My face fell. He had finally accepted the emir’s proposal to marry Katerina. Why else would he go there? He had made his decision, and I wasn’t part of it.
“He has put his kingdom before you,” explained my grandmother, voicing my thoughts. “And you must do the same.” Her tone was still soft, but that didn’t make her words any less harsh or true.
I realized she pitied me and my stupid dreams of love. I was slowly starting to realize how blind I was, waiting and hoping against hope that Rafe would not marry Katerina and would instead come back for me. But that was the stuff of fairytales, and this was the real world. I had been only sixteen when I met him, and he had been my first love. At seventeen I wasn’t much older, but I was a tiny bit wiser. Maybe I thought I was in love because I didn’t know any better. But a small part of me was screaming this wasn’t true. That the love Rafe and I had was real. I brushed it aside. It was obviously not to be.
Rafe was married, and he was never coming back. If he had only waited, I would have given him an army. I would have helped him get his kingdom back if he had only come to me. But my grandmother was right; I had to do what was best for my kingdom. Marrying Tristan would help me gain the trust of the High Fae, and when the time came to fight Morgana I would have an army at my back.
I made my decision. I had to take my life into my own hands and move on.
I was Aurora Shadowbreaker, bringer of light and Dragonlord of the ancient house of Eos-Eirendil.
I was the Dawnstar. And I was going to change the world.
The Winds of Change
The hall was abuzz with stories of the battle of Abraxas, as it was now being called, and I walked into the grand hall on Tristan’s arm, wearing a dress of silver that flowed down to my ankles and hugged every curve. A hush fell over the room when they all noticed I had arrived.
The dowager had sent a flock of house sprites to my room with an array of dresses and jewelry to choose from. I wore long ropes of silvery gray pearls wound a few times around my neck. Glamoured clothes were nice, but they never matched the look and feel of hand-stitched dresses. My gown was beautifully embroidered with tiny white flowers and small pearls stitched into the fabric. The house sprites had fussed about me, doing up my hair in an elaborate design entwined with small white diamonds that sparkled in my hair as I moved.
Rhiannon had also sent me a variety of jeweled crowns to choose from, but I refused them all, choosing instead a small diadem of pearls. When I put a crown on my head, it would be in the throne room of the Star Palace in Illiador.
The High Fae bowed as I passed. Everyone had heard what happened, and they all knew who I really was: the Dawnstar, last heir of the ancient house of Eos-Eirendil.
The grand hall was suitably decorated for a betrothal feast. House sprites moved about, refilling glasses and serving bite-sized snacks on large silver platters. I popped one in my mouth as they passed by.
The High Fae were dressed to the hilt, sparkling with jewels and swathed in lengths of colorful fabrics. My grandmother sat on the dais with the dowager beside her. Penelope had recovered enough to come for the feast, and she smiled when I caught her eye. I had gone to see her earlier, but she had been resting and I didn’t want to disturb her. At least she was feeling better. I was glad to have her back.
“Where’s Cade?” I asked Tristan, looking around. Some of the Elders were noticeably absent, but I didn’t care. Tristan’s father had sought me out to let me know how pleased he was I had accepted. I didn’t remind him about how he had spoken to me earlier, but I would never forget.
“He’s not coming.” Tristan’s eyes were troubled. “Cade has taken Skye’s betrayal quite badly and blames himself.”
I shook my head. Poor Cade. “He shouldn’t blame himself. We all got taken in by her act.”
“I know. But Cade feels he should have realized sooner.”
“Nonsense. Where is he? I’ll go talk to him.”
Tristan caught my hand. “Leave it, Aurora. He’ll come when he’s ready.”
“But . . .”
My grandmother stood up, and the hall went silent.
She called Tristan and me up onto the dais. “My dear people of Elfi,” she began. “I am pleased to announce the betrothal of Prince Tristan of the Night Court to my granddaughter and heir, Princess Aurora of the ancient house of Eos-Eirendil.”
Cheers and claps went up from the crowd as my grandmother raised her silver goblet.
I turned to look at Tristan, whose eyes were fastened on me. He bent his head and kissed me in front of the whole room. My head swam as his lips touched mine. It lasted only a second, but it was not just a kiss. More like a promise of something else. I blushed as he moved back. Maybe being married to him wouldn’t be so bad after all.
“To Aurora and Tristan,” cheered the queen of the fae.
The crowd echoed, “To Aurora and Tristan.”
I turned to glance at Penelope, who was looking at me with shock on her face. She didn’t know! Why had my grandmother not told her?
High Fae started milling about to congratulate us, and I didn’t get a chance to talk to Penelope. Dinner was served and I sat beside Tristan, trying to make sense of the conversation around me. But I failed miserably; my mind was elsewhere,
