She slid the bracelet over her right hand, onto her wrist, and it fit like it was made for her, which, of course, it was. She turned her wrist, watched the light play over the metal again, and then lifted her dark sapphire gaze back to mine. After a moment, she took a quick breath and held out her arms. “Come to me,” she said sharply, and I was taken off guard as she waited.
My mother had stopped loving me, except long-distance, when I told her and my father that I was gay. It had never been the same. Our relationship, such as it was, had deteriorated to yearly Christmas cards and the occasional email. Now, suddenly, Varic’s mother wanted to hug me. I was not passing that up for the world.
I grabbed her, tighter than I probably should have, but she hugged me back, and even though, from appearances, she looked like a piece of fine porcelain, breakable, not to be jostled, in reality, she was strong, and her embrace was fierce, and she held on a long time. I was overwhelmed, and I had to take a few gulps of air. Once I finally released her, she leaned back, and her gaze was soft, tender, as she looked at me. After a moment, she wiped under my eyes, and then hers, before she took my arm again and we descended the stairs together.
It was only a short walk across the floor, back toward the entrance, but the entire area was jam-packed, wall-to-wall with people. I expected it to be slow going, but everyone moved out of the way. She led me in a straight line, and we didn’t stop once, and she kept up a running commentary on the artifacts we passed, pointing out a statue here or a painting there, looking right through the clusters of people who bowed low, women and men, frozen in place as we passed. I saw everyone, but clearly they were beneath her notice, as she didn’t have a spare glance for anyone. She carried herself like the queen she was, head up, shoulders squared, and walked as though she were floating beside me.
At the entrance to the throne room, packed with people as far as I could see inside, she stopped us and inclined her head to the man who placed his hand over his heart and bowed deeply, and then rose slowly, before he turned to the room.
“Her Royal Majesty, Queen Consort Isabella Maedoc,” he announced to the assembly.
The sudden silence was almost eerie. All eyes were on her, on us, standing there, the long walk toward the throne where the king sat, so very far away.
She waited, unmoving, and the man appeared confused, staring at her. She smiled at him, turned to me, tightened her hold on my arm, and then faced forward, waiting.
“His Royal Highness, Prince Consort Jason Thorpe of Maedoc.”
“Jesus,” I said under my breath.
She snorted, and I had to smile. I just loved her.
As we began the long walk together, I was so thankful I turned to look at her.
“Yes, of course you may,” she told me, and when I leaned down to kiss her cheek, I heard the gasps as she touched my face tenderly, her fingers like the wings of a butterfly stroking over my cheek. “Now, once you’re married,” she explained to me as I covered her hand in the crook of my elbow, “the Thorpe part of your name will disappear, and it will be His Royal Highness, Prince Consort Jason Maedoc, and whatever other nonsense Varic’s adding in there. It’s a shame, really, because Thorpe is a lovely surname, but Varic is the crown prince, so that part can’t be helped.”
I nodded, trying to look straight ahead and not feel the eyes on me, all the people judging me, thinking what a rube I was.
“Remember this,” she said softly, turning to whisper in my ear, so I had to lean a bit, since she was shorter than me. “He was born over a thousand years ago, and of the countless men who have crossed his path, only you have swallowed his heart whole.”
“That’s an interesting way of putting it,” I choked, my voice going out on me.
“Yes, well, I’m wild and scary,” she said playfully. “I’m a druid, for heaven’s sake.”
I bumped her gently, and she chuckled in return. I wasn’t the only one charmed. It was, in fact, the first thing I noticed about the king as we closed in on him. His eyes softened, and a wide, besotted smile curled the corners of his mouth when he heard his queen laugh.
Five
“My queen,” King Messina Maedoc greeted his wife warmly, sighing deeply as he gazed at her. She stepped away from me and bowed. I did the same, as Tiago had taught me. “And my son’s consort,” he thundered, and I kept my head down even as I felt him descending from his throne, down the five steps to the floor. “You are both welcome to court.”
I stayed still, and so did the queen, until I felt his hand slide over my shoulder. Lifting my head, I met his gaze and smiled.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Majesty.”
“And you, Jason,” he assured me before turning to the queen. “Were you keeping him?”
“I fed him,” she replied coolly, walking around him to reach Varic, who was standing to the right, staring daggers at the two of us. “Humans have tricky upkeep,” she teased her son, arching an eyebrow as she stopped in front of him. “They have to eat; it’s a little thing called blood sugar.”
He growled at her.
She beamed at him.
His grunt sent a flush of sound through the crowd, everyone seemingly charmed by the reunion of mother and son. Varic leaned forward and kissed her cheek, and she patted his, just as she had with me. When he leaned back, she returned to her husband, grasping the hand he offered her, and climbed the stairs with him, taking her seat on the throne beside his.
I could hear his sigh of contentment. I had to wonder if anyone else was missing it.
“Jason,” the queen said softly, pointing to the right, “go to Varic, darling.”
Moving fast, I walked over to the man I loved. When I was close enough, he grabbed my hand and drew me close. I followed his lead when he bowed, and then retreated to the ornate chairs behind us. Taking a seat beside him, flanked by Hadrian and Tiago, I finally took a breath.
“I am going to murder you,” Tiago muttered under his breath.
“The queen thinks you’re high-strung,” I whispered back.
His gasp was loud.
Varic coughed to cover his snort, and Hadrian groaned.
“She liked the bracelet,” I told Varic, squeezing his hand before I turned to look at him.
He did a slow pan to me.
“She does,” I assured him. “She’s wearing it.”
“I have no idea why I was ever worried,” he said, smiling at me. “Your heart. Everyone sees your big, pure heart.”
“Except Tiago, who’s gonna murder me,” I replied, smiling back.
He leaned sideways and I kissed his cheek, taking his hand in both of mine, so pleased with him.
“I’m very proud to have you here beside me,” he murmured, turning to look at me. “And my father beat me to the announcement about you and my mother being the only consorts in the realm. Apparently, it’s bothered him for some time.”
“I wonder why.”
“He likes any space he can place between us, the royal line, and the rest of the nobility.”
“That’s very kingly of him.”
“Well, it was just ironic that the two people who his pronouncement affected were not in attendance at the time.”
“If I got here on time, I might have fainted,” I told him. “And while that could be construed as romantic, it would also have been quite embarrassing if I drooled when you were carrying me out.”