Chapter 104

Delphine was welcome into Romulus like the queen she was. The town had been decorated in colorful ribbons and crafts. The people had done a fantastic job in lightening up the kingdom, there were lights strewn on every pillar, building. Joy filled the air, from the youngest to the oldest of them all, their excitement was contagious, Delphine did not remember the last time she felt genuine joy. She watched as the people danced, sang and it took everything in her not to join them.

“You look like you’re about to break into a dance,” Damien said, amused. His eyes twinkled as he watched her.

“Oh please.” She rolled her eyes, mockingly. “Okay, yes. I do feel like I would break into a dance any moment from now.”

“You can though. You will be called the dancing Queen.”

“Oh wow, this is big,” Delphine whispered into Damien’s ears. “I don’t even know what to do… Where to start from, what should I say? Or do?”

“Just smile and wave,” Damien said laughing at a panicked looking Delphine. She shot him a glare, hitting his chest playfully, but she did exactly as he said. Damien slowed his steps so he could walk behind, letting Delphine have a moment. He was so proud of her, he couldn’t even explain how he felt in words. This was a war that had gone on for way too long. He was really moved with how strong the people have been, staying under Malachi’s harsh rule for over nineteen years now. “My Queen looks beautiful,” he whispered in her ears.

“Oh, enough with the compliments already.” She pushed him and hurried away, bowing down a bit so the people wouldn’t see her flaming cheeks. But it was already late as the people whispered among-st themselves happily when they saw the interaction between the two.

Delphine looked up at the mighty palace when they arrived. The last time she had been here was a nightmare. Damien has been possessed by the evil gem, had almost lost his temper and killed her and she was scared she would never get him back again. Then following that, Malachi invaded the town, but now Malachi was gone and Damien was by her side. “It still feels like a dream to me.” She chuckled. “If only Malachi could see this, I would enjoy seeing his face twist in bitterness.” Delphine still had Malachi stuck in her prison world and she didn’t fail to torment and have her fun with him like he had once done with her when he had her trapped in his prison world.

Paluma walked up, Delphine and Damien standing by his side. He looked around the crowd for a while, like he was looking for someone, scanning the happy faces of everyone. “Nineteen years from today, our Queen had to leave us to protect herself, her unborn child and her people from the wicked hands of her brother, Malachi. Today, we have finally driven Malachi away, and our prophesied Queen has returned to her people.” The crowd went up in cheers. Paluma turned to Delphine. “Come, talk to your people.”

Delphine froze, she thought Malachi would do all the talking. If she had known she would be stepping out to speak, she would have planned a speech. Even though she didn’t want to go, she couldn’t stop her legs from moving forward, while sending the people an awkward grin till she was standing before them. They looked at her, face filled with expectancy as they waited.

It doesn’t have to be a perfect speech, just say whatever is in your heart. Damien told her through their mind link.

She nodded, then opened up to speak.

“Good day, Romulus–”

The people erupted in cheers, leaving Delphine a blushing mess.

“It’s been nineteen years, nineteen years of suffering, bondage, and sorrow. As a people we stood together under the reign of Malachi, we didn’t give up or back down.”

That caused another cheer and this time Delphine smiled, confident in the person she had grown to be. She raised a hand to quiet the crowd.

“We have learnt so much during these years. I, for one, have learnt what it means to be a true leader. So, we need to apply all that we’ve learnt. In everything we do, let us remember that love is key. With your unwavering support, I will do my best to protect the kingdom, to protect every single one of you, from the fetuses in the wombs to the oldest among us.”

“While I’ll always look after my people,” she continued. “It’s best you know the man beside me is my mate,” she told them, referring to Damien. “Most of you…have met him before. He is the Alpha of Bloodmoon pack. I’ll take the throne, but I shall return to my mate. Someone you trust the most, Ruby will be here to oversee things.” Ruby walked over to where Delphine stood shyly and waved to the people. “Together, we shall all make Romulus great again.”

“Long live the queen,” the people said in a loud voice.

Delphine was astonished by their response. The thought of their well-being being in her hands humbled her. Her vow to protect them at all cost solidified her loyalty to the kingdom.

After this, they proceeded into the palace. “Oh wow, you know now that I’m here Damien, I’m almost tempted to leave you all at Bloodmoon and come stay here with my people.”

He snapped his head to face her, horror written on his face. “You’re not serious right?”

“I actually am,” she said, avoiding contact with him. “I mean—I’m joking!” She changed her words fast when she saw the look on Damien’s face.

“You shouldn’t play with things like that,” he muttered, but he was smiling again. A red carpet had been laid by the entrance to the throne room, leading up to the throne. Paluma stood beside the throne, holding the crown in his hands.

“Oh wow, this is serious.” She turned to Damien. “Will you walk with me? This is all just too much.” He nodded and took her hand in his, they proceeded together, till they finally got to the throne. Damien stepped aside and Delphine knelt before the throne, facing the people. Paluma walked closer to her, placing the crown above her head.”

“People of Romulus I present you to, your new queen.” And with that, he placed the crown on Delphine’s head.

“Long live the queen!” the people chanted, while Delphine got up and walked over to her throne.

~~~

Ryan has been in a mood lately. Ruby has been posted to Romulus, and since he had a job as the beta in Bloodmoon pack, they don’t get to be together. Ryan had to spend the day watching Delphine and Damien, Luca and Daciana, but Ruby was helping Delphine oversee things over at Romulus, and he couldn’t bring himself to ask Ruby to leave, or tell Damien he wanted to go over there. Today, he was free though. Since Romulus had been free from Malachi’s hold, it had returned back to its Realm.

“Delta, I’m back,” a voice said behind him. It belonged to the guard he had sent over to Romulus to help him deliver a message to Ruby.

Ryan sighed in relief, reminding himself there was no reason to worry in the first place. Malachi was gone and Ruby was safe in Romulus. “Great, what did she say? I would have used my cell, but Ruby is still…quite old fashioned, doesn’t have a phone yet and I don’t think there’s any service in Romulus.”

The guard nodded. “Yes, I tried calling from there, no service, no one even has a phone there, Sir. Anyways, she was happy to hear from you, over-excited actually.” This brought a big smile to Ryan’s face. “But-” Hearing this wiped away the smile on Ryan’s face. “She said she won’t be able to visit anytime soon. The work over there is hectic, so she’s going to be over there for a while.”

“Shit. So, now I can’t even spend time with my mate?”

“I’m sorry. Please, excuse me.” He gave a small bow and turned to exit. Ryan heaved heavily, he needed to speak to Damien. If things continued this way, he felt it would only cause a rift between him and Ruby. After the guards left, he went to get a few pieces of clothing, which he planned to take with him to Romulus. Now that Malachi didn’t have any control of Romulus, it had returned back to its Realm, you could only get in with the permission of someone on the inside, or you have Delphine teleport you there.

Ryan knew that Damien had gone out for a run with Daciana, so he went to go find Delphine. She was in the garden, with the little boy Alex. His mother never came back for him, they never brought her in conversation though, so it wouldn’t trigger anything in him. Delphine had taken him in as her own, she never had a brother and was an only child, little Alex had come to fill in that space. When she saw Ryan approaching, she sat up straight. “Ryan, is there a problem?” she asked, judging from the look on his face.

“No, there isn’t. I was going to ask if you could send me to Romulus, I want to go see Ruby.” Now.

“Sure, whenever you’re ready just let me-”

“Now. I would like to go now please.”

“Okay… Give me your hands,” she walked over to him. “I’ll make it fast, tell her I’m greeting, I’ll drop by soon to visit, I miss her already.” Ryan nodded, he wasn’t really listening to what Delphine was saying, he just wanted to see himself in Romulus and get back to Ruby.