Queen of the Lycan, Karina Espinosa [accelerated reader books .TXT] 📗

I exhaled and felt as if I could finally breathe a little bit more … a little bit more. As delicately as possible, I stepped out of the dress until I was standing in the middle of the room wearing just my undergarments—with a crown on my head. I looked utterly ridiculous.

Gently, I took the gold crown and placed it gingerly on the dresser next to my rings. “I want a pair of sweatpants.” I stared at Bash, who sat on the edge of our new bed with a small smile.

He shook his head. “Sorry, Your Majesty, but a dress is waiting for you in the closet. They’re waiting for us to arrive at the reception.”

I growled, “Of course there’s a reception.”

Bash grinned. “The people of the village are bringing gifts to their new Queen.”

“I feel like I’m in the Middle Ages.” I fought the urge to scrub my face or run my fingers through my hair, knowing it would mess up hours of work. “They already pledged their loyalty; I don’t need gifts.”

“It’s tradition,” Bash replied as he entered the closet to bring out my dress.

I sighed. “I’m really getting tired of that word.” I accepted the garment bag and laid it on the bed, unzipping it to reveal a deep red dress. The difference between this dress and the gown I’d just removed was night and day. This dress didn’t require its own solar system and it didn’t have a wide gown that stood out three feet on all sides, intended to put distance between myself and others. It was sleek – form fitting, low cut, and reaching to the floor in a crimson puddle.

Before I got the chance to dress, my phone dinged, announcing I had a text message. I walked over to the nightstand where it rested on the charger and saw a message from Amy.

Amy: I just watched your coronation on TV!!! Arrooo!! You howled like a badass!

I laughed as I perched on the edge of the bed to text her back.

Me: Thanks, Amy. Wish you were here!

I didn’t have to wait long for a reply.

Amy: I’ll be there soon! You know I won’t miss your mating ceremony!

I smiled, feeling slightly more at ease having heard from my best friend, even though she was thousands of miles away. I went back to the dress laid out on the bed and picked it up. I quickly put it on, pleasantly surprised that the dress fit like a glove. When I turned around, Bash was waiting for me with my crown in hand

“Missing something?” he asked.

I rolled my eyes and he placed it back on top of my head. I reached for my family ring and my engagement ring and slipped them on as well, then sized Bash up and down in his tuxedo. “Did I tell you how handsome you look?”

He grinned. “As a matter of fact, you didn’t. Why thank you, Your Majesty.”

I groaned. “Ugh, stop calling me that.”

Bash laughed and offered me his arm with a wink. Before he opened the door to the hall, we each took a deep breath. After sharing a quiet moment, we left our room and headed down to the ballroom where the reception was being held, our guards in tow. I could already move and breathe easier in this dress than the gown I had on earlier; I was glad for the outfit change.

While we were still a good ways down the corridor, I could already hear the music in the ballroom and the laughter of our guests. It sounded like everyone was having a good time, but the moment I stood outside the door, everything quieted. The doors opened and a lone bagpipe played a stately, somber processional.

A loud, ringing voice announced, “Queen Mackenzie MacCoinnich, first Queen of the Lycan, with Prince Consort Sebastian Steel.”

Bash led me down the grand staircase of the ballroom and I smiled at everyone so hard my cheeks hurt. We made our way down the stairs without incident and crossed the ballroom to the throne, the crowds on either side giving us a wide berth. Standing in front of my new throne, I carefully adjusted my dress and sat on the plush chair, surprised when everyone started clapping like they’d never seen someone sit before. It was pretty trippy. Once I was seated, Bash sat in the chair beside me, the one that used to be Ivana’s. As if someone gave a secret signal, the party continued and the chatter ratcheted up again.

It seemed like everyone from the village, Lycan and a multitude of other species alike, came to congratulate me throughout the reception and offer kind words of encouragement, which was a nice departure from what I expected and made me relax just a tad.

We were well into the reception when Ophelia strode up to the throne with two other oracles trailing behind her. All three of them had milky white eyes that gave away their species.

I inched forward. “Ophelia … It’s good to see you. You look good,” I offered hesitantly. The old woman might not be able to see me, but her other senses worked extremely well.

She inclined her head slightly. “Likewise, Yer Majesty.”

I chuckled. “You can still call me Mackenzie.”

“Aye.” She grinned and the wrinkles on her face were more pronounced. “Ye have nae come to visit me. Ye must do so soon. We have much to discuss.”

Her words made me frown. Did she know something? “Is everything okay, Ophelia?”

“The walls have ears, Mackenzie,” she tsked.

I looked around the ballroom as shivers crawled up my spine. Although it appeared as if no one was paying attention to us, they may very well have been listening. “I’ll have Ranulf schedule a time for you to come into the castle—”

“I would rather ye come to the temple, Mackenzie. It’s safer,” she interrupted, her words careful and measured.

My frown deepened. “Didn’t Lucian tell you? The forest isn’t safe.”

Ophelia’s grin widened. “Do nae fear the forest, Mackenzie, for the trees are yer