The council chamber had been scrubbed clean after Ann fainted in it the previous day, just in case some unknown illness had somehow affected her, but everyone in the palace knew that the only sickness that remained in that room was the pride of the nobles.
Adam had doubled the guards along the walls just to prove a point and. Brad stood beside the main doors with two specialist guards at his side and the expression of someone who wanted one of the nobles to make a serious mistake.
Coral stood at Ann's right, holding a stack of freshly printed oath documents and Eva was at her left, tablet ready, stylus tapping against it in short, sharp taps. Both looked ready for a long fight.
Ann sat at the head of the council table, with Adam seated next to her, his expression colder than anyone had ever seen it. His aura was terrifying and for once, he didn't hold back in occasionally letting it ripple over the nobles that had kicked up a fuss yesterday. As far as his wolf was concerned, both his mate and his unborn pups' lives had been at risk yesterday and there was no situation that was ever acceptable.
Ann knew that this was going to create waves amongst the highest ranked, but there was no better time than now. With everything that had happened since she had met Adam, the incompetence and complicities that went along with it amongst every corner of the kingdom and its actors seemed to never end. If she didn't make the changes now, then integrating other potential alliances into a peace treaty was going to be insanely difficult.
This had to be done whether they liked it or not because they had been allowed to run things however they saw fit under her fathers rule, and complacency seemed to be the popular choice.
Authority radiated off her now whether she wanted it to or not and although she was acutely aware of just how low the pups were pressing, she ignored the discomfort. She had slept, she had eaten and seeing as how she was only allowed to work for a few hours a day, then for today, this would be the thing that she focused on.
"Nobles of the Dark Moon Realm," Ann said, her voice steady. "We are reconvening the council for the intents and purposes of restructuring. This is particularly relevant after yesterday's discussions regarding your views on my lack of competence in holding the position that I sit in. Effective immediately, the old authority system is dissolved and you will be required to swear new oaths of loyalty under wartime law."
Murmurs rippled through the chamber and Coral lifted the first page for all to see.
"Those refusing to swear oaths to the crown will be permanently stripped of all titles, holdings, pack leaderships and alliances and any additional political standing. The process will be immediate and there will be no appeals." Adam spoke, his voice carrying no room for argument.
"This is tyranny!" A noble near the back shouted but Ann didn't even blink.
"Tyranny is what we ended when Narcissa was exposed and removed from power and also when my second in command singlehandedly saw to the downfall of the Daemon Lord Eromaug. That's not even mentioning the corruption and blackmail that has been consistently rooted out in each department that we have examined so far, as well as the mistreatment of the Omega's at the Enclave itself. Should I give you more examples?" Ann answered coolly, "What you are experiencing now is order, and its very apparent to me that there are very few of you here that has conducted themselves in any manner that is required of the position that they hold."
The noble swallowed his next words and Brad's face fell just a little bit. It was clear that he had been waiting for an excuse to haul that particular noble from his seat.
Eva turned her tablet so that Ann could see the list.
"We're ready for signings, Your Majesty."
Ann nodded and addressed the room again.
"Those that wish to swear their oath, please form a line."
Most of the nobles looked insulted at the idea of queuing like commoners and openly mocked those that had already moved forward without any hesitation, but Brad and his men moved forward just enough to encourage cooperation. The first few signed without issue and remained respectful and dignified throughout the process, but the others approached the table reluctantly.
Ann watched each one carefully. They lowered their heads, placed their hands on the oath page, and repeated the lines that Coral read aloud:
"I swear loyalty to the Alpha Queen, Ann Veritas, and swear to obey her authority under all states of readiness, including directives issued under wartime authority. In swearing this oath I accept the position of caretaker of my people and other species allied with us under this Accord and I swear to protect and serve them as is befitting my position. In all that I do, the people and the realm will remain at the forefront of my decisions."
Most said the words quickly, eager to step back and be out of Adam's reach and a few hesitated before repeating the last line, but they still said it.
Then the chamber lights flickered and a deep hum rolled through the room.
Several nobles gasped and turned, looking for the source as a small smirk pulled at the corners of Ann's mouth.
The center of the council chamber floor glowed blue, then the air above it fractured and cracked, opening into a tall, swirling portal. Wind rushed outward in a single sharp burst and a skeletal wraith stepped out first, glancing at the nobles with a bored expression as he dusted his robe off.
"Arrival complete," Steve said flatly. "You may proceed, Lord Brarthroroz."