Page 161 of Treasured
Another raised their fist in the air. “Long live the king and queen!”
“King Sebastian!” someone yelled. “Queen Luna!”
“Long live the vampires!”
“The queen is dead; long live the queen!”
Their words sunk in, and blood drained from my face. We were doing this now? No time to prepare mentally? Just… out with one ruler and in with another in the same night?
Sebastian’s brows furrowed. “Luna, what’s wrong?”
The crowd’s excited chanting continued, but I ignored them. My grip on his hand tightened, and my tongue was sandpaper in my mouth. “I… They’re… What they’re saying… about us.”
I knew vampire rulers were chosen by force, but somehow… I hadn’t exactly considered what would happen if we won. I thought we would at least get a chance to acclimate ourselves to our new reality. The throne was empty, but not for long, apparently. We hadn’t even had the chance to get cleaned up, but it seemed the vampires didn’t care.
How could I do this? I barely knew how to be a princess, let alone a queen.
Sebastian seemed to understand where my mind went. “Luna, Eleyta needs a ruler.” He raised a brow, and his obsidian eyes twinkled. “Now they have two.”
My mouth opened and closed repeatedly, and my chest constricted. “Is there… do we have to…”
My voice trailed off as words seemed to fail me. This was new and not exactly delightful. I had never thought I would find myself in this position.
“There’s no coronation if that’s what you’re asking,” he said.
I nodded, still speechless. There went my dreams of returning to the cabin and spending a week in bed. This was going to be a very long night.
He squeezed my hand. “You’ll be amazing.”
I didn’t have time to respond before a vampire pushed through the quieting crowd. Her blond hair was in a tight braid, but I recognized her instantly.
Memories of her cruelty when we first met ran through my mind, and I hissed, “Estrella.”
What was she doing here?
I didn’t realize I’d said the last part out loud until Sebastian’s hand landed on the small of my back. I know you don’t like her, darling.
That was an understatement. Why is she here? I asked again. She was friends with Darcy.
One of the vampires who had sold us out to the People of the Night, Darcy had killed Syndra when the witch tried to warn me what was coming.
Phyrra investigated her thoroughly, he replied calmly. Estrella’s been working in Southern Eleyta, near the Ithenmyrian border, since the night after the first ball.
I didn’t respond, so Sebastian continued, I’ll kill her if you’d like.
Just like that, he was willing to get rid of a trusted vampire. For me.
I sucked in a breath. On the one hand, I really didn’t like Estrella. On the other, there had been enough death already. No, that’s fine. A thought struck me, and I shivered. Can she hear what we’re saying now?
No, this communication is through the Tether. I made some discrete inquiries while we were with the Second Order. Not even Estrella can hear us. Our words belong to us, and us alone.
Thank Isvana.
Sebastian laced his hand through mine and led me to the edge of the dais. We spread our wings and stood tall.
Estrella dropped to her knees a few feet away from us, extending her neck in a show of submission. Well, at least now she had her tongue under control.
“My King.” She looked at Sebastian, then at me. “My Queen.” Raising her right hand, she formed a small dagger out of the shadows. “Allow me to be the first to pledge my allegiance to your crown.”