Chapter 68 Ayla
Chapter sixty-eight
Ayla
Six Months Later
The scratch of her quill on paper and the crackling of the hearth were the only sounds to be heard in the small library. She breathed in the familiar scents of parchment and woodsmoke, ink and leather. She reminded herself to stay grounded in this moment.
Her heart never stopped aching when she thought of Théo, and she had suffered her fair share of tears, but Ayla could not help but imagine him here with her now.
He would be so proud of her. She hoped the Gryffem had carried him gently. She hoped he was looking down on her from the upper branches, amongst the stars.
Queen Ayla Sgalier of Acsilla pressed her signet ring into the wax, sealing the letter she had finally perfected. It detailed the changes that had happened within her kingdom these past months and the changes that she still hoped to bring about.
The letter would be delivered to the King of Ordelés and explained her hopes for a new alliance. One of her first orders as queen had been to pull back her troops. She would not allow violence to perpetuate under her rule, and she only hoped her efforts would be reciprocated.
She placed the envelope on the stack of outgoing correspondence and rose from her seat, stretching her stiff limbs with a groan. Ayla smoothed her gown and straightened the circlet upon her head, then made her way to the ballroom.
The Summer Solstice Ball was well underway, but everything in the room halted when she entered. Ayla waved them on with a genuine smile, and the revelry picked back up in earnest. She settled onto the throne, content to watch her people enjoy the warmth and joy of the celebratory night.
Windows were thrown open, and mágik filled the air. It reminded her of another ball, nearly a year past.
Prince Claudian revealed that he had plans for her on a moonlit balcony, cool autumn air frosting their breath. He had planted seeds of treason and distrust within her, convincing her there was no one who would protect her more than he did.
She found him in the crowd now, dancing with Hesperia Farkas.
They had both plotted against her and Seren all those months ago, but they had changed their hearts when it had mattered most.
Ayla was a whisper of him, but she was also so much more. He could see that now, with the heat of long-simmering anger cooled beneath his breast. There were no more lies, no more manipulation, and she was grateful for the chance to fix their relationship, on a bed of truth this time.
A long table stretched along the front of the room, and each of the new council members ate and drank merrily from their seats.
Her eyes caught on the empty chair that belonged to Théo.
Ayla pulled her gaze away before she became lost in her grief once more.
They had not yet found another life mágik wielder strong enough to hold the position, but she knew they would someday.
They would fill Théo’s seat on the council, but they would never replace him and who he was to her.
She caught sight of Seren and Harkin in the sea of ballgowns, dancing and pressing kisses against each other’s mouths. Her cousin saw her and immediately pushed through the revelers to be by her side.
They had only grown closer in the aftermath of last winter's events.
Seren had ceded her right to the throne, claiming Ayla was the rightful queen. She had been scared initially—she had spent so many years believing herself inferior—but now she was grateful for her cousin's faith in her.
Ayla was incredibly happy despite all that had happened, for she loved her kingdom, and she loved being their queen.
The plights of the Acsillan people weighed on her heart as if they were her own, and their triumphs lifted her up.
She felt them in her every decision, and she knew she would do right by them.
Ayla stood as Seren approached, allowing herself to be pulled into a hug. Seren’s gleaming armor was cold against her embrace, a welcome balm to the sticky heat in the air.
“Excellent party,” Harkin observed. His eyes glittered with a happiness that only shone through so brightly when he was with his wife. “Your Captain of the Guard is enjoying it immensely.”
“We both are.” Seren shoved his shoulder playfully, but she did not bother to hide the wide grin which spread across her face. She turned back to Ayla. “Who would have thought a year ago that we would be here today?”
Ayla nodded in bittersweet agreement. “My life is so different than I expected, but so much better in so many ways. I wouldn’t change a thing.”
“Perhaps just one thing.” Seren smiled knowingly, her eyes finding the empty seat at the council's table.
“Just the one.” Ayla pulled Seren close once more.
She looked out at her people and felt hope for the future. They had come so far together. Ayla could only imagine where they would find themselves by the end of the following year, or the one after that.
For now, she decided to focus on what was right in front of her.
Ayla would not let another moment with her loved ones go to waste, for you never knew when it could be the last.