“I wish Maxon could see me,” I murmur, a deep longing tugging at me.
“Me, too,” Zaria replies.
My eyes meet hers and the emotions there make me want to cry. “I don’t want you to put on that maid’s uniform again.”
Startled, she blinks at me. “What? Why?”
“You are not my maid or my servant. You are my friend, my confidant, and will be treated as such.”
Zaria’s big brown eyes widen almost comically, and if I wasn’t feeling so emotional, I’d laugh.
“As of today, you are no longer my maid, okay?”
Zaria blinks a few more times. “Okay.”
In that moment, I feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude and pride to have them by my side, their loyalty and friendship wrapping around me like armor. With them, I feel ready for whatever lies ahead.
Chapter forty-five
Everly
As we step out of my chambers, a hush falls over the hall. Raiden, Tristan, and Kian are standing there waiting, but the moment they see us, their conversation dies. They stare openly, their eyes sweeping over each of us, clearly taken aback. A few paces away, Lutin and Senka, who have been standing with their backs to us, go rigid, sensing the sudden shift in energy. Slowly, they turn to face us, their eyes widening in surprise.
Kian is the first to recover, stepping forward with a deep bow. “You all look stunning,” he says, his gaze full of admiration. “But, Princess, you look like a goddess.”
“More like a queen,” Tristan adds, his tone warm as he follows Kian’s lead, bowing.
A blush creeps up my face, the heat rising as I feel the intensity of their gazes on me. I’m not used to attention like this. “Thank you.”
Raiden, however, hasn’t said a word. His eyes remain fixed on Zaria with an intensity that he doesn’t even try to hide. There’s something in his expression—approval, maybe even awe—that makes me want to laugh.
I can’t help myself. “Righto, Batman,” I tease, stepping forward to give him a gentle pat on the chest. “You can drool on your own time.”
He blinks, pulled from whatever trance Zaria has him in, and the look of surprise on his face is priceless. The girls break into laughter, their voices ringing through the hall, and even Kian and Tristan can barely contain their grins, their shoulders shaking as they try to keep straight faces.
For a moment, the tension dissolves into laughter and lightness, a rare and welcome reprieve. With my friends and allies around me, I feel stronger, more grounded, ready to face whatever this day holds.
“Shall we?” I suggest, taking a deep breath.
Raiden nods, holding his arm out for me. I slip my arm into his and we start walking down the hall.
“There is a huge turnout. I think it's even bigger than Maxon’s.”
“Great,” I murmur through the nerves already buzzing around my stomach.
“You’ll be fine. I have every soldier and guard on high alert. You won’t be alone for a second. Valric is waiting with Nolan at the dais we’ve set up in the gardens.”
“In the gardens?”
“Yes, we thought that would be a fitting place to crown the Druid Queen.” He winks down at me.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
“You are bringing the Outcasts home. They don't have to hide anymore. I heard talk of the Evergreens being restored.”
“Really?” My excitement makes the word come out louder than intended.
Lutin and Senka stop and wait, their hands resting on the handles of the doors leading out into the gardens.
