Chapter 492: Sunny's Throne
Sunny didn't hesitate, crossing the carpet to ascend to my side while I kept an eye on Pannera. But the opposing Queen didn't argue so even she must have known this was the only way to end the conflict.
Sunny ignored my outstretched hand and the power there, instead staring into my eyes for a long moment.
A little warning might have been nice. She softened the chastisement with a mental caress. How long have you known?
That you're a Wilhelm? I shrugged. You transfer very well to paint.
The damned portrait. Her blue eyes sparkled. Yvette insisted.
You're her sister? Daughter?
No, just a descendant. Sunny hugged me to her, lips pressed to my cheek. We have more in common than you think, Syd. You're not the only one who's run from who she's meant to be.
Is this okay? I held out the crystal again. You went to all that trouble of cleaning your blood of the Wilhelm family. Do you need to do it again to take over?
No, she sent. Just the power. No amount of orders from Pannera can come between me and the full magic of being Queen.
When we parted, we were both smiling.
Until Piotr spoke up.
"She is no longer a member of our family." His snarl of rage surprised me, though it shouldn't have. "Abandoned her Queen, her clan. I refuse to accept her as my ruler."
"Oh, shut up," I said. "Or I'll silence you myself."
Sunny held one hand up, palm flat. "I accept," she said. My past has caught up to me. But I'm all right with it.
Sunny. I hesitated. I'm sorry. I really am. I glanced at Uncle Frank. On the other side. Pannera's vampire.
Don't be. Her fingers twitched. You're right, I'm the only choice. Now hand it over so you can go home.
Not we.
What had I done?
The crystal was heavy in my hand as I turned it over and pressed it to hers. My vampire acted immediately, urging out the power. But it needed little encouragement, flowing from the crystal and into Sunny in a rush, as if it had been waiting for her forever. Sunny straightened, eyes flaring with magic, whole body glowing with pure white light until it faded, the transfer complete.
Turning with great grace, she settled into her throne with one smooth movement to the sound of cheering from her clan.
What followed was familiar, the adoption ceremony repeated dozens of times as the leaders of her clan came forward to accept her blood and have theirs accepted in return, leaving her then to retreat to their own clans to share her blood with their people. I left her to her work, going to Mom's side, unable to look up, keeping my eyes on the carpet, hands clenched around the crystal.
I could feel a fraction of the clan magic still inside it, knew I'd carry it with me forever now. Just another layer in an already complicated Syd.
The worst? Sunny without Uncle Frank. It just wasn't fair.
A strong hand settled on my shoulder as the last of Sunny's people retreated, her fingers delicately wiping at the blood on her lips. Uncle Frank stepped past me, turning to face Sebastian.
"I ask to be released from my blood oath to your clan," he said.
My heart clenched. This was my big worry, the fear I carried. He had to do what Sunny had done when she joined Sebastian's family after the run-in with Nicholas-drain his blood to the point of no return, be filled again by his new clan. While she made light of it, I knew it was painful and probably very dangerous.
If Sunny lost Uncle Frank because of this, she'd never forgive me. And I'd never forgive myself.
Sebastian looked sad a moment, but nodded. "I am willing to release you," he said as his eyes went to Pannera.
Hang on. Was it that easy? Did I worry myself for nothing? Could she just let him go?
That would be wicked.
My stirring excitement faded the moment I saw the look on her face.
And drove me to dive into her mind even as she was opening her mouth.
Don't even think about saying no, I snarled. I swear to you, if you don't let him go to be with Sunny, I'll hunt you down in your little castle and pull it down around your ears.
She glared at me, lips parted.
I look forward to it, she sent.
"Considering the circumstances," Pannera said out loud, "and as a show of good faith to my new counterpart," she gave Sunny the barest of nods, "I agree to release Frank Hayle from my clan so he may join his true love." If there was more honey in her tone, we all would have died of diabetic shock.
Instead, she raised one hand, white spirit magic striking outward to plunge into Uncle Frank. He cried out, grasped his chest, falling to his knees as sparks flew from his body, cascading to the floor while he doubled over into a crouch, the last of the clan magic flying free.
I almost moved to help him, but he didn't need me. Slowly, in obvious pain, he forced himself to stand, to walk forward a pace. Another. Until he fell to his knees at Sunny's feet.
"My love," he whispered, the sound carrying in the total silence of the room, "I would be a part of you forever."
She slid one hand under his chin, tipped his head back, bent over him. Her lips touched his, the kiss deep and passionate and when they parted, there was blood on both their lips.
"Welcome, my love," she said. "My Prince."
I would have clapped and squealed like a little girl if I didn't have dignity to uphold.
I've given you what you want, Pannera sent, dulling my joy with the jab of magic accompanying her words. Now stay out of my way.
I didn't have a chance to answer, not while Sunny beckoned to me. I approached, smiling at the happy couple, as they beamed back.
"I thought I screwed everything up." Tears sprang in my eyes. "I'm so happy for you."
Sunny took my hand, Uncle Frank bending to kiss my cheek as the new Queen of the Wilhelm Clan bit the soft flesh of my wrist and tasted my blood before offering the tip of her finger and the bead of blood standing there. I drank, not freaked or grossed out this time, the flavor of her blood full of sparks and flowers.
"Sydlynn Hayle," she said, "you will always be a part of this clan. And you will always be welcome."
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