Smiling, he pressed a gentle kiss to her lips and then rested his forehead against hers. When his hands cupped her cheeks, heat filled her body as the magic coursing through her veins seemed to melt beneath his touch. “My beautiful, shining star. I want to be wherever you are. Doing whatever it is that you need me to do. If that’s passing out blankets and plates of hot food or reading children stories to give their tired mothers a break, then that’s where I will be.”
Auraelia’s heart swelled in her chest, hammering against the cage that held it captive.
Love.
Goddess, did she love him.
More than she had ever let herself believe. More than she ever thought possible, for fear of crumbling into a heap of devastation. Relief washed through her when she finally let herself acknowledge the extent of her feelings for him. And yet, there was still that tiny voice in the back of her mind that kept whispering…not yet.
Every wall of the throne room was lined with cots. Rows upon rows of grieving families with tear-streaked faces and soot-covered clothes.
Overwhelming grief slammed into Auraelia as she stepped into that room, the air heavy with the despair of her people. “This…this isn’t enough. They needmore,” she said in a hushedwhisper—more to herself than to Daemon, but he’d heard her anyway.
“What more can you do?”
His question was genuine, and when she turned to where he stood at her side, his brow was furrowed as he scanned the room around them.
Looking around her once more, she took note of what had already been provided and what could still be offered. “They need clean clothes and the ability to bathe if they choose to. I need to make sure they all have blankets and pillows. Chef Liza is no doubt exhausted from cooking all day; perhaps we could take over?”
From the corner of her eye, she could see the quizzical look on Daemon’s face and turned toward him with one of her own.
“Youwant to cook? Do you knowhowto cook?”
“That’s not what I meant,” she said with a roll of her eyes. “I merely meant that we could take over passing out plates, refilling water, and the like. But for your information,Prince, I do know how to cook a few things. I actually spend as much time in the kitchens as I can.” Auraelia shrugged, watching as his eyes widened in surprise before shifting to a softer gaze. One of awe and adoration. One that sent her pulse racing for no reason other than the fact that she could see love shining in the moss green of his eyes. Love for her and everything that she was.
“The more I learn about you, my star, the more in awe I am of you,” he whispered as he tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, causing heat to rise to her cheeks.
She held his gaze for a moment before turning back toward the rest of the room. No one even seemed to notice she was standing there until she took a few steps, the heels of her boots echoing through the space.
Despite the amount of people that crowded the room, it was nearly silent, save for the quiet whimpers from children that were still barely audible in the silence.
Slowly, she made her way through the lines of beds, making sure she took the time to stop at every one and see to the needs of whoever needed her. Whether it was organizing showers, additional blankets, or simply a shoulder to cry on, she made sure she took on their grief as her own, hoping to leave each of them with a little more hope than they’d had before she moved on to the next.
Daemon was by her side as she visited with each and every person. Was there to aid the elderly when they needed assistance rising from their place or lying down. And when they had finished with the last family, he’d done exactly as he’d suggested in her room. Gathering the children in a far corner, he sat them down and told them tales of his adventures on the sea, his crew, and of Kalmeera.
Auraelia stood off to the side for a while—soaking in the way the children’s faces lit up with every story and holding onto every gasp of excitement—before she slipped away to help pass out dinner to everyone.
The serving station had been set up inside the throne room doors, with trays of freshly baked rolls, bowls of roasted potatoes and garden vegetables, and platters piled high with roasted boar and chicken.
She’d never seen so much food, even during solstice celebrations and balls, and she had never been more grateful for the people who resided in her court. For the way they all pulled together in a time of crisis, making sure that their own were taken care of before they took the time to care for themselves.
Despite the horrid day that was coming to an end and the long way that she and her people still had to go to overcome what had happened—and what was surely to come—Auraelia smiled.For the first time since the crown had been placed on her head, she was happy that she was queen. Because she was the queen of people whocared.Who loved beyond themselves.
As she stepped behind the banquet table, Liza raised her brows in Auraelia’s direction and crossed her arms. “What do you think you’re doing, Your Majesty?”
Liza had been the head chef at the castle for longer than Auraelia had been alive. The wrinkles on her round, ivory face told the stories of a life well-lived, and the gold band around her finger told of a love that withstood the years. Her once auburn hair was now white with faint streaks of strawberry blonde and forever twisted into a knot on top of her head. And though she was hard as stone when it came to her kitchen, making sure that everything and everyone was where they should be, she had always had a soft spot for Auraelia…except when she was where Liza didn’t think she should be—like now.
“I’m helping,” Auraelia said with a small smile as she grabbed a spare apron and tied it around her waist.
“Your Majesty—”
“Liza, you’ve been cookingall day.First here, then down in the city, and now here again. I know you’re exhausted—”
“I am n—”
“Yes, you are. You fuss at every person in your kitchen for leaning on the counters, and now look at you.” Auraelia gestured to where her chef was leaning against the banquet table. “You’re tired. Let me help,please.”
Liza straightened and grumbled under her breath before handing Auraelia a serving spoon. “One scoop of potatoes and veggies. After everyone has been served, if there is anything left, they may return for more. Understood?”
