Chapter 114

Icalled the twelve members of the Guild forward along the balcony, starting, of course, with Geraldine Grus.

The stars had guided me in my choices on the Guild members, delivering the names of those who were worthy so that I was confident in my selections. And now it was time to unite them.

The crowd cheered as Geraldine bowed low to the twins where they sat in the Hydra throne side by side, two souls sharing one crown. She raced forward in her flowing silver dress and fell to her knees on a little navy cushion that had been placed at my feet. I held the Chalice of Flames to her lips which contained the Guild potion, and a squawk left her, her hands trembling with excitement.

My brief time with my father on the battlefield had secured the knowledge I needed for this task at last. He had assured me that the potion would cast no bond upon any who drank it, but it would brand them with the mark of the Guild, giving them the power to wield the Guild Stone that they were gifted. They would become a Fate Weaver, and no star could ever interfere with their decisions or lay a curse upon their soul again. It was a position of honour that would place them in a government which would advise the reigning sovereigns and also have the power to vote on any laws the twins decreed.

As Guild Master, I held a connection to the stars which would allow me to check the loyalty of all members over the course of their service, and ensure no traitors emerged among them. If such a thing were to happen regardless of my efforts, then the united, loyal members could wield the power of the Guild Stones to overpower the treacherous member. This extended to the sovereign that the Guild served, so no more tyrants could seize the kingdom in future. The most fearsome power of the stones could be unlocked using stone circles, such as the snare that had already proven its power in its capturing of Clydinius, but also circles of truth could be formed where no lie could be told, and many other great powers could be unlocked that would help us in bringing long-lasting peace to the kingdom.

For the twelve to be united, the stars had whispered to me of Fae that fit each star sign of the zodiac, and my father had confirmed to me on the battlefield that it was their rising signs which mattered. So now, I had twelve names written upon a scroll, each rising star sign listed beside them, creating the full zodiac circle.

As Geraldine sipped from the chalice and I spoke the words inscribed upon the metal, the stars began to whisper around us. Her eyes lit with a new and strange kind of light then faded away as I lowered the cup from her mouth.

"Well fell my jolly woodlands," she breathed in awe, and I placed the Leo Guild Stone in her palm to match her rising sign.

"Rise, Geraldine Gundellifus Gabolia Gundestria Grus, Fate Weaver, protector of the True Queens and sacred guider of the kingdom," I commanded.

She stood then gasped, looking to her right forearm as the mark of the Guild ignited beneath her skin, starlight sparkling along the constellations on the glittering sword. She released a hiccough of emotion then bowed to Darcy and Tory again as it faded beneath her skin once more.

"I will serve Solaria as well as a mouse in a camel house, my ladies," she gushed then raced off to dive on Max in an embrace that nearly knocked him from his feet.

"Darius Acrux," I called next, and my friend smiled cockily as he took a knee before me, and I repeated the process.

I called upon Caleb, Seth, Max, Xavier, Melinda and Tiberius. Then it was Imenia Brumalis followed by Eugene Dipper who had proved their mettle both in war and in their ruthless, unwavering allegiance to the twins. The High Nymph Cordette was next, securing her kind's position of equality among us. It was a tentative alliance, but the twins had already made public announcements about the Nymphs' newfound status in our land and had threatened to punish any intolerance between Fae and Nymph kind.

Finally, I drank from the chalice myself, and that secured the rising twelve. Gabriel, as the Royal Seer, was not a part of the Guild, but his position in the twins' court was of an importance that spoke for itself.

The potion rushed deep into my chest, warmth spreading under my ribs and sending a flood of strength into my veins. I lifted my gaze to the blue sky, a glitter of starlight there telling of the stars who had come to watch this world-changing coronation. With a warm flood in my chest, I felt my fate slipping from their grasp into mine, like they were handing over the baton. My gaze fell from them to the woman I would weave my fates with from this day forward, my beautiful mate sitting on the throne she was long destined for, her green eyes finding mine and a serene smile resting on her lips. There she was, the queen I aways knew her to be, finally in her rightful place. And oh what a fucking delight it was to see her there.

I walked forward, bowing to them both and offering the chalice to Darcy's lips. "Drink, my Queen."

Her eyes remained on mine as she did as I asked, and I spoke the words of the ritual that marked her as a queen with the centre of the Guild, linking her to the twelve as they were linked to her in a circle of protection. Then I held the chalice to Tory, and she drank as I spoke the words that untethered her fate from the sky once and for all.

"This story is yours to tell now," I told them both. "Take the pen and guide us towards our happily ever after."