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“Wouldn’t it—” she paused when every eye snapped toward her. Arianna tried to sound more confident than she felt. “Wouldn’t it be better to simply have one ball?”

Fina chuckled but Niall answered with a slight glimmer of amusement in his gaze. “While we appreciate your frugal nature and humility, those of us who are older are always searching for a reason to celebrate. It keeps eternity interesting. And what better reason could we have than meeting our queen?”

“If she’s even legitimate,” Fina added.

“Legitimate?”

Niall glared at the female, his gaze so icy she actually shrank away. Niall grimaced. “There are . . . rumors. We have a long history of false hope. After a few demonstrations, I’m sure you’ll win them over.”

Arianna looked at each of the council members in turn and noted the way Fina kept glaring. “But some of you doubt me?” Declan turned away.

Niall kept his voice soft. “We want to believe, it’s just that The Divine is a miracle and miracles come around so seldom for our kind.”

Arianna stood and the council watched her carefully. She pulled a knife from her belt. Meegan straightened. “I’d cut my own hand, but I’m unable to heal myself.” She motioned to Talon. “I’d ask him to do it, but I don’t think that would help the rumors since he’s close to me. So,” she stared into their expectant faces, “who wants to volunteer?”

Niall huffed out another laugh, but she could tell he was just as curious. Eager even. “I don’t think we need—”

“I will.” Gavin’s voice was breathless, chest heaving as he stood, notepad forgotten. No one berated him or offered themselves in his place. Arianna crossed the room. He met her half way and rolled up his sleeve.

Arianna pressed the knife against his skin and hesitated. Maybe they sh—

“Don’t worry,” he assured. “I can take it.”

Arianna would have liked to just cut his finger, but she knew it wouldn’t erase the doubt from their minds, and if she wanted them to listen to her, then all doubt had to be eliminated.

With a swift apology, Arianna dug the blade in deep and quickly drew it across his forearm. Gavin flinched and gasped as his blood rolled down his arm and dripped to the marble floor. She turned to the council to ensure they were watching. No one blinked.

The blood dripping from Gavin arm tugged at her darkest memories. She prayed no one would ever find out. If they did, they might not think so highly of their new queen.

Arianna rested her palm over the wound and her magic spurred to life. The grains around her arm stopped moving, as if they, too, were watching. Her palms illuminated and she let that light pour into the deep cut. The skin knit itself back together with an invisible thread until all that was left was the blood that had rolled down Gavin’s arm. When she looked up, the male’s dark eyes glistened with unshed tears.

Then he slowly fell to his knees, keeping her hand in his. His voice shook. “I pledge myself to your service,” he said. “You have my undying loyalty from now until the day I’m no longer part of this world.”

Her lips parted at his sincerity. She nodded, unsure how to reply, then turned to find awestruck faces around the room, Niall’s included.

Arianna cleared her throat and pulled Gavin to his feet. “Does that clear things up?”

Niall opened his mouth to speak, stopped, then tried again. “Yes, yes, that was brilliant.”

Gavin bowed and stepped back a few paces.

“Perhaps,” Niall said again, his voice still unsteady. “That is enough for one day.” The others nodded and began collecting their things. While they’d appeared graceful before, now they fumbled. Fina swiped at her eyes, her anger no longer present.

Arianna wasn’t sure what to do with herself until Niall drew her attention. Talon stepped forward the same moment Niall did. “My Lady,” Niall said with reverence in his tone. “I wondered if I might have a word with you?” She glanced at Talon and Niall’s gaze followed. “Your companion is welcome to join us.”

“Sure,” she said, still looking at those in the room. The pair followed Niall into the wide hall, rounded one corner, then exited through a pair of doors that led into the garden.

Warm spring air greeted her as they continued toward a circular platform with a stone handrail. It stood on the edge of the gardens, floral patterns lining the stones beneath their feet.

Talon leaned against the outside wall of the manor, his gaze focusing on something in the distance.

“That was quite a performance.”

She blushed. Maybe it had been a little too bold. “I just didn’t want anyone to think they were wasting their time.”

He didn’t look at her; his attention was on a lilac and the tiny yellow and black creature crawling from bloom to bloom. “So you acted to prove yourself for their sake?”

“Yes,” she said a bit uncertainly.