34. Saoirse

Saoirse

T he air was thick with the scent of heavy perfumes as I busied myself with the final touches of Xan's wedding attire, my hands trembling slightly as I adjusted the delicate lace of her gown. We'd sent away all her maids, opting for just the two of us. Today was the day she'd marry Prince Kian, securing the alliance between the Sol and Ocea kingdoms.

And the day we finally got the shard.

Xan sat quietly, her usual spark subdued by the weight of the day. Our mother was nowhere to be found, but that didn't surprise me. Even though they favored Xan, I can't say that she'd ever known the touch of a mother's warmth, either. It hurt to see her so alone, and yet still so brave, the entire fate of the alliance resting on her thin shoulders.

"Hold still," I murmured, smoothing out a small wrinkle on her gown. "I'm almost done."

Xan gave me a small, sad smile. "Thank you for helping me."

I looked at her, trying to memorize every detail of her face, every nuance of her expressions. Today, more than ever, I admired her. To sacrifice her happiness for the good of her people was a choice I didn't think I could ever make.

"You will make a wonderful queen," I said, my voice catching slightly. "Kian should be feeling very lucky that he will have you by his side."

Xan sighed. "I hope so. I want to believe that this is the right thing to do, but it's so hard when I think of what I'm giving up." She turned in her seat until we were face to face. "I used to have this fantasy. That I would become queen, unmarried, and get to choose for myself." An exasperated laugh shook her shoulders. "How stupid that would have been."

I reached down, covering my hand with hers. "And I used to have a fantasy that I would take a bath in a wellspring, and my powers would magically awaken. I wish things could be different. For both of us." I swallowed hard, knowing that this might be the last time I would see her for a very long time. My decision to flee with Vane was firm, weighing heavily on my heart. I wanted to tell her, to explain why I had to go, but the words wouldn't come. In a few short hours, we would be on our way back to Umbra with the shard, and she would be beginning her new life with Prince Kian, splitting their time between Ocea and Sol.

Eventually, they would unite both the kingdoms.

"You've always been the strong one," I said softly, tears welling in my eye as I looked at my sister. Only eighteen, and her life was already being taken away from her. "I'm so proud of you, Xan."

Her tears came to join my own, but she blinked them away, swallowing hard. "I've never seen it that way, you know. You hide your trauma well, but I'm not stupid. There is not a person in this world that I look up to more than my big sister."

Her words hit deep, the pain and love mingling in my heart as one. I took a deep breath, the urge to protect her overwhelming. "I'm leaving after the ceremony. With Vane. Y-You should come with us. Don't go through with it. "

Surprise blossomed in her eyes, then longing, before they shuttered close, reopening with hardened resolve. "I can't, Saoirse, you know that. My place is here. My duty is to our kingdom, to our people. And now, I guess, to the Miren as well."

I knew she would say no, but it didn't make the refusal hurt any less. "I love you," I said simply, grasping her hand in mine.

"I know," she whispered. "And that means everything to me."

I pulled her into a hug, the first time I'd ever felt like I truly needed her touch, and held her tightly as if she was about to fly away. I wanted to stay in this moment with her forever, to protect her from the world and what it demanded of her.

"Just promise me one thing," I said, pulling back to look into her eyes.

"What's that?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Promise me you'll take care of yourself," I said, my heart aching. "And no matter what, find what it is that will make you happy."

The grand hall was a spectacle, heavily outfitted with silken banners, looking like a garden had exploded in the room. Their fragrant petals filled the air with their sweet, intoxicating scent. Golden sun streamed through the windows, casting patterns of shimmering gold over the assembled guests, and there were a lot of them. It seemed like everyone in Lanthus might have made it out for the wedding, and a pit in my stomach opened up, threatening to swallow me whole.

It was almost over, the cool vials of potion resting against my thigh a reminder of that.

I stood near the altar, my hands clasped tightly in front of my ghastly dress, rusting softly with every nervous movement. Across from me, on the groom's side, stood Len. His eyes darted around nervously, avoiding mine except for the polite smile he gave me. Was it just nerves, or was he having second thoughts?

The kings and queen sat on their thrones slightly behind the altar, their presence commanding the space as we waited for the ceremony to start. My father, King of Sol, sat with his cold, calculating eyes transfixed ahead. His refusal to look at me was actually quite impressive, and much preferred. Next to him sat the man I assumed to be King Nerilin, Len and Kian's father. I could see their faces reflected in his, the high cheekbones, the glittering scales that decorated his skin. He was just a larger, bearded version of the younger princes.

My mother stood, her extravagant gilded robe draping around her shoulders as she gripped the staff in one hand. I was much closer to it now. The symbol was clearly visible, the twisted thorne shape taking hold as a faint, magical glow emitted from its tip. It drew my eyes, and it almost felt like it was calling to me, begging me to take it. She took her place at the raised dais, giving Len a warm smile, and to me, a frigid shoulder. It'd been a miracle Xan had even gotten them to allow me to stand up here in the first place. On the edges of the room, Vane watched me, and I gave him a brief nod, a deep breath expanding my lungs.

The doors at the back of the hall opened, and Xan emerged, Prince Kian at her side. The murmurs of the guests hushed as everyone turned to watch them. Xan looked incredible in her wedding gown, the beaded embroidery accented with shimmering gold patterns, a dress that would be truly worthy for the sun god herself.

Kian walked beside her, every bit the appearance of a future king. His dark hair was neatly styled, his coal eyes bright and alert as he took in the guests, then his brother standing at the front, followed by his father.

As they approached the altar, Kian and Len exchanged a glance, a spark of something blooming in Kian's eyes as he left Xan with me, both of them turning to face the queen. I glimpsed Len's face behind his brother's shoulder, and unease bloomed in my gut at what I saw. My apprehension grew. I scanned the area, Vane's eyes catching mine, looking alert and ready for action. I hadn't seen her since confirming that morning, but Maeve should be in the kitchen, prepared to launch the distraction as soon as the time was right.

My mother's eyes gleamed as she cleared her throat, commanding the attention of everyone, and then began to speak.

"Today, we witness the union of two great kingdoms," she intoned, her voice carrying effortlessly through the hall. "Prince Kian of Ocea and Princess Xanthi of Sol, may your union bring peace and prosperity to both of our lands."

Xan and Kian stood side by side, their hands joined together. Len shifted uncomfortably, and my eyes fell to him again, his eyes meeting mine with a small smile that made my heart sink.

The queen raised the staff high, its light bathing Xan and Kian in a soft, ethereal glow, drawing my attention back to them. Any second now, Maeve would sound the distraction, and I'd need to ingest the invisibility potion as fast as possible. "With this union, we bless you with the strength and wisdom of all our ancestors before you. May your reign be just and true."

I watched, my breath catching, as the queen lowered the staff, placing it gently over the joining of their two hands. For a moment, all our plans, all our hopes, zeroed in on that one single artifact. I searched the crowd, my eyes going toward the kitchens, where Maeve should have activated the distraction. Where was she?

Len's eyes flicked toward Kian, who gave him an almost imperceptible nod as my mother continued to speak about unions and blessings. My stomach churned uneasily, and I shot a panicked glance to Vane, who was no longer there. Where was he?

Something was very, very wrong .

Suddenly, a loud crash echoed through the hall, a gasp bursting from the crowd. My heart leapt to my throat as I turned to see the source of the commotion. A tall, thin figure, cloaked entirely in black, had appeared at the far end of the room, a crossbow aimed directly at King Nerilin.

"Assassin!" someone shouted, and chaos erupted. Kian was already pushing Xan to the ground, pulling her flat to the floor, and Len did the same. Strong hands gripped me, pulling me back into a warm body. Earth and midnight enveloped me, the comforting scent of Vane as he pulled me off the dais.

The cloaked figure released the bolt, and it flew through the air with deadly precision. Everything seemed to slow down as I watched in horror. King Nerilin's dark eyes widened, but he was too slow to react. The bolt struck him in the chest, and he cried out in pain, clutching the wound as he fell back. Blood poured from the wound, staining his open robes a deep crimson. The life in his eyes flickered and then faded away, leaving only a lifeless shell slumped in the throne.

Guards rushed forward, weapons drawn and hands flared, but the assassin was already moving, wisps of shadow trailing behind them as they moved. My father stood, shouting orders, his cold eyes alight with fury.

"It's now or never, Saoirse," Vane said in my ear as his hand came up to my dress, nimbly slipping into the secret compartment, pulling an object from the holster strapped to my thigh. He threw it with a loud bang, and within seconds, we were enveloped in the inky black darkness of true night.