We rounded the corner together, and I stopped abruptly. There were hundreds of Fae in the throne room, all here to catch a glimpse of the elusive King. Just like I had witnessed at the other events, the Fae were turned out with a combination of contemporary formalwear, as well as the traditional robes or more medieval types of costumes. I turned and looked at the Blood King. He nodded, and together we walked the rest of the way to the back of the hall where the raised dais was for the Blood King’s throne. A thick carpet for me to kneel upon had replaced my father’s throne today.
I would be on my knees for him. Presented at his feet like some fucking animal. I stood in place as my family flanked my sides in a line of solidarity. I was pleasantly surprised and loving the looks of pride and anger that showed upon their faces. These people were doing what they had to because all other options had been taken away. But, it didn’t mean they would do it meekly. I looked at my father and saw why he was considered second only to the Horde King, when it came to being an alpha bad-ass. The man was, at this moment, absolutely courageous. He may have been dealt a really bad hand, but he was going to do what he had to with dignity. I felt a flash of pride for this man and the rest of my family.
It had been agreed that I would be presented to the people officially before the Horde King would claim me. I struggled to push down the butterflies of unease that were starting to kick into overdrive with what I had agreed to.
This was really happening to me. After everything I’d done to save people from the Fae, I was now to be gifted to the worst of them. It didn’t seem fair, or right, that this was happening to me, but it looked like I just might be the next one in a very long line of abused ‘gifts’. No one deserved this kind of medieval crap.
Trumpets sounded from what looked like a newly reopened entrance to the hall, and with the sound of the heralding trumpets came a short red headed male who was dressed in an awful color of green. He looked more like a Leprechaun, than he did Fae. He held a piece of paper in his hands as he read from it. “Yestereve, a blessed event took place. A knight of the royal Blood Fae returned something that was feared to be forever lost to us. Cailean, step forward,” he paused until the knight who had brought me here stepped forward. “What say you of this?” The short red-head asked.
“I returned Princess Sorcha to her home, to her parents,” Cailean answered. I could tell he was torn. He had saved me from Faolán, but turning me over to the Horde King wasn’t sitting well with him. He looked like he wanted to snatch me up and save me from this too.
“Does anyone argue this charge?” Shorty asked.
Silence greeted our ears as no one disagreed with them. I looked around and almost gasped when I spotted Adam beside his father across the room from us. His eyes were wide with alarm, and he was struggling against Kier and whatever he was telling him. I was relieved to see that they were both unharmed, and so happy to see Adam’s face.
I sent him reassurance through the bond. Or hoped I was doing it, since I wasn’t sure how to control the bond we shared yet. He must have felt it, because he stopped struggling and looked across the room at me. Anger and fear for me were clearly written on his face.
“Are you okay?” he lipped.
I smiled to reassure him, and hoped it showed in my eyes and convinced him, even though he could probably feel my current panic through our bond.
“Lasair, do you agree that this child is of your blood?” Shorty continued in a booming voice that sounded as it had come from an ogre, and not this tiny man.
“I do. The bond has been restored now that we have been united,” my father said before giving me a gentle look.
“And you, state your rightful name for the people,” he said to me.
“I was named Sorcha on the day of my birth, Princess to the Blood King and Queen,” I replied obediently.
Adam’s jaw dropped as he watched me give my name. I couldn’t have said it, had it been a lie, and the look on Adam’s face said that he understood it as well. Pain flashed in his expressive eyes, but he quickly shielded it, which made relief filter through my soul. “Show no weakness,” I mouthed back at him, uncaring of who was watching us.
“You will now be presented to the royal castes, and then we shall begin the gifting ceremony,” Shorty continued.
Kings and Queens, along with their heirs, moved about unhurriedly as they formed a line in front of us. I’d lost sight of Adam in the mass of people as they moved around to make a path for the royals. There was a shit load of the nobility crammed in this room.
I met about thirty or more, before Tatiana stepped forward with a murderous glare aimed right at me.
“Madisyn,” she said smoothly in fake friendliness.
I raised an eyebrow at it until my mother shot one right back at her. “Tatiana, I was hoping you’d skip the celebrations.”
Well shit, this was going to be entertaining.
“I guess I should have realized she wasn’t mine,” Tatiana drawled bitterly.
“She does look significantly like you; she and her father have confirmed the bond,” Madisyn said with a sideways glance at me.
“I do so favor our mother,” Tatiana continued, and reached out to touch me. I leveled her with a killing glare, and she promptly stepped back. “Such a shame you have to give her up, now that you just got her back, Madisyn.”