by Emma Hamm
She’d look like a child with her legs swinging in the air if she even tried to claim that as her own. She tugged the wrap closer and stared at the white marble and the windows. The sky was grey today. The sun filtered through just enough to light the room, but even the sky seemed sad.
“You’re awake.” The warmth in Raphael’s voice touched her very soul.
Danielle smiled, still staring at the throne. “I am.”
“We thought it would take a little longer for you to get out of bed.” The sound of his footsteps approached, but stopped a few paces behind her. “You can take as long as you need.”
“I know,” she replied. “Today feels better.”
“And tomorrow will be even more.”
She nodded. The throne was less imposing with him at her side.
Frosty air blasted through the windows and coiled around her shoulders. It pushed her away from the throne, making her want to turn and run if she could.
But Danielle had a duty here. She was a princess... no. A queen.
“I don’t know what to do,” she admitted. “I’m supposed to sit upon this throne and control this kingdom which has suffered so much. I can’t even give them the head of the man responsible for the war which killed so many of their loved ones.”
“Perhaps we can work on that.”
She turned around then, staring at the man who was now Raphael.
His wings, though down by his sides, were so much larger than the ones she remembered. He gleamed now, glistening like black diamonds dipped in gold. He was almost too beautiful to look at.
The kindness in his gaze was Raphael, however. His voice was still the same rasping growl. She just didn’t know how to be around this unfamiliar man. This beautiful being who was no longer her beast.
She swallowed. “How are we going to work on that?”
“My brother, in Little Marsh, and his wife have theories about the alchemists.” He took a step closer. “I thought, perhaps, we could work with them.”
“They want to stop the alchemists?”
“They’ve suffered just as we have.”
The fog in her head cleared a bit. She straightened her shoulders and tucked her hands behind her back. “And the Dread? How are they faring? I trust my people are treating them well.”
Raphael grinned. “You haven’t looked outside, have you?”
She hadn’t even gotten out of bed in three weeks. Sighing, Danielle shook her head. “No, I haven’t. Does that mean the Dread have returned to the Hollows?”
“It means I’ve been gathering many peoples’ things from the Hollows, but not that they’ve returned.” He took another step closer, hesitating when she vibrated with the need to run. “Danielle, there are no more Dread.”
“My people killed them?” she whispered the words, and her knees threatened to collapse.
“No,” he chuckled. “The Dread changed back into humans when you broke the curse, Danielle. There are no more Dread in this kingdom. Just people returning to their homes.”
This time she stumbled back into the throne, which she sank down into. Her shoulders slumped forward so she could attempt to catch her breath.
No more Dread. Just people and one god-like being standing in the middle of her throne room.
She caught her head in shaking hands and counted to ten. She could survive this, all she had to do was let the knowledge rush over her.
It was good. These people had already survived a curse, and now they could return home. They could go back to families, jobs, friends. They were all her people, no matter what form they were in.
Hands covered her own, forcing her to look at Raphael. He knelt on the ground before the throne, wings spread across the floor. His dark eyes were filled with worry and so much love it made her heart hurt.
“My Queen,” he said, “there is so much we can do here.”
“I don’t know how to piece together everything.”
“You don’t have to. The kingdom has already done it for you, Danielle. They aren’t fighting. They’re working together, fixing what was broken and becoming a kingdom once more.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a blood red rose. “A gift from my brother’s wife. All they wish for you is to heal.”
Tears streamed down her cheeks. “I don’t know how.”
“I’ll show you, my love. One day at a time.” He leaned forward and pressed his lips against her forehead.
But that wasn’t enough for her, not nearly enough to satisfy her sudden desire. Danielle leaned up and kissed him. Devouring his lips and pulling him into her so fiercely she melted.
Gods, how she loved him. She loved him so much her heart wanted to burst sometimes just in looking at him.
A long while passed and, when they finally parted, she only let him escape her a few inches. Danielle blew out a breath and nodded. “Together. We’ll rebuild the kingdom together.”
Cheers rose to the ceiling of the throne room. Danielle startled, then leaned around Raphael to see many people had entered the room without her knowledge.
An elderly man shuffled forward, his shaking hand holding a cane which clicked as he moved. “Welcome back, princess. Or should I say, my Queen?”
“Storyteller?” she asked, wonder bursting like a bubble in her chest.
“Edgar,” he corrected, grinning. “But you knew me as Storyteller.”
Another man broke away from the crowd. Tall and strapping, he was more chest than the rest of his body. The dark hair on his head fell in waves of curls around his face. He pressed a fist against his chest. “Blacksmith... Well. Hugo.”
A woman stepped forward. Bright splotches of red birthmarks covered her face, chest and arms. She didn’t have ears, but Danielle thought she was beautiful. “Soldier.” She blushed. “I’m keeping the name.”
More Dread stepped forward. Weaver, artisans, children. Hundreds of people who poured into the throne room to come and meet their Queen once again.
Danielle’s heart swelled so much she was overflowing with love and light. These were the Dread. All these people who looked normal now. People who had lives and names, jobs and families who held onto their hands.
These were her people. Not just the ones in the streets who she’d known since she was a child, but the lost people of Hollow Hill she’d never met before.
And suddenly, she knew what her purpose was. She would fulfill all the things her father and mother wanted for this kingdom. To prosper. To love. To grow.
She bit her lip and moved her gaze back to Raphael, still crouched on the floor in front of her. Slowly, she slipped off her throne and knelt with him. She reached forward. Cupping his face in her hands, she pulled him close for another kiss.
“I love you,” she said. “You wonderful, incredible, perfect man.”
He shook his head and kissed her back. “Ah, ma tigresse. I am nothing and no one without you.”
Danielle knew for the rest of her life, her heart would finally be full.
Acknowledgments
This series couldn’t be as amazing as it is without the many readers who helped make it happen. To my beta team, thank you. To my newsletter followers, you all rock.
And to all my readers - I adore you.
About the Author
USAToday Bestselling Author Emma Hamm grew up in a small town surrounded by trees and animals. She writes strong, confident, powerful women who aren't afraid to grow and make mistakes. Her books will always be a little bit feminist, and are geared towards empowering both men and women to be comfortable in their own skin.
rethis-inline-share-buttons">share