“He’s getting away!” Luciana cried beside him.
Leo banged a fist on the balcony railing. How could he track the bastard down when he didn’t know what he looked like? He turned around and found one of the guards had ripped the burning curtain down and stuffed it into the nearby fireplace. Brody had helped himself to a pair of the king’s breeches from his dressing room.
“You saw the Chameleon, right?” Leo asked Morris and the guards. “You agree that he murdered the king and impersonated him?” He didn’t want any rumors starting that he had killed his uncle or his cousin.
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Morris bowed low, and the other guards followed suit.
Leo swallowed hard. He was now the king.
Beside him, Luciana curtsied.
“Wait.” He took her hands and led her down the balcony out of everyone’s sight. “I don’t want you to bow to me.”
“But I’m supposed to—”
“No. The position will be burdensome enough as it is. When I’m with you, I want to simply be your husband, the man who loves you more than anyone.”
Her eyes glistened with tears. “I’m so proud of you.”
He shook his head. “I’m not perfect. I’ve made mistakes. I should have known the Chameleon would come straight here. I should have stopped him before—”
“How?” She rested a hand on his chest. “You’re not an eagle that can fly by night. We left right after sunrise and came as quickly as we could. You mustn’t blame yourself for this.”
“I should have stopped—”
“No, the guards should have stopped him. That was their job.” She touched his face. “My dear heart, you can’t take responsibility for every evil act in the world.”
He searched her eyes, then nodded. “You’re right.” He took her hand and kissed her palm. “Are you really with child?”
She smiled. “I’m one day late for my courses. Too early to know for sure, but—”
He pulled her into his arms. “Have I told you recently that I love you?”
“I believe you did this morning.”
“I love you more each day.” He stepped back to gaze into her lovely face. “And I need you. I’ll need your calm wisdom, your bravery, your love and support.”
A tear rolled down her cheek. “You’re the king now.”
“And you’re my queen.” He kissed her forehead. “More than my queen. You’re my heart and soul, and you will never bow to me for you are my equal in every way.”
She sniffed. “Oh, Leo. I love you so much.”
He pulled her in for a long kiss.
When he drew back, he became aware of loud, shouting voices. Damn. He’d thought he’d found a private place, but the courtyard below was filled with people cheering him on.
“Shit,” he muttered.
Luciana laughed and gave him a hug. “It’s all right. We just gave the people proof that their new king is not a Beast after all.”
Down below, the people began to chant, “Long live the king! Long live the queen!”
Apparently, while Leo had been busy kissing his wife, the news had spread. “It won’t be easy,” he warned her. “There will be factions who want to kill us, and other countries that will want to destroy us.”
“We’ll be fine. We have good friends.” She motioned to Brody, who lurked in the doorway, grinning at them. Down in the courtyard, Jensen and Edmund were cheering the loudest.
Leo nodded. “We have your father, Nevis, and General Harden. A few friendly ghosts and an army on our side, too.”
“And we have each other.” She smiled, then glanced at Brody. “How did he know my real name? Did you tell him?”
“No, I…” Leo winced. “It’s a long story. I’ll tell you later. After I give you the crown jewels.”
Brody scoffed. “You should have trusted her.”
“What?” Luciana gave him a questioning look.
With a sigh, Leo glanced at Brody. “Do you have any room in the doghouse?”
Epilogue
ONE MONTH LATER …
“I can’t believe it!” Brigitta hugged Luciana as soon as they entered the privacy of her enormous sitting room. “Our sister is a queen!”
“How does it feel?” Gwennore hugged her next.
“Exhausting,” Luciana replied with a tired laugh. “I thought the coronation would never end.”
She and Leo had just been crowned in a ceremony that had lasted five hours. Afterward, he’d rushed off to his study for a private conference with General Harden, Nevis, and her father, while Luciana and her sisters had come to the queen’s official sitting room.
“This thing is heavier than I thought it would be.” She lifted the crown off her head.
“I’ll help.” Sorcha took the golden crown inlaid with pearls and precious jewels, then with a mischievous grin, she set it on her own head. “How do I look?”
“Queen Sorcha.” Luciana curtsied, and they all laughed. “Do you know what is the best part of the coronation?”
“The jewels?” Sorcha placed the crown carefully on a nearby table.
“Having the beautiful new gowns ye gave us?” Brigitta whirled around, letting the skirt of her blue silk gown swish around her.
“Knowing that ye’ll have a baby in eight months?” Gwennore asked, her lavender-blue eyes twinkling.