As I passed the middle of the aisle, the faces became more and more familiar.
My old Sentinels. Ones who followed me into hell itself in order to fight for those who couldn’t defend themselves.
Chaz and Lark—my closest confidants and dearest friends. Chaz beamed at me as he crossed his arms, his chest puffed out with pride. Lark sat in her wheelchair at his side. Her black hair was in a long braid down her back, and she clutched a handkerchief that was already streaked with dark makeup. In over a decade, I didn’t think I’d ever seen the woman cry.
The only one missing was Nox—but he had his hands full in Drakorum. And with a certain Shadow Wielder.
A row ahead of them stood Rose, Leo, and my mother. A burning sensation pinched the bridge of my nose and my eyes. I never expected Mother to be here for this. For so long, we’d given up hope that she’d return to us after her mind faded beyond repair. I’d come to terms with the fact that it would just be Leo and me for the rest of our lives. But here she was. A miracle. The wrinkles around her eyes deepened with a smile as I passed, and the look of pride shining back at me was almost enough to make me stop in my tracks.
And when I saw her holding Marigold’s hand, the lump in my throat grew bigger.
Marigold waved and pointed excitedly to the flower crown on top of her head. I grinned back at her. She had blossomed since they moved here. The first couple of weeks were an adjustment, but the palace staff worshipped her. Within the month, she was bounding through the kitchens with the other children, traipsing in the gardens and giving her father heart attacks by climbing the tall forest trees. Rose and Leo were already Aunt Rose and Uncle Monkey—Rose’s highest accomplishment to date—and she’d even called my mother Grandma Eva a couple of times.
She’d been scared about losing her family, but she’d gained a bigger one than she’d ever imagined.
My eyes met ones of icy blue right as the music of the trumpets swelled and I neared the end of the aisle.
When Thorne gazed back at me, the world disappeared. A slow smile curved beneath his beard, and I felt the roughness of it like a ghost on my skin. Just three months ago, I’d been walking down a very different aisle to a very different man, wishing it were him. And one day it would be. But today, I was walking to my destiny—and he was at my side, as he always was. My steady, immovable rock. My anchor when the storms breached.
I took a step up the raised dais. The hall was silent, save for the rustle of the priest’s cloak in front of me as he walked forward holding a golden scepter and sword.
I took a deep breath.
The priest placed the scepter and sword in my outstretched hands, then raised his voice. “Clarissa Valienne Aris, daughter of Emperor Branock Aris, the nineteenth Emperor of the Veridian Empire, chosen by the Fates and leader of our people. Do you swear by the Fates to rule with justice, wisdom, and strength?”
“I do,” I answered.
“Do you swear to uphold the laws and ideals of the Veridian Empire, to lead our people with mercy and truth, and to protect this land from those who seek us harm?”
“I do.”
He took the emblems from me and set them to the side, then turned to the pillar behind him. On top of it rested a green cushion with a delicate gold crown inlaid with a dozen sparkling emeralds. He carefully lifted the crown and faced me once more.
“Look upon your people, Your Majesty,” he said, in a whisper this time. A tingling sensation prickled down my spine, goosebumps rising on my skin. Slowly, I turned on my heel.
“Then, by the will and power of the Fates, I anoint you, Clarissa Valienne Aris, the twenty-first Empress of the Veridian Empire.”
The crown settled atop my head.
I looked out into the crowd—my family, my people, my empire.
And I smiled.
Epilogue
NOX
The cold, rocky coastline of Drakorum came into view beyond choppy waves. Moonlight glistened off the dark water, making the reflection of the oncoming cliffs shimmer.
Home sweet home.
I let out a snort. More likehell fresh hell.
I couldn’t remember the last time those shores felt like home. I couldn’t remember the last timeanywherefelt like home.
My dragon stretched under my skin, tired of being dormant for the near-week journey back to the empire.
“Is this it?” a husky voice asked at my back.
