by KT Webb
I felt like an idiot. I laughed and grabbed her hand to pull her close to me again. “No. I don’t kind of like you. I believe I told you years ago how I felt about you, Princess Delia.”
“Did you?” She feigned surprise. “See, I’m not sure if you’re aware of this or not, but I have a memory problem. Could you maybe tell me what you’re referring to, Sir Taeren?”
I looked into her eyes, knowing full well she was playing with me. Her clear blue eyes sparkled with humor as she waited expectantly. Part of me knew she was joking, but I also knew she was seeking validation. She wouldn’t admit it, but Delia still struggled with grasping at which memories were true and which were the things she embellished in her stories. I took both her hands in mine, but kept her close to me.
“Many things have changed since the first time I met the raven-haired girl hiding on the stairway. We’ve lost so much, lost each other. But, the one thing that has never changed is the way I feel about you.”
She waited. I should have known she was going to make me say it. I offered her a small smile before continuing.
“Delia, you are the most frustrating person I’ve ever met. You make me laugh, challenge me, and show me what true kindness is. I love you.”
“I love you too, Taeren.” She stood on her toes to meet my lips.
I picked her up, deepening the kiss she began. There was nothing in the world I wanted more than to spend every waking moment with her by my side. But before any of that could happen, we had to restore Riona.
“Now, are you ready for this?” I asked, leading her back to the window seat.
“Is it too late to run away and join the Outliers in the tunnels?”
“Definitely.”
She sighed. “Okay, fine. I’m ready. I just have to get dressed. Paula is coming to help me. Is everything set up downstairs?”
I nodded. “I’ll go back to make sure everything is in place. I get to escort you down. Next time I’ll use the door.”
Delia had her arm looped through mine as we waited for the doors to open and the coronation to begin. Lonzo and Paula stood nearby discreetly holding hands. They both beamed at Delia with pride; a pale comparison to having her parents present, but she seemed to accept the roles they’d taken in her life. The doors opened to reveal a room filled with Rionians and Sideon. They lined either side of a deep purple carpet that lead straight to the throne.
Regal music announced our entrance as we took our first step into the throne room. I felt the hesitation in Delia’s steps as she shook slightly against my arm. I gently squeezed her hand hoping it would offer some reassurance. At the front of the room, Sophronia stood next to Chancellor Tilda. The former held a velvet pillow with the newly crafted crown resting on top.
I delivered Delia to the front of the room where she stood facing the Chancellor. Taking my place to the right of the throne, I watched the ceremony unfold.
“People of Riona! We have invited you here today to witness the most important moment in our history. Today, we reclaim a world that was lost to us. Today, we take the first step toward a new Riona. Today, we crown the rightful Queen and install her on the throne.”
Cheers erupted across the room. Delia looked a little green. I tried to give her a small smile but she was hyper-focused on the throne. She was a reluctant ruler, but I knew in my heart that she would be the best Queen we’d ever had.
“Princess Delia, Daughter of Queen Isadora and King Theophilus, many times Great-Granddaughter of the Great Alchemist, Sophronia.” Tilda offered a nod to the woman who started everything. “You are the most recent in a long line of queens to take on the responsibility and honor that accompanies the task of ruling a queendom.
“Do you accept this responsibility willingly and with pride?”
Delia’s eyes darted toward me. We both knew it was just a formality, but she was looking for validation. I hoped my expression reflected the confidence I had in her; she had to know it was acceptable to be apprehensive about her future. She couldn’t have been the first queen to feel that way. Her eyes slid back to Tilda and she nodded.
“I do.”
“Do you promise to do everything in your power to protect the people of Riona?”
“I do.”
“Will you wear the Bloodstone each day and raise up future queens to do the same?”
Her cheeks reddened. “I will.”
“Will you promise to lead your life as you see fit, ruling your people in a manner that reflects your true self and the good you want to see in our world?”
“I will.” Delia locked eyes with Tilda. The moment that passed between them told me there was something different about that charge. Her response had been fast and fierce, followed by a smile that could light up the Rionian sky.
“Then it is my honor to crown you, Queen Delia of Riona. Please kneel and accept your crown.”
Delia dropped to her knees. She kept her head up and back straight as Sophronia offered Tilda the crown. The moment it was placed on her head, things began to change. A low rumbling began in the pit of my stomach as she rose to her feet and took the two steps up to her throne. She sank into it to the sound of applause.
The Bloodstone lifted from her chest, light erupted from it shooting in every direction. The darkness that had filled the world around us seemed to lift away in an instant. An intense feeling of euphoria spread through my body; from looking around the room, I saw everyone must have been experiencing the same thing.
Even the Sideon appeared to change. Their cloaks fell back to reveal rapidly changes appearances. Where they’d once been gray and sickly, they morphed into the silver and gold beings I saw in their memories. They looked alive again. The sound of stone rumbling shook the castle as the destroyed bits of our world righted themselves. The sky visible through the arched windows of the obsidian castle walls burst to life with color.
Pink, orange and yellow spread across it like watercolor paints spreading on paper. The stars reappeared, slowly at first, then all at once as though celebrating the day.
Everyone rushed out the doors to see the world as they remembered it. I took Delia by the hand and led her outside with our people. The cracks in the walls had mended. All evidence of the destruction caused by the Gorum was gone. My heart pounded as we left the outer courtyard behind and descended into Almandine. Just ahead was the bakery I’d spent my childhood in. It looked as though nothing had changed. The only thing missing were the people who made it home to me.
Delia beamed at me while she squeezed my hand. She no longer looked afraid, she no longer looked lost. She looked at me like she knew she was finally home.
The End.
If you enjoyed Knights of Riona, we know you'll enjoy these other reads by KT Webb: Awakening: The Last Coven Series and The Evolved.
About the Author
Photo Courtesy of:
Alissa Toering at Precious Memories Photography
KT Webb is a big city girl living in small town South Dakota with her husband and two children. She believes in the power of words and enjoys writing stories that make the impossible seem possible.
KT loves reading, listening to pop-punk music (especially when she’s writing), having adventures with her children and traveling. She believes in magic, that there’s a hero inside everyone and that characters should be just as flawed and intriguing as the people we meet every day.
A Note from the Author
Thank you for reading my first standalone novel. This story was inspired by the cover. The amazing Amy Queau posted this as a pre-made and I fell in love. I knew that if I didn’t buy it, I would regret it. I had no story when I told her I’d buy it, but the idea came to me before I’d even paid the invoice!
As an independent author, I depend on the reviews of my readers to entice other people to read my work. It would mean the world to me if you would leave an honest review on Amazon.com and/or Goodreads.com.
I love to hear from my readers;
Website: www.ktwebba
uthor.com
Email: [email protected]
Follow me on Twitter: kt_webb_author
Follow me on Instagram: @ktwebbauthor
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Other Titles:
The New Era Saga (YA Superhero)
The Evolved (book one)
Growing Hope (book two)
Choosing Eternity (book three)
The Last Coven Series (YA Paranormal)
Awakening (book one)
Chicago Love Stories (Adult Contemporary Novellas)
Hard Habit to Break
Stay the Night
Last Words Anthologies
From Now On (Dystopian)
Side Effects of Progress
Children’s
The Very Brave Knight
(written with Piper Webb)
Coming Soon:
Shade: The Last Coven Series (book two)
Thank You
Delia Petrano: Thank you for letting me use your name in this book. Once I had a name for the Princess of Riona, everything else fell into place.
Lichelle Slater: Thank you for being there to give me encouragement and enthusiasm. World-building isn’t easy, but you helped me do it right!
Tayler Maertens: Yeah, I finally wrote you into a book, and I didn’t kill you.
Mom & Dad: Seriously, you guys are the best.
Ryan, Piper & Dawson: I love you guys more than you could possibly know! This book has been a labor of love and has required all my attention lately—you have no idea how much I appreciate your patience while I’m writing.
Table of Contents
kt webb
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
About the Author
A Note from the Author
Other Titles:
Thank You
About the Author
A Note from the Author
Other Titles
Acknowledgments
