A Queen of Ruin (Deliciously Dark Fairytales 4)

After a slow walk down the halls and up a flight of stairs, Nyfain led me to the king’s chambers, moving from the prince’s chambers we’d been sharing since I came back. It was a grand set of rooms I’d never entered before, at least twice as big as the queen’s, with a large washroom, a large bedchamber with a bed much too big for just two people, a study, a personal library…and that was about when I stopped looking around. I rushed to the library immediately, nearly knocking off my crown and sending Leala lunging after me.

“We still have work to do, sweetheart,” Nyfain said.

Leala unstrapped the train from around my neck as Urien saw to Nyfain. The livery collar—I had one too, now!—weighed heavily on my shoulders, and Nyfain took my hand again before leading me toward a balcony at the far end of the room. Two staff I didn’t know opened the glass doors, and Nyfain paused.

He took a deep breath. “When I was young, I used to dread this day. I knew it was my task to lead this kingdom to greatness, and I didn’t see how it could possibly be done. Then, years later, I walked away without the intention of looking back. Through a sick twist of fate, I was forced to return, to bleed for this kingdom. To learn the true meaning of duty.” He looked at me. “And I thank the goddess from the bottom of my soul it happened this way. Now I can see a way forward. I can see a future. And when I wake up next to you, smelling your scent and feeling your hair brush across my chest, I can see my forever. Every trial I’ve been through was worth it to find myself here, with the woman I love by my side and a great kingdom at my feet. The nightmare king with his warrior queen. You’ve given me a chance to rise to my full potential, and I cherish you for that. I will love you always.”

Tears crowded my eyes. “I am literally living my dream right now, Nyfain. The dream I had since I was young. I’ve found my golden prince, and I’ll love my golden king until the day I die.”

You are absolute shit at making speeches, my dragon murmured.

Nyfain smiled, though, and asked me again, “Ready?”

I gave a slight nod, and we walked forward, hand in hand, stepping out onto the balcony overlooking the grounds. The area below us was crowded with people who wanted to see their king and queen. They cheered and waved in the bright sunshine, yelling things like “all hail” and “long live” and “yee haw.” We waved demurely, as was customary, and then I felt adrenaline rise through the bond.

“I would like it to be known by all four of us,” I said through mostly shut lips so no one below would know that I was talking, “that we are not going to bang in the air tonight. Got it? No dragon sex on the day of the coronation. I will stage a hostile takeover and send us careening to the ground if you fuckers even try.”

I could feel my dragon grumbling and a surge of frustrated power from Nyfain’s dragon. Nyfain just laughed. He was never embarrassed when the dragons went at it, something they’d done at least once a day since Nyfain’s recovery a little over a week ago. My stupid dragon had learned how to hoard the heat for just herself, something Arleth had never heard of, and so she saved it all for herself, the selfish dipshit. I was no longer opposed to dragon fucking, even though it had been very awkward that one time they tried it on the ground (the tail was a problem), because it was a pleasurable thrill, but I was opposed to it becoming a spectator sport.

I took a step away from Nyfain and held my hands a little to the side. He did the same. We were about to attempt something that had never been done before. Something that not many shifters could do. Riled up by competition, though, hating to be outdone by my dragon, Nyfain’s dragon had risen to the occasion.

That was what Nyfain said, anyway. I had a feeling he had worked just as hard to make this happen.

Leala took my livery collar, and two more staff peeled off my long gown.

“Just so we are absolutely clear, Strange Lady,” Vemar murmured from beside the curtains behind us, “you have practiced this, right?”

“You should call her Dangerous Lady, not Strange Lady,” Leala whispered, coming back for my undergarments.

“Answer, please, Crazy Lady,” Vemar said.

“You’ve seen me do it, Vemar. You know it’s no big deal,” I responded.

“I think he was talking about that prickly king beside you, love,” Hadriel mumbled.