The Archduke's Songbird-Chapter 292: The Only One

Jerrick shifted his hand from Jessamyn’s lower back to above her head with a fluid, protective motion. The blade of the giant’s axe, descending with deadly force, met Jerrick’s transformed hand and, incredibly, shattered into countless pieces. The shards of the once fearsome weapon splintered in all directions, but Jerrick’s powerful arm shielded Jessamyn from every last fragment, ensuring not a single piece touched her.

The sound of the axe breaking echoed through the valley, a powerful testament to Jerrick’s strength and control.

As the blade disintegrated, the giant who had wielded it fell to his knees, overwhelmed by the encounter. His massive helmet, dislodged by the force, rolled away, clanking heavily against the stone floor. The sheer size of it was staggering; the helmet alone was as tall as Jessamyn’s shoulder.

She instinctively moved closer to Jerrick, her hand finding his in a gesture of both awe and comfort. This was her first encounter with an actual giant, and their enormity was even more astonishing than she had imagined.

"She is my wife, Wilander," Jerrick declared, his voice calm but commanding. "Spread the word."

Without a word, the giant scrambled to his feet and fled, his massive footsteps shaking the ground. As he ran, his thunderous voice echoed across the valley, carrying the news far and wide.

Faces began to appear at the windows of the stone cottages, curious and respectful. Jerrick, still holding Jessamyn’s hand, led her up a gentle incline to a prominent elevation where a grand chair, no, a throne, had been sculpted from solid granite.

It was a magnificent sight, the throne adorned with moonstones as large as her palm, each one glowing softly in the daylight.

The intricate craftsmanship of the throne was mesmerizing, a testament to the ancient skills of the giants she had read about in books. This throne, grand and imposing, seemed made to fit Jerrick perfectly.

Jessamyn stood by its side, assuming it was his rightful place to sit, her heart swelling with pride as she imagined him seated there, a king among these powerful beings who revered him so deeply.

These people, who were thought to be long extinct, held Jerrick in the highest regard. He had told her once that he had been to the Iron Mountains, but she had dismissed it as one of his many tall tales.

Now, seeing the reverence with which they treated him, she realized he had spoken the truth. He was not just a visitor here; he was their ruler, their leader, and they looked to him with unwavering loyalty.

"What are you doing?" Jerrick’s voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Hmm?" Jessamyn looked at him, confused by his question.

"Why are you standing?" he asked, a puzzled expression on his face.

"You want me to sit in your seat?" Jessamyn asked, unsure if she was allowed to take such a place of honor.

Jerrick didn’t bother with further explanation. Instead, he gently pulled her down to sit on the throne. The feel of the cool granite beneath her was grounding, but the weight of the moment made her heart race.

"I’m carrying your heir, to whom this seat will belong in the future," she murmured, still trying to make sense of the situation. It was the only reason she could think of why he would want her to sit there.

Jerrick kneeled beside her, his green eyes locking with hers. "Look at me, you fool," he said softly, though his words were filled with affection. "I found this place when I was twenty, and from then on, I knew I wanted you to have this seat. This is yours, Jessamyn. It always has been."

Her eyes widened in surprise. Had she misunderstood him all along? She had assumed he was preparing a place for their son, but now she realized he meant for her to sit on this throne, to share in his reign over these people.

"And before you jump to any more conclusions," he added, a teasing smile tugging at his lips, "you’re the only one I’ve ever brought here. Not even William."

As the Lycaon Wulfhednar, this was his domain, his territory. He had never brought anyone else to this sacred place, never shared this part of his life with another soul.

"Only me?" Jessamyn whispered, a sense of belonging and love washing over her. She liked the sound of that, being the only one to share this with him, the only one to sit by his side in this hidden world.

Soon, the people living in the valley began to emerge from their cottages, gathering before the elevation. They looked up at her, sitting on the throne, with eyes full of respect and reverence. Jerrick stood beside her, his presence commanding yet gentle.

"Levana’s daughter, my soulmate, Jessamyn," Jerrick introduced her to the assembled crowd.

Instinctively, Jessamyn tried to stand, but Jerrick’s hand pressed gently on her shoulder, keeping her seated. "She is part of me," Jerrick said, his voice filled with pride and affection. At his words, everyone in the valley knelt before her, a powerful display of their respect.

Jessamyn’s eyes swept over the crowd. There weren’t many full-blooded giants, but there were many half-giants, their size and strength still formidable. Scattered among them were men in armor, warriors who appeared to have come here in the midst of their training. Some of these men eyed her with thinly veiled suspicion, though they bowed in respect, unwilling to defy Jerrick’s decree.

"This is no place for a woman," one of them muttered under his breath, clearly displeased that Jessamyn was sitting on the throne.

"Shush, he said she was a part of him," another man quickly reprimanded him. "You cannot stop her from sitting on that throne."

Jessamyn couldn’t help but feel a touch of amusement at how much they valued Jerrick’s words, even when they conflicted with their own beliefs. She felt a surge of pride, not just in Jerrick, but in her newfound role by his side.

As she gazed out at the sea of faces, Jessamyn realized the magnitude of what Jerrick had given her. This wasn’t just a secluded realm—it was a sanctuary where love, loyalty, and respect intertwined, a place where she was truly seen as his equal.

Even those who begrudged her presence here couldn’t deny the power of Jerrick’s declaration.

She was more than just a wife or a mother-to-be; she was a queen in her own right, in a hidden kingdom where the bonds of soulmates ran deeper than blood.