Page 96 of Crowns of Ice
Lord Crimsonale snorted. “As you’re probably unaware, Lady Seary, when succession is passed, the king’s council must?—”
“Agree as a whole to pass along the crown to the firstborn.” She leveled him with a hard stare. “Yes, Lord Crimsonale, I’m aware. But that same law also states that in order for a firstborn to be removed from the throne, there must be due and forthright proof that he or she is of unfit mind. You cannot possibly tell me that you have proof that Prince Norivun’s mind isn’t fit to rule?”
“I would say being Death Master for more seasons than you’ve been alive would be cause to consider exactly that. His bloodlust is legendary, not to mention the way the fae of our land fear him, the way his very presence evokes disgust, not respect. Or how?—”
“Not another word,” Ryder growled from the corner. “If you believe such atrocities, then you don’t know your crown prince at all, and you’re a complete and utter fool.”
“Exactly my thoughts,” Ilara stated, her violet eyes flashing at the Osaravee archon.
I stayed still, inhaling all of the emotional scents floating through the room. Anger. Disgust. Arrogance. Impatience. Mistrust. Hope. And curiously, amusement as well. I figured that one was from Taberitha, although why she found any of this funny, I wasn’t sure.
But before I could comment, the Kroravee Territory archon rose from her chair and faced Lord Crimsonale. “I think Prince Norivun has shown his true colors over the previous weeks, don’t you think, Gregorian? Even though his father declared him the villain of our land, Prince Norivun’s actions have spoken otherwise. I think such revelations, if anything,disproveeverything you’re suggesting.”
Lord Crimsonale’s eyes narrowed in her direction. He scoffed. “You’re siding withhim?”
Lady Wormiful sat again. “I’m siding withreason. Not with any particular member of this council, or?—”
“Ock,” Lord Woodsbury cut in. “If anything, the fact that Prince Norivun wed the female who was supposed to marry my?—”
“Oh, give it a rest already.” Nish let out a frustrated sigh. “She was never going to marry your delinquent child, Lord Woodsbury, not even if Norivun wasn’t her mate.”
A few of the archons gave my outspoken guards frustrated looks at their continual outbursts, but Taberitha snorted quietly, and the scent of amusement rose from her again.
At least one of us was enjoying this meeting.
Sighing, I ground my teeth. “I can see that we’re notgoing to get anywhere today, so I propose we retire for the night and carry on discussions tomorrow.”
Magic rumbled along my limbs. As much as I wanted to silence Lord Crimsonale and Lord Woodsbury and squash their conspiring, I couldn’t. Doing so would only prove the point that they were trying to make. That I was a monster and was unfit to rule.
But when I made to stand, my mate placed her hand on my arm.
Ilara’s throat rolled in a swallow. “I propose a different idea.” She lifted her wings, the feathers shining like snow. She eyed the Osaravee and Isalee archons. “If you’re so convinced that Norivun isn’t fit to rule and that the entire continent will be in agreement with you, then I propose we have a vote. Not among the fae in this room, but out there”—she waved to the window, to our vast continent—“with all of the fae of our land. If you’re so certain that my mate doesn’t bear the qualities needed to rule this land, that our fae truly do fear and hate him and are in agreement with you, then letthembe the decision-makers. Let the Solis fae determine who their next king will be.”
“A vote?” Lord Crimsonale sneered. “We don’t allow citizens tovoteon the king.”
“And why shouldn’t we?” she challenged.
A moment of fear stole over me, of knowing that the citizens of our continent would likely vote to burn me at the stake rather than see me wear the crown, but as I watched my mate, I didn’t voice my concern.
Ilara stood like a queen, her resolve to stand by myside unwavering. And her conviction, while possibly misplaced despite what her family, village, and our friends were trying to achieve—that our fae would vote for me as their ruler—made me prouder of her than I’d ever been.
She truly was a queen of the citizens. She wouldn’t serve for herself or rule with only her intentions at heart. She would lead with every male, female, and child who lived on our land as her guiding light. I knew deep down in my soul that her rule would be just and kind—like my mother’s had been.
My breath caught at the memory of my mother, but I locked that pain down as far as it would go.
Lord Crimsonale snorted, and Lord Woodsbury leaned over to the Osaravee archon and whispered something in his ear. With each word he said, Gregorian’s expression grew more smug.
Finally, he nodded.
The Isalee archon leaned back in his seat, and Lord Crimsonale stood and clasped his hands beneath his wings. “All right, Lady Seary. If a vote is what you want, then that’s what you’ll get. Mind you, that would mean that if the vote is in favor ofmeand not the crown prince, then I shall wear the king’s crown.”
Ilara’s throat again rolled, but her conviction held firm along our bond. “Do you agree, Prince Norivun?”
Despite knowing that my loss would come swiftly, I didn’t dispute her. I couldn’t. I wouldn’t shatter my mate’s belief in me even if it ended in my demise. Shetruly felt that our fae would find me worthy of their love.
I knew they likely wouldn’t. For too many seasons they’d hated me, but seeing her resolve and unwavering faith in who I was...for me,thatwas enough.
Standing, I bowed before straightening, then declared. “I agree. We shall allow the citizens of the Solis continent to vote for who they deem worthy of the crown. Me or Lord Crimsonale. We shall let our fae decide.”