Shadow

Idonia Torbet

“Are you excited to see you family?” Rika asks me as we take our usual afternoon tea. “When will the Theris ship be landing?”

“They should be on Bethlianna already, and yes, I am excited. Olen, however, is ecstatic to see all of them.”

“Is your dress ready?” Sive asks next, smiling widely. No one has been allowed to see my coronation dress, well besides my designer, seamstress, Rika, and myself. Rae has tried to bribe all of us, but no one had leaked any designs, colors, or patterns.

“Almost,” I give her a coy smile. “I have one more fitting.”

“It is tomorrow! I think it should be done.”

“The final fitting is merely a formality. To help us prepare jewelry and your hairstyle for the coronation,” Rika explains to us both. “The dress is done, I assure both of you.”

“Idonia!” Olen runs to me, screaming my name a few more times. Avon runs after him, the older male more breathless than the pup. “They’re here!”

He grabs my hand and tried to drag me away from the tea setup. Sive jumps us, excited to meet the Aeral of Theris. Though many other Aerals have arrived, Masters too, Sages, and hundreds of Viker, Sive only had interest in meeting my parents.

“If you’ll excuse me,” I say to Rika. “I will be at the dress fitting in an hour.”

“Go see your family.”

The four of us, that is Olen, Sive, Avon, and myself, make our way through the garden, the main hall, and to the front of the castle. Carriages arrive from the sea. Rae quickly exits the main doors of the castle and kisses my cheek before standing at my side.

“I didn’t think you’d be here,” I say to him, our arms wrapping around one another.

“They are my family too. Plus I couldn’t resist seeing the face of Aeren when he sees me in my homestead.”

“Be nice,” I remind him as the doors to the first carriage open. Some Viker step out along with Inghram and Ingolf.

“Always,” he promised me as Eske and Egil step out of the next carriage, followed by Mother and Father. Olen runs to hug Mother, gripping her skirt and holding tight. After he releases her, she comes over to hug me.

“My dear,” she chokes slightly, holding me tight against her. “How have you been?”

“I’ve been well,” I assure her. “Rae takes care of me.”

“Good,” she pulls back, smiling at my mate. “Can I see the coronation dress?”

“Yes.” “No.” Rae and I answer at the same time. He scowls down at me, “How can she see it if I can’t.”

“Mother’s are permitted,” I give him a cheeky smile. “I have my last fitting soon.”

“I am upset that she can see your dress and I cannot,” Rae adds further, but I simply ignore him.

Turning to my father, I start again, “A servant will see you all to your rooms.” I wave to a few male servants who go to move the traveling trunks up to where my family will be staying.

“You’ve really taken charge,” Ingolf states, hugging me tightly. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I plan to go mate hunting in your gardens.” With that, Ingolf and Egil were off, Inghram went in search of the library, and Eske asked for a ‘private’ word with my mate.

Next, Mother and I met Rika in an undisclosed area of the castle, kept secret so Rae wouldn’t come snooping. In actuality, we were in one of the lower level, close to where the servants live. A spacious room was recently turning into tailor studio not only for me, but to supply fits for Rae, Khannun Kol, and Rika as well. Though the males got fitting done in their rooms.

“Oh, my gods,” Mother gasps as she saw the dress flowing around me. A white silk gown laid under the regal black velvet overcoat that ended before my elbows, letting white silk flow down my arms in a slit sleeve. Black accented with gold threading to provide designs on the hem lines. The overcoat was buckled with two golden chains right below my breasts.

“To finish,” Rika stood and presented a golden headpiece with a point dropping down into my forehead. There rested a ruby red jewel in the middle of twisted golden wires. “Now, you are a Khanea.”

With the evening came anticipation. Rae stayed late in his office, making sure the guard schedule was perfect, the Viker were ready for anything and kept alert, finalizing who sat where at the reception, and so on. We have both done a lot of work to make this happen, a lot of planning.

Now, all we have to do is be crowned... and survive.

“Are you ready?” Rae whispers to me as we wake up. His lips hover over and softly kiss my ear.

“I hope so.”

Breakfast has to be served quickly, because the morning has to be timed to the last second. We both bathe. Then maids come in to dress my hair, parting it down the middle and letting three braids hand down on either side. A light red stain is put on my lips and black cast on the lines of my eye. A male servant comes to help Rae prepare too, but he must do so in another room.

My dress is arriving.

The headpiece Rika gave me is placed into my hair, rings are put on my fingers, and slowly, cautiously, I am dressed. As the last of it is done, there is a knock on the door.

“Khanelea, are you ready?” Avon asks through the door. My Viker must escort me down to the throne room. One maid opens the door and the three males enter. Avon chuckles, “My brother will love it.” Kosta’s jaw drops. Olen simply smiles.

“Are we ready?” I ask, gulping down air.

“We should be asking you that,” Kosta speaks dryly, clearing his throat. I nod, and we leave. The grand staircase leads down to the entrance of the throne room, that is where Rae will be waiting for me.

And he is, along with Rikki, Disa, Sinikka, Cuyler, and Hertha. Our eyes meet like it was the first time and he smiles. Watching him, it reminds me of things I still haven’t told him. A feeling, specifically, something I’ve known for a while and just haven’t found the courage to say.

“You look beautiful,” he tells me, grabbing my hands and placing kisses over each knuckle.

We stand before the two large doors that lead into the throne room, and when they open a mass of bodies turn to gaze at us. As we walk through the crowd, a large voice announced us.

“Khanel Raedwulf Dolph, great son of the mighty Khannun Kol Dolph and majestic Khanea Rika Dolph. With him stands Khanelea Idonia Dolph, born Idonia Torbet, great daughter of Aeral Trym Torbet and Aeralea Anrid Torbet. The honorable Viker Rikki Helvig, with him stands Miss Disa Helvig. The honorable Viker Avon Dolph, the honorable Viker Cuyler Hoye, the honorable Viker Kosta Nenouf, the honorable Viker Hertha Dolph, and Sir Olen Torbet.”

By the time he finishes, Rae has lead me to the front of the room. We face the Sage Raudebjorn, Khannun Kol, and Khanea Rika. The Sage nods, Rae and I separate. Him standing on Khannun Kol’s side and me at Rika’s.

“Today we certify the passing of power. From Khannun Kol to his son born to his true mate, Khanea Rika. First, we must certify that all the great families are present to witness these events. I will call on every Aeral to confirm your presence. Maelifell?”

“Aeral Lofgren.” A male stood, and spoke proudly.

“Asar?”

“Aeral Konald.”

“Waer-Asar Sealands?”

“Aeral Holman.”

“Waerham.”

“Aeral Ohlson,” the male speaks, staring at me the whole time. This is Danal’s father.

“Sacole?”

“Aeral Wray.”

“Øysten?”

“Aeral Solberg.”

“Minxa?”

“Aeral Nyberg.”

“Jokulsa?”

“Aeral Hellstorm.”

“Theris?”

“Aeral Torbet,” my father stands.

Khannun Kol then begins, “Aerals of the Bethley Isles, this is my son, and I ask you take him as you Khannun, the protector of your realm, alpha of the lycan, the son of mighty blood, the sword between night and day. Will you do this to long live my memory?”

Before all the Aerals reply, as they should, one voice rings out over all the others.

“Never.”