Chapter 74 Royal Warning

Chapter 74 Royal Warning
Thessaly dug her nails deeper into her palms. Drew blood. The pain helped keep her grounded. Kept her from reaching for the Dream Realm and making all of them see nightmares they'd never wake from.

"Is that a threat?" Davorin asked quietly.

"It's a warning. Five kingdoms stand against you on this. Can you afford to make enemies of us all?"

The Rothmore ambassador cleared his throat. "There is another option. One that would satisfy diplomatic concerns while addressing your obvious attachment."

"I'm listening."

"A public execution would restore confidence in your leadership. Show the realm that you're capable of making difficult decisions. It would be clean. Quick. And it would prove you haven't been compromised."

The room went silent.

Thessaly's heart stopped. Then started again, too fast, slamming against her ribs.

Public execution. They were actually suggesting he kill her in front of everyone to prove he could.

"To restore diplomatic relations," Rothmore continued, "we would need a gesture of good faith. The girl's death would provide that."

The temperature dropped twenty degrees.

Shadows bled from the corners of the room. Candles flickered. Frost crept across the nearest windows.

Davorin stood.

He didn't shout. Didn't raise his voice at all. But every person in the room took a step back as darkness gathered around him like a living thing.

"Let me be absolutely clear," he said, and his voice was winter itself. "Princess Thessaly is under my protection. Permanently. Any kingdom that takes action against her takes action against me. Any diplomat who suggests her execution again will find themselves regretting their choice of words. And any nation that tries to use her as a bargaining chip will discover exactly why people fear the Shadow King."

The ambassadors had gone pale. Even Valmere looked shaken.

"Your Majesty," she managed. "We meant no disrespect."

"Yes you did. You walked into my throne room and demanded I kill someone I've sworn to protect. You called her a spy, a seductress, a curse. You debated her execution like she was livestock you were pricing." Davorin's eyes were black. Pure shadow. "She's sitting right there. Listening to every word. And not one of you had the decency to address her directly."

Thessaly's throat was tight. She'd never seen him like this. Never felt this much rage through the bond.

"If you have accusations, make them to her face," Davorin continued. "If you have evidence of wrongdoing, present it. But if you're here to demand I sacrifice someone I care about to make your kingdoms feel safer, then this audience is over."

"We're trying to prevent a war," Valmere said weakly.

"No. You're trying to control me. And you've just learned that won't work." Davorin's voice dropped lower. Deadly. "Now get out of my palace. All of you. Before I decide that diplomatic immunity is less important than teaching you a lesson about respect."

The ambassadors fled.

They tried to maintain dignity, but it was a rout. Within two minutes, the throne room was empty except for Thessaly, Davorin, and a handful of guards.

The shadows slowly receded. Temperature climbed back to normal. But Davorin's hands were shaking with barely controlled fury.

"Are you alright?" he asked, voice still rough.

Thessaly looked down at her palms. Blood where her nails had broken skin. "I just listened to five kingdoms debate whether you should execute me publicly or hand me over for trial. So no. I'm not alright."

"I won't let them touch you."

"You just made enemies of five kingdoms."

"Good. Let them be enemies." Davorin moved down from the dais. "I'm done playing politics with your life."

"What does that mean?"

He looked at her, and something in his expression made her breath catch.

"It means I'm taking their choice away. All of them." His voice was steady now. Determined. "Tomorrow morning, I'm calling the full court. And I'm announcing our engagement."

Thessaly's heart stopped. "What?"

"You heard me." Davorin took her hand, careful of the blood. "I'm making you my betrothed. In front of everyone. Let them try to execute my future queen and see what happens."

"That's insane."

"That's politics." His eyes met hers. "Unless you object. If you don't want this, tell me now."

Thessaly opened her mouth. Closed it. Looked at the blood on her palms and thought about sitting in that chair listening to people casually discuss her death.

Davorin was offering her protection. Status. A position they couldn't easily attack.

He was also offering her a crown she'd never wanted and a future bound to a cursed king.

"I need to think," she whispered.

"You have until morning." He squeezed her hand gently. "But Thess, I need you to know something. This isn't just political maneuvering. When I announce our engagement, I'll mean it. Every word."

He left her standing there, blood on her hands and a choice that would change everything.

Marry the Shadow King or risk execution by five kingdoms.

Some choice.