“Speaking of—I’ve left Gwenarie’s punishment to you.”
“Oh?” Her eyes light as she smiles, those wicked and wanton fangs making an appearance. “That’s right.”
“Maybe save it until after the war. We have a busy schedule.” I kiss her hard, then turn feral. With a swipe of my paw, I put her on my back and race toward the Shard of Day.
The nobles are already assembled in the throne room, and I’d hate to keep them waiting. After all, I have no doubt they’re clamoring to see the seeker queen.
Reading my thoughts, Emma flaps her wings and takes to the sky, her striking form lit by the sun as she gains height. Her red hair streams in the wind, and her exhilaration ripples down the bond.
“Go give Lucidia a fright. I believe she and your mother are waiting with your gown.”
She laughs down the bond. “My pleasure.Maybe I can get Brock while I’m at it.” With ethereal grace, she catches the wind and floats down to the Shard, her wings a silky black, like ink spilled on a page.
She is changed, and I know there are shadows she’ll have to battle from her time with Eraldon, but she is still my queen, my heart, and my mate.
35
Emma
“I’ve never seen the like.” Lucidia peers at my mother’s work, her fingers moving nimbly as she sews up the back of my gown. “Those stitches are tighter than a pixie’s—” She snaps her mouth shut before continuing.
“Lots of practice.” My mother preens a bit under the praise, but she doesn’t stop sewing.
She and Lucidia chose a gown of light green and pink gems for my throat.
“Pastels are non-threatening,” Mother said, then ripped out two back seams for my wings and started to sew them neatly.
I peer into the mirror as Lucidia returns to my hair. “Do I seem the same?”
Lucidia brushes through the tangles made by the wind. “No.”
“Oh.”
“You seem even sassier.” She shoots a glance at my mother. “Though now I see where you get it.”
That reminds me. “You never told me the price you paid to the moon witches.” I pin Mama’s reflection with a hard stare.
She stops sewing. “That was my secret to keep.”
“But you loved my dad.”
“I did, but I had to make a choice. I chose you.” She meets my eyes. “A good choice, I’d say.”
For the first time, I see that sliver of pain in her for what it is. Before, I always thought she had a broken heart because of my father’s roving eye.
“I’m sorry.” I take her hand.
She squeezes my fingers. “It was long ago. If he’s half as happy as I am, he’ll be fine. Now quit distracting me or I’ll turn my thumb into a pincushion.” Her fingers move quickly, and she buries that secret pain deep down.
“I like her.” Lucidia places some pink clips into my hair, pinning it so it flows down my back and around my shoulders in a cascade.
A knock at the door makes my heart jump. When I realize it’s not Solano, I frown. But he’s right next door getting “kinged up” for our appearance and his war speech. If I truly sit and think about it, it’s like a warped dream. From a changeling, to a consort, night to day, to a seeker, and now to something—new? Something different.
“Something wonderful,” Solano whispers.
My face heats at the compliment as the guards escort Lunarie into the consort’s chambers. After seeing her in Solano’s memories, I’m not sure how to react. Before I can figure it out, she drops to her knees and bows low.
“Please forgive me, Emma.”
