“We surrender. You defeated the king, well,shedid...” he points at the unconscious woman in my arms, and by instinct, I tug her closer. “She defeated him in a challenge, which makes her the new queen.”
My eyes pop. Nero and Grey look equally as shocked. Of course. How could we forget? Belle had made the bet, and it looks as if she won her gamble after all.
Not only did she kill our piece of shit of an uncle, but she won his throne, and set us free. She even procured Alice’s freedom, and now I cackle like a maniac, terrifying several guards. The council members who didn’t flee whimper in fear.
Belle is now our queen, and I can’t wait to serve her. We may not have won our thrones back for ourselves, but with Belle in charge, I know we can all live happily ever after. Just like in the fairytales.
We just have to wait until she gets better. The last few days have taken their toll, and she needs to rest.
Even goddesses need to sleep every once in a while.
***
Enzo returned with Alice, and the look of joy on the young teen’s face when she learned that the king had been killed made my heart soar.
My adopted human sister is now free. She burst into tears, and I took it upon myself to placate her, wrapping her up in my arms, and the way my brothers stared at me almost made me titter like a crazed clown again.
What? Do they think I can’t be nurturing? Alice is my sister as much as she is Belle’s now. We saved her together after all.
Belle rests on a bed in her new queen-sized suite. A coronation will be organized later, but for now, she needs her beauty sleep.
While she may be queen, we do realize that she may not wish to stay in the Abyss. Her father is still waiting for her in the human world, and I know she will want to return to him and banish the darkness from the world.
We just have to wait until she wakes. Whatever her decisions, I will support her. But I know in my evil, black heart that she will want to stay. After she has saved the world first, of course.
She stirs. All four of us rouse, crowding around her bed.
It’s been several hours since she defeated the king. I shoved his head on a pike in her honor and placed it out in the courtyard. We ordered the guards to search the realm for his accomplices.
He had many, after all, and they all helped our uncle infect the humans and spread the darkness.
Alice sleeps in her own quarters for now. Two guards are on duty outside her door, ones we trust. We will take her with us to the human world, and then she can be reunited with her parents.
I throw myself down on the mattress beside Belle, taking her hand. “My beauty...”
She licks her dry lips, opening her eyes, and I peer into those sparkling hazels. “W-water...”
Grey hands me a glass, and I tip the water into her eager mouth. She’s covered in sweat, radiating a strong, rosy scent with a hint of new book, and it appears my mate’s unwell.
The Sword of Vitality lays flat by her side. It no longer glows with power, and my poor, sweet beauty.
Surely, she hasn’t run out of power, right? Belle with regain her strength, and then we can all defeat the darkness together.
She rises up on the pillow, gasping for air, and we watch her attentively. She opens one eyelid, regarding us all suspiciously. “What is it?”
Enzo clears his throat. “We were just concerned, Belle. You have been out for a few hours. You do remember what happened, don’t you?”
Her pouty lips pull up in a smirk, and my heart beats faster. So perfect. “I killed the king and won back his throne for you.”
Wait, for us?
Enzo steps up closer. “While we appreciate the thought, Belle, it wasyouwho challenged our uncle to his throne and won, and that makes you queen.”
She shuts her eyes and sighs. “D-don’t want to be queen. I... only made that bet so you four could take up the throne again...”
My heart warms with joy and I lean down, nuzzling my nose against her head. “We’re grateful, my beauty... but I won’t rule unless I get to rule beside you...”
Her eyes swivel to meet mine, and it appears we’ve all once again come to a collective agreement when it comes to Belle. We will retake our thrones, but we won’t do it unless we’re beside Belle.