“We will let the two of you open the letter, and the announcement will commence in a few minutes,” Winston, the parliament leader, stated. “The longer we let them wait, I fear someone may get trampled down there, so take your time, but also hurry.”
I snorted a laugh, having not expected that.
We stood in the empty ballroom, the one we had spent so many nights in when I had first arrived at the castle. The announcement would be made from the balcony, overlooking the people.
This wasn’t just informationwe’dbeen dying to know, this was information all of Wylan had been wanting to know for years. Yet another piece of knowledge the king had kept locked away that never should’ve been.
“Ready, brother?” Krew asked as he moved to stand closer to Keir. “Let’s get it over with.”
The royal blue waxed seal brought over on a silver tray by River made my heart start hammering in my chest. This was it. The moment we had waited for. One paper.
“I feel like someone should say something wise,” Keir offered as his shaky hand picked up the parchment.
Owen laughed from where he was leaning against the wall by the doors. “How about don’t mess it up?”
“Oddly inspirational, Raikes,” Krew deadpanned before giving Keir a nod. “Do it.”
Keir closed his eyes and slipped his finger under the seal, popping it open. Hands still shaking, he unfolded one half of the parchment, then the other, moving it between he and Krew as both began reading.
I felt a pang of jealousy down the bond from Krew and that was when I knew.
Keir was king. Krew and I were out.
Keir let out a shaky breath, as Krew slapped him on the back with a hug. “Wylan is in good hands, brother.”
Keir grabbed his forehead and took another shaky breath as Winston walked over to take out the king’s crown and bring it forward for Keir.
I wanted to cry. Or scream. It should be Krew getting crowned. He was the king Wylan needed. Keir would be a good and kind king, but Krew? Krew would’ve been a great king.
It’s alright, Jorah love,Krew sent down the bond.
The gentle tone and adoration sent with the words took my breath away. But then my eyebrows slammed together.You are disappointed but not surprised right now. Why is that?
His eyes were on mine as he admitted,Since he tried to kill me to sever our bond, it confirmed for me what I had always suspected, Keir was the rightful heir. I was merely the reserve should anything go awry.
Tears sprang to my eyes. I knew Krew had to be thinking of all the times Theon had treated him poorly and understood now that it was because Krew would never be king, and though Krew didn’t know that, Theon did. He’d used Krew’s own hope as a weapon against him.
I also suspected it back when my father didn’t care much about your switching to my Assemblage. He didn’t care if you were princess, but he didn’t want you as queen.
My breath caught. He was right. He was so right. The king had been far less hostile as soon as I switched Assemblages. I had falsely assumed it was because of my blood healing things.
Keir was still taking deep breaths while reading and rereading the parchment in his hands.
I reached over and slipped it out of his hands, since Winston was standing there waiting for him to get his emotions together before placing the Wylan crown upon his head. “Go,” I said gently. “Go be the best damn king Wylan has ever seen.”
Keir’s eyes were on mine. “I—” he shook his head. “I can’t believe it.”
“I can,” Krew argued. He moved to grab Keir by the shoulders. “You are a man who is always thinking four steps ahead. You are also a pain in the ass to anyone who dares to get in your way. Both will serve you well in this.”
Keir took a deep breath and closed his eyes, some emotion I couldn’t recognize crossing his face. “Thank you.” He turned toward Winston as he opened his eyes, “Let’s get this over with, shall we?”
I guessed Keir wasn’t looking forward to his speech in front of what looked to be half of Wylan crammed into the courtyard and streets.
Winston went out first, making the announcement to the people. A few Enchanted placed both on the balcony and among the people in the crowd used their magic to amplify the sound so everyone could hear what was being said without too much straining. It was a short introductory speech, though I was so focused on reading Krew’s emotions I heard only a few words of it.
The doors slowly opened, Keir standing there with Theon’s crown now on his head. He gave us one last look over his shoulder, and then he walked forward, into his reign.
The cheers from the people were deafening.
