I raise my chin and step into the room, and as Lucy leads me through their masses, murmurs go up. People shuffle to see, to get closer, but my mates keep them from stampeding or getting hurt, and when I view the thrones, I have a brief flash of panic.
You can do this, little regina, no one but you. Look at their faces, you give them hope. Hope for change, for the future. Embrace it, embrace your past. Let it guide you, let it build you into the queen they see...that I see.
I glance at Lucy as his voice floats through my head, but he doesn’t look at me. I swallow, his confidence filling me so when we reach the throne, I turn with him, in sync, until we face our people. I don’t know what to expect, there wasn’t a lot of time to explain, but I do know Lucy isn’t one for traditions and laws, so I’m betting it’s going to be a quick, no frills ceremony.
Good.
Just my style.
Standing on the podium before the gaudy thrones, I let Lucy take the reins for now. “Today we are gathered to crown our new council head. The rest will follow. This moment is about stability and structure. We will keep this short, since everyone is anxious for what is to come. Change is…change is always hard, even if it is for the better. But this woman, Dawn, she has the backing of the sleeping council, and more so—you.”
He turns to me then, watching me closely, so I give him a small nod. I’m ready for whatever the future brings. I’m scared, that’s true, but some of the best things in life are scary. Without fear, how can we truly appreciate something?
“Dawn—” He cuts off, blinking in confusion. What’s your last name?
Smirking, I let the answer drift to him. My mother’s last name was Agana, it means blood.
Fitting. He smirks.
“Dawn Agana, do you accept this role? Do you swear on your life to uphold our laws and to protect those who may not be able to protect themselves? Do you, as an extension of our council, vow to represent our races with dignity, strength, and understanding? Do you promise to exact swift justice on those who deserve it, and accept the role of judge, jury, and executioner?”
“I do,” I vow, my voice strong, and something wraps around me—a rightness. It’s warm and caring, it pulses around me, pride filling...it.
“Kneel,” he orders, and I do so before him, bowing my head. He places his hand there, his power encasing me, sinking through my skin, coating my veins. I gasp as I feel it lock around me, chaining me to not only him...but this role.
“Then as a representative of the sleeping council and those who govern the races, I hereby proclaim you head of the council. You are to do your duty without fear or prejudice. You are the new protector of all our people, called upon to service by need and trust. Dawn Agana, you may now rise and take in your people.” The scent of blood fills the air and then his blood-covered hand is at my mouth. “Drink, let our power fill you, let our people be yours now.”
Gripping his hand, I raise my eyes to his, meeting those red depths as I lap at the blood he’s offering. He grinds his teeth as I watch, and I can’t help the clenching of my pussy at the taste…at the ultimate power. He observes me darkly, his eyes firing with each lick of my tongue until he yanks his hand away and steps back.
At first nothing changes, but then I feel it moving through me, setting me ablaze. Then all at once, lights start to turn on in my head. Like fireflies in the dark, growing brighter and brighter. More and more appear until I’m almost blind. I nearly fall to the side with the force, with the vastness of it. My mind expands, white-hot pokers stabbing into my brain.
“Rise,” Lucy demands. I blink to try and push the lights away and concentrate on what’s happening. I can’t mess this first thing up, I can’t.
Lifting my head, I let him assist me to my feet. A roar of applause and screams go up among my men and the gathered crowd. The room shakes with their stampede of approval. Pride fills my mind from all my mate bonds, true pride filled with love, and I almost stumble. The belief they have in me is astounding, and as I turn and smile at them, their eyes reflect the truth I felt in our connection.
Whatever this role entails, wherever it takes me...they will be there. That’s when I realise these people need the same promise. They need the truth. They are staring at me like I stare at my mates, for help and assurance...for strength.
Turning, I face the crowd again, scanning them as they slowly become quiet. All eyes are on me, waiting to see what I’ll say or do.
I stand, knowing they are waiting for a speech, some reassurance. Taking a deep breath, I gather my mates’ and my strength. “I know you wonder who I am, and the truth is, I am nothing. No one. But I have been through hell and back to get here. I have fought every day of my life. I know what it means to be beaten, tortured, and thought of as nothing.” I look around, meeting each and every gaze that I can. “I never gave up, not once, and I never will. This was a big step, razing the council, but their reach, their rot, is still pervasive, and we, together, need to get rid of it. They thought we were nothing but pawns.” I shake my head. “They were wrong. Even the youngest, even the least powerful of us have a place, a reason...a destiny. I’m finding mine, and I don’t know if I belong here, but I want to help, and I hope that’s enough.”
Sucking in a breath, I hold my head high. “I will try my best, that’s all I can do. I might make mistakes, I might fumble, but I promise you I’ll never give up. To those who followed me into battle, you are up here with me. I may be the voice, but I’m fighting for you. For everyone who ever felt mistreated or unseen, who was sick of the power plays. The games and the injustices. We are all one people. Despite our differences, they are what make us strong. Together we can stop everything, this is our—your choice. We can live as they did, nothing can change, or we can fight and never give up, and maybe, just maybe we can be great again. Maybe we can find our destiny together.”
Cheers go up and my heart slams in my chest at the hope, at the pride, and fierce devotion in all their faces...and my mates’ minds. When they start to calm, I look about once more. The lights are drawing closer, so I know I need to end it soon before it overwhelms me. “It starts now, no empty promises. I’m not better than you, not above you. I’m one of you. You are one of us. Together, as one. So let me begin with the truth. The human hunters are still out there, as are some of the witches who helped Amos. Titus also made it clear he has other experiments. We start with them. I will have others combing through the wreckage the council left behind, scouring their notes and plans to see what else we are unaware of, but until then, I ask this—who here will help me? Who here wants to change this world? I can’t do this alone. This is a war, not a battle.”
For a moment, nothing happens, then a woman steps forward. “You saved my life, I’m with you, whatever you need.”
Then another and another until a cascade of voices fills the room. It shocks me to my core, I never expected it. They want to help, they want change. I look to Lucy who steps up beside me. “We will start with guards.”
“Griffin, is my head guard, he will be taking applications,” I announce.
Lucy looks at me with a raised eyebrow but nods.
“Nos will be in charge of liaisons with the old council and the new changes. Go to him if you have issues and can’t get to me. That’s all we know for now, everything else will be decided, but my first priority is you. Ensuring we are all safe and well. No more lies, no more experiments. We are one!” I roar.