Chapter 173

Nolan kept hold of my hand as we passed from the car to the front of the building. A moving wall of Gamma warriors surrounded us on every side as we walked, helpfully blocking my view of the crowd and the cameras.

And then we were there. Nolan pulled me along, coming to a stop right behind the podium, and I had to look right out at the biggest sea of people I had ever seen in my life.

The reporters were all shouting out questions already. The crowd of civilians thundered with deafening applause when they saw us.

My stately husband, unfazed by all of this, nodded seriously to the crowd in acknowledgement. After a few more seconds, he held up an open palm to the crowd, and the world began to quiet down under his command.

“There have been many news reports already about the events of the past two days,” Nolan began. “I am here today first and foremost to officially confirm some facts about these events, and to formally announce that my half-brother Adan has in fact been captured is being held in custody—”

The crowd went wild.

I looked up at Nolan. His face softened, betraying – only visible to me, I think – a feeling of relief.

This was what I had been telling him. The people were on his side. On our side.

“Additionally,” Nolan said, his elegant voice somehow both soft and booming, “I am happy to report that every one of the human immigrants who had been reported missing over the past week has been found. It is true that these humans were captured by Adan’s allies and held as hostages.”

The crowd growled, grumbled, and booed.

“All but one of the hostages have now returned home safely. One human, a man named Martin Crowley, was shot and critically injured during our siege on Adan’s stronghold, but after a successful surgery this morning, Mr. Crowley was deemed to be in stable condition. Doctors are hopeful he will make a full recovery.”

Light applause rang out in response to this news.

“You may or may not have heard,” Nolan continued, “that this human man risked his life to join my fight against the tyrant who was trying to destroy our great nation. It is my honor to grant Mr. Crowley and his family full, permanent citizenship in gratitude for his actions. And in recognition of his heroism, which saved the lives of humans and werewolves alike, I am also awarding him a medal of bravery.”

I found myself wishing Nolan had told me about this ahead of time. I was overcome with emotions as I heard this story. Crowley had to be the blood-soaked figure I saw one of Nolan’s mercenaries carrying out of the woods.

One quick little flood of tears struck me.

This human, not even a citizen, had been taken captive and then set free, but made the choice to rush back into the face of danger to fight for the side of right.

I wished I’d stuffed my coat pockets with tissues. I had to slip my scarf off my neck and use an edge of it to pat my eyes dry as discreetly as I could.

“And onto the topic I am sure you all are anxious to hear about,” Nolan said, gripping the sides of the podium. “Adan.”

A tense, vibrating hush came over the crowd.

“My brother and I settled our dispute in a fair fight, which I won—”

Wild, riotous cheering. That’s the only way to describe the reaction. The still mass of bodies was suddenly a flurry of movement, fists thrown into the air in celebration amidst an orchestra of howls and shouts of victory and cries of joy.

Nolan waved the cheering audience down, waiting patiently for them to quiet before he continued.

“Had I chosen to end my brother’s life after I fought him into submission, the old rules of our world would have justified my actions. And it might have made my own future easier if I removed this enemy in such a permanent way. But doing this, according to the letter of contemporary law and in my own eyes as well – it would have made me a murderer.”

Nolan’s jaw was set firmly. The spellbound audience waited on his next word with bated breath.

“I made a choice to arrest Adan. A choice to embrace the best of our world and to rise above the worst. The fact is, I believe in the rule of law and due process. This criminal will be tried in superior court for his crimes. He faces a litany of charges, including three counts of attempted murder, one count of solicitation to murder, twenty-six counts each of kidnapping, false imprisonment, and human trafficking, as well as several other charges related to treason and conspiracy.”

“But like any other citizen,” Nolan continued, “Adan’s sentence will be determined after a criminal trial. The state’s case against him is very strong. If convicted on the treason charges alone, Adan will face a mandatory life-sentence in the maximum security prison where he is currently being held. The other charges could earn him additional life sentences plus hundreds of years. In short: he will be in prison for the remainder of his natural days.”

After Nolan completed his well-rehearsed speech, he opened the floor for questions.

At this announcement, the sea of reporters went insane. Like a swarm of sharks that had just tasted blood. They shouted their questions over and over, clamoring to be heard.

“How did you survive the poisoning?” one voice called out over the rest.

Nolan looked at me and smiled.

“Yena saved me,” he answered simply.

This, of course, churned up even more excitement, even more questions and clamoring.

“How did Princess Yena save you?!”

“Yena, Yena! Tell us how you saved the Prince!”

Nolan took a gentle hold of my hand, gave it a squeeze. We locked eyes and had a short, silent conversation. He wanted me to take over.

This was nothing like the couple times I’d spoken in public before, at the school fashion show and at the orphanage. This was my first public event as Princess Yena, future Luna Queen, and the whole world was watching.

But as Nolan stepped aside, making way for me to take his place behind the podium, I took a deep breath.

Lily managed to turn the volume down on the droning of the enormous crowd. The sound of her voice in my mind was a welcome relief for once.

“You’ve got this,” was her only message.

I knew she was right.

“Thank you so much for your questions,” I began. To my relief, my voice sounded calm and controlled. My confidence was increasing every second. “I will do my best to answer them, though I’m afraid I can’t explain everything that has happened these past few days.”

“Tell us how you saved the Prince!” the reporters cried out again. “How did you do it?! Is it true you have healing powers?!”

“Yes, I think that is true,” I told them. “I have the power to heal my husband—that is all I know. I could not tell you why, except to say that he and I have a very special connection. He is my fated mate.”

That was something I had struggled to admit even to myself for the better part of a year, ever since Nolan and I first stumbled into each other’s lives.

And now I was announcing it to the world.

I didn’t dare sneak a glance at Nolan, for fear I might tear up again.

“There is a lot of magic in our world that can’t be explained,” I continued. “The bond between Nolan and me… it can’t be explained with logic or reason. It’s magic.”

“Yena, is it true you were adopted?” a reporter shouted. “Is it true you thought you were a human? Why didn’t you know sooner that you were a werewolf?”

“Princess Yena, who are your biological parents? Did they have healing powers too?”

“Is it true you’re descended from the old nobility? Is that why your wolf has golden fur?”

I shook my head at the reporters, smiling. And I tried my very best to give a few answers, waiting out waves of applause after each one. But these were questions I’d been struggling with myself for a long, long time, and I just didn’t know all the answers.

Soon, the energy of the crowd began to change. The heavy questions had all been asked. They were replaced with, to my great surprise, questions about my outfit.

“Yena, who are you wearing?! Is that dress an original design?”

“When will you be expanding your business?”

“Will this look you’re wearing be available for sale?”

I glanced down at my outfit and answered casually, “Yes, I made this. Do you really like it?”

Who knew that this was the question they’d all absolutely lose their minds over.