Page 66 of A Promise of Lies (Shadows of the Tenebris Court #3)

65

Kat

W e had a lot of explaining to do. A dead queen. A crown that had suddenly appeared and was, of all places, on my head. A new Night King who was not subject to Sleep.

First, we had to explain to the guards who’d been drawn by the shaking ground of Drystan’s appearance and had seen the host of the dead and me being crowned by an unseelie king. One of them found Braea’s crown amongst the… bits and, unsure what else to do, gave it to Bastian.

I thanked the gods Drystan had killed her. I couldn’t have asked it of Bastian, not after seeing him so torn before. And after Cyrus outmanoeuvred me by taking the antidote, I wasn’t sure I could’ve taken her myself. Braea had already mistrusted me, and she was fast and strong enough to evade my touch with ease. It had taken a month of groundwork to get my opening with Cyrus.

Then there was an emergency Convocation meeting, where Sepher and Zita could not stop staring at Bastian and the fact he now carried the Crown of Night and yet was awake during daylight hours. It took a long time to go through the whole story of all that happened since sunset and Bastian’s true identity. Then there were the questions, particularly from Mored.

“I still don’t understand how she has one of our ancient, magical Crowns on her head. Why should she be the one to bear it? She’s only had magic for five minutes.”

At my side, Bastian gritted his teeth, jaw going solid, but before he could speak, I lent forward. “Oh, sorry. Did I miss the moment you died to retrieve it?” I wrinkled my nose at him. “You didn’t even know of its existence.”

He turned wide eyes upon Sepher. “Are you going to let her speak to me like that? She’s a human, what is she even doing here?”

Sepher cleaned his claws. “Yes, I am, actually.” His eyes flicked up, the slitted pupils narrow. “I’m also going to remind you that my wife is a human.”

Mored blanched. “Well, uh… yes, of course, but that’s different. She’s just his?—”

“ Just his what ?” Bastian’s low voice cut through the room, leaving a beat of silence in its wake.

As though he’d forgotten Bastian was no longer the queen’s representative but king in his own right, Mored slowly turned, face frozen in panic. It was a delicious sight. “Dear… friend?”

“Be clear, all of you”—Bastian surveyed the table with a look that could’ve frozen fire—“I love this woman. If our fates were different, I would marry her a million times over. But regardless of contracts, you will treat her as though I am her husband and she is my wife. You will listen to her. Obey her orders. Treat her like the fucking queen she is. Do you understand?”

My chest grew tight, filled with something warm and bright. He was more than revealing his heart—he’d declared it and ordered others to act according to its wishes.

Everyone at the table nodded and murmured their agreement, only Mored kept quiet… right up until the moment Bastian’s gaze snapped to him. “Y-yes, Your Majesty.”

Zita sat back, smirking as she observed it all. She knew what life amongst the fae was like.

“Now that’s settled.” Sepher arched an eyebrow and slid his gaze to me and Bastian. “How is it you’re awake while the sun is up?”

Zita leant forward, hand on his. “And can he have the same?”

“I can grant that power.” I shared a glance with Bastian. “But we need something in return.”

Sepher’s eyes narrowed even as a smirk tugged at one corner of his mouth. “A bargain?”

“We are in Elfhame.”

Lucan cleared his throat. “Well, of course, there needs to be discussion of?—”

“This isn’t a matter for debate—at least not with you ,” Zita said, gaze not leaving me. “The Sleep is part of Sepher’s life , not a political bargaining chip. Get out and let us discuss this.”

Lucan opened his mouth to argue, but Deema stood. “You heard the woman. Out.” She clapped once and hustled the rest of the Convocation out of the chamber.

Once quiet had settled, Sepher turned his hand, entwining his fingers with Zita’s. “And your terms?”

“We work together. Not you manipulating us like you did to get Cyrus out of the way. No plotting behind each other’s backs. Together . For one nation. For the good of all—or as many as we can as best we can. Agree to that, and I will free you from the Sleep.”

At my side Bastian straightened, but he didn’t argue. What one nation would look like, exactly, I wasn’t sure. But if Elfhame was to have two monarchs who weren’t separated by sunset and sunrise, this was the only way it could work.

Beneath the table, he slid his hand on my thigh and squeezed in silent praise. It warmed me, giving the confidence to raise my eyebrows at Sepher, prompting.

He sat there in quiet thought for a long while, fingertips tracing his lower lip over and over. Zita whispered in his ear.

Eventually, he took a long breath. “I can do that.” A slow smile spread over his face as he leant forward, planting his hands on the table. “Now, how are we going to rule this country of ours?”