Page 16 of A Crown of Fates
“I must prepare you, Sire.” His tone is uncertain. “Going out into the public, you might find that there are those who wish to see you gone, that believe you unworthy of the throne.”
My smile is genuine as I try to ease his concern. “That’s nothing I didn’t already assume. I’m prepared for them to question my authority. I know I have a lot to make up for, but I can’t do it from inside this castle.”
“No, Your Majesty, you can’t.” He turns toward the door and opens it for me before bowing.
As I pass him, I stop to clasp his shoulder. “Thank you for never faltering in your duty, Jerome. Your support hasn’t gone unnoticed.”
He nods. “Thank you, Sire.”
I walk past him, and together, we make our way down the castle’s winding staircases. I’ve kept the staff within this palace sparse as there hasn’t been a need with so few guests staying within these walls, but maybe that’s something else I need to change.
Bringing life back into this kingdom is second to fortifying the bond I share with Estee, but that doesn’t mean I can’t strive for both.
I make mental notes as we walk and share my thoughts with Jerome. Things like adding color into the castle by updating some of the portraits and tapestries on the walls.
Once we exit through the main doors, the path leading to the outer gates of the castle goes right into the heart of our market. The morning light touches everything—cobblestone streets, the wooden stalls of the merchants, the quaint, weathered homes—and as I walk deeper into the area, I feel the eyes of my people fall on me like a physical touch. Shocked stares turn to worry, distrust, and even anger as the murmurs begin.
“How dare he show his face now?”
“Nowhe comes to walk among us?”
“Someone should take his head off.”
The hostility rolls over me in waves, but I knew this was coming. Nothing close to a warm welcome, yet still more than Ideserve. I let my wolf rise within me, his presence steadying me, grounding me in the strength of our bond.
At the center of the market square, I stop, tapping into the mental connection I share with my pack. They may not respect me as their alpha, but today they’re going to hear me.
“I know you have no reason to trust me.”There’s no point pretending otherwise.“But I’m here to ask for your forgiveness anyway. I’ve been an absent leader, and I sincerely apologize for that. I also know that my words won’t be enough to earn your pardon, but I come to you today, vowing to do better as your king, to be better for our pack.”
The emotions swirling through the shared bond are chaotic—fury, disbelief, suspicion—but there’s a sliver of hope as well, hidden beneath the bitterness.
“As you’ve heard, I found my mate,”I continue.“While the details of that are being worked out, I’m also going to be opening my doors to speak with anyone who wishes to voice the issues that have gone unresolved for far too long, and I promise to begin making changes to better all your lives, one day at a time.”
“Lies!” a man yells from a shadowed alleyway. “How aboutwestart making our own changes, beginning with ending your reign?”
The voice doesn’t belong to anyone I can find a connection to. My wolf pushes forward, enhancing my senses, but the presence is gone before I can pinpoint him. Yet, the damage is already done.
“Yeah, maybe we should,” one shifter agrees then another.
“Who’s to say you’re even fit to lead?”
But before the muttering can turn into a full-blown uprising, a clear, steady voice cuts through the noise. “Or perhaps,” a woman says, “our time for struggle is over. Perhaps King Theo,alongside the soon-to-be Queen Estee, will unite Selaris in ways we haven’t seen in centuries.”
Elyn Holton.
One of the oldest members residing in our kingdom and a healer. I’ve never spoken directly to her, but that seems about to change.
She approaches me and places a hand over my chest before speaking into my mind.“The debt you bear is strong, but you must find a way to see the truth.”
“What truth?”More importantly, how the hell does she know about mydebt?
She doesn’t answer me. Instead, she walks away as if her show of support didn’t just shock every pack member crowding in around me.
“Might I suggest we go back to the castle, my King?”Jerome’s concerned voice sounds through my mind next.“I think this was enough for today.”
He may be right, and I’ll go, but our business isn’t done just yet.
Tapping back into the connection with my pack, I leave them with one final statement.“If you’d like to meet with me, I’ll set aside several hours a day, four days a week, beginning within the next few days. Changes will be happening as quickly as I’m capable of implementing them, beginning with a celebratory ball for all that’s to come. Expect an invitation within the coming weeks.”