Chapter 240

Eventually, Kit stepped back, signaling she was done, and her party faded into the hallway. Eli was right, there was much to be done, and Kit wasn’t even sure where to begin with the task of restoring the realm to its former glory. But there was no doubt her first appointment with the council would be to approve the new law that would allow her to rule before the end of her Choosing, one that would allow her to keep all seven of the men who stood around her now.

As if reading her mind, Zora, her great-aunt and a distinguished member of the council stepped forward. “Queen Katrinetta, I would like to present to you a new law, passed by the council earlier this day. All it needs is your signature.”

Confused, Kit took the sheet of parchment and began to read. When her eyes reached the bottom of the paper, she looked up. “How did you know...?”

“Junno explained everything to us,” Nil said, stepping forward. “And we agree, while this new arrangement is nontraditional and unusual, we trust it is best for our realm, and for you, our sovereign queen.”

The document spelled out Kit’s wishes perfectly. From that moment forward, her Choosing would end, and all seven of the men Kit had selected were named as dukes, including Drake who hadn’t formally been Roomed. Junno knew her granddaughter’s heart almost as well as Kit did. Kit would be allowed to dictate the relationship she kept with all seven; in essence, she would have seven husbands to help her rule.

Unable to contain the smile on her face, Kit said, “Someone fetch me a quill!”

Everyone laughed, and Zora led Kit to a nearby office that seemed to have evaded any damage from the revolt. Kit placed the paper on a sturdy oak desk and signed her name to the bottom, “Queen Katrinetta of Yewforia.” It was a simpler version of her full title but it would do. She handed the parchment to Zora, and after the cheers subsided, she gestured for everyone to leave, except for the Representatives. Junno was the last one out. She winked at her granddaughter and pulled the door closed.

The seven of them stood around her in a semi-circle, Danyen leaning heavily on Drake’s arm. “It’s official,” she said, glancing from one handsome face to the next. “We are all in this together now.”

“We have been for some time,” Eli noted.

“Some of us longer than others.” Cassius elbowed him in the ribs, playfully, and Eli nudged him back. Kit couldn’t help but giggle at their antics, glad they were all able to get along so well.

“This life that we’ve chosen may not always be easy, but I want you all to know that I sincerely love each of you, with all my heart, and I’m so honored to have you in my life. I thank you for your service, your honor, and most importantly, for your love.”

Their smiles said it all, as Kit looked from one man to the next—Danyen, Drake, Reeve, Landon, Jaterius, Cassius, and Eliason. They were all hers now, and nothing would ever tear them apart. Kit took a deep breath, thankful the Choosing was over, and she’d defied her mother and rewritten the law of the land so now, she would never be forced to choose again—except for maybe who she would invite into her chambers first.

As if reading her mind, Cassius said, “I’m not sure which day of the week it is, but I declare tonight my night with Kit!”

“That’s unfair!” Landon said, stepping forward. “You can’t just make a declaration!”

“Why not?” Cassius asked, shrugging. “You’re only saying that because I thought of it first.”

As they continued to chide each other, there was a knock on the door, and Avinia stepped in, carrying another piece of parchment. “Your schedule, my Queen,” she said, handing it to Kit.

Glancing down, Kit saw that it was a simple list of the days of the week with a man’s name next to each of them. She laughed, glad her cousin had such forethought. “What day is it?” Kit asked.

“Middleweek,” Drake answered her, the fourth day of the week.

Kit looked down the sheet of paper. “Congratulations, Reeve. Today is your lucky day!”

Once again, the men took jabs at each other while some patted Reeve on the back, and Cassius wore an exaggerated frown. “Can I at least get a kiss?”

“Yes, of course. You all can.” Kit’s lips were practically aching, she longed to kiss each of them so much. With a smile, she took a step forward, toward Cassius, and he wrapped his strong arms around her as the others moved back to give them some space. His lips, though swollen and bruised, felt like heaven against hers, and as Kit took a turn kissing each of them, she was reminded of how she had fallen in love with every one of these men, her Representatives, the finest Yewforia had to offer.

Eli was last, which was fitting in a way, since he wasn’t meant to have been part of this in the first place. Fate had intervened and made it so that the two of them could be together, despite Rona’s interference at every turn. He smiled at her, and Kit took a deep breath, his scent calming her as it always had. His lips were warm and melded to hers like they were destined to be together, forever. Now, she knew they would never be apart.

Her commander pulled away, but she kept his hand and then reached for Landon’s as well, since he was on the outer edge of the circle they had formed. Everywhere she looked, she saw a man who loved her more than anything, and somehow her heart had expanded so that she was capable of loving each of them equally as well. These were her men, the Chosen, and when it came to being their queen, the pleasure was all Katrinetta’s.

The End

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