“A cape!” Lily and Taran said together. They walked toward me holding the monstrosity. It was outrageously long, stretching halfway across the room, with two oversized bejeweled clasps at the lapels.
“A cape? Really?”
They ignored my protests and settled the thick fabric over my shoulders. I shot a pleading look at my brother and Alixe, who sat together on my bed, arms crossed and grinning as they watched the spectacle play out.
I sighed and ran my palm over the soft fur. A rainbow of gemstones glittered on the rings that adorned every finger and the stack of gaudy necklaces that lay at my throat.
“At least if it’s my last full day alive, I’m going out with pizzazz,” I joked.
“Diem,” my brother warned, his expression turning solemn. “No more talking like that. You promised.”
I shot him an apologetic smile. “Bad habit.”
“You look beautiful,” Eleanor gushed. She had chosen the most elaborate dress in my wardrobe, a flowing strapless gown of black chiffon covered in a mosaic of tiny glass beads that shimmered with every movement. “I wish the whole realm could see you like this.”
She gave me a hopeful look and I couldn’t help but grin. Eleanor had set her heart on me showing up to the Challenging tomorrow in the kind of jaw-dropping outfit I should have worn to the funeral.
“In time,” I assured her. “Today, we dress up and celebrate, but tomorrow…” I caught my brother’s eye in the mirror’s reflection. “Tomorrow, we fight.”
He smiled in response.
I took a final look at the Crown over my head, the glowing circlet of star-flecked vines. Such a beautiful, ethereal object—one that many had died to wear, and so many more had died to defend.
I turned to face the room, where the others had gathered in a group to watch me. Taran had his arm around my brother’s shoulder. Perthe stood guard at the door, dipping his chin in respect when I caught his eyes. Eleanor and Lily were clutching each other and beaming, while Alixe gave me a slow, approving nod.
Family.
This small but powerful cadre had become my family. I would lay down my life for any one of them, and I knew without doubt they would do the same for me.
My eyes met my brother’s, and I could see an echo of the same thought on his mind. I was determined to keep my word to him tomorrow and fight with everything I had—but if my best wasn’t enough, I was now certain he would be loved and cared for after I was gone. I suspected the mortals of Lumnos might have found themselves a few new Descended allies, as well.
Suddenly the weight on my shoulders didn’t feel quite so heavy.
“I’m all dressed up with nowhere to go,” I laughed as I swallowed away the burning in my throat. “What now?”
“We organized a lunch with all the cousins in the formal dining room,” Lily announced eagerly.
“With better seating arrangements this time,” Taran said, winking.
“But first you have your final training session,” Alixe cut in.
“Training? Like this?” Baubles tinkled like bells as I lifted my arms. “I can barely move.”
She shrugged. “You don’t have to move. No physical fighting this time. Just magic.”
“And we’re all coming,” Teller added. “You promised to show me your magic. Time to pay up.”
I clenched my jaw into a false smile. “Wonderful. Can’t wait.”
Teller and Taran shared a look and grinned. Eleanor and Lily flocked to my side to help me maneuver the cartload of material draped around me. As we headed for the corridor, I grabbed an object I’d tucked behind my bedchamber door and secured it to my waist with a simple leather band.
We made our way through the palace as a group, the laughter and chatter reverberating off the walls as we walked. My chest warmed at the sound and the cautious optimism that cocooned me. For the first time in a long time, I felt… lucky.
Hopeful.
As we noisily paraded into the dungeon, the cacophony fell to a dull hum when we realized we weren’t alone.
Leaning against a pillar in the center of the expansive stone chamber, his arms folded over his chest and one leg propped against the wall, was a raven-haired man with a jagged scar and a piercing stare that locked instantly with mine.
“Luther,” I said softly.
I hadn’t seen him since the fight with Remis. The first morning that he hadn’t shown up for our daily breakfast, my heart had sunk, and I’d realized how deeply I had come to rely on his constant, steady presence, even when I had gone out of my way to ignore it.
The others tensed and looked between us. I nudged my way to the front and down the stairs with as much grace as I could manage, given the yards of fabric dragging behind me.
Luther straightened as I approached, his hands dropping to his side. He bent at the waist in a deferential bow. Though I knew he meant it as a show of respect, the stiff formality of the gesture, and the distance between us that it implied, sent a pang of regret through my chest.
“You’re back,” I said.
He nodded. His eyes traveled over my jewels, my cape, my dress. “You’re… a sight to behold.”
A blush rose to my cheeks. “Eleanor and Lily thought it would be good for me to feel like a true Queen today.”
“And do you?”
The corner of my lips twitched up. “I’m getting there.”
His intense gaze burned with words unsaid. I knew from the flare of hope I saw within them that my own expression was giving me away.
“You dropped something.” I pulled my cape back and unclasped the Sword of Corbois from the leather band at my waist. I held it out in offering, the gilded hilt and gleaming blade resting on my outstretched palms.
He stared down at the sword and started to reach for it, then paused. “You should keep it. It’s meant to be worn by a person sworn to protect House Corbois. My loyalty is now…” His eyes returned to mine. “…elsewhere.”
My stomach fluttered. “I’m a bit preoccupied trying to keep several thousand mortals alive at the moment. Maybe you could do me a favor and take House Corbois off my hands?” I fought, and failed, to keep my smile away. “Besides, I know better than to take a man’s jewelry away. They do get so fussy about such things.”
His smirk won out, as well. “As you wish, my Queen.” He took the sword, his hands brushing not-quite-accidentally over mine. “My father is going to want it back.”
“Then give it to him,” I said sweetly. “Pointy end first.”
His meaningful look said he was strongly considering it. He slipped the sword into the empty sheath at his back, and something about seeing the jeweled handle rising once again over his shoulder set my soul at ease.
“I heard what Remis did with your titles. Luther, I'm so sorry—”
“Don’t,” he said. “That was not your fault.”
“It was. I shouldn’t have put you between me and your family.”
“This goes much deeper than your arrival here. That confrontation has been a long time coming.”
I hesitated, then took a few steps closer. I set my hand on his chest and dropped my voice to a whisper. “He did this, didn’t he? It was an attack from your father that gave you this scar?”