“He did,” Brander stated. “Knox would want you to be his queen, we all know it, probably even knew you were before he did. Knox doesn’t do anything without thought, which means he wanted you to become queen. You already were, even without the crown to back your claim.”
I stood there, staring at the throne he’d built for me, breathlessly wishing he were here to ease the worry. Knox always forced the world to go silent around me. As if nothing else existed other than the two of us within the universe. I craved that with him, the ability to shut off the world and just exist with him beside me.
A hand touched my shoulder. It made head turn, finding Brander beside me. His eyes, beaming with pride slowly moved over my face. “I am proud of you, Aria. If you’d have asked me when I’d first met you if I saw you ascending the throne to rule beside my own brother? I’d have laughed at you. You’ve come so far, and matured into a beautiful, chaotic woman. There’s no one else I’d want to sit beside Knox to rule our kingdom.” Grabbing my hand, he brushed his lips over my knuckles. “Long may you reign beside your king.”
Lore stepped into Brander’s spot once he’d stepped back. Golden eyes sparkled as a wide grin spread over his face. “You know how I feel. I’m always here for whatever you need. I joke around a lot.” He shoved his fingers through his platinum hair, frowning. “You know that as well. But really, Knox has been through hell. When he’s with you, he smiles, Aria. He fucking laughs. He raised me. Before he met you? I could probably count how many times he’d laughed throughout my life on one hand. You make him happy, which is all I’ve ever wanted for him, really. It’s what we’ve all wanted . . . I mean, other than an extending jaw. Obviously, any man would want a girl with one of those. You’re going to be the best queen this realm has ever had. I know that because I know you. You’re kindhearted, and you’re . . . well . . . you’re you. I’m going to be proud to say you’re our queen. Knox would be too, if he could.” Leaning over, he kissed my forehead. “If he doesn’t wake up? I’m willing to be their daddy. I won’t make you call me daddy, either.” Killian swatted him, which caused the men to chuckle. “Hey, the girl needs to know she has options.”
“Move along, Lore. Let the real men have a chance with the girl.” Brander’s taunting tone had Lore rolling his eyes.
“Thanks, Lore. I’ll keep you in mind if I end up with daddy issues.” My joke caused his eyes to shimmer with sparkles of gold dust.
“Aria, you know how I feel,” Killian uttered, his head tilted, a frown marring his brow. “Knox is my best friend. I came here at five years of age to learn to train beside a prince. I hated him at first. He was the reason I’d been forced to leave everything I’d ever known or cared about. Knox was never a child. He’s been groomed to rule since the day he took his first breath. I’ve been with him the longest, other than Greer’s cranky, old ass. I was glad he married Liliana, then brought Sven into the world. But I stood beside him when he buried them, and you were right. He buried his heart beside them in that crypt. Until you resurrected it, then brought him back to life. With you, he’s a different person. I watched him trying to hate this enchanting woman, who gave him no mercy. You didn’t take his shit, Aria. You gave back as hard as he gave it, and that was entertaining to watch. It wasn’t all you did. You made Knox into more than just a king. It was like watching him age backward, from ruthless king, to the lad who snuck out to frequent taverns. I guess what I’m trying to say is, you make him into a better man. For that, we’re all eternally grateful you came into our lives. If he doesn’t wake up, choose me. I promise not to make you call me daddy,” he said before leaning over and kissing my cheek. “He’ll wake up. Knox doesn’t know how to stay down.”
“Thank you, Killian.”
“Peasant,” Greer stepped up, eyeing Killian until he released my hand, moving away to stand with the others. “You know I was a total asshole the first few times we met.”
“You don’t say?” I asked in a mocking tone, my hand flying to my heart. “Don’t break my heart, Meat Suit.”
“You’d have to actually have one, first.” He sniffed, lifting his nose into the air, before slowly lowering it, grabbing my hand in his surprisingly warm ones. “The first time I saw you outside of the house in Haven Falls, I knew you were innocent. Both of mind and heart. I also knew Knox intended to force you back into this world. A world that would chew that beautiful, innocent girl up and spit her out. That wasn’t something I wanted for you, ever. You’ve blossomed from the na?ve, soft, delicately made girl into a savage.” He stood there while I waited for him to continue.
“And?”
“Uh, that’s it,” he paused before adding, “I do wonder about something though.”
“Yeah?”
“Did you ever start tipping the naked men prancing around you, more than a dollar?” His lips jerked up as my mouth opened in horror.
“I was in my pajamas, Greer. It was all that I had on me. Besides, I should have flicked a quarter at the bastard. He wasn’t even worth the dollar.”
“Indeed, he was beneath you. I already knew you’d become a queen. We just didn’t know you’d become ours. Had I known, I wouldn’t have changed anything. Knox was always a singular creature, even when they brought in others to force him out of the library. His love of reading came from Eira, who taught him to read in that very library. But when he’s with you? He doesn’t seek to escape the space he’s claimed for himself. I think that’s when I knew you’d be his. Because he’d never allowed anyone who wasn’t of the bloodline to step a foot deeper into that chamber, other than his best friend. So, while you may feel reservations about waiting for him to wake and place you on the throne, know that we hold none. He’d want you here. If he didn’t, he wouldn’t have cleaned the skulls you so generously kept piling up at the gates. And he sure as hell wouldn’t have written your name upon it, Peasant. He may be too prideful to say it, but we all love you. You’ve a way about you. Annoying, slightly obtuse, and an over-dramatic actress between the sheets, but it’s a way, I guess.”
“Don’t forget how I light up the room when I enter it,” I advised.
“That’s called arson, Peasant. And it’s frowned upon. Heavily, I might add. You should sit, and try not to burn anything down.”
I turned, staring at the other brothers who were smiling, approval shimmering in their eyes. Exhaling the air from my chest, I sat on the throne, placing my hands on the skulls of the armrest, peering out at the men. Greer handed me the Sovereign’s Orb, and then the Sovereign’s Scepter which had a crystal quartz composed of the highest quality I’d ever seen. My heartbeat thundered violently against my ribs, threatening to break them.