I stand beside Damon at the base of the throne—not one throne, but two. Identical seats of carved obsidian and silver, positioned side by side. Equal. Partners.

The High Priestess faces us, holding two crowns. One is dark iron twisted with moonstone—Damon’s. The other is silver worked with black diamonds—mine.

Behind us, the entire court watches. Every noble house. Every pack representative. Warriors and advisors and wolves who came to witness something that’s never happened before.

Twin monarchs. Shared power. A prophecy defied.

“Kneel,” the Priestess commands.

We do, side by side, and through the twin bond I feel Damon’s nervous energy mixing with mine. This is it. The moment that changes everything.

“Prince Damon Bloodmoon,” the Priestess’s voice rings through the hall. “Do you swear to rule with wisdom, strength, and justice? To protect the realm and its people? To share power equally with your twin, neither above nor below, but united?”

“I swear.” Damon’s voice is steady.

She places the dark crown on his head. Moonstone gleams in the sunlight.

“Princess Lyralei Bloodmoon—” I still flinch at the name, “—who claims the name Kira. Do you swear to rule with wisdom, strength, and justice? To protect the realm and its people? To share power equally with your twin, neither above nor below, but united?”

“I swear.” My voice doesn’t shake. Doesn’t waver.

The silver crown settles on my head, cool and heavy and absolutely right.

“Rise,” the Priestess says. “Dark King and Silver Queen. Twin rulers of the Lycan realm.”

We stand together, turning to face the court. For a moment, there’s silence. Uncertainty. This is so far outside tradition that no one knows how to react.

Then Damon steps forward.

“I stand before you as Dark King,” he says, his voice carrying to every corner of the hall. “But I do not stand alone. Nor do I stand above.” He turns to me, and through the bond I feel his love, his certainty, his absolute conviction.

“And when I say I rule beside her—” Damon’s eyes find mine, “—I don’t mean it as a concession. I mean it as an honor. She is my equal in every way. My partner. My sister. And anyone who questions her right to rule questions mine as well.”

He kneels then. Before me. Before the court. The Dark King kneeling to the Silver Queen.

The gesture steals my breath.

“Rise,” I say quietly. “We kneel to no one. Not even each other.”

He stands, and through the bond I feel his pride, his affection, his absolute certainty that this is right.

The court erupts in applause. Not everyone—some nobles still look uncertain, disapproving—but enough. Enough to make it real.

“There is one more matter,” I say, and the hall quiets. “As Silver Queen, I name my King’s Guard Commander.” I turn, finding Malik in the crowd. “Commander Malik Frost, step forward.”

He does, moving through the assembled nobles with that predatory grace. When he reaches the base of the thrones, he kneels—proper protocol, one knee down, head bowed.

“Commander Frost,” I say formally, though my heart is pounding. “You have protected me when I had nothing. Trained me when I was weak. Stood with me when others ran. Will you continue to serve as my shield, my sword, my guardian?”

“Always.” His voice is rough. “My Queen.”

The title sends heat through me. Not Queen in the distant, formal way. My Queen. Personal. Possessive. Promising.

“Then rise, Commander. Take your place at my side.”

He stands, and when his eyes meet mine, the look there is devastating. Love and loyalty and desire all tangled together.

Later, he promises silently. When we’re alone, when protocol doesn’t demand distance, when I can finally call him mine without reservations.

I can’t wait.

Then I see him.

Theron stands with the other pack Alphas, waiting his turn to pledge loyalty. He’s dressed in formal leathers, the Shadowpine crest on his chest, and when our eyes meet across the hall, something passes between us.

Not longing. Not regret. Just… acknowledgment.

When the Shadowpine delegation is called forward, Theron approaches the thrones. Marcus walks beside him, steady and supportive.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify