Adelina stood on the massive, empty dais in the throne room. All thrones had been removed and the space was already decorated for a coronation; Raena’s.

Instead of the first-born, Giselle would be crowned.

The nobles, courtiers, and citizens were deadly silent in their seats. The doors were thrown wide open and the floor-to-ceiling windows were open as well. Citizens pressed against the windows and the door as guards held them back from actually crossing into the room.

More people filled the courtyard behind the doors and they spilled out into the streets. Massive displays hovered everywhere and hundreds of recorders flitted about, afraid to miss anything for the livestream. The programming was flawless and their human controllers deep in the palace watched and directed.

Normally a coronation was a retirement, a passing of the crown from one to the next and the colors were riotous and wonderful to behold as every person wore their best. This was a tragedy and every single person wore grey with two purple armbands to signify the royal deaths. King Orion had been beloved and Raena feared, but now no one knew what to expect and they all looked to her.

Adelina’s grey gown framed her tiny waist and the spidersilk gossamer like webs across her chest and arms. The skirts draped to the floor. The urge to cry was gone with the rest of her emotions. Despite her mourning gown and the two purple bracelets on her right wrist Adelina would have to wait to truly mourn her father and sister.

The signet ring felt heavy as she clasped her hands at waist-height and made sure her shoulders were back. “Citizens of Draga,” Adelina said, loud and clear for all to hear. “It is a sad day for everyone. We have lost our king and a princess in one night from tragedy, not war.”

She paused and sought out familiar faces, faces of the people in the windows as they all waited to find out what would happen to them. There was some nervousness as all those eyes looked at her, but Nadyah was on the sidelines with Ian. Veri and Asher were close as well and so was Varan, her official escort in all capacities now.

Adelina felt stronger than she had ever felt before, and the thief she’d known for cycles had given her words of encouragement and enough fire to feed her soul for this endeavor.

Varan had gotten the message regarding their marriage contract at the same time as she and he was summoned to the palace not long after once the king had been declared officially deceased. Adelina hadn’t had the time or opportunity to say more than two words to him, and if she were completely honest with herself she was too exhausted – emotionally and physically to say much of anything outside of what was required of her.

“Both have ruled well,” Adelina said, ignoring the way the recorders zoomed around her. “They have set us on the right course and now all we have to do is follow it.” The tiara she wore dug into her skull and the migraine would be blinding, but Adelina pressed on because no matter how she felt personally – no matter the pain she felt clawing against her insides, begging to be let out – she had a responsibility to the people.

“We are gathered here today to crown our next ruler, and put to rest those who have served us so well.” Adelina looked to Asher and he signaled the musicians. Soon, Giselle would be queen and then Adelina could run and hide among the thieves’ court once more. “Please rise.”

Every single person stood, and the music began. Drums sounded a melody that called to the wolf inside and Adelina licked her lips as she felt a flutter in her belly. With no previous ruler present she was the one to crown her sister as the Heir. Her heart fluttered and Adelina prayed she wouldn’t fail.

Giselle appeared at the doors to the throne room in the magnificent white dress that was supposed to have been Raena’s. It had been altered at the last minute to fit Giselle who was a little larger due to her muscles.

A white dress to signify new beginnings…she stood out against all the grey.

Adelina tried to ignore the wrongness she felt at having Giselle wear something Raena was supposed to have worn, how Raena should be walking down that aisle and not Giselle.

The new crown princess stepped forward, and attendants held the train of her dress until it was straightened. They followed as Giselle sedately walked down the aisle and the drums grew louder, a celebration of sound. Giselle’s skin was nearly green, but her face was blank and her head held high. She stopped before Adelina and the drums ceased.

It didn’t matter how any of them really felt, they all had a duty to perform.

“Crown Princess Giselle, do you accept the responsibility given to the Draga family all those millennia ago?” Adelina asked, following the ceremony to the letter.

“I accept,” Giselle answered. Her voice was strong and clear – echoed by all the displays around the palace and the city.

“Then rise and take your oath.”

The attendants settled the cloak around Giselle’s shoulders and the chain of command. It was designed after their father’s but more delicate in nature to fit the female femininity. Giselle took the three steps onto the dais and Adelina stepped aside. The train of that white gown settled on the stairs like a river of glittering fabric.

Asher appeared on one side of Adelina and William on the other. Ian stood on the edge as far away from them as possible, but Adelina had insisted he be present. Their mother was preparing the bodies for the funeral that would be held right after the ceremony – delivered by Giselle as her first act as Queen.

Silently Asher handed Adelina the ceremonial knife and she slid it across her thumb quick and hard. Blood welled and one could hear a pin drop as the recorders zoomed in and the scent of royal blood filled the room.

Adelina drew the mark that Giselle would later receive in gold across her brow. “With royal blood I mark you as the ruler of our people. Swear you will rule only to protect and not to harm.”

“I swear on my life that I will rule with the people in my heart and mind. The Three-Faced Goddess, witness my oath to protect the people and serve the Crown.”

The knife went back to Asher. William as the youngest held the crown. He passed it to Adelina and then took a step back; the sad look on his face echoed everything Adelina felt deep inside. She took the heavy gold crown dripping with black opals, diamonds, and rubies. Only a few more minutes and they would be done.

“With this crown I name you Queen Giselle of Draga,” Adelina declared.

Giselle knelt and Adelina settled the heavy piece on her sister’s head. “I, Queen Giselle, accept this responsibility, and the responsibility to our people.”

“Rise, my Queen.” Adelina’s soft words were caught by the recorders and they echoed them back a hundred times.

Giselle rose and turned to face the people. Asher escorted Adelina down the steps and the drums beat only once when they knelt before Giselle. Every citizen followed their lead, kneeling and placing a hand over their heart. “Long live the queen,” Adelina whispered and a thousand voices repeated the words.

“You may rise,” Giselle said. Her voice shook a bit, but she managed to hold it together.

Once they stood Giselle looked at the crowd and the green tinge dissipated as she squared her shoulders. “It is time to send two royals back into the arms of the goddess.” Without fanfare she whipped the train behind her and descended.

Giselle no longer needed an escort, she was Queen.

As Adelina followed, she wondered who would be the king consort. With Raena’s death everything had been thrown into the air. Varan had been declared Adelina’s future husband, and there was no way to end the contract even if she wanted to. Giselle hated who Adelina was now that she knew the truth. Adelina doubted she would have been able to get her marriage rights back regardless.

The citizens parted as they followed Giselle into the massive courtyard. Adele stood next to the two pyres with a torch. The soot marks across her face had already been made – prayers to the gods and goddesses to care for their loved ones in the afterlife and the sign of deep mourning.

One by one she marked her children and then Ian. They each picked up a torch and lit it against hers. Adelina took her place next to Giselle. As her sister intoned the sacred words in the ancient language she stared at the two pyres.

The king and the once, future queen.

Adelina was devastated at her father’s death, at all that he would miss. He had been so young. Her father would never see any of his children wed, he would never get to meet any of his grandchildren, or enjoy retirement as he should have been able to. There would be no hobbies for a retired king with a grandchild or two on his knee.

Her father would never give her away at her wedding, or watch her paint, or hold her children. Adelina lit his pyre after Giselle.

She moved to Raena’s and hesitated.

After everything her sister had done, Adelina still loved her. She had grown up with her after all and a lifetime of kind and fond memories was all that was left of the dark and intense queen-to-be. Fear of that queen was gone and all that remained was the sister she’d had; the sister who’d laughed and talked with her about clothes and dresses and males.

Raena would never know true love; she would never bear children Adelina could love on and cuddle and secretly spoil as they were taught the royal ways. She would never know if Raena could have grown into a good queen. Then Adelina lit Raena’s pyre and refused to blink and let the tears fall.

They threw their torches into the burning flames roaring into the night sky.

And then Adele began her song.

It was a deep keening; a gorgeous wailing of words and sadness and death. The ancient language beat against Adelina’s breast with the soft sound of the drums. When her mother finished the mourning of her husband and daughter she began the ancient song to celebrate their lives.

Then Giselle joined in, and then it was Adelina’s turn. When she raised her voice to sing about the love her father gave her, the throaty sounds and rumbling words soothed part of the ache in her soul.

Her father would never be able to give her advice again, or tell her when she was about to make a mistake, or laugh with her – but he would live on in her, and in Asher; in William, Giselle, and Ian. His memory would not be forgotten.

They did the same for Raena, singing of her life and death and promising to carry her memory so she would not be forgotten as the fires blazed and the smoke disappeared into the night. The stars were clear and bright with all the lights of the city and the palace extinguished. Only the fires lit the night like in the ancient days.

When they finished their song it was their people’s turn.

Millions of voices lifted up into the night sky, and the sound of them made it somehow easier to breathe.

Varan stepped forward and slipped his hand into hers. Nadyah came up on her other side, and Veri joined Asher. Nobles came closer, filling the spaces between the royals. They dipped their fingers into the fire and marked their faces as part of their mourning and condolences.

They filed out and others filled their place. All night the fires burned and the people marked their faces with soot to show their grief. King Orion would be missed by all and Raena’s death had shaken them to their core.

Not even a royal was immune to fear.

Adelina only hoped Giselle would be able to get them through this war.

Roxy bumped her shoulder and dipped her head in acknowledgement before marking her own face. Then she disappeared back into the crowd and Adelina felt a tear fall. Even a female who had never liked the royals had come to show her respect. Even if she only did it for Varan, Adelina would never forget.

She tipped her head back and howled to the night sky, releasing every emotion she’d buried inside with the sound. It was a mournful howl, a loss of pack members that could not be replaced. Asher joined and soon her entire family sang a different song as their people continued to mark their faces with soot and ash, singing the ancient words for a great king and a daughter of Draga.

Giselle took the ceremonial knife and performed the last ritual. She sliced open her palm and let her blood fall on their father’s pyre and then Raena’s – the blood of the new ruler. Once that was done she too looked up at the stars and howled long and loud.

Both moons bathed them in their light and Adelina closed her eyes, breathing in the scent of fire, her people, and the night sky. Varan squeezed her hand and she opened her eyes and found his searching her face.

“Regretting the diamond?” she asked.

“I was just thinking,” he said slowly. “What better way to keep Orion’s memory alive, than to care for one of his greatest treasures?” Varan kissed her cheek gently.

Adelina blinked back her tears and swallowed the emotion she felt clogging her throat. There was nothing she could say to those words, nothing that would tell him how much she appreciated them and the honor Varan had. She was so very grateful he would be her husband.

They both stared into the roaring fires with soot-covered faces under the twinkling night until only embers remained.

* * *