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Chapter Forty-Nine

“A nyone else?”

They’d been at it for nearly nine hours, debating the plan that seemed to rise from Astra’s bones. She’d heard just about every concern in the universe at this point and they’d sorted through every one of them.

Lux slipped a plate of fruit on the table next to her, patting her shoulder as Pluto’s Captain, Kwan, stood to speak again.

“I believe we have enough outlined to move your plan into action, Astra. The details can come together as we go.”

“We’ll put it to a vote,” Astra stood, her legs sore from yesterday’s hike through the Court Below. “Mercury?”

Maeve smirked, lifting a glass of wine. “Aye.”

Astra went around the room, each Nova Captain raising a glass and confirming their support. Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, and Pluto all followed.

“And the Court Above?”

Alastair tilted his head to the side. “Aye, even if I think it’s a bit dramatic.”

Astra grinned. “If we want word to spread quickly, a little excitement is a must.”

He held his hands up in surrender.

“That leaves the Courts Between. Lumas?” The Lunar Captain nodded, Daria hovering behind him, a strange mix of pride and resentment in her chest.

Astra took a deep breath and glanced over to Luxuros, his smirk permission enough.

“And what says the Solar Captain?”

The air left the room as dozens of eyes followed hers to the Mercurian Commander, arms folded across his chest. The collective swell of chartreuse confusion ringed the room.

“Aye,” he said, a stark confidence in his answer.

“Then we’re decided. This evening at my coronation ball, I will make the announcement. Lumas, Cam, Daria, I’ll need to speak with you. There will be some tumult for our court after and we’ll need to have a plan.”

“Everyone else,” Oestera added. “Make yourselves at home.”

* * *

“Are you ready?”

Ameera stood beside her outside the Celestial Hall doors, the buzz from the crowd inside a manageable hum, as long as she focused on quieting her mind.

Astra took one last second to adjust the robes that fell over her hips, their glistening metallics capturing the moonlight in perfect bubbles of gold and silver.

The cape behind her flowed like a dream, slipping over the onyx floor and casting a warm hue around her.

Originally designed for Lunelle, the maidens worked all night to embroider gilded Suns between the Moons, a touch she was grateful for.

Her mother pinned her hair into a soft cascade of curls down her back. A starry crown balanced at the back of her head like a halo—the gilded stars bounced light all around her, the soft glow nearly letting her pass as a Light Goddess.

Nearly.

She tossed one last look at Luxuros, who faded back behind the doors as they swept open.

Let your light burn, Fire Queen. He beamed to her.

“I’m very ready,” Astra said.

Tula’s eyes sparkled with pride as she introduced Astra to the courtiers below, a hush falling over the crowd as the music stopped.

“Queen Astra Leona Aurellis, may she reign with the love of the Mother, Within and Without.”

Astra let a smile rest on her face, despite knowing what she was about to do.

What they were all about to do.

She stopped at the balcony’s edge instead of turning toward the steps. The first face she saw as she looked down into the crowd was Oestera’s, her lips set in a reverent smile as Nayson whispered something to her.

The second face she saw was Lunelle’s, braced for what was to come.

And the third?

Ivonne Bloodmoon, her dull eyes searing into Astra. She judged everyone in the room, but especially the young queen—the rebellious princess who was never good enough for the court, let alone the throne.

She shoved the midnight fear rising aside and found her center; found who she was in the chaos, the way Lux had patiently shown her time and time again.

“Thank you all for attending this joyous occasion,” she started. Hundreds of eyes cast over her as the room dripped in golden candlelight and silver moonlight. Moonshine and champagne floated around on trays as greedy fingers plucked the crystal glasses and drained them.

“For too long, we’ve thrown elaborate celebrations at this palace while our cities and villages fall into disrepair.”

The room shifted from metallics and rosy pastels to a confused murky gray, eyes slipping from her face to their neighbors.

“For too long, we’ve reveled in our wealth while entire villages wonder where their next meals will come from.”

The room plunged deeper into the shadowy grays, each rotted conscience sinking below the mire.

“For too long, we’ve been convinced by the gods that the Courts Between were chosen . Better than the Living Courts, but not good enough to stand up to the Court Above.”

The charcoal and dust swirled to a bruised maroon as skepticism gave way to outrage at her blasphemy.

“But that was merely an illusion, carefully crafted to keep us appeased and sow distrust amongst us. If they could make us feel like we held power over those below us, we’d never have a reason to look up.”

Astra stepped forward, the weight of the robes dragging behind her. She ran a finger along the banister before her, watching the faces below flush in shades of pink.

“There was a time when those same gods feared us. Feared what we might do if we knew who we really were. They kept us divided so that we might not come together against them. They made us hate each other so that we might not realize the strength that comes from embracing one another’s ways of life.

They pitted Sun against Moon, and we never batted an eye. ”

Chests swirled in shades of orange, red, and yellow. Some, though few, bloomed in excited greens and blues.

“The Court Above decided our Fates and made sure to never let us know how much control we had all along. But because the bravest among us were willing to turn away from their rules—to love without fear—our eyes were opened, and now we cannot close them. For too long, the Courts Between and the Living Courts have been home to corruption and greed at the hands of gods who feed off our fear. But that fear ends tonight.”

Astra brushed her hands along the carved banister one more time, resting them gently against the smooth stone. Ivonne’s lips twitched, the irritation rolling in red waves along her spine.

“Thank you, all of you, for bearing witness to the first and only night of the last Lunar Queen’s reign.”

Chests erupted in brilliant shades of burgundy fury. But something else rose with them, along the edges—a pale blue, like the rushing waves of the Somnia. Hope.

“Tomorrow, you will wake up in a new court, a new era. A world built on the strength of our community, and not on the fears of the gods who only interfere when they might lose something. A court that honors the least of us as the greatest. A court built for her people, not on their backs. Tomorrow, you wake up in the first of many realms to stand against the Court Above. And if that does not appeal to you, if you do not think you can stomach a world in which wealth is shared and greed is no longer a choice… if you do not wish to be amongst the workers and the builders, then I advise you to begin your exodus.”

She smiled at the crowd below, whispers already rising on a tide of crimson outrage as she plucked the golden crown off her head and set it on the banister. Steps echoed off the edges of the hall as black-clad Rebels poured into the seams, ready for whatever came next.

She held the crown in her mind, sending a righteous heat through the star-barbed twists. Two thousand years of anger slipped from her veins, melting the crown into liquid gold that dripped over the balcony like the blood of the gods who’d be next.

She set her face again, her amber irises flaring.

“If you cannot contribute meaningfully to this new world, consider this your formal invitation to get the fuck out of the Nova Court.” Their eyes flickered across the ballroom, unsure what to do, or what to think, betrayal pitching up from their chests in scarlet plumes.

“She’s a traitor!” Ivonne stammered. Deep dragon’s blood fury clutched at her throat, launching her forward as hushed murmurs agreed with her. But as she looked around she found herself quite alone in her willingness to stand against the ring of armed Rebels that blocked the exits.

Her eyes locked on Oestera’s and she was met with only a chilled glare. Ivonne lifted a hand and Astra reached for the shadows beneath her, whipping them up and around her wrist. Ivonne struggled against the hold.

“You—”

“Careful now,” Oestera chided. “I wouldn’t provoke a Shadow Goddess, Ivonne.”

“Arcas,” Astra called, gesturing toward the icy figure leaning against the wall. “I believe Ivonne will be the first volunteer to relocate to your court.”

Ivonne’s wicked glare snapped toward the prince moving toward her, his tall frame consuming hers easily as he wrapped a twist of silver threads around her wrists.

“Anyone else who feels utterly betrayed by their queen is welcome to gather their things and proceed to the Plutonian gates. We are not monsters, you can have your city. But we’re done funding your greed. May the gods be with you—you’re all they have left.”

A wine-red river flowed from the Celestial Hall as dozens of bodies ribboned from the arches, off to pilfer whatever they could from their living quarters before disappearing into the Rift.

When Astra turned her eyes back to the half-empty hall below, she found a gentle blue sea lapping at the ribs of the remaining courtiers.

“If you stay and join the Nova Court, your needs will not go unmet. There will be changes, but they will be worth it, I promise. Enjoy the rest of the evening—tomorrow, the work begins.”

She stayed for a moment, watching as the reality sank in. Then she waved a hand to the orchestra, striking the music back into a sweeping crescendo.

She backed through the doors, searching for Lux.

“Where’d he go?”

Ameera reached for her cape, fiddling with the clasp.

“He said the council could have you tomorrow, but tonight is his.”

Ameera wiggled her eyebrows, bursting into laughter as a scarlet wave ran over her cheeks.

“But I don’t know?—”

“I believe I’m to escort the Nova Queen somewhere,” Mirquios’s smooth baritone bounced off the hallway. He was still in his Mercurian blues, an aventurine circlet wrapped around his head. “Astra.”

“I assume I’m dressed completely inappropriately?” Astra glanced down at the elaborate robes falling behind her in a dramatic train.

“I actually think you’ve never looked more like yourself,” Mirquios said, grinning as he held his elbow out for her.

“I’ll let your mother know who has you,” Ameera said.

“No need,” she laughed. “I can do it.” She tapped her temple and Ameera’s eyes widened.

I’ll meet with the Nova Council in the morning. Can you hold them off for tonight if I take a quick trip with the Mercurians? It didn’t take much to find her mother’s mind in the crowd down the hall. It was so sharp and calculated, but a warmth lingered.

A fire.

Of course, dear. Just be safe. Well done this evening.

Astra looped her arm through Mirquios’s.

“Where to, my king?”