Page 34 of The Crown of the Dark Prince
For a moment, my stomach churned, and my thoughts flashed to my first appearance in Athenia. That day, I’d been terrified, a scared girl thrust into a world she didn’t understand.
But I wasn’t that girl anymore.
“No,” I lied, fixing my gaze on the temple doors. “I just want to get this over with.”
Kent’s shoulders shook with quiet laughter, but he didn’t acknowledge the untruth. “Very well. Let’s go, then.”
The heavy wooden doors creaked open and inside, an aisle lined with rose petals stretched before us, flanked by hundreds of Athenians standing shoulder to shoulder. For a heartbeat, the room froze, every gaze fixed on me. Then, in unison, they fell to their knees, arms crossed over their hearts in a gesture of reverence.
“I take it back. I can’t do this,” I muttered under my breath, overwhelmed by the weight of their devotion. My magic churned within me, wild and restless, as if rebelling against the moment.
“There’s nothing you can’t do, Thea,” Kent said softly, tugging me forward. “You’re the most powerful person I’ve ever met, and it has very little to do with your bloodline. You love these people, and they see that. This is the most widely attended court event in decades because of you, because they want you representing them. You’re their chosen leader, and they didn’t choose poorly.”
Tears pricked at my eyes as I leaned into him briefly. With each step, the aisle seemed longer, the platform at the end farther away. I don’t know if I would have been able to make it from one end to the other without the help of Kent's arm keeping me grounded, but I kept walking, and I held my head high, until we reached the raised dais.
The Dragon stood waiting, his expression inscrutable as his eyes raked over me. The other Council members—Clara, Gregory, and Rosalia—flanked him, their faces solemn.
Kent released my arm and bowed deeply. “I swear my heart, sword, and allegiance to you, Lady Moore, and to the House of Hyrax. Praise the Gods, and long may the Council prevail.”
He stood, winked, and made his way to where Rankor and Iris sat in the front row. They were the words tradition dictated, the words everyone in this room would recite before the day was over, but they meant more fromhim. Kent meant those words because Kent valued me as a friend and not a Council member.
I turned to my friends, hopeful that I could express my gratitude in my expression alone, and stumbled back against the sudden rush of joy that overwhelmed me as I looked at them. Rankor’s pride was undeniable. Kent nodded at me reassuringly. And Iris… Iris’ hair was blue.
Iris’.
Hair.
Was.
Blue!
I could have screamed and jumped with elation upon looking at the cerulean waves that cascaded to her waist.
She wore a steel colored shift-style gown that clasped at her shoulders with two golden bangles and fell shapelessly to the ground. It was a far cry from her previous choices, which often included glittering fabrics, floral applicaes or sparkling gems, but it wasn’t black. It was progress. She was coming back to me.
“Kneel,” the Dragon commanded, his tone sharp enough to pull me back to the moment. “Lady Theadora Moore, you have come to this sacred temple for what purpose?”
I lowered myself, bowing my head as the ceremony began. The words fell over me one by one, each a link in the chain binding me to the Council.
“I wish to declare my intent to ascend to the Royal Council of Athenia.”
“Do you attest to successful completion of the qualifying trials necessary to ascend the Royal Council?”
I shivered against the memory of Hydraxan venom fighting its way out of my system. Yes, I could certainly attest to that. Briefly, I lifted my gaze to the Dragon, who glanced down at me with a devilish glint in his eyes. No doubt he was remembering my agony as well.
“I do,” I said through locked teeth.
“To serve on the Royal Council of Athenia is to serve the people of Athenia. Do you, Lady Theadora Moore, swear to protect this land and her people with your breath, magic, and soul from this moment until the moment you relinquish this role to your next of kin?”
“I do.”
“And do you, Lady Theadora Moore, swear fealty to Athenia above all else and loyalty to this Council and no one else?”
“I do.”
Each vow wrapped around me like an invisible vice, binding me tighter to the role I now held. The chamber was silent, the weight of the moment pressing down on every soul in attendance.
“And do you, Lady Theadora Moore, a daughter of Hyrax, swear that the House of Hyrax can continue this role in your stead should you no longer be able to fill this seat?”
