IT SEEMED WRONG to have her formal coronation ceremony without Leo there, critiquing the fashions, eating far too many of the appetizers, and charming one and all with his reckless smile, but it was time to assume the formal title of queen and wear the crown she’d fought so hard to take from Irina.
Formal coronation or not, Lorelai had been the acting queen of Ravenspire from the moment Irina had died. She’d visited Eldr to make sure Irina’s blood oath had sent her magic to imprison the ogres once more—and to spend a little time with Kol in his own kingdom. She’d opened lines of communication with Ravenspire’s allies. And she’d toured the land, building trust with peasants and nobility alike and doing what she could to heal the ravages of the blight while handing out food that Kol’s treasure had purchased for Ravenspire from the merchants in Súndraille.
But spring was here, and with Ravenspire’s crisis beginning to pass, it was time to face the ceremony she’d been putting off for so many months.
Lorelai stared at herself in the mirror. Leo would’ve loved this dress—it was bold and dramatic. Wearing it made her feel like somehow part of him was going to stand on the stage beside her like they’d always planned.
“Red is the perfect color for your dress, Your Highness.” Her maid pursed her lips in concentration as she deftly swept Lorelai’s hair into a complicated updo. “You’ll be getting asked to dance by every nobleman in attendance.”
“Thank you, Marlis.” Lorelai smiled at her maid, but there was only one boy she wanted to dance with, and he was far away in Eldr.
Maybe you can pretend to be dancing with me. Kol’s voice sounded amused.
While my feet are being trampled by some old nobleman with gout?
You can tell him he has adorably wild hair.
Don’t make me sorry our connection works over such a long distance now.
He sent her a cheeky grin.
She knew how to fix that.
Of course, I believe most of the older noblemen are actually bringing their sons—only the ones eligible for marriage, of course—to dance with me. The consensus seems to be that I would make a pretty good catch.
You aren’t going to marry a boring nobleman’s boring son.
No?
No, because if one proposes to you, he’ll be eaten by morning. Dragons have very healthy appetites.
Now it was her turn to smirk as Marlis finished her hair and slipped the sapphire earrings Kol had given her into her ears.
Draconi don’t eat people.
I’ve been looking for a new hobby.
She rolled her eyes and stood. Time for me to go face the crowd. You’ll stay with me?
I’m always with you.
He sent her a smile she moved down the stairs, flanked by her guards, and headed toward the ballroom. She pressed her hands against the crimson silk of her dress, tugged on its tiny sleeves, and worried with the enormous floor-length skirt that felt like it weighed as much as Lorelai herself. She’d probably fall on her face if she tried to dance.
You’ll be fine. He sounded amused but also something else.
She looked harder and her brow rose. Nervous?
Maybe.
About what? she asked as pages opened the ballroom doors, and she swept inside.
About this.
The crowd parted, leaving her a clear path to the stage where the head priest from the capital’s cathedral waited to place the official crown on her head and name her the queen of Ravenspire.
She began walking toward the stage, and there he was, wearing a black dress coat and a red cravat that matched her dress. His expression was solemn, though his hair was still unruly.
Surprise, he said.
You came. Her lips trembled as she smiled.
Of course I came. He matched her smile and held out his arm as she approached.
He led her onto the stage and then stepped back down as the entire crowd curtsied and bowed.
The priest spoke for a few moments on duty to both the kingdom of Ravenspire and to the higher power who ruled all kingdoms from the heavens above, but Lorelai had no idea what he was saying. She concentrated on not shaking. It helped a little to see Gabril standing tall and confident beside Ada and his sons, but when the strain of having hundreds of eyes on her got to be too much, she looked at Kol and felt steady once again.
Then the crown was on her head, and it was ridiculously heavy.
So is mine, Kol said as the music started and people began to dance.
I won’t be able to dance with this thing on. I’m top-heavy. I’ll fall over.
I’ll catch you. He pulled her close to him, and the look in his eyes sent a flurry of butterflies into her stomach. Then he kissed her, and the warmth of his chest made her pulse race. Her breath caught while the magic in her blood called to Kol’s hearts, and for the first time since she’d left Eldr behind, Lorelai was home.
INCANTORS
Kaz`prin: bring to me
Nakhgor: find what I seek Ja`dat: take and give to another Zna`uch: to know/learn
Hat`sja: come together and come to me Prosnakh: request to find Rast`lozh: to grow or to levy Kaz`ja: command and take Oyti: to rise
Tvor`zhi: to create life Nakh`rashk: find and scatter Kaz`zhech: punish with fire Kaz`lit: to pour punishment into Pros`odit: request to enter Voshtet: to rise and fly Pros`rashk: request to scatter Tvor`grada: create barrier Zhech`pusk: launch fire
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS