98: Darius's POV

Things were moving more quickly than any of us had anticipated. Our father was dead, we’d barely buried him, and now we were all being crowned as Kings within two months of his passing. A show of strength against the rising rebellion. We’d need to deal with that in a more direct manner as well, but for today, this was the most we could do.

I stood between my two brothers in the throne room, overlooking the crowd of ladies and gentlemen of the Court. Several Royal Seers, doctors, and other people in important positions were in the audience as well. Ada was directly off to the right, visible to all. She was in a beautiful white and gold gown, shoulders back, and chin high.

Phoenix was to my left in an emerald suit. Nik was to my right in a black suit. I was front and center in a navy suit. One of the Seers was in charge of the Ceremony, with one of the Elders attending. They were currently in the middle of reading the Rites of the Alpha King. I’d had to fight to only get it read once to streamline this whole thing. The argument had been that due process states they are read to every Alpha King, to which I’d countered that we were all in attendance at the same ceremony, so technically it was being read to each of us.

I’d had to concede on other things, but at least that had been a battle I’d won. Phoenix dropped to one knee to my left. I stayed standing straight up, overlooking the crowd. My whole life, I’d been trained for this moment. Of the three of my father’s sons, I was the only one who’d wanted this. I’d made a lot of mistakes, especially recently, but I still believed I deserved this. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t grateful for my brother’s standing beside me, though. Something felt like it was falling into place. Like something was beginning.

And it was.

The Elder placed a gold and emerald crown on Phoenix’s head. To my right, Nik knelt. A white gold and obsidian crown was placed on his head. I dropped to my knees. The Elder approached me, straight-faced. I bowed my head. The crown he placed on top of my head was a marbled white gold and gold base, the two metals swirling together. Embedded in the monde were large navy sapphires. It was heavy. As soon as the Elder lifted his fingers from my crown, my brothers and I rose to our feet.

The Seer spoke, using magick to project his voice through the room, “Do you, Darius Ashford, declare your loyalty to the Kingdom of the Moonglade and all of its people?”

Butterflies flittered in my stomach, and I shoved them down. This was no place for sudden nerves. “I do,” my voice boomed. I was handed a sceptor that matched the crown atop my head.

“People of the Court, bow before Darius Ashford, King of the Northern Skies.”

Everyone dropped to their knees. This was one of the things that I had to concede on. I didn’t want everyone to have to be up-down-up-down and had asked that we combine all of our announcements. I’d been politely turned down. After nearly two minutes, the people of the court stood.

The Seer moved to Nik. I turned to look at my brother. I didn’t know how he managed to do it, but he somehow exuded confidence and the promise of cruelty at the same time. His face was impassive as the Seer approached him. The only sign of any emotion at all was his eyes, which flickered over to Ada for a moment. She was smiling at us from the sidelines. When she caught my eye, she gave me a small thumbs-up. I shot her a smile.

“Do you, Nikolai Ashford, declare your loyalty to the Kingdom of the Moonglade and all of its people?”

There was a hesitation in him. For a moment, I was sure he’d say no. Then he breathed out, “I do.”

A sceptor matching his crown was placed in his hands. The Seer bowed his head to Nik, and I caught the slight tremble in his hands as he pulled them away from Nik. I was almost certain the entire room could hear the Seer swallow before he said, voice shaking, “People of the Court, bow before Nikolai Ashford, The Midnight King.”

The people dropped a bit faster for Nik than I. I couldn’t blame them. My brother had developed quite a reputation amongst our people. I’d fear him as well if I were them. Wouldn’t want to cross *him.* As they stood, the Seer stepped over to Phoenix.

“Do you, Phoenix Ashford, declare your loyalty to the Kingdom of the Moonglade and all of its people?”

My youngest brother showed no hesitation. He held the white-eyes gaze of the Seer and stated firmly, “I do.”

He gripped the sceptor that was handed to him tightly. The Seer turned to address the court, “People of the Court, bow before Phoenix Ashford, King of the Divine Earth.”

They dropped. Nik had fear, and he had devotion. The people of our Court loved him. Nearly all of them would offer their bodies, their hearts, their lives with little to no hesitation if it were for Phoenix. When they rose, the Seer turned to face Ada. I blanched as she smiled and stepped forward. What the hell was going on?

She made her way to the center of the throne area, standing about ten feet directly in front of me. The people of the court seemed hesitant as she stood before them, a kind and pleasant smile on her face. It was the Seers voice that echoed through the room, “Ada Lennox, do you claim the three Kings of the Kingdom of the Moonglade as your fated mates?”

Ada rolled her shoulders back, forcing her arms and hands to be still by her side, “I do.”

Nik, Phoenix, and I all exchanged glances with wide grins on our faces. She’d just publicly claimed us at our coronation. I’d told my brothers last night that she’d accepted our offer, but none of us had anticipated this. The people of the court bowed their heads to her.

The Seer closed out the ceremony, “I present to the people of the court your new royal family. There will be a swearing-in ceremony after the future Luna Queen’s coronation.”

I stepped forward, and Nik and Phoenix did the same, the three of us surrounding Ada. I smiled, motioning toward the formal dining hall, “Please. Join us to celebrate tonight.”