Page 33 of The Crown of the Dark Prince
“You know?” I gasped.
Nessira said nothing. She only helped me to lift my skirt and secure the blade into place.
I grasped onto her hand as she stood. “Thank you, Nessira. I appreciate your friendship.”
With a small smile, she squeezed my hand in return. “And I appreciate yours.”
The organ music was supposed to be uplifting. Traditionally played for ascensions, weddings, and coronations, it was meant to inspire awe and hope. Yet, as the heavy chords cascaded over me, I couldn’t help but to find it all a bit ominous. From my place in the carriage, I could hearit faintly beneath the murmur of voices as the people of Athenia filed into the Temple of the Gods.
“Is it odd that the first time I’ve been to the Temple is for my ascension?” I mused aloud, almost to myself.
Across from me, Emeryn’s head snapped up. She’d been silent for most of the ride, scanning her notes on the day’s itinerary.
“You haven’t?” she hissed. “Oh, that’s no good. The optics are terrible. Try not to mention that to anyone. And don’t gawk when you go inside.”
Her words made me chuckle softly. The things Emeryn worried about always seemed so… trivial. Although, I supposed that’s why they assigned her to manage my affairs. She cared about the details I couldn’t bring myself to consider.
These days, that list was only growing longer.
If Hyrax and the Underworld didn’t consume my mind, Lorelai and Iris preoccupied it. My mind constantly bounced from one dark thought to the next, only allowing me the briefest of moments to consider the Council or my ascension.
The air outside the carriage stilled, and a sharp tension settled over me.
It was time.
Emeryn tapped on the carriage door, signaling Dimitri. He opened it swiftly and helped her down before turning to me. His hand was firm as I stepped onto the cobblestone street, and after he was sure I found my footing, he released me, falling to one knee with his head bowed and one hand over his heart.
“It has been my honor to serve you, my Lady. I will be with you today and always.”
My heart stuttered as my jaw fell slightly open. Instinctively, I wanted to tell him to stand, to insist there was no need for such a display, but Emeryn’s sharp glare pinned me in place. Of course, he was bowing. This was my ascension, and that was the respect the ceremony required.
“Thank you, Dimitri,” I murmured, my voice soft but steady.
He rose and followed as I climbed the marble steps toward the temple’s grand wooden doors. They loomed before me, twice my height, with intricate stained-glass windows that told stories of Gods and legends. The wind stirred gently, brushing against my neck as I took in the towering structure.
Hyrax wasn’t on the windows.
Of course he wasn’t. There were no depictions of him.
“Are you nervous?” A familiar, melodic voice broke through my thoughts.
I turned to see Kent standing to my right, dressed in his finest military regalia. His orange jacket caught the sunlight, giving his tawny skin a warm glow, and medals gleamed across his chest.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, pulling him into a quick hug despite Emeryn’s protests about my dress.
“Typically, a husband or relative would escort you.”
“And I have neither of those.”
“You don’t,” he agreed, offering his arm to me as we ascended the final steps. “But I have a great-great-aunt descended from Hyrax, so I volunteered.”
“I didn’t know that!” I squeezed his arm, grateful for his presence. “Thank you.”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
I raised a brow, pretending not to understand.
“Are you nervous?”
