Trik’s eyes scanned over the faces and he prayed silently that he didn’t recognize anyone, because if he did, then that more than likely meant he had killed someone related to them.

“It’s a good turn out,” Tamsin said no doubt trying to sound optimistic.

Trik nodded but didn’t remark.

“Quit your fretting, Triktapic,” Syndra said as she walked briskly into the room. “You are the rightful king, and they will either accept it or not.”

Trik wanted to growl but he just gritted his teeth instead. “I don’t know why all of you insist on thinking that I’m somehow frightened of these people. I’m still Triktapic, dark-elf assassin. I may not be quite as vicious as I once was, but I didn’t just suddenly become a pansy overnight.”

Cassie, who had come in just behind Syndra, slipped her arms around his waist and laid her head against his chest. Without thought his arms encircled her and pulled her closer against him.

“I think that’s how you should start your speech,” Cassie teased.

“What? With, ‘hey just so you know, I’m not suddenly a pansy?’”

She laughed and he soaked up the sweet sound, knowing that times for laughter would be few and far between in the coming days.

“You have to admit that it’s catchy.”

Trik pulled back so that he could look down at her face. Her beauty, so much more than skin deep, left him breathless. As her eyes danced with mischief and her lips twitched with barely contained humor, he was momentarily speechless. She tilted her head to the side in question.

“You’re breathtaking,” he explained. “All you have to do is stand there and breathe and the earth beneath my feet moves.” He watched as heat flared up her cheeks and they darkened to a deep red. He trailed a finger across her flushed cheek and grinned at her. “I love you,” he told her simply.

Her breath caught as she looked up at him, and he knew she could see just how much he meant those words, just how desperately he felt them.

“I know,” she answered, “and I love you.”

Trik leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. He didn’t allow himself to linger because Cassie was a temptation that he did not resist well. When he broke the kiss he took her hand in his but took a step back putting some space between their bodies. He looked over at Tamsin who was studiously staring out into the crowd, his own Chosen by his side.

Trik took a deep breath and let it out before he spoke. “Let’s do this.” He turned and headed for the door, towing Cassie alongside him. The time for thinking and worrying had past and now he knew it was time to take action. Regardless of the outcome, regardless of the coming reactions from his fellow elves, it was time for his people to be reintroduced to their king.

Cassie’s stomach danced to the tune of a thousand butterfly wings as they stepped out intothe courtyard. Even though she stood at Trik’s side, she still felt vulnerable and exposed. She wasn’t afraid for her own safety. No, she feared for Trik’s, and she knew that if he was listening to her thoughts he would be picking up on that fear loud and clear. She followed closely behind him as he climbed the steps of a pedestal that would allow him to see out over the loud gathering and allow them to see him.

“Stop your fretting, Love. You can handle this.” She heard Trik’s voice in her mind and the warmth of that closeness was enough to settle her nerves. Whatever they would face, it would be side by side, together. They were no longer alone; Trik was no longer alone.

“Never again, Cassie,” he confirmed her thoughts and she looked up at him and smiled. He turned to face the crowd and she felt him pull a measure of power into his body. As she had seen him do before, he released the glory that was his kingship and took on all of the power bestowed upon him by the Forest Lords. He seemed to grow in size and he radiated light and warmth. The murmuring that had been rippling across the crowd suddenly stopped. Cassie swore that the utter silence was so complete that everyone assembled could hear her heart beating in her chest.

“Behold,” a deep booming voice rang out from beside Cassie. She hadn’t realized that Tamsin and Syndra had joined them. “The Forest Lords have seen fit to reappoint the rightful king over all the Elven race. He once commanded your loyalty. And we rebelled, thus driving him to his own rebellion. At that time, the Forest Lords stripped him of his royalty and exiled him. He was to remain exiled until such a time that he found the other half of his soul, his Chosen, the one being who could draw him back to the light. Such a time has come.” Tamsin paused. Cassie thought it must be for emphasis and it was working because they were riveted. She was riveted.

“The Forest Lords have brought back our king! I give him my fealty; I pledge to him my loyalty. The Forest Lords have brought our king a mate, his appointed queen. I give her my fealty; I pledge to her my loyalty. All hail King Triktapic and Queen Cassandra!”

Utter silence followed Tamsin’s speech. Cassie waited with baited breath. She wondered if the elves would be able to exonerate Trik of his past or if it would forever taint his leadership.

There was a sudden clap of thunder and clouds that had not been there moments ago began pouring across the sky. She looked up at the sky and then out at the people who looked as nervous as she felt. She glanced at Trik, but he looked as confident as ever.

“The Forest Lords,” he murmured to her and then nodded with his head . She followed the motion and saw the crowd begin to part. She watched in awe as three beings that appeared to be made of light walked toward them. They stopped a good twenty feet away and then turned to address the crowd who immediately dropped to their knees.