“Because I naïvely thought that if it didn’t work, only I would get punished. If I’d known they’d try and destroy my entire family, I would have chosen a different method.”
I looked down. “You know I don’t condone violence.”
Tyton snorted. “Trust me. Jeremiah was so vile he could have made even you capable of committing murder. He was a menace, and many are celebrating that his head is rotting on a spear.”
I lifted my gaze to meet Tyton’s eyes and raised an eyebrow. “Metaphorically speaking you mean?”
“No. Jeremiah planned to chop off our heads and exhibit them on spears outside his palace for everyone to see. Now it’s his own ugly head that hangs with four of his friend’s heads.”
I covered my mouth and furrowed my brow with disgust.
It made Tyton close his eyes for a second and sigh. “I know, pixie, but he did say he had a taste for the macabre, so in a way we’re honoring him.”
“You’re honoring him by placing his head on a spear?”
Tyton rubbed his face. “It sounds bad when you say it like that.”
“Because itisbad. It’s barbaric and…”
Nuzzling his head against my neck he muttered, “I adore your innocence, but you’re in the Northlands now. You’re not going to like everything here, but I hope I’ll be worth it.”
My innocence was challenged when, a few hours later, we went to the royal palace.
“Cover your eyes,” Tyton instructed and led me past the tall spears with the five bloody heads, but I’d already seen them from the air before the drone sat down.
We were welcomed in the courtyard by Wilma, who came running with all her youthful energy.
“I can’t believe that you returned.” She hugged me tight and then she leaned back, glowing with happiness and laughing. “I’ll bet you never suspected that I’d be the queen of the Northlands when you saw me again.” There was such pride radiating from her that I couldn’t help but smile.
“I thought Emmerson didn’t want to take the title of king.” Tyton looked up at the building.
“No, he says it has a bad connotation after the way Jeremiah mistreated our people. He’ll be Emperor Emmerson.”
“Emperor?” Tyton’s brow rose.
“Yes. I like queen better than empress, but Emmerson isn’t budging.”
I smiled at Wilma. “I’m just happy that you’re all right. Tyton told me about the awful things that happened.”
“Did he tell you we women saved him and the other men?”
“Yes.”
Wilma’s eyes swung to her brother. “It would have been your head on one of those spears if I hadn’t put a knife in that disgusting pig.”
Tyton took a step forward and pressed a kiss on top of her hair. “I’m glad you did.”
There was a tender moment between them as they exchanged a long smile and then Wilma threw a nod to the building. “The men are in there. They’ve been waiting for you.”
“Thanks.” Moving forward, Tyton pulled me with him.
“It’s okay, Devina can stay with me while you talk to them.”
Tyton tightened his hold on my hand. “No! Devina and I stay together until we’re legally married. No one is coming between us.”
“You’ve seen what I can do. Don’t you trust me to protect her?” Wilma asked with humor in her eyes.
“No, and I don’t like that you’re out here without a protector either.” Tyton kept going, with me following him.
