The Last Dragon King (Kings of Avalier #1)(42)

I knew why. But it was my secret with King Valdren. Drae, now that we were on a first-name basis. I respected him enough to keep it private. If people knew that their magic and very livelihood was tied up in him having an heir, it would create a panic across the realm.

“He must have been really taken with Joslyn,” I said.

Narine nodded, and wished me a good day before leaving with her coins.

I left my quarters and made my way outside to the training grounds with pep in my step. I was wearing my mother’s leather armor and I was ready to be a Royal Guard badass like Regina.

I made my way quickly to the great hall, where Regina had asked me to meet her and the king for my loyalty swearing. When I got there, she was waiting outside the door with her hands clasped behind her back.

“Ready?” she asked.

I nodded. I had no idea what this little adventure would involve, but I was prepared to pledge my allegiance to the king and be knighted or whatever into his army.

She opened the large double doors and I glanced up, my breath catching in my throat. Nearly the entire army was here. And it looked like some highborn families too. The Royal Guard stood in perfect rows, facing the aisle that I was now walking up with Regina beside me. I wanted to shrink into myself and die. I hadn’t expected this kind of a crowd. It seemed like a way bigger deal than I had expected. When we reached the front, I gave polite smiles to the highborn families, confused as to why everyone was here for a simple oath of loyalty.

When I reached the raised dais, I looked up at the king, who sat in his high-backed throne. The throne was made of black metal to mimic dragon scales; the design resembled flames that grew up the back and fanned out behind him. He watched me with yellow eyes as I approached him.

Regina bowed her head as we stood before him, so I did the same, my heart hammering in my throat.

What if he lied? What if he was never going to let me be in his guard and he was about to cut my head off?

There was a scraping of metal as he stood up from the throne and approached me. “Much of our history has been hidden by our forefathers, but many of you know that there were once two dragon clans,” the king’s voice bellowed, echoing throughout the hall. “When testing Lady Arwen for magic, we discovered she is a lost member of the Eclipse Dragon clan.”

Gasps and murmurs rang out behind me and I froze, unprepared for his revelation. I hadn’t thought he was going to tell people about me… I suddenly felt naked with my secret displayed for all to hear, but also realized he hadn’t called me a lost queen, he was keeping that to himself.

“She will be a great asset to my army, and I am honored to have her public pledge of loyalty,” he declared.

This felt like a big deal, like a way bigger deal than I had prepared myself for. I was totally going to faint.

“Kneel,” Regina told me in a soft whisper.

I dropped to both knees, head still bowed, and the king descended four steps to the bottom level and approached me.

“Face your king,” Regina said, and I looked up into King Valdren’s endless green eyes. I couldn’t decide which color I liked best, the green or yellow. He was changing them so often with his emotions, I wondered if he even noticed.

“Lady Arwen Novakson of Cinder Mountain.” Lady was a highborn designation. By calling me that, he was telling everyone I had highborn status with a single word.

“Yes, my king?” I gazed into his eyes as he watched me closely. When he looked at me, it was as if he was reading me like a book.

“Do you swear loyalty to me as your king and ruler, for as long as you shall live? To protect me and my family over your very own life?”

“I do,” I said, projecting my voice for all to hear.

The crowd erupted into applause. I went to stand, then the king held out his hands, indicating everyone to quiet.

I stayed where I was.

“And do you swear to never harm me with your magic?” he added.

Hurt rose up inside of me as my throat tightened with emotion. I could tell from the look on Regina’s face that he didn’t ask everyone that, and the fact that he still didn’t fully trust me stung like salt on a wound.

“I do, my king,” I all but growled.

His face relaxed, and the crowd again broke into applause, but I stayed where I kneeled.

“May I rise now? Or would you like to ask me anything else?” I said to him. The people gathered were clapping so loudly that only Regina and the king probably heard me.

He gave me a smirk. “You may rise, my lady.”

I stood, brushing off my knees. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a breast plate fitted with the Royal Guard insignia. The background was black with a gold dragon emblem. The only thing missing was the red that designated a Drayken elite guard, but I planned to move my way up through the ranks over the years and get that too.

“Welcome to the Royal Guard, Arwen.” He handed me the plate, and I couldn’t help the foolish grin that graced my face.

“Good luck with practice,” he told me, and then turned and left the room.

Okay, that was a slightly weird and overdone event for a mere five minutes. The people present didn’t seem to mind that the king had left them, because they all continued to chat among themselves, and the Royal Guard rushed forward to congratulate me.

I smiled and thanked them. Regina leaned into my shoulder to whisper in my ear: “I know you haven’t had an easy time here, and I’m about to become your commanding officer, so I can’t show special treatment.” I nodded and her lips peeled back into a huge smile. “But as a woman, I have to say, I’m damned proud to have you in the guard. It’s a pleasure, Arwen.”