With trembling fingers, I took his left hand and did the same. Placing his wedding band on his left ring finger.
The priest made the sign of the cross in the air in front of us and then parted the mountain ash that encircled us, freeing us from the circle.
The crowd stood and started to clap. Bash pulled me toward him, shaking me out of my confusion and tilting my head back.
“I know you’re confused, but it’s okay, you did it,” he whispered. “Thank you.” He leaned down and kissed me softly on the lips.
The hoots and hollers from the crowd intensified until I completely forgot about the ceremony, lost completely in Bash.
19
“Queen Mackenzie MacCoinnich and Prince Consort Sebastian Steel!” a guard announced as we entered the ballroom hand-in-hand. Everyone cheered us on, throwing confetti in the air. The ballroom was beautifully decorated with black and red sheer curtains hanging across the ceiling and around the pillars, with fragrant bouquets of red roses everywhere.
Grinning from ear to ear, we walked toward the two thrones situated at the end of the room and took our seats, waving at our friends as we passed by.
Cassidy, Finn, and Michaels were there, and Jackson and Amy were sitting together. At the same table, Ollie sat with Roman and a young teen girl who couldn’t be anyone other than Emma. She waved excitedly at me and I did the same. I couldn’t wait to talk to her. She was practically a woman now.
The party commenced the moment we sat down. The music was loud, the drinks were flowing, and a huge crowd was bouncing on the dance floor having the time of their life.
Alexander and Helena were sitting at the main table with Ranulf and Lucian. I excused myself from Bash and made my way over there while he headed in the direction of the Brooklyn Pack.
“Ye look beautiful, chickie.” Helena patted my hand when I reached her. “Ye did so well.” She choked on her tears.
“Aw, Granny, don’t cry.” I grabbed a napkin and handed it to her.
“I’m just so proud of ye, hen.”
I placed a kiss on her cheek. “Thank you for everything.”
“Ye did well, Yer Majesty. Congratulations.” Ranulf gave me an awkward smile.
He never smiled.
I grinned. “Are you smiling, Ranulf?”
He frowned and grumbled, “Ach!” before throwing back his whisky and turning away from me.
I couldn’t help it – rude or not, I laughed uncontrollably.
“Don’t tease him, Pet,” Lucian added with a smirk. “But you look gorgeous. The black suits you.” He motioned to his own black outfit and winked.
“Thanks.” I grinned and pulled out the chair beside Alexander, turning toward him to give us a semblance of privacy. “Alexander … that vision during the ceremony. What was it?” I whispered so only he could hear me.
He leaned forward. “It’s yer future, darling.”
My brows furrowed. “I didn’t understand it. It doesn’t make sense.”
Alexander squeezed my shoulder. “It’ll come with time. When I first saw my mating vision, I didn’t understand it, either. It wasn’t until many years later that it made sense … until I saw ye.”
I snapped my attention to his eyes, waiting for him to explain, but he didn’t expand. I guessed these visions were intended to be kept private.
“Okay …” I mumbled, no less confused than before, and he kissed me on the forehead in dismissal. I excused myself from their table and headed over to see my friends. I didn’t get very far before I was nearly tackled to the ground.
“Ace!” a girl shrieked.
I glanced down at the hands gripping my waist in surprise. “Emma?” I peered over my shoulder to get a look at her strawberry blonde hair that had grown so long since the last time I saw her. I spun around in her grasp to see she already came up to my shoulders. Her once boyish figure had matured into that of a young lady, and to say I was flabbergasted by the transformation would be putting it mildly. This young lady was drop-dead gorgeous.
“I missed you so much, Ace! Can I even still call you Ace? Should I bow? Is it ‘Your Majesty’ now? Oh my God, I’m totally being rude!” She pulled away and executed an unpracticed bow.
I laughed. “Relax, Emma. You can still call me Ace. Look at you!” I held her out so I could look at her. “You’re so grown up! How did you grow up so fast?”
She shrugged nonchalantly. “I don’t know.” Emma twirled her dress and rolled her eyes. “I’d be wearing heels, but Roman wouldn’t let me.”
“You don’t need to grow up that fast,” Roman chided as he walked up behind her.
“Ugh! You’re ruining my life!”
He laughed. “You say that every day.”
“You could have let her wear them, Rome.” I chuckled at their relationship dynamic. “She’s fourteen. She’s going to eventually wear them.”
He sighed as if he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. “Yeah, yeah, well, when she picks up her grades, then we can talk.” He gave her a pointed look.
Emma’s face flushed and she looked down at her feet guiltily. I pulled her in for a hug and kissed the top of her head. “I missed you, kiddo.”
She wrapped her arms tightly around me. “I missed you too,” she sniffled.
“You grew up to be an amazing young lady,” I whispered into her hair. “You’re going to do great things. But make sure you do well in school, okay?”
She nodded. “I will. I’ll do good so I can become an alpha.”
I gave a wide smile and squeezed her tighter. “Damn right.”
After making the rounds and saying hello to all my friends, I tried to slip away and find a secluded area so I could have a breather. A moment or two where I wasn’t being followed by guards or the Summit. Just a few blissful minutes to myself.
I snuck out of the ballroom and tiptoed toward the grand staircase, adjusting my dress so I could sit on the lower steps. I eased my feet out of my heels and cracked my toes in the most unladylike fashion. If anyone was around, they would probably think I was gross and uncouth. The thought made me chuckle.
“Out here all alone?”
I looked up to see Ophelia. I hadn’t heard her approach, but she stood just a few feet away from me in a conservative black dress and flats, her gray hair pulled back in a bun. I stared into her milky white eyes as if she could see me.
“What are you doing here?” I glanced around the foyer to see if we were alone … surprised to see we were.
“Looking for ye, of course.” She stepped closer to me. “It’s nae easy to catch ye without yer guards.”
I frowned. “And why would you need to talk to me alone?”
She pursed her lips, the wrinkles around them deepening. “Because what I have to tell ye can only be for yer ears.”
I sighed and stretched out my bare feet, leaning back on the stairs. “You knew more than you were telling, didn’t you?”
“Aye.” She held her head up high. “I know many things, Mackenzie Grey.”
Mackenzie Grey? I hadn’t been called that in a while. It felt nice. Comfortable.
Placing my heels to the side, I stood up and walked closer to the oracle so we were mere inches from each other. “All right then, tell me. What did you see?”
“Ye must protect the future leader of the Lycan at all costs. It is yer responsibility—”
“Are you kidding me?” I nearly shouted. “You actually want me to help the asshole who’s going to steal my crown?” I scoffed. “That’s some bullshit!”
Ophelia’s hands shifted to my abdomen and I felt the heat from her skin. “Ye will need to protect him, child!”
Instinctively, I placed my hands over hers. “W-What?” I stuttered, wide eyed and disbelieving.
She blinked a few times before rubbing my belly. “He will be known as the greatest ruler the Lycan have ever known, but even before he is born, he will have a host of enemies. The demon has awoken and smells yer blood. Ye must protect him at all
costs!”
My mouth went dry and I had to swallow a few times before I had the presence of mind to smack her hands away from me. “I’m not pregnant!” I yelled.
“Shhh child!” She stepped closer to me and placed her crooked finger over my lips. “Ye must be careful with this information. Ye may nae want to believe it, but ye are with child. I’ve seen it. By Summer solstice, ye will give birth.”
I licked my dry lips and tasted the saltiness of my tears. This was not what I wanted. Ever. How could this have happened? Well, admittedly that was a stupid fuckin’ question. Of course I knew how it happened, but I also knew how vigilant I’d been about birth control.
I looked down at my stomach through teary eyes and clutched my abdomen angrily. The one thing I didn’t want to happen, happened. He wasn’t even born yet and the kid already had enemies! This was the dangerous life I hadn’t wanted for any child. Why? Why was this happening?
“Mackenzie?” Bash’s voice filtered down the hall and I startled, releasing my mid-section guiltily.
I cleared my throat and wiped my face free of tears. “Yeah?” I smiled a little too brightly.
“What are you doing out here?” He looked between me and Ophelia, then looked at my tear stained face and frowned. “What’s wrong?”
I tried to laugh it off. “Nothing. It’s nothing. I’m, uh, I’m actually a bit tired. I think I’m going to head up to our room—”
“I’ll go with you.” He started to walk with me, but I stopped him.
“No! Stay. You haven’t seen the pack in months. Enjoy your time with them. I’m just going to turn in early.” He hadn’t seen his friends since we left New York City. I didn’t want him to miss out on tonight. At least one of us should enjoy our mating ceremony.
His brows furrowed. “Okay, but at least get some of the guards to escort you to our chambers.”
As if on cue, William and Liam emerged from the ballroom and peered down the corridor, looking for me.
“Ah, there you are.” Bash turned around and saw them. “The Queen is turning in early. Can you escort her to her chambers?”
“Aye,” they both answered.
Bash gave me a kiss before I grabbed my heels and started to follow. I took one last look at Ophelia before following William and Liam up the stairs.
They talked animatedly about the ceremony and reception, but I was completely spaced out. I didn’t even remember the walk to the royal wing. My thoughts raced as I pondered what Ophelia had just revealed. It couldn’t be true … could it? I mean, I hadn’t been feeling well … could that be the reason why? If so, I needed to see Dr. Harris as soon as possible.
“Yer Majesty?” Liam stopped me as I walked past the common room and into my bedroom. “Ye have a package.”
“Oh!” I grabbed the brown paper-wrapped box by the door and carried it into my bedroom. “Thanks. Have a nice night!”
Once I closed the door, I set the package on the bed and headed straight to the closet to change into my pajamas. Not bothering to hang my dress, I unzipped it with great difficulty and kicked it to a corner because I was feeling lazy. I did, however, place my crown on top of the dresser with great care. I grabbed one of Bash’s t-shirts that smelled like him and a pair of sweatpants. I stumbled into the bathroom, washed my face, and brushed my teeth before climbing into bed. I was so tired, I didn’t even attempt to unpin my hair from its bobby pin prison.
I reached for the package and untied the string, then unwrapped the brown paper around the box. There was no return label or anything, so I didn’t know who had sent it. I lifted the lid and gasped as I looked inside.
In the box was a yellow rattle with a white bow wrapped around it. My heart began to race and I wondered if this was Ophelia’s idea of a sick joke.
Underneath the rattle was a notecard. I pulled it out and flipped it open, reading the inscription.
Congratulations, Your Majesty.
The first trimester is always the hardest.
-A
About the Author
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Also by Karina Espinosa
Mackenzie Grey: Origins Series (Completed)
SHIFT
CAGED
ALPHA
OMEGA
Mackenzie Grey: Trials Series (Completed)
From the Grave
Curse Breaker
Bound by Magic
Stolen Relics
Bloodlust
The Last Valkyrie Trilogy (Completed)
The Last Valkyrie
The Sword of Souls
The Rise of the Valkyries
From the Ashes Trilogy (Completed)
Phoenix Burn
Phoenix Rise
Dark Phoenix
About the Author
Karina Espinosa is the Urban Fantasy Author of the Mackenzie Grey novels and The Last Valkyrie series. An avid reader throughout her life, the world of Urban Fantasy easily became an obsession that turned into a passion for writing strong leading characters with authentic story arcs. When she isn’t writing badass heroines, you can find this self-proclaimed nomad in her South Florida home binge watching the latest series on Netflix or traveling far and wide for the latest inspiration for her books.
For more information:
www.karinaespinosa.com
Queen of the Lycan Page 25
