Lisa sat on the edge of her bed. Her heart was heavier than it had been in a very long time. Talking about Steal had dredged up old pains and finally telling Oakley and Elora about their father had worn her out. Most days she tried to forget, but then most days she failed miserably because you don’t forget your Sh’mai. In fact, most don’t even go on once they lose their mate. But she had Oakley and Elora to take care of after Steal died. She didn’t have the luxury of curling up in a ball and turning her back on the world. She had to keep living. She had to live and give their children lives that would make the sacrifice he made worth it.
She hadn’t told them everything. She had nearly bit through her tongue as she waited for them to ask her how he had died, but somehow that question had not popped up―yet. She knew it would be coming and she dreaded having to answer it, dreaded seeing the hurt in Elora’s eyes. How do you tell your daughter that her best friend’s mate killed her dad?
Chapter 5
“It would be nice to be able to set ourselves apart from the human race, to be able to say that we are superior in some way no matter how great or small. But the truth is, we are more alike than many of my kind would want to admit. We love, we hate, we fight, we fall apart, and we try to get back up again. I can only hope that as we move forward to a new time in our history, we will prove to be as willing to change as I’ve witnessed the humans to be. I can only hope that we will not fall victim to pride and greed.” ~Syndra
“Is that everyone?” Trik asked.
“Yes, the entire light-elf kingdom. We’ve assembled everyone in the main courtyard,” Tamsin told him as they stood staring out into crowd from the second story window.
Trik’s eyes scanned over the faces and he prayed silently that he didn’t recognize anyone, because if he did, then that more than likely meant he had killed someone related to them.
“It’s a good turn out,” Tamsin said no doubt trying to sound optimistic.
Trik nodded but didn’t remark.
“Quit your fretting, Triktapic,” Syndra said as she walked briskly into the room. “You are the rightful king, and they will either accept it or not.”
Trik wanted to growl but he just gritted his teeth instead. “I don’t know why all of you insist on thinking that I’m somehow frightened of these people. I’m still Triktapic, dark-elf assassin. I may not be quite as vicious as I once was, but I didn’t just suddenly become a pansy overnight.”
Cassie, who had come in just behind Syndra, slipped her arms around his waist and laid her head against his chest. Without thought his arms encircled her and pulled her closer against him.
“I think that’s how you should start your speech,” Cassie teased.
“What? With, ‘hey just so you know, I’m not suddenly a pansy?’”
She laughed and he soaked up the sweet sound, knowing that times for laughter would be few and far between in the coming days.
“You have to admit that it’s catchy.”
Trik pulled back so that he could look down at her face. Her beauty, so much more than skin deep, left him breathless. As her eyes danced with mischief and her lips twitched with barely contained humor, he was momentarily speechless. She tilted her head to the side in question.
“You’re breathtaking,” he explained. “All you have to do is stand there and breathe and the earth beneath my feet moves.” He watched as heat flared up her cheeks and they darkened to a deep red. He trailed a finger across her flushed cheek and grinned at her. “I love you,” he told her simply.
Her breath caught as she looked up at him, and he knew she could see just how much he meant those words, just how desperately he felt them.
“I know,” she answered, “and I love you.”
Trik leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. He didn’t allow himself to linger because Cassie was a temptation that he did not resist well. When he broke the kiss he took her hand in his but took a step back putting some space between their bodies. He looked over at Tamsin who was studiously staring out into the crowd, his own Chosen by his side.
Trik took a deep breath and let it out before he spoke. “Let’s do this.” He turned and headed for the door, towing Cassie alongside him. The time for thinking and worrying had past and now he knew it was time to take action. Regardless of the outcome, regardless of the coming reactions from his fellow elves, it was time for his people to be reintroduced to their king.
Cassie’s stomach danced to the tune of a thousand butterfly wings as they stepped out into the courtyard. Even though she stood at Trik’s side, she still felt vulnerable and exposed. She wasn’t afraid for her own safety. No, she feared for Trik’s, and she knew that if he was listening to her thoughts he would be picking up on that fear loud and clear. She followed closely behind him as he climbed the steps of a pedestal that would allow him to see out over the loud gathering and allow them to see him.
“Stop your fretting, Love. You can handle this.” She heard Trik’s voice in her mind and the warmth of that closeness was enough to settle her nerves. Whatever they would face, it would be side by side, together. They were no longer alone; Trik was no longer alone.
“Never again, Cassie,” he confirmed her thoughts and she looked up at him and smiled. He turned to face the crowd and she felt him pull a measure of power into his body. As she had seen him do before, he released the glory that was his kingship and took on all of the power bestowed upon him by the Forest Lords. He seemed to grow in size and he radiated light and warmth. The murmuring that had been rippling across the crowd suddenly stopped. Cassie swore that the utter silence was so complete that everyone assembled could hear her heart beating in her chest.
“Behold,” a deep booming voice rang out from beside Cassie. She hadn’t realized that Tamsin and Syndra had joined them. “The Forest Lords have seen fit to reappoint the rightful king over all the Elven race. He once commanded your loyalty. And we rebelled, thus driving him to his own rebellion. At that time, the Forest Lords stripped him of his royalty and exiled him. He was to remain exiled until such a time that he found the other half of his soul, his Chosen, the one being who could draw him back to the light. Such a time has come.” Tamsin paused. Cassie thought it must be for emphasis and it was working because they were riveted. She was riveted.
“The Forest Lords have brought back our king! I give him my fealty; I pledge to him my loyalty. The Forest Lords have brought our king a mate, his appointed queen. I give her my fealty; I pledge to her my loyalty. All hail King Triktapic and Queen Cassandra!”