Chapter 99 Then it’s decided

Chapter 99 Then it’s decided
  Amara POV
  “By the gods. A Lycan?”
  The fae queen’s voice cuts through the chamber sharp as shattered crystal.
  Disbelief flashes openly across her face now, elegance cracking beneath the sheer force of whatever she feels crashing through her bond. Her violet eyes remain locked on Edgar as though looking away might somehow undo what just happened.
  Edgar still has not moved from the doorway.
  Honestly, I do not think he remembers what he even came in here for.
  Rainwater drips quietly from the edge of his black coat onto the stone beneath him while the entire council chamber watches the terrifying fae queen stare at one of Sebastian’s guards like the world just tilted sideways beneath her feet.
  Magic pulses again.
  Wild and ancient.
  The flowers woven into the fae queen’s silver hair bloom violently all at once, pale petals spiraling briefly into the air around her before dissolving into glowing dust.
  Edgar swallows hard.
  “Your Majesty,” he says carefully, sounding one wrong breath away from panic.
  “You are a Lycan,” she says again faintly, like the sentence itself remains offensive to her understanding of reality.
  A laugh rumbles suddenly through the chamber.
  Deep.
  Amused.
  Leviath leans back slightly in his chair, dark eyes glinting beneath torchlight.
  “Times are changing, Eribeth,” he says. “You know my mate was a wolf.” His mouth curves faintly. “And vampires and wolves were sworn enemies long before any of us were born.”
  The reminder settles heavily across the room.
  Because he is right.
  Every kingdom here was built from old hatred.
  Old blood.
  Old wars.
  Yet mates continue appearing across enemy lines anyway, like fate itself has grown tired of borders.
  “But I..” Eribeth trails off.
  For the first time since entering the chamber, uncertainty softens her features.
  Her gaze drifts back toward Edgar again almost helplessly.
  And there it is.
  That tiny shift.
  That terrifying little fracture in the ice.
  Her expression softens before she can stop it.
  Edgar notices.
  Judging by the slightly horrified look on his face, he notices very much.
  “A ruler of kings and queens?” Eribeth asks quietly, disbelief threading through her voice again as she looks toward me.
  One of the older wolf leaders folds his hands behind his back before answering.
  “You will still govern your own kingdom,” he says steadily. “But there will be no separate borders anymore.”
  The younger Alpha looks seconds away from developing an aneurysm. That pleases me.
  “Mixed kingdoms. Mixed bloodlines. Mates tied between species,” the older wolf continues. “It is already happening whether we approve of it or not.”
  The witch leader exhales slowly through her nose.
  Annoyed.
  Resigned.
  Maybe both.
  Eribeth’s gaze lowers briefly toward the table before returning to me.
  “I want peace above all,” she says at last.
  The room quiets.
  Sebastian speaks before anyone else can.
  “Peace is exactly what we’re offering.”
  Simple.
  Direct.
  I glance toward him instinctively.
  Toward the warmth of his hand still wrapped around mine beneath the table.
  Then movement catches my attention.
  Azriel.
  I had not even realized he held the crown I removed earlier.
  The ancient gold glows faintly beneath the torchlight as he turns it carefully between his hands, dark eyes fixed entirely on me.
  Not on the rulers.
  Not on the arguments.
  Me.
  Like he already knows how this ends.
  “Then a vote,” Azriel says calmly.
  The chamber stills again.
  Those old eyes sweep across kings and queens alike without even the slightest hint of fear.
  “Those who agree to recognize the Queen of Kings and Queens,” he says, “raise your hand.”
  Honestly, I expect outrage.
  Arguments.
  Threats.
  Instead silence falls across the room like fresh snow.
  Then..
  A hand rises.
  My father.
  Pride shines openly across his face now, so fierce and unguarded it almost hurts to look at.
  Another hand follows.
  Sebastian’s.
  His fingers remain threaded through mine while his free hand lifts without hesitation.
  Steady.
  Certain.
  Then the older wolf leaders raise theirs too.
  The younger Alpha looks deeply betrayed by everyone around him.
  I almost admire his dedication to being angry at absolutely everything.
  Almost.
  The witch leader’s mate lifts his hand next.
  His partner immediately turns toward him with a glare sharp enough to skin flesh from bone.
  He pretends not to notice.
  And finally..
  The last hand rises.
  Eribeth.
  The fae queen smiles softly as she lifts her hand into the air, violet eyes never leaving Edgar for even a second.
  Edgar looks like someone struck him directly in the soul with a brick. And I’m sure he feels like it too. The fae queen holds out her pale hand for Edgar to join.
  Such elegance she carries, but now she seems unsure of things. Unlike when she first arrived, she seems a little softer now.
  Out of eight leaders..
  Six hands rise.
  The chamber grows strangely quiet afterward.
  Not fearful this time.
  Reverent.
  Like history itself has stepped into the room and everyone suddenly realizes they are standing too close to something enormous.
  Behind us, one of the elder wolves slowly lowers himself onto one knee.
  Then another follows.
  And another.
  “Then it is decided,” the elder says solemnly.
  His voice echoes beneath the vaulted ceilings.
  “Long live Queen Amara. Ruler of all species.” He bows his head deeply. “The one destined to unify the kingdoms and bring peace to all. Not the end.”
  The words strike something deep inside my chest.
  Not triumph.
  Not power.
  Responsibility.
  Heavy and terrifying and impossible.
  Azriel walks toward me slowly through the silence.
  The crown gleams in his hands like captured sunlight forged into metal.
  When he reaches me, his expression softens faintly.
  Not pride alone this time.
  Relief.
  Like he has spent centuries carrying a burden he can finally set down.
  Then carefully..
  Gently..
  Azriel places the crown back upon my head.
  “The fae nobles will be quite surprised to learn I gave in. And am returning with a Lycan mate. Surely they’ll leave me alone about marriage now.” She laughs nervously, holding out her hand for Edgar. A smile shows on his face as he walks toward her, his shaky hand taking hers and placing a gentle kiss on the top.
  “Who’d have guessed. I’ve searched for my mate for years..” he says, eyeing her like she’s the most beautiful thing he’s ever laid eyes on.
  It makes me swell with happiness. My eyes find Sebastian’s and a smile crosses his face as well. 
  “Mates are god given.. something to cherish and hold onto for dear life.” He says. Then plants  kiss right on my lips.