All Chapters of Annesa, Vampire King's Mate: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

The great council chamber had never felt so divided. The war was over. King Malthus Devourer had been defeated. His armies had been broken, his loyalists scattered, and his throne had been reduced to a symbol of a regime that the rebels were determined never to restore. Yet victory had created a problem none of them could ignore. The kingdom needed a king. And the question of who would wear the crown was proving far more dangerous than the question of how to win the war. The chamber was packed with nobles, commanders, clan representatives, scholars, and surviving members of the rebel forces. Hundreds of vampires stood beneath the enormous vaulted ceiling. At the center of the chamber was a circular table made from black stone. At one end sat Eryx. Gareth stood several places away, surrounded by several senior nobles. Behind them were representatives from the northern clans, eastern houses, and the newly liberated territories. Their voices overlapped. "We cannot remain wi

"But she is bonded to Malthus." The words came out slowly. As if saying them made them more painful. "I know." "Then you understand the problem." Eryx turned toward him. "That's why I called you." Gareth frowned. "What do you want me to research?" "Everything." "Everything?" "Bonding." Eryx stepped closer. "Every record. Every ancient text. Every experiment. Every case you can find." His expression became intense. "I want to know exactly what happens if the bonded partner dies." Gareth's eyes widened. "You mean Malthus." "Yes." "And if a vampire has two bonds?" "Yes." "And whether a bond can be broken?" "Yes." "Whether it can be transferred?" "Yes." Gareth stared at him. "You want to know if Annesa can still become your queen." Eryx didn't answer. He didn't have to. Gareth's Research The library remained illuminated throughout the night. Gareth worked until dawn. Then through the following day. Then another night. He

The preparations for the coronation began before the snow had completely stopped falling. For the first time in decades, the great halls of the former royal fortress were filled with activity. Servants carried bolts of black velvet through the corridors. Smiths worked through the night to repair the ceremonial armor. Messengers traveled between the territories of the rebellious nobles, carrying sealed invitations and lists of those expected to attend the coronation. The ancient throne room was being restored. The broken banners of Malthus's reign were removed from the walls. In their place, new banners bearing the emblem of the rebellion were hung beneath the vaulted ceiling. And at the center of everything stood the throne. The throne that Eryx did not want. He had never desired it. He had fought because Malthus had taken too much from their people. He had fought because the kingdom had become a place where newborn vampires were treated as disposable creatures and

The coronation was supposed to take place in five days. For weeks, the royal court had been preparing for it. The throne room had been repaired. The shattered stained-glass windows had been replaced. The old banners bearing Malthus Devourer's insignia had been removed from the walls and burned. In their place hung the new emblem of the rebellion—a silver wolf surrounded by crimson roses. The symbol had been chosen by the nobles. They believed it represented the beginning of a new age. But there was one problem. The man who was supposed to sit upon the throne had no intention of wearing the crown. Again. ----------------------------------- The emergency council began before sunrise. One by one, the nobles entered the great council chamber. The room was enormous, built from black stone and supported by towering columns. At the center stood a long table covered with maps, reports, territorial records, and documents concerning the upcoming coronation. At the far end sat Er

The courtroom had never been this quiet. The great chamber of Eryx's fortress had been transformed into a temporary royal court. The old throne of Malthus had been removed from the center of the hall, replaced by a long elevated platform where the council could sit. Several nobles occupied the seats along both sides. Military commanders. Representatives of the northern territories. Ancient vampire families who had supported the rebellion. And at the center sat Eryx. He wore no crown. He had deliberately refused one. Yet everyone in the chamber still treated him as the future sovereign. Gareth stood beside a table covered with documents. Annesa sat several rows behind the council. She had not been summoned as a witness. She had come because she wanted to hear the truth herself. Across the chamber, two guards opened the iron doors. Clang. Every conversation stopped. Lilith entered. The former queen was dressed in a long dark burgundy gown. Her burgundy hair fell freely