The moment he touched her hand, a sizzling arc flashed across her fingers, causing the hair on her arms to rise. The sizzle intensified as he brought her hand up to his lips and kissed her knuckles.

Heat flooded her being, burning away any trace of icy coolness from minutes ago.

“Ready?” he asked quietly, warmth in his eyes.

Selene nodded dumbly, unable to speak. Dart’an! Where was her iron will? Her strength? She felt like a newborn foal on wobbly legs.

Damien stepped around the throne, her hand still in his, and led her behind the platform where a door stood beneath the windows. A guard stood on either side of the door, backs straight, hands at their sides.

As they approached, one moved and opened the door with a bow. “My lord. My lady,” he said.

Damien nodded toward the man and led Selene out onto a slim balcony that overlooked the city of Nor Esen. A salty wind picked up, tugging on her cloak and dress.

Selene looked down, her mind retreating into a numbing fog. Every street, every window, every tree was filled with people. Thousands of them. She couldn’t even see the cobblestones along the roads.

At their appearance, a roar broke out across the city. Articles of blue waved in the air, from kerchiefs and cloaks to blankets, banners, and even tiny ribbons.

A huge grin erupted across Damien’s face as he approached the stone railing and waved with his free hand. The crowd grew even more boisterous.

Selene watched in amazement. Due to Rook Castle’s location high up in the Magyr Mountains, special announcements were delivered to the villages and announced to a select few in the audience chamber. Never had she seen such a large crowd gathered before. And they seemed happy. Delighted. Even ecstatic to see Damien.

They loved him.

Selene felt like she had been punched in the gut. No one had ever reacted this way when meeting her mother. House Ravenwood was respected by the mountain people, yes. But it was also feared. Not loved. Not like this.

And Damien loved them back.

She could see it in the way he looked over the crowd, in the way he waved, in the smile that illuminated his face.

A rush of adrenaline washed over her, leaving her knees weak. She reached for the railing and clutched the top. Her head began to spin.

Damien’s hand tightened around her own. “Are you all right?” he asked as he finished waving.

“Yes.” Selene forced herself up, ignoring the cold sweat collecting across her back. The wind blew again, pulling her hood from her head and letting her hair fly around her face.

Damien watched her a moment longer before turning to address the crowd. “People of Nor Esen and the Northern Shores.” The people quieted and Selene wondered how much of Damien’s words they could actually hear.

“Let me present to you Lady Selene of House Ravenwood, my new wife.”

It took a moment for Damien’s words to spread across the crowd. The cheers began again, although not quite as loud. Selene reached up and tucked her hair behind her ear, unsure if she should wave or just stand there. She opted to stand there as Damien spoke for a little longer.