Page 21

Farron

T he throne room of the Serenus Dusk Chambers is alive with celebration. The very air feels electric as the Summer and Autumn royal families, as well as chosen friends, drink, dance, and praise Dayton’s victory. Laughter and music abound, and I’m swept up in the pure joy of it.

The Serenus Dusk Chambers are the private quarters attached to the back of the Sun Colosseum. They feel moodier, more intimate, than the huge sprawling coral rooms of Soltide Keep. Night has fallen, and flickering torches dimly light the space. It’s crowded, but for once, I don’t mind.

Not when I have Dayton by my side.

Bobbing blue lights drift overhead. They look like living flames, flitting about. “Dayton, are those?—”

Dayton puts his head on my shoulder and follows my gaze. “The blue lights? They’re spirits of our ancestors. They’re drawn to great gatherings of life. Wonderful, aren’t they?”

I narrow my eyes. I recognize them from a book I’ve read.

In Autumn, we call them will-o’-wisps. Apparently, they’ve been seen in the Emberwood, not that I’ve been lucky enough to encounter one.

The book says they are the wayward hearts of mated souls who never completed their bond, but I like Dayton’s explanation better, so I don’t say anything.

People come up to congratulate Dayton, and he beams with pride. My heart swells, seeing him so happy. His joy is contagious. Despite the constant attention, he never strays from my side. If he’s called somewhere, he pulls me along.

The ringing of a glass sounds, and I look up to see one of Dayton’s fathers, Ovidius, and his mother, Sabine, standing on the pedestal by the throne. Ovidius has his arm around Sabine’s shoulders, and she smiles so wide, it’s as warm as the sun itself. The crowd quiets and turns to face them.

“On this happy day, we have more joyous news to share,” Ovidius calls out.

Sabine sprawls her hands across her stomach. “We are expecting another child. I feel her heart already. It is a girl.”

There’s a breath of silence, and then the crowd erupts into cheers.

Dayton gives a near ear-splitting shriek, then looks around frantically.

He spots his brothers, Damocles and Decimus, and sprints over to them.

The three brothers scream and holler like wild animals, wrapping their arms around one another until they form a circle, jumping up and down.

I can’t help but burst out laughing at the sight.

Cenarius, Dayton’s other father, runs up to the throne and kisses Sabine passionately. Then he goes to Ovidius, grasping his arm. “We’re to share a daughter!”

Finally, the brothers make it up to their parents, and the family embraces one another. Their joy is so palpable, the whole crowd is moved. From across the room, I catch eyes with my mother, who smiles and picks Nori up into her arms for a squeeze.

Watching Dayton and his family together, the love that radiates between them… It reminds me how much goodness is in the world. How much joy there is to find. All of my problems seem so small compared to this happiness.

After a few minutes, Dayton breaks away from his family. The crowd parts for him as he strides over to me. I’m struck still by the confidence in his gait, the surety with which he walks to me.

“I’m so happy you’re here, Fare,” he says.

Then he places his hands on the sides of my face and kisses me.

Kisses me in front of everyone, for all to see.

I melt into his embrace. I matter to him. Matter more than undermining Damocles. Matter enough to show his family what we are to one another.

I kiss my boy back and he tastes like starlight.