A Court of Smoke and Shadows (An ACOTAR sequel fanfic)

Chapter 41 - Coronation

Rhiannon took a deep breath in to steady her nerves, as much as the corset that she had been stuffed into allowed anyway. She stood waiting, facing a set of double doors which featured the similar snarling dragons carved into those in her room. They brought to mind another day, another time when she had waited behind another pair of doors. Unfortunately, what awaited her was far from what she wanted. One foot through meant her acceptance of the blasted crown Draconis obsessively offered her. It was the only way she could see herself freeing her family. Perhaps free the whole of Prythian too, whatever might be left of it anyway if Draconis and his disgusting army had laid waste to it like Velaris. Her hands tightened into fists within the folds of her heavy, deep red gown. It was ornate and elegant, as queenly as they could be, but it was heavy and weighed down her movements more than she liked. A twin set of roaring dragons embroidered with rich golden thread decorated the long train of her gown that trailed behind her like the blood from a wounded animal. She clenched her jaw, she would not be that weak. She would find a way to use her imminent status to wrestle back control and make Draconis pay for what he had done. Her fingers tingled with the promise of flames as her magic purred at the violence and anger that bloomed within her.

"Cool it, you can set him on fire after we find the book." Gabriel's voice echoed in her head. It was a comfort having him there even if it was slightly unnerving how he had managed to maintain this connection with her when even her father struggled before. She hadn't had time to ask him the details yet.

Rhiannon calmed her magic, cooed and soothed it until the roaring flames within banked to glowing hot embers. Patient and in waiting, ready to surge when the time was right.

The click of door handles twisting was her only warning before the carved dragons were yanked away from her face. They were replaced instead by a lengthy walk through a white marble throne room filled with jostling creatures and, Rhiannon narrowed her eyes, a smattering of Fae and humans. She noticed the Fae and humans huddled together, their faces pale and glances weary as they squirmed uneasily in the room full of monsters. Despite their situation she noticed a few Fae standing as haughtily as they would in any Court in Prythian. She felt a few curious and pointed glares land on her and she felt Gabriel bristle within her mind. She shushed him, she would deal with this interesting development later.

Her sharp gaze flitted around the vast room made smaller by its occupants before they landed on the very male that erupted her temper in a way no other could.

Draconis lounged on his red and gold throne raised on a dais so that even his subjects at the back of the hall were offered an unimpeded view of his silver wings and glowing hair. He had dressed to the height of formality for the occasion, wearing a fitted uniform of grey and black with the usual chained sash. It was all harsh lines and sharp angles and served to make his features more broad, more severe. Her needling gaze travelled to rest on the gold band that encircled his head, a black gem like the glistening night sky was set in the middle. It twinkled under the chandelier light as if it were mocking her and her origin.

Rhiannon set her jaw and plastered on a face of neutrality despite the anger that simmered beneath her skin. Even from here she could see the small smirk he wore and the hungry look that blazed in his abnormal eyes as he took her in. She supposed she must look the most beautiful she had been all her life. Two hours of preparation had gone into her look. Two hours of being poked and prodded and tugged on by wraith like servants. She wondered if he had sent them out of spite to remind her of her home.

"My subjects," Draconis stood tall and announced, "Your Queen." He had not needed to shout and his cold voice still washed all the way to where she stood. Rhiannon's back stiffened. Draconis held a beckoning hand out to her and she started to walk towards the open maw of Fate that awaited her.