The King had arrived.
A deadpan silence went through the crowd. No one dared talk or cause a disturbance of any sort. If they did, they knew the consequences.
King Kai was a no-nonsense man, and any mistake could land them in the dungeon. It was so bad that a Lycan child born today already knew how gruesome Kai could be.
Hence, people zipped their lips and comported themselves as he walked his Queen down the aisle to the dais with admiration beaming on his face.
Admiration?
What?
They had never seen him wear that mask before. His face was always cold. Impassive. Unreadable.
Their interest piqued.
Could it?
One thing was running through everyone’s minds at the same time. They direly wanted to know how the GoldenBlood girl had transformed their King within a short period.
Was it because she was able to match his cruel energy? That he invited her to a restaurant to frighten her, but she paid back in his own coin?
Yeah. News flew fast in Athens. And so it is everywhere in the entire world.
The mistake Kai had made was keeping the server alive.
Because of her, everyone knew what had happened in the restaurant; how Harlow had rendered their King useless for days.
In all candid notes, they were all expecting him to kill her, but here she was, her arms entangled in his as they glided to the altar.
When the couple reached there, Kai sat Harlow on one of the two thrones that were woven with golden swords, and then eased into the seat beside her.
“People of Athens, my Luna and your Queen will speak to you today. If you have anything that will disturb her, keep it to yourselves,” King Kai declared into the microphone, his voice reverberating throughout the hall. “Or else...”
What the heck?
Harlow scrunched up her eyebrows.
There were no greetings. No silver of warmth in his words, and this left her hollow.
When Kai led her into the hall, the first thing she perceived, before noticing the decorated hall, was the fear that evoked from every corner.
This was supposed to be an occasion where every single being in Athens should attend, but she couldn’t find a single child. Only adults and elderly were sitting there in trepidation.
She hadn’t thought Kai would be the reason for their fear.
Just then, she rose to address the people, and Kai handed her the microphone.
“Good morning, everyone,” she began with a wide, sincere grin. “I am Harlow Hayes, your Queen. I am here to serve you, and I hope you accept me wholeheartedly...”
No cheers nor words erupted from any angle.
The people felt safe hearing her, but they couldn’t compromise what their King had established. No talking.
“If there is anything you want to ask me, please let me know,” Harlow asked, but no one attempted to.
Getting no feedback crushed her spirit.
She had always wanted this to be interactive. In fact, all that worried her in the car was how best she could interact and form a connection with them, since she wasn’t fully their kind.
The uncertainty of their acceptance was also part of the anxiety.
Harlow turned to Kai, covering the microphone. “Is this how you treat your people? By instilling fear in them?”
Confusion flickered in the King’s eyes. “How else am I supposed to lead if I don’t show that I’m a leader?” he genuinely inquired.
He couldn’t fathom why and how that was a bad way to lead. He had always believed that being lenient with his subjects could attract disrespect and disorderliness.
And he was avoiding that.
“There’s really a lot you don’t know,” Harlow scoffed, shaking her head at him.
Some Lycans, with the ability to pick up voices, heard the entire conversation between the couples. Happiness ignited inside their veins, for Harlow was the person they had been waiting for.
The person who would change everything, granting them the peace they never had anytime, Kai was in the picture.
Afterward, Harlow turned to face them. “My people, stop cowering in silence. You have your voice. That’s your power. Use it if you want your leaders to serve you...”
The entrance of a small girl, around five years old, interrupted the Queen. The jolly girl dilly-dallied barefooted down the aisle, and behind her was an older woman who was trying to catch up with her.
“Come back here, Elsa!” the woman screamed, her voice cracking and filled with fear, but Elsa didn’t listen.
She scampered toward the throne, and as the security men popped out from their positions, Harlow stopped them from capturing her.
“Let her come.”
Shock lit the townspeople’s faces as Harlow crouched on her toes and widened her arms, awaiting Elsa to leap into them.
“Queen Harlow,” Elsa screeched, the dirt on her cheeks laying a cast on Harlow’s dress.
Elsa’s boldness marveled Kai and brought a small smile to his face despite his offense over Luna’s slightly ruined dress.
The audience gasped. They couldn’t believe what was unraveling in front of them.
“How are you, little one?” Harlow asked, deepening the hug.
“I’m fine, Mama. I saw you in my dream,” she whispered into Harlow’s neck.
Amused, the Queen lifted an eye. “You did?”
“Yes,” Elsa nodded, “You were holding a light. And everyone followed you.”
“Wow!” Everyone in the hall exclaimed.
“Thank you.” Harlow straightened the girl’s scruffy, tangled curls. “I think we’ll make a good team.”
Kai’s heart melted like ice, and his face softened. He was more than impressed with his Luna, even though he wasn’t of the opinion that leaders must stoop so low before he became a good leader.
In the twinkle of an eye, another child, looking all shabby, entered the hall, then another, until children surrounded the dais.
Harlow engaged the children in conversation. She listened to their stories and laughed whenever any of them cracked a joke.
Nothing about her was unnatural. Her body language. Her smile and everything that made her a Queen.
The audience revered her more than they did after hearing about her ordeal with Kai. Because it was now certain that she was the Queen they could ever pray for.
Soon after, the hall transformed into a lively one. Harlow, with the kids flocking around her, approached the townspeople one by one and had heartfelt conversations with them.
Kai didn’t feel defeated. He felt pride that his lioness had reached into the heart of his people and had gripped them before anyone realized it.
Just then, Zeke walked up to him and muttered, “She’s made for this. She belongs here more than we do.”
“I know right,” Kai replied, his eyes hovering around to enjoy the atmosphere.
Then Zeke tapped his shoulder, his features exhibiting pride and joy toward his friend. “Everyone loves your Luna, buddy. How do you feel she passed the test?”