Leena
“Are you sure I look okay? You think he’ll like it?” I asked for at least the tenth time. Fiora, Wilheim’s most skilled tailor, scoffed and placed her faintly scratched hands on her hips. Her fingers dug into the folds of her apron. She’d been making minor adjustments to my gown for hours and had finally deemed me perfect. But she still hadn’t let me check the mirror, which left my stomach in knots.
“You’re absolutely stunning. And if he does anything other than faint, I will take it as personal insult. ‘Do I look okay?’” she muttered. “Please.” Then, she turned to my mother, who’d been reclining on one of Fiora’s overstuffed armchairs sipping tea from an ocean-blue cup. “Will you tell your daughter to stop fretting?”
She chuckled. “Let a girl fret. It’s a big day, after all. Though she’s right, Leena.” She gave me a pointed stare, then set down her teacup on the low coffee table before her. “You look stunning.”
“So do you. Dad’s going to be speechless.” I nodded to her flowy, butter-yellow gown trimmed in ivory lace. Fiora had insisted on crafting it as a gift for the queen mother.
Mother waved me off. “Today isn’t about me. But thank you, sweetheart.”
“Speaking of, the moon has already risen.” Fiora nodded to one of the open windows on the far wall of her tailor shop. “He should be here any minute. It’s my turn to get dressed, so I suppose you have permission to use a mirror now.”
As she sauntered out of the room, I rushed across her shop, avoiding the rainbow-colored bolts of fabric and the antique sewing machine to stand before a floor-length mirror. My breath caught in my chest. The sleeveless gown hugged my figure through to my hips, where it flared out just slightly over my legs. Thousands of winking crystals dripped from my chest down to my waist. They were so densely packed that I couldn’t even see the fabric beneath them until my gaze fell to the skirt. Feather-soft flowers had been hand-stitched into the charmeuse fabric, and rosewood-colored vines connected them all. The same crystals clustered across my chest were scattered about the folds, and when I spun in place, they glimmered like hidden stars.
Gently, I touched my fingers to the griffin tattoo on my chest. And beside it… I nudged my bestiary. Queen of Lendria and Crown of the Charmers Council. Never in my life did I expect to end up here. But I made a promise to myself right then and there that I would always do right by my people and my beasts—all of them.
My mother stood and came up behind me, wrapping one arm around my waist and pressing her chin against my shoulder. “I’m so glad I’m here to see this.”
Throat tightening, I nodded and placed my hand over hers. “Me too.”
A heavy knock sounded from the front door, and Fiora emerged in a sky-blue ball gown to wrench it open. Her autumn eyes lit up as she took in my father standing in the doorway. Apparently, Fiora had sent him an outfit to match my mother’s, and he wore it well. The color of Ortega Key’s beaches, the suit was tailored expertly to his form.
His gaze first fell to my mother, then to me. He swallowed twice before speaking. “I don’t have words for how beautiful you are. Either of you.”
Heat crawled up my neck, and I smiled. “Thanks.”
“C’mon, you can compliment each other later. We’re going to be late.” Fiora practically shoved him out the door, dragging Mother and me with her. She quickly closed up shop behind us, then turned her back on her quaint brick cottage just outside Wilheim’s gates.
I hadn’t known quite what to expect when it came to my official coronation as queen. Noc had insinuated that it was like celebrating becoming a pair bond, but on a much grander scale. When I’d considered this, I’d asked him if we could make a few tweaks to accommodate some Charmer customs, given we’d never gotten the opportunity to celebrate choosing each other as anam-cara. He’d obliged without hesitation, so when I spied the paper lanterns hanging from every tree within sight, my heart nearly burst.
“Oh, Leena.” My mother’s words were full of emotion as she gazed at the lantern outside Fiora’s home. A hand-sketched drawing of a Myad in rosewood ink stood out against the soft yellow paper. Each lantern would have a different beast, but something told me Noc had ensured that Onyx found his way to me.
“He’s a good man,” my father said. He wrapped me in a light hug, careful to mind my curled hair, and placed a soft kiss on my forehead. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Now we know why you were told to be kept inside all day. He wanted to surprise you.” My mom kissed my cheek. “Lead the way, sweetheart. We’ll be right behind you.”
I nodded, swallowing the rock in my throat, and started the procession that would end with me standing before Noc on the castle steps. My parents fell into line behind me, and Fiora rushed to the side of the marble path leading into the city. She joined some of her friends there and dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief. I’d offered for her to walk with us, but she’d vehemently refused. Apparently, only family was supposed to partake in the procession.
Fortunately, Noc and I agreed that “family” was up to us. So when I passed through the gleaming gates marking the entrance to my newfound kingdom, I was thrilled to find Kost, Calem, and Oz waiting for me. Also dressed in stunning outfits provided by Fiora, they offered me wide grins before tipping their chins to their chests in respectful bows. One by one, they fell into line behind my parents.
At first, I hadn’t understood why Noc was so insistent on the ceremony taking place during the first full moon of spring. Only a week had passed since our battle with Varek and Yazmin, and there was still so much to do. We’d made plans to travel to Hireath to oversee the rebuilding project and ensure the Charmers received whatever resources or funds they needed. And then there was Rhyne. Queen Elianna had been told of our victory and was awaiting our return to formalize trade routes. We’d promised to visit after our time in Hireath, but Noc had insisted everything could wait until after tonight.
And now I knew why. I stared at the sight before me. Tears stung at the backs of my eyes. He remembered. Touching my chin to my shoulder, I glanced back at Kost. His knowing smile was confirmation enough. I turned back around and stared at the splendor that was Wilheim under the light of the full moon. Specifically, the first full moon of spring.
For the first time in my life, I witnessed the Violet Castle. Wilheim’s stronghold had been carved out of a lone mountain said to take on a purple sheen under the light of spring’s first full moon. When I’d first learned of this phenomenon, I’d been standing near the train tracks outside Wilheim with Noc, Kost, Calem, and Oz. It’d been the beginning of our journey together, and I’d expressed how I’d never been lucky enough to see the white stone transform into this violet beauty.
“Leena?” my mother asked. “Everything okay?”
I sniffed and did my best to hold back tears. “Everything is perfect.”
Starting up again, we walked down the marble pathways that made up Wilheim. The crystal waterways had been adorned with lily pads and lined with candles. The citizens had all dressed in fine attire and lined the streets, tossing pink petals gathered from Queen’s Hearts throughout the city. The further in we walked, the more densely populated it became, and soon I lost sight of the stone beneath my feet and saw nothing but beautiful petals. About halfway through, we met Gaige, Kaori, and Raven at an intersection, and they too offered bows before joining our procession. They fell in line beside Kost, Calem, and Oz respectively, whispering their congratulations to me as they passed.
The moment I spotted the Queen’s Heart growing out of the cracked fountain, my palms began to sweat. In a few minutes, I’d travel around its circular base and find myself at the foot of the castle. Right in front of Noc. Biting my lip, I tried to get a grip on my racing heartbeat. I couldn’t explain the nerves. Couldn’t fathom why now, after everything we’d been through, I was nervous for him to see me. Maybe because we hadn’t celebrated any of this before. Maybe he’d think that I was wrong for him, now that our lives had calmed down. Maybe…
As I rounded the fountain and spied him waiting for me on the steps, all my doubts and fears fled with the breeze. Noc was a vision. His midnight-blue overcoat was trimmed in silver stitching and fell open to his thighs. His crisp, white dress tunic was unbuttoned just beneath the collarbone, a hint of his griffin tattoo on display. With tailored trousers and shined boots to round out the outfit, he looked ready to have his portrait done.
But it wasn’t his clothes that assuaged my fears. Or the styled way his shock-white locks fell about his face. It was the way his ice-blue eyes lit up at the sight of me. How his lips parted ever so slightly before a magnificent grin took over his expression. I knew with utter certainty that this man loved me with everything he had.
Extending his hand toward me, he dipped his head in a bow. “My queen, you look absolutely ravishing.”
“As do you.” I took his hand, interlocking our fingers and giving them a squeeze. Behind us, the procession halted.
When he straightened, something peculiar caught my attention in his breast pocket. A mess of black curls dotted with tiny white flowers. As I peered closer, Winnow emerged with her hands tossed to the sky in mock surprise.
“Winnow?” I laughed. “What are you doing here?”
She hung over the edge of his pocket and grinned. I’m here to pass along a message.
“Honestly, I had no idea this is what she wanted.” Noc gave her a bemused smile. “You’re projecting your thoughts so she can hear you too, right?”
Of course. She batted his chest. The message is for both of you.
“Go ahead then, we won’t interrupt,” I said.
The gods wish to thank you for all that you’ve done. So they made these. She held out her hands, revealing two miniscule, teardrop gems that glittered like pure starlight. They floated off her hands and grew until they reached the size of cuff links.
“What are they?” Noc asked, eyeing the floating crystal.
Passage to the land of the gods. They can only be used once, though. And you can’t return once you’ve crossed the bridge. Winnow shrugged. Forever is a long time. When you’re ready to leave this world, they’d like to welcome you to theirs. As equals.
With careful fingers, I retrieved my gem and held it in the palm of my hand. Forever was a long time, but we’d only just begun to live it. Maybe one day, way in our future, we’d consider embarking on a journey like that. But for now, I was happy with my slice of eternity. And one glance at Noc told me he was, too. He gently slipped the gem into one of the inner pockets of his coat, offering to do the same for me.
“Tell them they have our deepest gratitude,” I said.
They know. Winnow winked before turning her mischievous grin toward her master. Send me home. I don’t want to be around for any additional…festivities between you two.
Noc rolled his eyes but obliged, fishing her bronze key out of his trouser pocket and sending her back to the beast realm. He tucked it away and shook his head. “Honestly, that beast. Why did you ever gift her to me?”
I bit back a laugh. “Right. Because you were so against the idea.”
Chuckling, he draped an arm over my shoulders and pulled me close, his lips just barely dusting the shelf of my ear. “Though honestly, I am rather looking forward to tonight’s festivities.”
Heat ravaged my cheeks, and I turned to meet his devilish grin. “Me too.”
Before we continued on, I took one last look at our family. They’d parted off to the side of the walkway, joining a group of Charmers and assassins. We’d been through so much—some more than others. My gaze softened as I spied Gaige with the assassins, just the hint of a shadow toying with his fingers. But he wasn’t alone—far from it. He shared a quick glance with Kost, a glimmer of understanding in their eyes, and Kost turned away as a faint blush touched his ears. For the first time in weeks, Gaige’s smile felt real. Hopeful.
“Ready?” Noc whispered into my ear.
I turned back to him and grinned. “Ready.”
And together, we ascended the steps into the Violet Castle for all of Wilheim to see, with the promise of forever stretched out before us.