The 31st Consort Novels & Stories

Trust meant putting down the one thing I'd spent my whole life gripping with both hands. I wasn't sure I knew how to do that. I wasn't sure I had a choice anymore. • • • I found him on the balcony after the palace had gone quiet. "They called you my consort." "I noticed." "Do you want it? The title." He didn't answer right away. "Do you?"

I opened it. An invitation. Formal, embossed, terrifying. "You are invited to attend the Family Council. A conclave of five founding houses to deal with matters of inheritance and territory. Your presence is required." Underneath that, two names added as attendees. Caelum Morano. And next to it: Celine Moretti, Consort. Consort. "What does that mean?" Maddie said, leaning over my shoulder to read. “It means his mother just told the entire mob family of Europe I’m his fucking boyfriend. His equal. His weakness." My voice was shaking. “It means I’m literally a target now.”

No strings attached and I get the most of whatever I wanted. The position of consorts over the years had been played by women regarded as the most beautiful, who paraded events in the foreign lands in their expensive ball gowns. The flashier and prettier they were, the more wealthier the king looked. Had to do with an ego battle of men being able to get whatever they wanted without really wanting them. The last king, the current king’s father, had had only three consorts in my lifetime. After one had died from a tragic food poisoning, the other fell in love and sought the king’s permission to withdraw and get married. Then the last duly resigned. She owns the fashion house which Jeneva works

“And by the will of the Goddesses Hecate and Selene, the mate of our queen shall stand as King Consort—Lycan King Chadwrick Kent Greystorm of Keladia.” The hall erupted again, and I felt the weight of that title settle into my bones. King Consort. Not by blood, but by bond, by destiny. I belonged here, at her side, just like she belongs with me in Keladia as my queen. Lilly stepped forward next, and the declaration came swiftly: Her royal highness Calla Lilly Lockwood, second heiress to the throne. The crowd cheered, and I caught Hendrick leaning toward her, his murmur low but mischievous. “For now,” he whispered, earning a chuckle from her. The bastard was already dreaming of binding her na

“Zenia, did you not inform these young nobles of your marriage arrangements?” I nodded in acknowledgment of my fault. Then, I turned and gave Henry, who was still bowing, a faint smile. Henry froze. His expression was tense. That look of his was quite to my liking. Smiling politely, I accepted the royal decree from the court lady and announced it loudly. “My Prince Consort is Justin Yale, the prince of the Western Regions.” The hall erupted in an uproar. Zachariah jumped to his feet in shock. “Your Highness, did you make a mistake? Haven’t you always—”

I growled, my wolf stirring with irritation at the breach of protocol. The guard threw himself to his knees at the foot of the dais, his chest heaving, his face pale with absolute terror. "My Prince... it's the Consort!" The air left my lungs instantly. The noise of the crowd faded into a dull hum in my ears. "What about Raven?" I demanded, stepping down off the platform so fast my cloak snapped behind me. I grabbed the guard by the collar of his chestplate, pulling him up. "Speak!" "His attendant ran out of his chambers screaming for the healers," the guard stammered, his eyes wide. "She said... she said the consort collapsed on the floor. He isn't responding, my Prince. She said there's pa

"The neutral territory? Has there been any response from Ducroft?" "None whatsoever. I heard something also happened to the Royal Consort during the ascension. All of this is irrelevant for now. You should rest more. I'll call in some servants as soon as you get rid of your mutt." "Don't call him a mutt. How long as he been like this?"

This was the tricky part, but I saw in it an avenue to possibly getting what I desired. “I know no one by that name,” I replied truthfully. Hope bloomed on her face, but it didn’t last long as she considered what my ambiguous reply might mean. She edged forward on her chair. “Does Edwina have a partner?” she asked hesitantly. “What did you call it…a consort?” I shook my head. “No, she doesn’t. Taking a consort is a rare thing.” She must have heard something in my voice, because she surprised me by turning the conversation away from Edwina for a moment.

"Who will explain to me why my consort was treated like a criminal?" The temperature in the room seemed to drop suddenly. The hotel's head butler—a high-ranking vampire appointed to oversee council affairs—trembled as he stepped forward, fear flashing in his crimson eyes. "Your Majesty," he stammered, bowing deeply. "This... this is a misunderstanding. The hotel had no intention of offending Her Majesty the Queen." "A misunderstanding?" Aurelius coldly retorted. His silver gaze swept across the room. "I saw with my own eyes the council guards laying hands on my consort."

And when the palace realized that the two of us together were the biggest draw, it didn’t take a genius to realize that it would be better if I became the consort to the hereditary princess of Salasia. As for Connor Gallagher, he’d died within three months of the story breaking. We hadn’t heard another word from him since that fateful day at the estate. Niamh, softhearted as she was, had attended the funeral, along with Liam. Neither sibling had shed a tear. “Sorry, sorry, I’m here.” Niamh straightened her tiara. “Is it falling off? I feel like it’s falling off.” I made her stand straight so I could inspect it. “It’s fine. You look beautiful.”