Queen of Light (The Light-Bringer Trilogy, #3)

Twenty-Eight

The castle was a buzz of activity as servants bustled about getting ready for the coronation.

Cal and Matias laid in bed. Matias shifted and set her down in her bed.

"Where are you going?" Cal asked, reaching out for him.

Matias leaned over and kissed her. "I am going to get ready for your coronation."

Cal watched her husband leave before getting out of bed herself. Servants entered and drew her bath. They scrubbed her hair and filed her nails. She was helped into a white ball gown with gold stitching and beading. Her hair was braided up into a crown.

Matias knocked and entered. His eyes raked over her. "You look stunning."

Cal took in Matias. His creamy white tunic and stormy grey trousers-he was dashing. "You clean up well, too."

He held a hand out to her, Miles's silver wedding band on his finger. "Are you ready?"

She nodded. "I'm more than ready."

They made their way to the throne room, and the large double doors opened. She followed Matias down the aisle, all in attendance bowing as she passed. He stopped at the foot of the dais and bowed as she ascended the steps.

On the final step, she kneeled. This was going to be the last time she bowed or kneeled to anyone.

The priest began.

"Do you, Calista Pyro, swear on your life, your honour, and your crown rouse your powers for the greater good, and to help benefit Lucis?"

"I swear it."

"Do you, Calista Pyro, swear on your life, your honour, and your crown, to be a monarch of benevolence?"

"I swear it."

"Do you swear on your life, your honour, and your crown that you will come to Lucis's defence, do whatever it takes to protect your people and your kingdom-no matter the cost-in times of war and conflict?"

"I swear it."

The priest placed the crown of gold on her head and said, "You may rise."

Cal got to her feet and turned to face the crowd. She raised a hand. "There is one more monarch we have to crown. Prince Matias."

Matias climbed the steps and knelt before her. The priest handed Cal a second crown, one that Cal had commissioned. She repeated what the priest had said just minutes prior. Cal placed the golden crown on his head and Matias rose. They looked down at their people and the the soldiers who fought alongside them.

The crowd burst into raucous applause. She found Andrei in a wheeled chair, a boy hiding in Selene's skirts. Lance and Lucas smiled, their eyes alight.

"I present to thee, first of their names, Queen Calista and King Matias Pyro-the King and Queen of Light!"