Chapter Fifty-Nine – Mira #2
Cassius lit the candles in his bedchamber, casting the space in a warm glow. I crossed to the balcony, staring down over the firelit grounds far below. Remembering how afraid I had felt the last time I was up here. How certain that I was one wrong move away from death.
‘Be honest,’ I said, looking back at Cassius. ‘Did you ever consider throwing me over?’
‘Not even for a second.’ His lips curved with silken amusement. ‘You were always too intriguing to kill.’
One hand drew me to him, and the other cupped my cheek. There was something so intimate about the way he looked down at me, the moonlight softly illuminating his angular features.
‘What now, Mira?’ he asked, a challenge in his voice.
I kissed him until I was flushed and breathless, passion exploding between us like lightning.
His soft laugh tickled my skin as I removed his clothing and pushed him back onto the four-poster bed, so that he was reclining against the mountain of satiny pillows, somehow still wearing his golden crown.
The soft light illuminated the chiselled perfection of his body – and the raised scar over his abdomen. My throat tightened as I recalled the goodbye on his face as he sank the dagger in.
‘I thought I’d lost you,’ I breathed, and I knew Cassius saw the true depth of my feelings then.
Knew it, because I could hear the anguish and longing and love in my voice.
A love that I had tried to bury in Kalure, only to realise that I was burying part of myself – and that Aric wouldn’t have wanted that for me.
He would have wanted me to delight in life, and everything it had to offer.
‘You’ll never lose me,’ Cassius vowed as I straddled him, his fingers trailing across my exposed skin.
His hands went to my hips, bunching my skirt until it was up at my waist. And then his hands and lips were probing, exploring, moving , and I – I was burning, losing whatever vestiges of control I had left.
Cassius swallowed my moan with his mouth, his kiss searing through me. Setting my nerves alight.
And I knew that was what he had always done for me. Even when I had come so close to breaking, when I had been caged in numbness and fury, he had always kept me from drowning.
He had always made me feel alive.
His teeth grazed my neck as I drew him into me, and the sound of his groan . . . An animalistic side of me purred with the knowledge that Cassius – cool, composed Cassius – had lost his composure because of me .
I kept my eyes locked on his as I rode him, every wave of pleasure taking me higher, until our breaths were uneven and our bodies slick with sweat. Cassius cupped my breasts before his hands dropped to my waist, driving me against him in a thought-obliterating rhythm.
Passionate, forceful, urgent – our coupling was all of those things, and yet there was tenderness too. A desperate, aching tenderness that I would never get enough of. Just like I would never get enough of him.
Cassius’s eyes blazed with blue fire in the candlelight, his grip tightening on me as though he couldn’t bear to ever let me go. And when we both toppled over the edge, it was my name on his lips.
And his on mine.
For a few delirious moments, I could only lay against Cassius’s chest, bathed in a lingering glow. Gentle fingers stroked my hair, and I felt my face flush as I looked up into his intent stare – filled with an openness that felt like a gift. Unexpected and infinitely precious.
‘You’ll always be a queen to me,’ he murmured. ‘But we can make it official, if you like.’
I didn’t understand at first. Not until I saw him reach for–
‘What are you doing?’ I breathed.
‘Rule Ravalia with me,’ Cassius said with absolute sincerity. ‘Not as my consort, but as my empress.’
Equal rulers. Equal partners.
I couldn’t speak. I could only nod as I stared at the crown I had once stolen. The crown he was now giving me willingly.
‘It was yours,’ he whispered, ‘from the night you took it from me. And so was I.’
Tears welled in my eyes as he placed it on my head, and no longer did its weight feel daunting or overwhelming.
It felt just right.
A desperate flurry of activity greeted me as I disembarked from the carriage the next morning, palace attendants ushering me away to prepare me for Cassius’s planned coronation.
A coronation that was no longer just for him, but for us both.
A celebration of our unity as monarchs – and as husband and wife.
I rotated the engagement ring on my finger; a ruby set in a wreathed band of gold. The perfect tribute to both Ravalia and Kalure.
I had no idea how Cassius had sourced it for me, but somehow he had surprised me with it when I woke up in his arms. Then he had asked me how I would feel about making the coronation even more memorable.
And now here I was, being shepherded quickly through the gilded halls. Passing servants frantically carrying flowers and other wedding decorations into the throne room. I caught a glimpse of the grand ballroom: already filled with chairs and a beautiful flower arch over the dance floor.
Lillian was waiting for me inside Empress Ivalene’s old chambers, holding up a stunning gown. Her other hand rested firmly on her hip as she said, ‘It would be a shame to let it go to waste.’
Since not even Lillian would have had time to create such a masterpiece, I knew exactly who this gown must have belonged to.
Even though I was tempted, I shook my head. ‘It would feel wrong to wear it. Like stepping into Scarlett’s life.’
To my surprise, Lillian only smiled. ‘This arrived for you an hour ago,’ she said, handing me a note.
I recognised the bold, elegant handwriting immediately.
Wear it well. With my blessing, and my love.
Scarlett
I turned it over, but there was nothing else.
No mention of where Scarlett was, or if I would ever see her again.
I felt a stab of loss, even though it was probably for the best. Part of me had always known that there couldn’t be two queens, and crowned or not, that was what Scarlett would always be.
‘It won’t be forever,’ Lillian said softly. ‘I know Scarlett still considers Ravalia her home. And Severin is a powerful Artisan – if he Sees something important, I’m sure Scarlett will return.’
Lillian’s words gave me some comfort, as did the knowledge that Severin must have Seen that Cassius and I would make good rulers.
That Ravalia and the Elusive Isles would be in safe hands.
Not to mention the Western Lands and Kalure, which Cassius and I had already discussed signing treaties with.
That was the part of ruling I suspected Cassius was most excited for – the chance to visit other nations and establish diplomatic ties.
At my nod, Lillian helped me into Scarlett’s coronation gown. It was obvious that it had been designed according to her exact specifications: the gold that made up the bodice was shaped like feathers, and they veered outwards like wings. A subtle tribute to Zandri.
The bodice flowed into an elaborate blood-red skirt with a waterfall of black beads painstakingly woven into the fabric. Its long train promised to make walking difficult, though Scarlett would have delighted in taking her time, gliding through the throne room while her nobles looked on.
‘It’s certainly . . . eye catching,’ I said, surveying myself in the full-length mirror.
Lillian bit back a smile. ‘That it is. But by the time I’m done, you’ll be able to pull it off.’
An attendant hurried up to me, dabbing some rose oil on my pulse points while her companions laid out sparkling jewels on the vanity table. I smiled and thanked them, still uncomfortable being waited on. My surroundings didn’t help: the empress’s chambers were large and echoey and overly opulent.
But Cassius and I had already spoken about remodelling a set of new chambers to share. Neither of us wanted the ghost of Emperor Kalias hanging over our reign.
‘You’re really okay with this?’ I murmured to Lillian as she darkened my eyes with kohl. ‘I know you always wanted me to marry Aric. I should have asked you before . . .’ I glanced down at the ruby gleaming on my finger.
Lillian touched my hand gently. When I looked up at her, there was no trace of blame or hesitation on her face. ‘Aric would have wanted you to find love. No matter who you marry, you will always be my family.’
I smiled back at her, more grateful than I could express. ‘And you will always be mine.’
Lillian began weaving black pearls through the wavy strands of my dark hair. I tilted my head, admiring the way they caught the light. ‘I’ll always be happy to design clothing for you, Mira, and to visit the palace . . .’ Lillian trailed off, as if she wasn’t sure how to say what she needed to.
So I said it for her.
‘But you don’t want to be a palace dressmaker,’ I finished. ‘You want to open your own shop.’
Lillian’s eyes met mine, and the spark in them – the excitement – made my heart swell.
It had been a long time since I’d seen her look like that.
‘Exactly. I’m sure I can lease a building in Ravalia, and in time, perhaps I can expand to Aldara.
It would be nice to have an excuse to visit my mother more regularly. ’
‘Perhaps you can go into business with the weaver,’ I said, and chuckled at Lillian’s long-suffering expression.
‘I just hope my mother doesn’t start matchmaking again,’ Lillian muttered. ‘She made a point of telling me all about the eligible men in Aldara. I don’t know how she’s going to take it when I tell her I’ve decided not to marry.’
I blinked at my friend in surprise. ‘When did you decide that?’
‘I don’t know exactly,’ Lillian said, biting her lip.
‘At some point I just stopped wanting the things my mother raised me to want – like a husband and children. I learnt to depend on myself, and I discovered that I liked the freedom of it.’ She paused.
‘Perhaps someone will come along who changes my mind, but I’m not relying on that.
I want to focus on creating a business. Something that’s all mine. ’
Her words – and the conviction in them – affected me deeply.
I hadn’t noticed how much Lillian had changed until now.
She still looked the same – pretty and seemingly delicate – but she was stronger and more independent than I remembered.
I was glad something good had come from everything she had been through.
A fanfare of trumpets rang out in the distance. The signal that the ceremony was about to begin.
‘I’ll see you down there,’ Lillian said. And then, with an impish smile, ‘Your Majesty.’
She slipped out of the double doors, motioning for the attendants to accompany her.
I took a deep breath and straightened my shoulders. The young woman in the mirror stared back at me, no longer as naive or angry as the one who had first set foot in the Ravalian Court.
As I studied my reflection, I thought of how far I had come. And how far I still had to go.
I felt calmer and more centred when I turned and strode out into the hallway.
I had thought my surroundings would bother me, dredging up memories of a past better forgotten.
But that past had shaped me into the person I had become, forged in a crucible of fire.
In many ways, I felt like I had finally found my purpose.
And the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.
Cassius was waiting for me at the bottom of the grand staircase. He was dressed in black breeches and a crimson high-collared top with accents of gold. A ceremonial sword gleamed at his side.
Our eyes locked as he turned, and I felt it again – that spark between us. Like an eternal flame, always burning, always drawing me back to him.
‘Are you ready?’ Cassius asked when I reached the bottom step. I heard the double meaning in his voice.
Was I ready to do this? To commit to ruling at his side – to commit to him ?
I raised my chin and nodded. A slow drumbeat reached my ears as we approached the towering doors leading to the throne room.
A sense of rightness overcame me. Whether Cassius knew it or not, he had saved my life many times in the Ravalian Court. When I had needed it most, he had been there, offering me something to fight for. Encouraging me to do what was necessary to survive the Trials and achieve my vengeance.
I realised then that I couldn’t have done it without him.
The guards pushed open the doors, exposing the colourful, buzzing crowd beyond.
But Cassius didn’t have eyes for them. He only had eyes for me as he extended his arm.
This time, I recognised the gesture for what it really was, and what it always had been. A lifeline.
‘Together,’ he murmured, his voice silken.
‘Together,’ I echoed, and took hold of his arm.