After another few moments, the wound on Jarron’s neck closes.
“How is he?” Trevor finally asks, sitting beside us.
“Good,” Jarron answers, and this time, his voice has some strength to it. “I don’t think I’ll reach full strength for a few hours, but I can—I should address the assembly.”
“The assembly?” I bark out. “They’re still out there?”
“Yes,” Trevor answers. “They’re waiting to see the result. He’s right. He should face them, show them he is alive and well.”
“You were just attacked,” I say. “Aren’t the people at the assembly rebels?”
“Many of them, yes,” Jarron says, forcing himself to sit up. I help him. “All the more reason to address them. They need to know—” Jarron nods to the head still swinging by its hair from Liz’s hand.
I swallow.
“They need to know he is dead and who is responsible for it.” He grins viciously. Pride rises up like a flood through his whole body.
64
Hell’s Future Queen
Bea volunteered to carry me through the palace since Jarron is still weak, and surprisingly, he allows it.
I cling to the demon princess tightly, eyes closed as she soars through the darkness, weaving through the intertwining bridges and then down a dark tunnel.
When we reach a massive throne room, she sets me on my feet. The stone is red, with glowing yellow lights peppering the ceiling. There are two shining, black stone thrones on a pedestal, but otherwise, the room is entirely empty.
Jarron carries Vincent Vandozer’s severed head, marching through the throne room and out onto a precipice overlooking the black sand beach I remember from the vision Jarron sent me.
There are still hundreds of beings buzzing down below. It’s so dark it’s hard for me to make out many specifics.
Jarron shouts to the crowd, echoing in his guttural language, but I understand the words perfectly in my mind.
“People of Oriziah, this is your usurper.” He holds out the severed head for all to see.
The buzzing below settles. Glowing eyes look up at the head Jarron holds over the crowd.
“He tried and failed to alter the line of succession for his own gain. He tried to lead the rebels to rise up and overpower the royals of Oriziah. He failed in both schemes.”
The people begin stomping.
“Vandozer betrayed his own. He believed he knew the identity of my chosen mate. He sought her out and attempted to manipulate her before I could earn her heart. He tried and failed to use our most sacred tradition against us. Now, both she and her sister are free, and I can tell you once and for all—Elizabeth, the woman he paraded around claiming to be my mate is lovely, but I do not choose her. I never have. Instead, I chose the fiercely determined and intelligent Candice Montgomery. She is the one who uncovered the depth of Vandozer’s conspiracy, and she killed the eight powerful foreigners he was using to fuel his depravity in seeking power and destruction. My mate, my chosen, ended this war with a few drops of powerful poison.”
He drops the severed head of Vincent Vandozer into the crowd.
They bellow and fight each other to reach it, like it’s a prize they wish to be part of.
“I could not be prouder to present your future queen.”
Jarron holds out his hand to me. His eyes are full of wonder and hope and adoration. The moment I drop my hand into his, he lifts it into the air.
This time, there is no mistaking the cheers rising up from the beings below.
I suck in a breath.
Jarron’s mother and father approach and stand beside us. And on the other side, Bea and Trevor.
“Your royal family is united once more,” the queen calls to the gathering. “Those who have challenged us before today will be forgiven, as is the Orizian way. But I warn you all to give up this fight. You will not prevail. For those who still question my son’s right, we will continue our meetings. We will be open and transparent about our mistakes and the lies that mislead the horde. Our royal family is intact and stronger than ever. We will continue to serve you as long as you allow it.”
