402 They'll Learn Their Place Eventually

Ann rested her head in her hands and a soft laugh escaped her.

"I was right, I don't want to know the ins and outs yet, not until she can sit and tell me herself."

"That's probably for the best," Lord Brarthroroz said carefully, "She will need her friend when she returns. Not her Queen, her childhood friend."

Ann nodded quietly and Felix took a quick breath before continuing.

"We've had reports that the line has been reinforced with Lexi's…erm…reinforcements," Felix substituted, clearly struggling for a label to call them, "Currently Lexi is leading the charge as they push the enemy back. Greyson and Allen are with her and Adam has taken Aoife and Ximena back to the wounded. "

Ann lifted the glass with a shaking hand as a small smile curved at the edges of her mouth. She took a sip and set it down again, the tremors reduced slightly.

"They're actually alive," she whispered, thanking the Moon Goddess fervently for returning Lexi to her.

"I kinda think its the FUCKING DRAGON that you should be thanking…not the moon goddess, honestly," Maeve commented, "Our little miracle didn't just walk back, she flew in with an army and funnily enough I personally think thats the sort of feat that only Lexi could pull off. Imagine being kidnapped by your perverted uncle and then killing him and stealing his dragon AND his army…what a legend."

"We don't know what happened yet, Maeve, at least wait until you draw any conclusions."

"Nope. She shall now forever be known as Lexi the Legendary, Slayer of Perverted Uncles, Stealer of Dragons and Instigator of Mutiny amongst Daemon Armies."

Ann shook her head, choosing to ignore her, instead, drawing a long, uneven breath, she wiped her face, and turned to the doorway.

"Brad."

He jumped slightly as he turned to her, waiting expectantly for what she might say.

"Lock this corridor down completely. I want two guards on my door at all times, and no one enters without my permission.. If any nobles try to push through, escort them to the courtyard and let them shout at the walls."

"Of course. I'll see it done."

He didn't even look at the dent in the plaster behind him as he took the orders, and moved to carry them out.

"Eva," Ann said next, "Can you draft the palace statement? I want to confirm reinforcements that were received despite the delays from the nobles and that the front holds. No names should be released publicly until they are safe inside these walls."

"Understood."

Coral eased back half a step but stayed close, watchful.

Ann looked up at Lord Brarthroroz again.

"Thank you for bringing the news to me yourself...I can't begin to describe how grateful I am."

"I know that you would have done the same for me if you were able." Lord Brarthroroz grunted gruffly, glancing down at her stomach and then up at her crown as a wry smile appeared on his face, "Heavy is the burden carried by those that wear the crown and carry the future of the crown…you do well to carry both so easily."

Maeve choked on nothing.

"If he could see what goes on in our mind he's take that back instantly." She spluttered when she had finished coughing.

With a fatherly smile, he turned to leave and Alpha Felix hesitated at Ann's side a moment longer, inclining his head respectfully before following after the Daemon Lord.

When the door shut behind them, Eva finally exhaled.

"Breathe. She's finally come back to us, your highness. There's nothing that can stop either of you now."

Ann let out a slow shaky breath and allowed herself a smile.

Outside the office, shouting had already begun to spread through the palace, a mixture of shock, disbelief, and the first raw edge of joy clawing up through the exhaustion that every person carried with them.

Maeve stirred again, her sly smirk making Ann sigh before she had even spoken.

"Get ready, darling. These nobles are about to have the rug pulled right out from underneath them and these refugees and exiles are about to see how a true ruler and her team raise a kingdom to be proud of…after razing a kingdom built on death."

Ann set a hand over her ribs, where the triplets had stilled.

"I know," she murmured, "A kingdom that our children can grow up in free from fear…that all children can grow up in safely."

She didn't stand yet, not until she felt that her legs could hold her properly again.

Not until she knew that she could wear her mask and be the strong, confident queen again… not the normal woman who had nearly collapsed under the weight of relief.

For one more moment, she let herself feel it…the emotions that she continually had to fight to keep at bay.

Lexi lived.

Aoife lived.

And they were coming home.

Ann stayed seated for a moment with her hand braced under her ribs. When she finally pushed herself up, a quiet breath slipped through her teeth. Coral moved in to offer her arm, but Ann shook her head.

"It's okay, I'm steady," she said, and even though her legs still trembled, she stood.

It was time for the Queen to make an appearance.

"Brad."

He was already at the door, and Coral and Eva flanked her as she stepped out into the corridor.

The hallway beyond her office was still packed with people milling about. There were runners, officers, and medics rotating between the outer camps and the palace and as soon as they saw her, they slowed their own pace and moved aside, creating a path for her to pass down.

No one spoke.

They were all waiting to see if she carried any updates as to which way the night's battle had gone.

Two junior officers stepped forward with tablets clutched to their chests.

"Your Majesty…"

But Brad lifted a hand without even looking at them.

"Not now." he answered curtly and they stepped aside without argument.

Farther down the corridor, a cluster of nobles waited. They stood too close to the center path, as though they belonged there by default. One of them stepped forward, wearing a carefully constructed expression that made Ann want to claw it off..

"Your Majesty, the council requires…"

Ann didn't even break stride. She walked straight past him without sparing him a glance. Maeve snorted at the look of shock and humiliation on his face as he realised that he had just been ignored in front of his peers, and Ann felt a ripple of satisfaction as he stalled mid-sentence.

"They'll learn their place eventually," Maeve purred as the sound of the nobles' discontented chatter followed closely behind them as they followed Ann like a plague.

They entered the throne hall and Bartholomew and three enclave elders stood at the threshold already deep in conversation. They inclined their heads as she passed but did not follow her inside.

Inside, the hall was already crowded. Soldiers, medics, palace staff, and displaced families formed layered rings through the chamber. As soon as she stepped through the doors, they too moved aside to open a path to the throne for her without being asked.

Ann did not climb the dais yet. She stopped at the base of the steps so that the closest soldiers could see her face without looking up at her.

Coral and Eva stayed close to her as Brad guarded the area behind her, blocking the nobles from pushing forward and invading her space.