Queen of Fire (A Light-Bringer Prequel)

Thirty-Three

Miles placed a hand on Marilyn's shoulder and gently shook her awake.

"I'm awake," she said, sitting up. She looked up at Miles and the grin on his face. "Why are you grinning? What did you do?"

"I woke you up. You can thank me later," he said. "Also, our house guests—castle guests?—are leaving  today."

She looked down at the nightgown she was wearing. "This is going to be a long walk back to my room."

"You'll be fine. You're the queen, after all."

She rose from her chair and walked as fast as she could back to her room.

Marilyn bathed quickly, not bothering to summon the servants, and dressed in a loose red dress with long billowing sleeves. She grabbed the first cloak she found and rushed down hallways and staircases to the courtyard.

She came out just as Jasiah was about to mount his horse.

"Your Highness," she said, holding out her hand. "It was wonderful to finally meet you. I hope we can work together in the future."

"You have my eternal respect, Your Majesty," Jasiah replied, taking her hand. "Spei can't wait to work with you."

Marilyn let Jasiah mount his horse and watched as the Speians rode out to the harbour.

The Eirineftens were second to ride out.

"If you ever need anything, don't hesitate to send word," Lord Warren said.

The Apparatori left before the Krigereans.

"It was good seeing you again, Andrei," she told him as they hugged.

"You should come up again—announced, this time," he said.

"I will make sure of it."

Even as Marilyn ran up the stairs to her study to grab the letter she wrote for the Krigereans, she could've sworn she heard Andrei and his men howling like wolves.

She ran back down and was surprised to see Akaljot in the foyer instead of outside.

She broke into a grin as she approached. "Bear," she teased, hugging him.

"Sleep lover," he teased back. His expression looked regretful as he said, "I'm sorry that we couldn't work it out."

Marilyn shrugged. "It's fine."

They walked outside to the ensemble that waited for Akaljot. She looked over at Olek and the wagon behind him. Olek looked like all the joy had been sucked out of him.

"Thank you for finding me. Do you have any plans for once you get back to Soturi?" she asked.

"Give Volodomyr a proper burial," he answered. "Then it's back to looking for the Light-Bringer."

"I hope you find her. And I hope that you can finally get the daughter you wish for."

"Thanks."

"I'll come up once things are more stable and pay my respects to Volodomyr. You are also welcome anytime to Lucis." She held out the letter to him." "Make sure that Skarsgard and the council get this."

He took it from her, looked at it, and said, "Done."

"Thank you, Akaljot, for everything."

He smirked. "You're welcome, Firestarter."

Marilyn watched as Akaljot mounted his horse and rode away with the rest of the men who helped her.

Marilyn went back inside to get out of the cold.

As she passed her father's portrait in the library while looking for a book to read, she looked up at it and felt a sense of acceptance in his death. She no longer felt as if she was stuck trying to remember and mourn the time she got. Instead, she cherished all of the memories she had of them, and would be able to move on to make memories with her child.

"If I ever had a daughter, I would name her Aelina."

"Calista Aelina Pyro," she said out loud. "If you're a girl, that is."

—

Miles walked out into the temporary winter with no clue what his friend needed. Until he saw the black and silver clothes that she was holding.

"If you want me to change my clothes, all you have to do is ask me inside," he started.

Marilyn looked taken back. "There is no way in hell I'm making you wear these again," she assured him.

"Why are they here?"

"I have destroyed all but one of them. I think that you should destroy yours." Marilyn snapped her fingers and a small pile of firewood sparked and then burst into flames.

Miles grabbed the uniform he used to wear and threw it into the fire. He was done being everyone's pawn.

Miles and Marilyn stood and watched as the era of Ashlynn Pyro and the Witch-Hunters came to an end, and a new one began.