“If you were a smarter woman, you would have taken it.”
Astra backed away from her, the blood in her ears soaring to new heights, the buzz from the panic swallowing her from the inside out. Not only her panic. Lunelle’s. Nayson’s. Lux’s. Every courtier who watched, slack-jawed.
It was too much.
“It’s all you’ve ever wanted, hmm? Power. Even in small doses. A curse of the spare, I’m afraid. But you resisted, both times, didn’t you? You know your Shadow, Astra Leona, and you wear her very well.”
Her eyes slid to Lux, his gaze frantic, unsure if they were running or staying.
“Lest I forget! Our Lunar King!” Selenia gestured for Lux to approach her as she reached for Astra’s hands, pulling them together. “What a pair you two make, don’t you think, Oestera?”
“It’s quite something,” Oestera relented, reaching for Nayson’s hand.
“I can’t wait to see you two at your coronation tomorrow evening. You know, it’s a real shame your father isn’t here to see this, Luxuros. I don’t suppose he’d handle the news well.” Selenia leaned back against the throne, her sinister glare falling over them. “What do you think, Nayson? You’re always so quiet.”
“Do not drag him into this,” Oestera forced through clenched teeth.
Selenia rolled her eyes. “So much energy wasted on a mere man, Oestera.”
“I did as you asked, what more do you want?” Astra interjected, desperate to get away from Selenia.
“Ah, yes, my little Leona,” Selenia sighed, reaching for the locket. She dangled it before her face, faking a frown. “Shame she’ll never make it to the Court Above, Oestera. I know how much you miss your sister.”
Oestera’s blood boiled beneath her pale skin.
Selenia wrapped the locket around her neck.
“Be a dear and fasten that for me, Oestera.”
Mother took a singular breath and reached for Selenia’s neck, fastening the locket as her lips pressed into a tight line. Astra reached for her own mouth, finding the same expression.
“Now, Astra, you’re in quite the predicament here, hmm? We can go about this a few ways. You already used your favor for returning Leona to me, but I realize that such a big ask is worth a bit more.”
Selenia stood, her robes dragging behind her as she stepped toward them. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a dagger.
One Astra knew all too well.
“I’ll make you a deal,” she whispered, the courtiers leaning in. “Luxuros here severs that godsdamned Tether between you, and I won’t tell Solan that the Lunar Court has been hiding his precious heir right under his nose, or the Court Above that another Lunar and Solar heir have Tethered. Keep it, and I tell them both.”
“You cannot do this,” Oestera started, but Selenia paid her no mind. She pushed the blade into Lux’s hands, who never took his eyes off Astra.
“Sever it, and no one has to know. Astra is a big girl, she’s strong enough to take it, aren’t you, darling? It’ll only hurt for a second.”
Astra glanced at her mother, her face frozen behind Selenia as Nayson pressed his palms into his thighs, his stomach twisting into knots.
“You’re lying,” Astra said, voice wavering. “She’s lying, Lux. It will kill one of us or both.”
I’m not touching that Tether, Astra.
Astra’s eyes searched his. There are ways around this. Your father doesn’t know the truth, he doesn’t know that Leona was innocent. We can still reach him.
“Ugh,” Selenia scoffed. “The silent pleading. I had so much hope in you, Astra, but here you are. Yet another pathetic Lunar woman on her knees for the enemy.” She drew in an irritated breath, turning to look Oestera dead in the eye. “I’ll have to do it myself, then.”
Selenia twisted and lunged forward, driving the dagger into the space between Astra and Lux. A shocking pain ripped through Astra’s chest as Lux gasped against the pressure. He reached for her as his knees hit the ground. Astra’s fingers sparked to life, flames licking at the tips through the pain, sending licks of light flying toward Selenia who jumped back in shock.
“I always thought Fire Queen was just an annoying nickname,” she sighed. She moved forward again, but Lux reached for her ankles, yanking back on them and dragging her across the space between them and the throne.
“The dagger!” Nayson called out, lunging from his place beside Oestera. He ducked as Selenia rolled to right herself, kicking at her hand as metal clamored against the pavement. Astra’s ears throbbed, the pain in her chest still sending shockwaves through her body. Selenia pushed herself back to a standing position as Lux crawled away, one hand pressed to his chest and the other reaching for the dagger as it skidded across the garden. He shoved it into Nayson’s hands. Her father sprinted through the crowd, shoving courtiers away as he leaped onto the platform and into the Rift.
