Page 48 of Faeling (Monstrous World #4)

In the end, he spared seven lives, the others rescinding their challenge and melting back into the crowd.

“Mercy,” Vallek said for the final time.

The orc scrambled to his feet, hurrying back into the crowd.

Alone in the cleared space, Vallek turned round in a circle twice. “Are there any others? Or is this matter settled?”

The gathered orc-kin rumbled and murmured, but Vallek had no fear. All orcs respected the challenge and its outcome. If he was wrong, if the gods disagreed with him, then it was he who’d be laid flat on his back.

Turning, he strode across the basilica, ascending the dais again. Ravenna watched him come, her lips twitching with a relieved grin.

He grinned cockily back, his blood still hot, and it was only because of the thousand pairs of eyes on them that he didn’t take her on his throne right that moment. Flushed with victory, heady with triumph, Vallek knelt down onto one knee before his faeling.

Her touch feather-light, Ravenna clasped the torque round his neck. The weight of the gold settled on him, a mark that he was claimed.

His beast sat back, pleased. Her claim was there for all to see. Indisputable.

Her cool hand touched his face, and he felt the gentle swipe of her thumb over his cut. Her magic tingled along his cheek, and his breath hissed between his tusks to feel the pinch of his skin closing shut again.

The crowd surged forward toward the dais, trying to get a closer look at how the king was healed. Sounds of wonder echoed through the basilica, followed by a few cheers when, after lifting his chin with a finger, Ravenna bent to kiss him.

“Stay here,” she whispered against his lips.

His good mood faltered. What?

Turning to face the court, Ravenna announced, “I know this is a shock to many of you. If your objection is with me, then I will earn the right to be your queen. Who would challenge me?”

She truly had surprised them. Astonishment rendered the usually boisterous orcs silent again, many of them blinking back at her offer with bemusement.

Ravenna stood firm. If the chieftain, the king, could be challenged, then let her be, too.

She would be queen not just because Vallek said so, but because she won it.

Perhaps she was overconfident, even mad.

Perhaps she was feeling a little bloodthirsty after watching her mate’s magnificent display of physical prowess.

Perhaps her fae instinct was desperate not just to claim him with a bit of gold but to defeat any foolish enough to think he belonged to anyone but her.

Perhaps she was tired of living in the shadow of others.

Perhaps it was a bit of everything.

After a prolonged moment of disbelief amongst the crowd, someone did step forward.

She recognized the orcess—Yphella Long-Tusk, daughter of Hrothgar, who stayed behind in Balmirra to act as the Innrini representative. Unsurprising that she would try one last time to claim the hand of the king—and the throne.

Unfortunately for her, both were Ravenna’s.

“I will challenge,” said Yphella.

Nodding her acknowledgement, Ravenna descended the dais to meet her opponent. She thought she heard Hilde’s squeak of concern—probably for the gown—when another guard stepped forward to offer his axe.

Ravenna took it, straining under the heft. A few nervous laughs burst from the crowd as they backed away to give the two space.

As Yphella hefted her own axe over her shoulder, she looked upon Ravenna with pity. “Don’t mistake foolishness for bravery, faeling.”

“Mind your axe, and I will mind mine.”

Shrugging, Yphella smirked.

Mattias again came to stand between them, ensuring their readiness. “Are you sure, my lady?” he whispered.

“Yes. Thank you.”

Obviously unhappy but unable to stop her, Mattias nodded curtly before stepping back.

Yphella regarded her curiously, waiting to see if Ravenna would make the first move. When she didn’t, Yphella charged.

The axe in her hands careened to the ground, followed by Yphella. She landed hard on her side, her right arm pinned. Ravenna tightened her magic around the orcess’s arm, making sure she felt the pull on her wrist.

Yphella struggled to regain her feet, but it was no use. The most Ravenna allowed was for her to climb to her knees. No matter how she tried, she couldn’t free her arm, Ravenna holding fast with her magic.

The orcess grunted and struggled, panic beginning to glint in her eyes as Ravenna walked toward her.

Arms shaking with the effort to hold the weapon, she rested the axeblade on Yphella’s shoulder. “Mercy,” she said.

Yphella stared up at her in amazement as the crowd gasped and murmured around them.

Ravenna held perfectly still, waiting to see what the orcess would do.

Few reacted well to defeat, even worse to humiliation.

But she needed this, needed all these big, strong orcs to understand that not only would she stand beside Vallek, she would defend him and herself. That she wasn’t an ornament or oddity.

To her own shock, Yphella threw her head back and laughed. “Well met, faeling,” the orcess chuckled. “I should have known.”

Pulling back, Ravenna set down her axe before letting Yphella’s clatter to the ground. Then she let her magic fall away from the orcess.

She offered her hand.

Yphella took it with a grin, clasping it tight as she stood. Eyes twinkling, the orcess said, “It’s a good reminder for us all—never underestimate an opponent. Even a small one.”

Ravenna grinned. “The small ones tend to bite the hardest.”

“Indeed.”

Yphella stood beside Ravenna, waiting for any other challengers, but it seemed the crowd had had their fill of fighting.

Ravenna met their curious gazes, more hopeful now than she had been when she first entered the basilica. She found less suspicion and shock—even a little, dare she hope, respect? She knew it would take more than this little display to win them over, but it was a start at least.

When no others stepped forward, Ravenna left Yphella to retake the dais.

As she approached, colorful light from the great stained glass window set behind the throne bathed her in its warmth.

Her mate cut an imposing shadow through the light, splitting it with the wide span of his shoulders.

Even through the glare, she could see and feel how he smiled at her, his gaze full of pride.

Ravenna smiled back, glowing. In the light of Ninevar’s Basilica, for the first time in a very long while, Ravenna knew she was seen .

With a little roll of her shoulders, she unfurled her wings.

Gasps resounded through the basilica as her wings caught the light. She felt the warmth spread through the delicate membranes, casting colorful fractals on the steps behind her. Fluttering her wings, she let them sparkle in the light.

Ravenna took the hand Vallek held out for her, joining him again before the throne. Bathed in light, he claimed a searing kiss, tusks pressing into her cheeks.

To echoing applause, he turned them to face the crowd, his hand at her waist drawing her into his side. “Your queen!”