Isahn was too adorable with his detail-obsession.
“Mmhm.” She barely contained her mirth. “You, as gods, give me dominion to enact your will on Duhra. Rather, in Domos, these days.”
“Do you think there was actually a time when the gods bestowed power to kings and queens?” Wynnie mused, securing the finalfibulaeon Georgetta’s attire.
“My father claims—claimed that he convened with them after his coronation. But I don’t believe it. Maybe long ago, before they were dead.”
“You really believe the gods are dead?” Isahn joined George at the mirror, studying their joint reflection.
She shrugged. “I’ve never seen anything to suggest otherwise.”
“Yet you still invoke their names?”
“Better safe than sorry.”
He chuckled.
“Are ye coming? We’re all waiting out here!” Ean’s voice boomed through the sitting room door. Helped by Hildy, he sounded far louder than humanly possible.
Wynnie jumped in surprise, Isahn laughed, and George adjusted her stays before turning toward the door.
The sitting room was a riot of camaraderie and color. All of the gods wore bold embroideredtogas. With her bright decor, they were practically camouflaged against the furniture and throws.
George stood out, dressed in pure white.
During the ceremony, she’d use sight magic to add color to her clothing, a splash more with each blessing. By the time the crown of Domos was magically lowered onto her head, she’d appear clad in all of the colors of the universe alongside the gods. Her friends. Her family. It was going to be magnificent. Amemorable experience to usher in a new era for Hepikoru, and the kingdom beyond.
“My queen.” Bina buzzed up on purple wings, her chin-length, matching hair vibrating in the breeze.
“Thank you for joining our group today.” George gave her an earnest smile.
Bina worked in the kitchens beside Adda for many years and was a close friend of Ean’s, which made her the perfect person to join the ceremony. It was important to George that a pixie be included in the group. Same with the elves, though Ean would’ve been included either way. The move was monumental since no fae had ever been part of a monarch’s ascension ceremony. Not in the recorded history of Domos, which went back several thousand years, though accuracy diminished with age.
She was ready to make a number of momentous changes; this was only the beginning.
“Thankyou,Queen Georgetta. You’re giving my people the gift of freedom. In return, we have a present for you.” Bina stopped on the back of the couch and beckoned Ean to her side.
“From the fae?” Burke asked, and George was glad he had, because she was curious what the purple pixie meant.
“From the pixies. Ean’s going to procure it,” Bina explained.
Atinkleaccompanied the arrival of a glass bottle, half the height of the faeries, and far too large for either of them to carry. The crystalline glass held glittering golden powder, full nearly to the neck. Georgetta accepted the gift, plucking it out of the air.
Wynnie gasped.
George had never seen so much pixie dust in one place in her life. The little girl within her wanted to open her eyes wide and study it closely. The queen in charge made her nod once, approvingly.
“Pixie dust,” Bina announced. “Think of it as the embodiment of our magic. When it drifts off of my kind in flight, it’s beautiful, but benign. However, when we make a gift of it...”
“Wait, what are you saying?” Burke interrupted.
“Shh.” Dunstan elbowed him in the ribs.
“When we give it freely, it retains its gentle abilities. And we can infuse it at will.”
George couldn’t keep the look of surprise from her face at the revelation. “With your pixie magic?”
Bina nodded.
