our world. But my home is broken.
"Yes?" I say.
"You look beautiful." She gives me a warm smile unable to tear her eyes away from my dress. The black trail of fabric leads from my shoulders past my feet, almost as a cloak. My dress sticks closely to my skin with a slit down the leg. It's not heavy, it's easy. My shoulders are exposed showing my collarbone yet my arms are covered lace making swirls around my arms. My hair trails down my shoulders in twists making a natural crown on my head with loose piece's hanging over my eye.
"Thank you." I say. She bows and begins to gather up her things. Catching both our attention, There is a knock at the door.
"Come in." I say and Ashley walks in, wearing a white dress. I smile at the irony. She takes a second to look at me up and down before looking smitten as if I were her little sister.
"Ahhhh how beautiful you are." She says tilting her head to one side, we both giggle. The maid takes her final bow leaving me and Ashley alone. Meaning time to talk business.
"What do you need to tell me?" I ask knowing that worry line on her forehead means she needs something.
"Not so much tell you anything..more ask."
"So what do you need to ask me?" She takes a second before deciding to sit down.
"Drake told me who is coming today...who exactly did you invite?" I know exactly what she is talking about.
"If I didn't invite them, there would be more problems. Plus it's only their princess that's coming." Ashley does not seem comforted at all.
"Why would you do that? That feud goes back even further than ours does!"
"Ashley calm down-"
"You invited 'MANKIND' as in HUMANS! And you expect me to be calm?"
"I had no choice. I had a cousin named 'Kion shade'" asshole I think to myself. "well he was the nightslayer who was in charge with our trading with them. We traded a lot with them, mostly materials. Since his mysterious death the humans don't trust us, and refusing to trade with us. And I'm sure since King Lucent's 'mysterious departure' they'll refuse to trade with you. They don't know about what happened recently between us and WE ARE going to keep it that way. They will use it as an excuse to start war. My people cannot afford another war right now, especially with Mankind." Her face looks upset, but she understands politics better than I do. "We need to show them nothing is wrong, right now both our nations are weak, if they decide to attack, you know we both won't survive. It's only for tonight, play nice just for tonight." She doesn't look convinced but as far as I'm concerned, is if she doesn't, then we're both fucked. Humans are the worst of the worst, they are sneaky conniving pieces of shit. No honour, no understanding, anything that is different they fear, and then what they fear becomes a target to exterminate. They fear us, but because they need us, they play nice. Once they realise we are depleted in forces and resources, we become open for exploitation. It's an opportunity to gain power over the powerful. We become a target. I'm playing with fire, and I don't care enough that I might get burnt.
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When they put the crown on my head, everyone cheered and clapped. But I felt nothing. No shift. No overwhelming feeling of responsibility. I had been queen for a long time now, it just hadn't been official. But I'd be lying if I didn't say the crown was heavy, this crown was always supposed to be Ryan's from the moment he was born. All this was his, I never wanted it or dreamt of having it. 'My damn brother' I thought and laughed. He is watching me, somewhere with mom. Laughing at my makeup or making fun of my dress. God I miss him. I see Drake, his eyes lit up at the sight of me. Drake is smiling, at least that made me smile too. The CREE walk alongside him and now at my feet pledging their services to me, as tradition occurs Drake is now my Right hand man as leader of the CREE, just like Ryan was to my Father, Drake will be to me. Responsible for my safety and all that. He think he will be looking after me but Here I can watch him, and take care of him. And with that, I Am now-
"Queen Karina Darvos Of Valtor."
"Fuck me" I say under my breath.
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I decide to escort Ashley to the courtyard. I needed fresh air. Ashley comes to say farewell, she gives me a hug and find myself missing her already. before she gets up on her horse she gives me a smile.
"I'm only across the sea. I'll be back, can't leave my little sister for too long. Even if she is a queen." She laughs and gets up on her horse and rides away from the castle gates. 'Sister,' I laugh to myself. She might be leaving, but today, I have never missed Isla as much as I do now. She was my 'sister.' The bond without the blood, unbreakable nonetheless. She turns back once and waves before disappearing into the night. Ashley is family, and I won't let what happened to Isla ever happen to her. Who knows, there may be peace between our nations after all.
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I sit in my throne. And watch my guests dance. This throne is the most uncomfortable seat I have ever sat in IN MY LIFE. Ughhhh. This seat is all for power, to broadcast who is in power here. To me, power isn't who has the biggest throne or armies, it's who can walk into a room, and everyone automatically knows that it's you who dominates. Being a woman that's hard sometimes, but reputation, that's the thing that drives the fear into your subconscious
"May I have this dance your majesty?" Korvic Tareek, prince of the elvish tribes. Friend.
"Of course," I say and follow him to the floor. He knows very well this Dance is supposed to be the 'Queen King dance.' (This was supposed to be mine and Damien's dance) I accidentally think to myself. I shake it to the back of my thoughts. Korvic puts his hand on my waist and I flinch. He looks at me wearily but places his hand there again dismissing it. I respectfully put one hand on his shoulder and extended the other to meet his hand. There is a good amount of space between up, respectable. As the music played We started to dance.
"You look ravishing my queen." He whispers. He is trying to make small talk. I simply smile keeping my eyes off his. "I hear you haven't formerly announced your king yet." Bastards, never leave my love life in peace for one second.
"Ahem no I haven't." I say. We dance.
"As tradition says, you must pick your king within the lunar month, or you are allocated one by the kingdom." Usually Kings and Queens have their partners picked out by the time they are crowned. I had mine. But fuck knows where he is, even if he is alive or not. Korvic steps forward closing the respectful gap between us as I felt our chests meet. He put his lips to my ear and whispered "I'd be honoured to offer my services. My queen." He is trying to be seductive, I recognise his sexual desires as he slowly decides to travel his hand on my waist down my body.
"Tareek-"
"I'll take over from here." I don't know this voice. This one is new. It's deep, a male. Primal, like a dragons. My eyes travel to his feet and then up. The man looked like he belonged, but not quite. He had tousled dark brown hair, which was thick and lustrous. His eyes were a mesmerising deep green but not quite as beautiful as Isla's. His face was strong and defined, his features molded from granite. He had dark eye brows, resting perfectly on top on his long lashes. His lips were pale and thin and his nose slender and rounded. A prominent jaw curved gracefully around and the strength of his neck showed in the twining cords of muscle that shaped his entire body; strong arms, a firm chest and abdomen. He was an almost as big as Drake in comparison. He took in the room with a single sweep, his green eyes settling on nothing before he left as expressionless as he entered. He didn't look like he smiled much. Korvic looked at him, intimidated by his physique he bowed and hurried off leaving me alone with this man.
"I apologise my queen, elves aren't the most subtle of beings," he tried to joke. But he didn't laugh. He took me in his embrace wrapping his arm around my waist as if we weren't strangers. Something oddly felt comfortable.
I settle into the dance as we move together. Feeling him hold me, my body ached. I missed him. I miss him so much.
"I'm sorry I don't recognise you? Mr?-"
"Prince Adam Zovin.".....'Zovin' wait wait waittttt shit. "I'm here on behalf of my brother King Azran Zovin. A pleasure to meet you Queen Darvos." I trailed off after that. I knew who he was. This was the Prince of the humans.
Fuck. Damien. Where are you?
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