Chapter 205: An End and A Beginning
>>Aelin
Darcelle’s funeral was quiet.
No one except the few of us who knew she was alive attended it and she was quietly buried.
I looked at the dragon brothers.
When Draegon first killed Darcelle, he didn’t allow anyone to see the dead body. Not even when Draken and Drakkar begged him. That is why they were bitter when Draegon ascended the throne.
But one of the demon rules is that the victor of a formal duel can decide to do anything with the dead body, if there is a dead body. So while they were initially bitter, they came to accept it.
But the real reason Draegon didn’t allow them to see her was because Darcelle was alive then. Otherwise, he might have let them have the dead body then too. After all, after a few weeks, he let them see Darcelle in the tower.
The funeral ended quietly.
People had their suspicions about the dragon who came to save them and saved countless lives while killing two giants but everyone was so busy surviving, no one was able to tell it was Darcelle, and not one of the dragon brothers.
I turned to look at Seraphine.
She quietly looked at the grave and then raised her hands to pray for her enemy.
It just went on to say how kind she was.
I let out a sigh, then looked at Draegon
The time had come.
We had a small party organized for next week where he was going to formally introduce his mother to the world.
I glanced at Seraphine again, she looked like a normal person now and God was she beautiful.
I looked back at the grave, then silently stood there with everyone else as the ritual came to an end
***
>>Ariston
The mirror stared back at me with a stranger’s body. My body.
I swallowed hard, but it did nothing to ease the tightness in my throat. My skin was damp from the bath, steam curling around me, and yet goosebumps prickled up my arms.
My gaze dropped.
Small, unfamiliar curves rose on my chest, tiny, but unmistakable. My breath hitched. My hands twitched at my sides before snapping up to cover them, as if the mirror could burn me for looking.
Panic flared hot in my stomach, twisting until it felt like I’d been punched.
I closed my eyes shut
I knew this would happen. I knew it but now looking at the proof made it seem so weird!
The thought alone made my face heat, and I glanced away from my own reflection, but it was too late, the image was already burned into my mind.
The stranger in the glass was me.
I slowly opened my eyes and looked down at my crotch... or atleast what was there but was gone now.
I pursed my lips.
Because I chose Drakkar, my body had morphed to accept him.
I let out a sigh and looked in the mirror again. My overall features had softened a bit too
....
I paused and rubbed my hands on my arms.
The thing is, my heart had accepted Drakkar a long time ago. It was my mind that continued to stop me.
Even back at the tavern when Drakkar and I slept together, he noticed the changes in my body and even asked about it but I distracted him.
I shook my head at myself and grabbed my clothes.
This is going to be very difficult to adjust to.
***
>>Aelin
The great hall shimmered like it had been plucked out of a dream.
Golden lanterns hung in cascading rows from the high, arched ceiling, their warm glow mingling with the silver light of floating orbs that drifted lazily in the air. Strings of deep crimson silk ran along the pillars, embroidered with golden thread in patterns of moons and roses, symbols of the royal family. The scent of spiced wine and fresh blossoms lingered in every breath, and soft music from the court’s finest ensemble threaded through the space, each note warm and welcoming.
Tonight was hers. Seraphine’s night.
I turned my gaze to the stage, where Seraphine now sat, poised like a queen though she wore the gentle smile of a mother. Her gown was of midnight silk, speckled with what looked like falling stars, and her hair caught every light in the room. One by one, the demons approached her, nobles, scholars, warriors, bowing or placing a hand to their chest before offering their greetings. Their words were warm, but the respect in their eyes was warmer still. She was the mother of the demon king, and they treated her as such.
My lips curved into a smile. This was right. This was how it should be.
I let myself drift through the hall, the soft rustle of my dress following me like a whisper. The marble floor beneath my feet reflected the glimmer of the chandeliers, so it was as if I walked on stars. Everywhere I passed, faces turned toward me.
Some bowed. Some offered polite words, "Queen Aelin," ... "It is an honor," ... "Your bravery inspires us." But all of them had something in their eyes that made my chest feel both heavy and light , admiration.
It was in the small, grateful smile of an elder whose son had returned from the chaos
It was in the shy glance of a young woman clutching a flower crown.
It was in the subtle nod of a warrior who had fought and survived
They didn’t just see me as an outsider here. They saw me as part of this world even though I was still human.
For a moment, I let myself bask in it, in the laughter, the music, the light, the way every piece of the night seemed to glow in celebration
I was halfway across the hall when something caught my eye.
The balcony doors, tall, arched, framed in black iron, stood slightly ajar. The sheer curtains billowed inward with the evening breeze, carrying the cool bite of the night air into the warmth of the party. No guards stood near it, and no one else seemed to notice.
For some reason, my feet moved toward it.
I pushed the curtain aside with the back of my hand, peering out. The moonlight silvered the marble of the balcony floor, but before I could see whether anyone was there
I froze.
Voices.
Familiar voices.
A man’s voice, sharp and full of disbelief:
"It’s really gone! It magically disappeared!?"
My pulse quickened. I knew that voice.
Then came another, one I knew even better. Softer now, lacking the harshness I remembered, but unmistakable all the same:
"Shut up, Drakkar. It’s gone, so it’s gone! It’s not coming back!"
The words sank in like cold water running down my spine.
What’s gone?
