“I didn’t do anything,” she said with a shrug.
“You stayed.”
“You…you knew? You knew I was here?”
Auraelia shook her head. “Not exactly, but I know you.”
Tears renewed in Piper’s eyes, and she hastily wiped them away as she ushered people from the room.
“Hey Rae?” she called out before she stepped through the opening. When Auraelia hummed in response, she said, “Thanks.”
“For what?” she asked, confusion drawing her brows together.
“For staying.”
The sun shone brightly, warmth soaking into Auraelia’s skin as she meandered through her mother’s garden. It was the first day in weeks that she had a moment to breathe.
After a few days of—forced—recovery, Auraelia had thrown herself into the rehabilitation of her kingdom. She’d visited the families of the fallen and held a reception for the ones who’d made it home.
She cleared any misconceptions regarding Ser Aeron and her brother and breathed a sigh of relief when she’d been informed of Lord Harland’s demise. Though he’d deserved the end he’d received, after so much death, Auraelia wasn’t sure if she would have been able to follow through with her threat if he’d somehow survived.
Breathing in the fresh air, she turned her face toward the sky and embraced the feeling of her magic flowing through her veins. After she’d awoken, she’d barely felt a glimmer of the power she’d held on the battlefield and feared it had been lost. But after a few days, the threads mended, and her magic trickled back into her body like a steady stream.
Warmth blossomed in her chest as her magic flowed languidly through her body, and she smiled. It wasn’t long before Daemon’s fingers twined with hers, and he pulled her hand to his mouth.
“I’ve missed you,” she said as she turned to meet his gaze. “How’s your mother? And Yvaine? Did you discuss the regency?”
“Mother is as well as can be expected. She’s been keeping herself busy planning the coronation and her trip here. Yvaine,” he let out a heavy sigh, “Let’s just say she’s not so sure about being Regent. Not that I can really blame her. ”
Auraelia nodded and began pulling Daemon along the path with her. “Do you need to go back?”
“No, the coronation and regency ceremony won’t take place until after the wedding. Speaking of which.” He pulled her to a stop and clasped both of her hands in his. “I think it’s high time we made this official.”
“It wasn’t already?” she asked, quirking a brow.
A laugh rumbled in his chest as he shook his head and slowly dropped to a knee. “Auraelia Rose Morwen. My Queen, my soul, love of my life. I have used the stars to guide me through every journey in my existence, but I never thought that they would bring me to you. You have given me light when all I knew was a world of shadows. I loved you before I really understood what love was, and I will love you until my dying breath.”
Auraelia’s hands shook as he reached into his vest pocket and pulled out a ring, tears filling his eyes as they met hers once more.
“Marry me, my star. Live this life with me.”
As the last word fell from his lips, Auraelia launched herself at him, her lips claiming his in desperation.
His chuckle vibrated against her chest as he pulled away, his hand finding her cheek and wiping away the tears that had slipped from her eyes. “Still waiting on your answer, Princess.”
“Yes, Daemon. A thousand times, yes.” Time stilled around them as he slipped the silver band onto her hand, the newly blackened tips of his fingers sliding along her own emerald green.
Auraelia ran her fingers along his jaw, then cupped his cheek in her palm, relishing the way he always leaned into her touch. “I love you.”
“Even if the stars fall from Arcelia, Auraelia. I am yours.”
As they returned to the castle, Auraelia idly ran her fingers along the tops of her mother’s bushes. She was so lost in her bliss that she didn’t notice when a singular bud appeared and began to bloom.
Epilogue
Daemon
4 months later...
