Jameson lay there in a pool of his own blood, a golden sword through his chest.

A holy man went over to him and placed a hand beneath his nose, feeling for a breath. When nothing happened, he rose.

“The king is dead,” he called out. “Long live the queen.”

And I stood in silence as an entire room of nobles looked to me.

Thirty-Four

BESIDE ME, ETAN WENT TO a knee. Kissing my hand and then touching it to his temple, he whispered, “Your Majesty.”

A tremble rose from my toes and went all the way to the ends of my hair.

In an instant the holy men were beside me as the guards carefully escorted the courtiers from the Great Hall. Many were shielding their faces from the sight of a dead body, and many more were speaking furtively, trying to understand how so much had happened in such a few moments.

“Your Majesty, you must come with us. There is much to discuss,” a holy man said.

They meant me. I was Your Majesty. I drew in a ragged breath. I was, in the most bureaucratic sense, Jameson’s wife. And, as his wife on paper, I was queen. And, as he had no heirs, that meant the crown went to me. But of all the ways I’d imagined this day ending, none had led me to this, and I couldn’t wrap my mind around being in possession of a kingdom.

Numbly, I nodded. I turned to Etan, expecting him to follow.

He smiled kindly. “I’m sorry, Hollis. I don’t think these gentlemen want a foreign king here as they discuss matters of state with their very new queen. Besides . . . I have a kingdom of my own awaiting my return.”

“But . . .” No. There was no but. He was right.

Etan pulled my hand to his lips again. “When things have settled, we will talk. But know that you will always have an ally in Isolte.”

How was I supposed to let him go? After everything we’d been through, after everything we’d finally said, how was I supposed to go even a minute without him?

“Etan . . . I can’t . . .”

“Yes, you can. Look at everything you’ve already done,” he assured me. “Go. Do what you must. Even if I’m gone, you are not alone in this. You have my support, Isolte’s support. I will tell everyone at home of your new reign, and I will write you as soon as I can.”

My hand was still in his. He was waiting.

I had to be the one to let go.

I squeezed it tight one last time and put my hands by my side. It took everything I had not to cry in front of him. I sank into a curtsy, and he bowed in return.

And then he dashed from the room, from the castle, from my world.