Chapter 682: Coronation
I stood outside the throne room at the palace, trying to figure out what to do with my hands as I forced myself to smile and nod at guests as they passed by. The slim black dress Mom made me wear didn't have pockets, so I caught myself fidgeting between clasping them behind my back and toying with the thin silver band I wore around my thumb as a show of some kind of decoration.
When the invitation to Oleksander's coronation came to me at Harvard a few days ago, I had to say yes. If only for the chance to see Charlotte again so soon. It had been less than a week, but the werewolves made themselves very much at home in the old palace, more and more of them arriving from far-flung shores, free of their captivity.
Mom's smile was much more genuine as she slipped up beside me and took my elbow in one hand.
It will be over soon, she sent as she accepted cheek kisses from a Steam Union member.
The throne room beyond was packed with people, from vampires to sorcerers, witches to werewolves. Someone had managed to hang new doors, since the previous ones were gone thanks to my over-enthusiastic alter egos. I found myself wincing and grinning by turn as I thought about the crazy twelve hours I'd endured, struggling to stay present even while being forced to greet perfect strangers every two seconds.
Eva Southway cracked a smile at me as she glanced over the head of a small couple who practically gushed as they turned to see me. I hugged Nataliya Makosky, nodding and smiling as she babbled at me, then her husband, in her native tongue. It was nice to see her again, despite the circumstances of our first meeting and, when she moved on, it was clear from the brightness of her smile she thought so, too.
You're a celebrity, Eva sent, gray eyes weighing my every move. Why was she watching me like she was waiting for me to make a mistake?
I'm afraid you're mistaken, I sent back. I'm just a coven leader from America.
She turned away, Piers firmly held in place next to her. He blew me a kiss while his mother frowned at him.
Made me giggle, in spite of myself.
I don't think Eva Southway likes me, I sent to Mom.
She hugged me as we held our place at the top of the receiving line. Weird setup, as far as I was concerned, but I understood Charlotte's reasoning, having all of us here like this. Even Sunny and Uncle Frank had their spot in the line, Meira on the other side of Mom. A show of solidarity for the werewolves from some of the most powerful people on the plane-and beyond-had to go a long way to cement their right to their own rule.
Do you care if she doesn't like you? Mom's tone was light, but I could tell she was fishing.
Not at all, I sent, just as airy. Since I'm gathering a list, I figured I'd add her to it.
Mom laughed in my head. Syd, she sent, I think her dislike-if, in fact, it is dislike-has less to do with what you are and more to do with who you are.
Sorry? I was getting very tired of being ogled. Double cheek kissed. Looked at with fear and awe. But at least I didn't have Meira's problem. Most of the guests shrieked a little when they were faced with her towering, red-skinned, black-horned stunningness.
I believe the Steam Union leader is weighing your suitability to marry her son. Mom held me still as I tried to whip around and glare at her, pinning me tight with her arm around my waist, her free hand still holding my elbow.
Where did you hear that?
Oh, Syd. She was totally baiting me, her mental voice full of giggles. You're telling me it's not true?
No. Comment.
The line was finally done, the last of the invited guests passing through. I glanced around at our little group and felt a shiver of satisfaction as I shoved aside the issue of Piers for now. Because avoiding making decisions was my favorite course of action. Instead, I grinned and caught myself nodding in satisfaction.
Among the crew of us, we could do some serious damage.
And not one of us wondered why Charlotte hadn't invited Margaret Applegate.
Shocking, I know.
Mom released me with a soft kiss on my cheek, taking Uncle Frank's arm as he guided both her and Sunny into the throne room. I let Piers walk ahead of me, his mother watching with her piercing gray eyes, doing my best not to show her she was creeping me out.
Meira brushed past me, winking down at me. She had to wear those damned platform boots that made me feel like a munchkin, didn't she?
Bratski.
It wasn't until she passed through the doors I drew a breath and prepared to follow.
Heard footsteps behind me, the whisper of clothing. Turned.
Was crushed in a very enthusiastic hug. I hugged Charlotte right back, tears squeezing out of my eyes as we rocked and laughed.
"? ???? ?????," she whispered.
"I love you, too," I whispered back.
Charlotte stepped back, beaming, radiant. Someone had given her an updo that made her shorn hair look long again, makeup tasteful but dramatic. She wore a slim, ivory gown, almost like a bride, the silk floating around her in a cloud of fabric.
"You look gorgeous," I said.
One shaking hand pressed to her pink cheeks. "I'm nervous," she said. "Can you tell?"
So funny, this new Charlotte, with her open smile and sharing of confidence. I shook my head.
"Not at all," I said. "You're a rock."
She stuck out her tongue at me, such a child-like gesture I had to laugh.
"I'm not supposed to be here." She gripped my hands between hers. "But I wanted to see you before the ceremony."
Before she was bound to her people as heir forever.
I refused to be sad. Chose, instead, to be happy and proud. But knowing our days together were really over took a toll, I couldn't deny it. I'd missed her far more than I'd been willing to admit to myself in the last few months. And now that I had Charlotte in my life again, I wasn't sure how I was going to fill the void when she was gone.
Get used to it, Hayle. The older I got, the more people I was going to lose.
Happy thoughts. Happy.
Charlotte's budding power reached out for me and I embraced it.
"You'll have to learn to control your magic," I said. Sounded like my mother.
"I know," she said. "I'm hoping I can have some help in that department from time to time?"
I grinned. "Anytime."
"Oh, Syd." She hugged me again, voice cracking. "I miss you so much, do you know that?" She pulled away again, dabbing at her eyes and fanning her face to keep from crying. "When we reformed the bond, when I realized it was no longer one-sided, I knew what my people could accomplish. And that they had to be free." She sighed. "That I had to be able to act on my own without you. Being tied to you, as an equal, was the most incredible experience I've ever lived." She shivered in delight, face bright with the memory. "But it had to end so my fellow werewolves could see I was committed not only to my own freedom, but to theirs, to our race's."
I nodded, choked up. Heard the sound of trumpets and knew we were out of time.
She looked over her shoulder, turned back to me, speaking in a rush. "I've thought long and hard over things these last few days. I've realized after everything that happened to me, I need to be with my family." My heart tightened at those words, knowing it was the end for real. Yes, I knew. But she said it. And she had to say it. We both needed to hear it. "I have to keep my family safe, Syd. You taught me that." Her smile woke up again. "There is so much turmoil, the world in such a mess. So much to come... I have to be ready to stand with those I love and do everything I can to save them."
I hugged her quickly, heard fast footsteps approach.
"Sharlotta." Raoul's voice hissed from behind her and we both turned to see him waving for her to come.
Charlotte laughed and kissed my cheek before running to her father, light as a feather. She waved to me as she took his hand and I waved back, turning away so she wouldn't see me cry.
No way was I ruining this for her.
I went looking for my seat next to Mom, the throne room filled to near bursting with chairs, only a narrow way open to the throne dais. I barely noticed the stares from the crowd as I drifted up the aisle, mind churning and heart sore. Mom took my hand as I sat down, squeezed it, but didn't comment.
Good thing. I'm sure I would have burst into tears.
The ceremony was long and complicated and in Ukrainian. I did a lot of standing and sitting down at random intervals when everyone else did. But the time went by in a blur. The only moment that really mattered to me was when Charlotte bent her head to accept her crown.
Saying goodbye was part of life. But this was one of the hardest goodbyes I'd ever had to say.
***
