Chapter 440


    The Crowd’s Approval E We move immediately to the grand hall of the pce, where we met our


    delegates a few nights ago. Sinir and I wait quietly in a little room off the side of the entrance for


    everyone from the first room to move to their chairs in the second, where there are already thousands


    of people waiting. While there was only room in the first chamber for a small selection of our


    poption, the grand hall is muchrger.


    And it’s packed.


    I squeal a little bit with excitement as I peek through a little velvet curtain that covers a window on the


    door, excited to see so many people gathered to celebrate with us. I lift Rafe so he can see too, but


    then I feel a hand on my shoulder and turn to see my sister’s beaming face.


    “E!” sheughs as I squeal and wrap my free arm around her. She wraps her arms tight around me,


    rocking me back and forth. “I’m so happy for you both,” she murmurs into my shoulder,ughing a little.


    ” Unanimous! It’s unprecedented!” “Happy for all of us!” Iugh, pulling back to grin at her a little. Rafe


    reaches for her, happy, and Cora gives him a kiss and a cuddle, but doesn’t take him from me. Not yet.


    I nce behind Cora to see Roger happy at Sinir’s side, their father with them. They’re speaking


    with a couple of the Royal aids, who are showing them something on an ipad.


    “What is that?” I ask.


    “Probably footage from outside,” Cora says, still smiling. “It’s crazy out there, E. The streets are


    filled.” “Oh,” I say, my expression suddenly falling with worry as I nce towards the door. “Is that…


    safe?” “No, the crowds are all really happy,” Cora says, her eyebrows going up. There aren’t a ton of


    humans, but those who are there are celebrating.” She takes a moment to smile at me softly. ” They’ve


    done a lot of analysis and polling, E, and they say that the humans werergely convinced to support


    Sinir’s reign because of you.” “What?” I ask, confused. I mean – I haven’t even been in the public


    eye for long – “Yeah,” she says, nodding eagerly. ” They know that you cleared out the refugee camps


    and got all of those people help – and they love your story orphan girl, who found her mate by chance,


    and didn’t even know she was a wolf? And they don’t know the details of your divinity or your magic-but


    there are lots of rumors of your healing going around, and everyone is very excited about what you can


    do, and the fact that you’re using your gift on the most needy poptions.


    You’re kind of like…beloved, E!” I blush at this and swat her away. ” That’s ridiculous, Cora,” I


    murmur. ” I’m sure you’re exaggerating – it’s all for Sinir – ” “No,” she says, serious now. “It’s real,


    E. Wolves and humans alike – they love you.” I look at the floor a little, blushing harder – and I find


    that even as I desperately hope that it’s true, I can’t really believe it.


    Because I mean I want the people to know that I love them and I’m going to help them. But beloved?


    That just seems- “Ready?” Sinir says,ing over and looking between Cora and I. Roger grins at


    me from beyond my mate.


    “Oh, she’s ready,” Rogerughs, ” She’s been waiting to get her hands on that crown for weeks now.”


    “Don’t be jealous, Roger,” I say, raising my chin at him and pretending to be haughty. “Just because


    you don’t get a crown.” “It’s true,” he sighs, pretending grief. “I just get a stupid ne.” “It’s a livery


    cor,” Cora sighs, rolling her eyes and moving to his side, looping her arm in his. “If you call it a


    ne again I’m going to smack you.” “If we kill them now,” Roger says in a false stage whisper, loud


    enough for us to hear, “we can take it all, Cora!” Cora and I burst outughing at this clear joke, but


    Sinir just res at his brother and shoves him on his shoulder. “Don’t even think about it, Rog,” he


    growls. “You don’t want the work.” “Truth, brother,” Roger says, pping Sinir cheerfully on the


    shoulder. “Your life is safe with me.” “Boys?” Henry says, rolling over and looking sternly up at his sons.


    “If you’re done kidding around? We have a coronation to begin.” Both Sinir and Roger have the


    decency to look mildly ashamed of themselves, making Cora and Iugh again.


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    Sinir looks down at me, and I nod, letting him know that I’m ready. We rehearsed this all, after all.


    Sinir will go first, and then me second, and then Cora will take Rafe and she, Roger, and Henry will


    go down the long aisle to the front of the room, where the thrones sit. It’s all been timed very precisely,


    and we’ve got one chance to get it right.


    It’s televised, after all, and Henry emphasized how important it was for us to let the world see us as


    dignified, serious people who take our responsibilities with the gravity that they deserve. And I agree


    with him – as much as our family likes to joke around and tease, I know that in our hearts we’re all


    determined to show the people of our nation the respect they deserve.


    So, collectively, we all pull ourselves together.


    Sinir drops a lingering kiss to my lips and then moves to the door, where his aids are waiting to give


    him any final briefs. I exhale a deep breath and stand behind him, passing Rafe to Cora after giving him


    a kiss on the cheek. The baby grumbles a little but goes to her and I spread my hands down over my


    velvet dress, hoping to hell that I’m not all wrinkled and don’t have any baby spit-up over my shoulder


    or anything.


    Cora and Roger settle in line behind me with Henry and my pulse begins to speed up as the door


    before us opens and I hear the crowd roar their approval.


    Sinir sends onest smile over his shoulder to me and then moves forward, moving slowly and


    deliberately into the room to walk down the long aisle to the throne he has imed with the support of


    his people.


    The aids smile at me, waving me gently forward. I move just to the edge of the door, not letting the


    people see me yet – as was nned – and, when the count reaches the two-minute mark – meaning


    that Sinir has reached the throne – the aids wave at me, signaling me to begin.


    Taking a deep breath, I step towards the door, and then through it, and a huge roar bursts out in the


    room. A blush raises on my cheek as a smile bursts onto my face.


    I bite my lip a little – because I know that I’m supposed to be dignified and serious right now, but the


    way that they’re cheering for me – I can’t help it. I raise a hand to my heart, and bow my head a little,


    completely overwhelmed and humbled by their approval. Contrary to my intent, the cheering only


    increases. Iugh a little, shaking my head and then begin to walk forward.


    But even as the crowd ps and cheers, I hear a noise behind me that makes me turn, just a little bit.


    My little baby – Rafe – crying for me.


    And my heart breaks as I feel him sending pulses down the bond, looking for me a little afraid of all the


    noise and being left alone, even though he loves his auntie Cora.


    Still, he’s looking for me – And despite the fact that I know I should move forward, that all of this is


    timed I turn back, seeking my son.