Page 104 of Reign of Light
“No. Do not blame yourself,” he wheezes. “It was just not meant to be. What is it your father always told us?”
“Light always finds a way, even through the blackest woods.”
“That was it,” he whispers, his lips tipping up in the hint of a smile as he glances between us. “I think there may be some light that has come from this darkness.”
Weston’s head raises, and he looks at my father directly, silently conversing with him, as maybe they had all that time ago. But as I take in the two of them, it is so obvious to see the magic of Dawnlin. Weston, still a young man, the friend and guard to the king, who now looks as if he’s aged a lifetime. No one would look at the two of them and believe they grew up together, and once again, I’m thankful for everything the magic brought into my life.
Father releases my hand and reaches toward Weston’s, taking it and placing it over mine, in the space where his just occupied. Without hesitation, Weston weaves his fingers through mine, squeezing tightly, and my father watches the movement.
“Keep her safe, West,” Father says softly. “Do what I couldn’t do. Give her life. Love her. Like she deserves.”
My chest aches and I squeeze Weston’s hand back. I thought we would have to fight to be together, especially among those who wouldn’t understand Dawnlin and what happened there. I thought my father would be the first to forbid us, to remind us of Weston’s oath and do anything to keep us apart.
I was wrong.
Weston clears his throat. “I will, Rem. I swear to you I will. And I do. I love her.” He raises my hand to his lips and presses a firm kiss to my knuckles. “More than I ever thought possible.”
“Then I can leave, knowing you won’t be alone.” He smiles at me, tears still shining in his eyes, and I can’t hold back my emotions any longer.
I’ve now lost both my parents, and my guard. I’ve lost everyone I grew to love on Dawnlin, except for one. The one who is by my side as I say goodbye to the only true family I have left, and usher in a new era of my life, one that I was not expecting today of all days. If it hadn’t been for Dawnlin, I would be sitting on this floor, truly alone.
My father’s eyes slowly close, the soft gasps loud in my ears, until the rise and fall of his chest stops.
I don’t know what I expected, whether I expected it to be different, or more ornate; whether I expected there to be some sort of physical passing of the title, to make it feel more real than it does.
But whatever I expected, it wasn’t this.
Because the moment finally happens, the moment no one could ever be prepared for. The moment Iwasn’tprepared for, despite knowing it was coming my entire life.
As I look at my father’s lifeless body and still clutch the hand of the man I love, I know my life will never be the same.
I am the queen of Blackwood.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
All the air is sucked from the room as I stare at my father’s blank face. I’ve gone my entire life without seeing death, and now, tonight, I’ve witnessed it twice.
Gone.
Father is gone, and now the entire kingdom is in my hands.
The room spins, and bile burns the back of my throat. I barely register my body swaying before I’m surrounded by warmth and strength, as Weston finally breaks his unspoken rule and wraps his arms around my shoulders. His voice is low as he murmurs into my ear, and even though I know the room is filled with guards and gods know who else, after what we just endured, it feels like it is only him and me.
“Sweetheart, I need you to stand for me. Can you do that?”
“Yes,” I whisper, not knowing if any sound even left my lips. He may have posed it as a question, but I know I don’t have a choice. I have to tell them all that their king is gone.
“Hold on to me.” His strong fingers sink into my waist, steadying me. With trembling hands, I grip his forearms as he lifts me to my feet. My legs wobble beneath me, and my knees threaten to buckle, but the muscles in Weston’s arms tighten, holding me securely. “I won’t let you fall.”
Pain shoots through the muscles of my neck as I tilt my head back to look at him. His eyes scan my face, and I don’t know what he sees there. There are too many things circling through my mind to even know how I look, but in him I only find reassurance.
We turn in a slow circle until I am facing the room, but his hands don’t leave my waist until he’s sure I will not fall.
I am going to stay strong, even if it is only to get through these next few minutes.
Warily releasing me, he faces the throne room and the chaos that still fills it. Healers bustle around. Guards stand above shackled prisoners. Staff shuffle in and out of the doors, but it all feels like a blur. All I can focus on is Weston, and his voice echoing against the stone walls.
“The king is dead,” he shouts, and everyone stills, their attention snapping to the First Guard standing on the dais. Sorrow, shock, disbelief, anger. Each face has a unique response to the news. My stomach churns in the next moment as all their gazes rise to me. Hands fisting on my pants, I wait for Weston’s next direction.
