Chapter 6 - THE RISING DAWN OF ASHYNMERE
A collective intake of breath swept through the remaining nobles in the hall. An Alpha King did not kneel—not to councilors, not to foreign dignitaries, not even to the high lords of the realm.
Yet here, amidst the shattered remnants of a failed coup, King Rhett Dunmore knelt before Sally Kemp.
"For three weeks, I searched for excuses to visit the archives just to hear the sound of your voice," Rhett said, his voice ringing clear and steady across the silent, watching room. "I thought I was protecting you by keeping you hidden in the dust and old paper. I was a fool."
Sally felt a warm tear trace a path down her cheek, though her lips curved into a bright, genuine smile.
"You were a very stubborn fool," she whispered softly, her fingers gently tangling in his dark hair.
"The Moon Goddess did not choose you by accident, Sally," Rhett continued, his golden eyes shining with absolute devotion. "She chose the brightest mind, the bravest heart, and the only soul in this entire kingdom strong enough to stand beside me in the storm. Rise with me, Sally Kemp. Not as my hidden secret, but as my true, acknowledged queen, before the gods and the entire realm."
Around them, Commander Vane slammed the butt of his spear against the stone floor in approval. "Long live King Rhett! Long live Queen Sally!"
Within moments, the entire loyalist guard took up the chant, their voices shaking the crystal chandeliers overhead. Even some of the trembling barons, recognizing the absolute shift in power, cautiously joined in, their applause echoing through the hall.
Sally nodded, her voice steady and clear as she pulled him back to his feet. "I accept, my king."
Rhett stood, pulling her flush against his chest, and lowered his lips to hers in a deep, fierce, unyielding kiss that sealed their bond before the entire court. The magic of the mating bond surged through them like liquid sunlight, washing away the lingering cold of betrayal and cementing their union for all time.
Graves, still pinned to the pillar in heavy manacles, spat blood onto the floor and glared with venomous hatred. "You think this changes anything? The southern lords will never accept a queen with no bloodline! An orphan from the border stones will always be a bastard on the throne!"
May you like
Rhett didn't even turn his head to look at the traitor. With a lazy flick of his hand, he dismissed him entirely. "Vane, take the traitor to the deep dungeons. Let him rot there until the executioner calls."
As Graves was dragged away kicking and screaming into the dark subterranean corridors, the heavy doors of the banquet hall swung open wider, letting the golden light of the morning sun flood into the room, banishing the shadows completely.
