70. AURELIA

Chapter seventy

AURELIA

W e reached my tower outside of the castle. The grassy area around was perfect to land all our dragons and was out of the view of everyone.

The dirt swarmed in puffs of smoke around us as our dragons each landed with power and confidence beneath us. Their wings outstretched, the rush of air from their momentum stormed the surrounding trees, and the leaves in chaos brushed from side to side.

Each of us dismounted our dragons. Abner effortlessly carried Luella's lifeless form in his arms, moving through the familiar field where I had spent countless hours gazing into the distance during my years in the tower. With fond smiles directed toward our dragons, they soared back into the sky, knowing we would reunite soon.

The Scalebound supported me as we walked through the familiar gardens which were greener than ever, passing through the glassed back entrance of the castle, leading to the grand, elaborate ballroom.

My mother was near the bottom of the staircase, blotting her face with a lace napkin. Servants gathered at her side. Nana was right next to her, eyes searching. The moment she made eye contact with me, she rushed to embrace me.

"My dear!" she exclaimed, excitement fueling her voice. My mother called out my name and came to hug me as well. "Scalebornes," Nana exclaimed, intrigued by seeing others.

Their eyes drew to Luella's body, hanging from Abner's arms. "Can someone help her?" I cried, a few tears still fresh in my eyes.

A few maids came up and helped her body down, taking her right to the infirmary for now. They were hesitant to do so, seeing that we were all Scalebornes, but my mother commanded them, putting them in their place. My mother's skin had cleared up more, as the poison was being treated. The same was clear with my Nana. They looked sickly still with purple bags under their eyes, and their skin was a light pastel gray.

I didn't want anyone to fear us, but I also didn't want to live in fear anymore, either. Things were going to change from now on.

"Mother," I said loudly, hoping everyone else could hear us, "Meet my friends, the Scalebound. And, Damian," I added, noting that he was not a Scaleborne, but they could make that assumption themselves from his lack of golden eyes.

"This is Abner, Angie, Clementine, and Loker," I pointed to each of them. Abner nodded his head, Angie's mouth twisted into a smile, and Clemmy waved her hand enthusiastically, her leg still limping. Loker went to my mother and grandmother, kissing their hands. It hurt not being able to introduce Luella. I missed her smile and the bounce in her step.

"It is so nice to meet you all," my mother said kindly. Then she turned to me. "Aurelia," she paused, and I wondered if she would become emotional, "a lot has happened in the last two weeks. I want you to know that I love you and want you to take your rightful place on the throne. Today." She said it so quickly that I struggled to process her words. I had never heard her say the words I love you to me before. She had never expressed any form of emotion to me, making me feel as though I was never her daughter to begin with.

"Today," I repeated, unsure that I heard her correctly.

"Right now," she confirmed. My throat became dry and scratchy.

"What about Tobias?"

"I want you to take your rightful place on the throne," he said, stepping out into view. "I have a feeling that you have some big things in store. Even if I don't get to marry you," he said, his head tilting, eyeing Damian, who placed a claim over me in the form of holding me close to him. "I would still like to be head knight if you would allow," Tobias said, bowing.

He almost made up for killing Laneux 1 –almost.

I pondered his offer, thinking of him possibly becoming the head knight. His control and assertiveness would be a great benefit to the kingdom, and with the events that had just happened, I knew he wouldn't mind helping the knights to work with Scalebornes and vice versa.

"Yes," I said, after a moment of pausing, watching as he rocked back and forth on the heels of his feet, antsy to hear what else I had to say. "But there will be conditions. You will have a co-head knight to share the duties with. So that there is always someone here at the castle, and I want it to be a Scaleborne." I glanced at Loker behind me, knowing that he would be more than capable of the job.

He raised his eyes high, his fingers nervously sliding through the strands of his hair. "Me?" he asked, his tone surprised.

"Yes, if you will accept?" I asked, smiling his way. His face lit up in response, the golden flush rising to his cheeks.

"Of course," he said, bowing. Angie was next to him and slapped him hard on the back. However, I couldn't tell if she was congratulating him or mocking him with the smirk that sat so smugly on her face.

I turned back to face my mother, ready to accept what else was needed of me.

"People are waiting outside the castle walls as we speak. They know that the Deathlies were killed, and they are looking for answers. This is the perfect time to announce your position and to build trust with the kingdom." She then looked at each of my friends, a smile curving on her lips. "I need to thank you. Thank you all. You have saved our kingdom."

I knew what I had to do, but nerves struck my body. This was something that I had always wanted, but now that it was here, I wasn't sure that I wanted it anymore.

"Go on! Hurry!" Angie said behind me, pushing me toward the front.

"Wait!" Damian said as the anticipation grew in my body. Everyone's eyes were on me. My eyes softened, waiting for him to speak. "You always have a choice, Aurelia. Is this what you want?" he asked. "I'll be by your side, no matter your decision."

My heart fluttered. I had a decision. It was my decision. It was something that I deserved, but I didn't have to if I didn't want to. I remembered my father's last words, ‘You'd be a remarkable queen.'

It was something that I had always wanted. However, glancing at all of the Scalebornes, I saw freedom, but they were here with me. This was freedom–being with my loved ones. The possibility of dragons being accepted was freedom. The possibility that I could make such an impactful change felt like freedom.

"Yes," I said with confidence. Knowing that I had changed, but I was still determined to better the kingdom, to make the kingdom a better place for the ones that I loved.

1. Laneux (Law-neh-ooh)