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

Twenty-Nine

Cal's feet were in agony the next morning, but she didn't care. She had danced the night away with Matias. They both had changed into different clothing. She had worn a hunter green gown for the ball, and Matias had matched her.

Matias... he was quite the dancer. It was their first dance as king and queen, husband and wife. Their dance was always a question and answer. Matias had spun and dipped and twirled her, her gold slippered feet peeking out from under her swishing skirts. The dance had delighted her to the point where she had crowned the two of them in fire.

And at the end of the dance... she had kissed him.

She looked up at Matias, who looked down at her through his lashes. "Good morning, my king. I greatly enjoyed last night."

Matias chuckled. "The dancing? Or the passion?"

She grinned up at him mischievously. "Both." Cal looked at the shafts of sunlight pouring through the windows and felt a stab of pain. "We have a trial today. We should probably get ready for it."

She got out of bed and covered herself with her robe.

"Or we could postpone it and continue where we left off," said Matias.

Heat flooded her cheeks as she remembered the previous night in bed with Matias. "Save it for tonight, Matt."

Matias helped her into a sunset orange gown before he dressed himself in a matching tunic and burnt umber trousers. A servant braided the top half of her hair and left the rest to cascade down her back.

Cal looped her arm through Matias's as they walked to the throne room. They ascended the dais, people bowing as they passed. Minutes later, four guards walked in, a girls with white hair and in chains between them.

Luna Andhera.

They stopped several steps from the foot of the dais and Luna was forced to her knees.

"Princess Luna," said Cal, her words clipped, "heir of Tenebrarum and the only surviving member of House Andhera."

"I'm not an Andhera," Luna said quietly. She looked up at Cal, life and light and hope in her eyes. "I am not and Andhera. I hail from House Saki. I am the daughter of the late King Jasiah Saki, and I will inherit my father's house name."

Jasiah Saki. The last Speian king before his kingdom became known as Tenebrarum. She had seen portraits of him and she could see the similarities between them. The same white hair, turquoise eyes, and fair skin...

Gods above... Luna truly was Jasiah Saki's daughter.

"You tried to kill the king," Cal said coldly.

"I was under my mother's influence!" Luna shrieked. "Your Majesty, you, Scout Lance Erickson, and the late Commander Akaljot Bjorndottir all saw my mother's control over me. You must believe that everything I did that caused harm was all my mother's doing."

Matias looked down at Lance, who stood between Lucas and Andrei. "Scout Erickson, is what Princess Luna saying true?"

Lance stepped forward. "What Luna Saki is saying is true. During the attack on Soturi, I saw her fight her mother's influence. I saw it again on the summer solstice before Melania's death."

Matias looked at his wife. "Cal? Did you see evidence of Luna under Melania's influence?"

Cal nodded. "I did."

"Please, Your Majesties," Luna pleaded. "Give me a second chance. To redeem myself."

Cal and Matias looked at each other. The decision about Luna's fate lay unspoken between them. She rose and descended the steps until she was in front of Luna.

"Rise."

Luna got to her feet.

"You only want to rebuild Tenebrarum to how it was during King Santos's reign?" she asked, studying the princess.

"Yes, Your Majesty. I would also like my kingdom to be known as Spei from this day forward."

"Remove Luna Saki's shackles. I will secure her passage to Dochas for tomorrow morning."

A guard unlocked her shackles and Luna flexed and bent her wrists. "You're not going to execute me?"

Cal smirked. "No. Spei needs its rightful monarch, doesn't it?"

Lance ran over and picked Luna up by her waist and spun her around. He set her down, his face flushing.

"I was wondering if you would maybe consider giving me your hand in-"

Luna cut Lance off with a kiss. "Yes, Lance Erickson. Yes, I will marry you."