“It's for the pain,” she said as Lunelle’s lips parted. “He will be okay, but he needs to sleep, the repair work will be far too painful awake.”
“That’s what this one is for,” Lura said, passing a thin vial to Ameera. “Lu,” she said, grabbing her focus. “You should be in the garden for Astra.”
The Tether in her chest burned at the thought of leaving him.
“I will stay with him,” Arcas said. “Your sister needs you.”
Lunelle found his gaze, like a quiet midnight, about to protest once more.
“Go,” he repeated. “We will both be here when you’re done.”
She swallowed the wave of tears battling to break free. He squeezed her hand once more before she left, running back to the garden where courtiers backed away from the throne in the center, their eyes wide, fixed on the body of a goddess lying still against the stones.
Astra stood motionless, Lux on the ground beside her, as the color drained from her face.
Lunelle’s stomach churned—she’d missed quite a bit. Her mother was already well into damage-control mode.
“Aren’t we so fortunate that the Lunar queen Astra Leona’s first act upon the throne was to defend her court from a premeditated attack by the Solar God Lucian? Hardly a minute into her reign, and she’s already proven herself to be a wise and decisive leader.”
Oestera turned to Astra, a strange light from within her that Lunelle had never seen before.
“Now, I know this was a lot of excitement for one day, so please, retire to your rooms. The maidens have prepared an evening tea service to help everyone get some rest before tomorrow’s coronation!”
Lunelle watched as her mother leaned into Astra, speaking quietly as she fought the tide of courtiers breaking into the palace. She pushed through their baffled faces.
“Mother?” she asked, unsure just howmuchshe’d missed. Lunelle and Astra stared at one another as councilwomen flurried in circles around them, responding to a series of orders Oestera barked, her lips curled into a smile.
An actual smile.
She’d orchestrated it all—every second of it—as always. Her mind could not reconcile all of it; the weight of the trades made in the dark confounded her.
“Let’s go, ladies!” her mother said, a wild delight beneath the sounds. She swept into the palace, leaving only her daughters to stare after her, both wearing the same shocked expression.
Astra spoke first. “Was she… smiling?”
“I believe so.”
A maiden leaned toward them on her way to gods knew where.
“Your Highness?”
Astra pointed toward the palace. “You just missed her.”
“Actually,” the maiden said, a quiet delight on her lips. “I meant you.”
Lunelle could not suppress the astonished giggle as Astra’s eyes rolled back in her head. She stepped forward, catching her as best she could, as several maidens rushed to assist their newly crowned queen as she fainted to the floor.
ChapterThirty-Five
She followed the maidens toward Astra’s room as they carried her through the palace, breaking from the panicked rush to slip into the hall outside the infirmary.
She took a steady breath before stepping into the dimly lit room.
The king was awake, his color looking much better than it had moments ago.
“I thought they were to put you out,” she said as she bounded toward him, resting her hand on Mirquios’s chest. She felt for the slow breath filling his chest, the gentle beat of his heart.
“It looked worse than it was,” Mirquios said, squeezing her hand.
