Hardly an hour into the evening, Nya decided shehatedsmall talk. She’d never had to endure much of it before, given her secluded childhood, and even at the temple where she had served in D’anna, the sisters had only even spoken when necessary.
During the reception that followed the lengthy coronation ceremony, no one seemed to be saying what they really meant. Each polite inquiry had a double meaning, and almost every interaction felt coated in forced flattery.
She wasn’t alone in her feelings; Morgen didn’t seem to be enjoying himself much at all either. She could see the strain in every ‘smile’ he gave, if she could even call his expression that. A handful of painful hours into the party, Carus interrupted a stilted conversation with a ‘friend’ of Thanatos’ who Nya was fairly certain was actually terrified of the Death god.
“Your Majesties,” he said with a bow, smirking when Morgen glared at him. “There’s someone who wishes to speak to you both in the gardens. I can escort you there.”
“We better go then,” Nya said, forcing herself to sound apologetic.
Neither of them waited for the demi-god they’d been speaking to, and Carus trailed them as they escaped out of the ballroom. Double glass doors opened into the hedge maze garden, and Nya took a deep inhale of the cool evening air as soon as they stepped outside.
“You two looked like you could use a second,” Carus said, striding ahead of them to a circular courtyard containing agurgling fountain in the shape of a dragon and three stone benches. It was lined with a garden of white roses, some of the patches glowing in the night air.
Nya slumped onto one of the benches, a hand on her middle. Her gown spilled around her, the fabric brushing against the smooth white stones plastered together in strange patterns on the ground. Anabeth had been the one to procure the monstrosity of silver and dove gray tulle, gathered into a corseted bodice that had been laced far too tight for Nya’s comfort.
She pressed a hand to her constricted stomach, and Carus eyed the dress warily. “Can you breathe in that thing?”
She rubbed her ribs, wincing. “Hardly.”
She carefully untangled the iron circlet from her hair. It was a twin to Morgen’s, stars hammered delicately into its shining surface—the crown her mother would have worn if she had actually wed Kronos.
She rubbed at her scalp. “No one told me being a queen would be so uncomfortable.”
“You can wear whatever damned clothes you like,” Morgen grumbled. “Don’t let anyone tell you there’s a ‘proper’ way.”
“And if they do,” Carus added, “just ask them where following the ‘proper way’ got them.”
Her lips twitched. “Noted.”
Footsteps crunched the gravel, and all three of them turned to see her parents approaching from down a shadowed pathway of the garden. Nya got to her aching feet as they neared.
“Are you leaving?” she asked, ignoring the way her chest tightened as she spoke.
Her mother nodded, smiling sadly. Her eyes shone with tears when she touched Nya’s cheek with cool fingertips. “Not forever. We’ll be back often, I’m sure.”
“Don’t feel guilty for needing to go. I understand now,” she whispered.
Her mother pulled her into a tight hug. “My brave, brave girl,” she whispered into her hair. “I love you more than all the stars combined.”
Nya clung to her, squeezing her eyes shut and memorizing the comforting scent of jasmine and night air that always clung to her. “I love you, Mama.”
When they finally parted, Nya threw her arms around her father, who held her tight before sighing and gently pulling away from her.
“Do you still remember how to throw a punch?” he asked, his expression completely serious.
She laughed even as her eyes burned with tears. “Of course.”
“Good.” He tapped her nose. “If he ever gives you trouble…” His gaze flicked back to Morgen, and he raised his hand, curled into a fist. “Punch first, ask questions later. And call for Thessilnn or Heles if you ever need anything.”
“I’ll be fine.” She took a deep breath. “You can stop worrying.”
He patted her cheek. “Not possible.”
“What if I make a complete mess of ruling Arcadia?”
“Also not possible,” he said, smiling and adding, “I love you. We’ll be back soon, alright?”
She sniffled. “I love you too.”
