No, this wasmycastle, andhewas the invader with no claim on anything.
Reminding myself of that, I bathed in peace.
Servants did come, and I couldn’t let any of my outrage out on the gentle hands of the fae who helped me dress in the white garb. The final addition to the long gown of beaded silk and lace was the veil that was draped over my head to cover my face. Was this Auster’s idea of punishment? A symbol of my shame? Or did he merely hope to hide my cold loathing for him from the people he was to put me in front of?
I was escorted by two guards in front, two behind, toward the front entrance of the castle. Auster was already outside, along with Zephyr and Notus, standing exactly as they had been when I saw them days ago.
The citizens had gathered again, flooding the courtyard save for the huge crevice from the impact of the meteor. Their quiet chatter increased when I strolled out, and I’d never felt more ashamed than I did as I was presented like an obedient pet to Auster, veiled and hidden.
Still, I kept my shoulders squared and my head held high.
With Auster’s hand held out to me when I was close enough, I hoped he could feel the heat of my eyes on him through the lace when I slipped my white-gloved hand into his, glad for the barrier between our skins at least.
Auster’s voice amplified to address the people. “I can only take our disruption when last we gathered here as fate. Though lives were lost in the tragic imbalance that is shaking our world, with our Maiden back and willing to reform, we have more hope than ever to stop the stars falling and to restore nature’s peace.”
I was itching to tear off my veil, not out of rebellion, but to speak to my people rather than through a proxy who had his own selfish goals woven in the name of restoringpeace.
My hand lifted toward the hem of the veil that reached my navel, but Auster’s fingers tightened against mine in warning.
Auster went on. “It is why Astraea Lightborne has agreed to marry me.”
I didn’t need to utter a sound when the crowd erupted with shock and cheering at that declaration. Now the veil made sense, since I couldn’t keep my utter abhorrence of the idea from my expression. It would be clear to all who gushed and gasped that I was not in favor of this movement in the slightest.
Daring to twist my head a fraction, I saw Auster’s endearing smile for the crowd, which seemed laced with cunning to me.
How could the people believe this so easily after our confrontation mere days ago? I was beginning to spiral with hopelessness—Auster had won their hearts, their loyalty, so they would always follow him, not me.
I had abandoned them for centuries.
My slip into despair halted when someone stood on something that lifted them a head above everyone else. Their arms thrust into the air, andmysymbol—the key staff with my constellation over it—was embroidered on the deep purple banner they held in their defiant grip, and what had previously been silver wings were now sewn inblack.
Pride burst in my chest like a new heartbeat as I looked at the symbol of silent rebellion. It slammed again and again when more purple banners were thrust into the air, littered throughout the crowd as proud beacons of support. Not for Auster. For me. These were people who believed in me alone.
A smile began to lift on my face and unburden a piece of my soul. That wasuntil soldiers started pushing through the crowd, and when the first person who’d stood was pulled down from their small vantage point, I broke.
Throwing the veil over my head, I didn’t get one step forward before Auster took a tight grip of my elbow, trying to yank me back into the castle.
“Leave them alone!” I yelled, but my cry and struggle were swallowed by the crowd’s unrest.
The gathering quickly became a rowdy scene of distress with celestial soldiers pushing through forcefully and rebels being pulled out. My magick hummed despite the shackles laced with nebulora. I wanted to burn the wings off any celestial who acted to Auster’s cruel demands.
I was pulled into the castle, and the doors were swiftly closed, cutting off the sounds of the people. Ripping my arm out of Auster’s grip, I blazed at him.
“If you harm a single one of them, I’ll make sure their pain is inflicted on you twice as punishingly.”
Auster’s expression was quietly simmering with resentment. He hadn’t expected that display, and that made it all the more satisfying.
“They will be reminded that you are nothing without us. You will be my wife, a counterpart to the House of Nova, nothing above that. The age of the star-maiden is dead.”
I dared to shorten the distance between us, never taking my determined stare from him.
“My age is just beginning, Auster Nova. You see that—youfeelit. All of this is a desperate grapple for what has already slipped from your fingers. Control.”
His hand wrapped around my throat, pushing me against the wall. The sudden aggression shifted the guards around us. Auster didn’t hurt me despite the tremble in his hold, like he was refraining from choking me. Despite our eyes piercing each other, I didn’t think the thread of our past, our friendship, would ever fully burn out in our hatred.
That was a torment that plagued us both.
Auster lowered his voice as not to be overheard. “This marriage won’t just be in law. You’re quite educated about bargains, aren’t you? You’ll be familiar with the Greciea Bargain, known as the marriage bond in the common tongue.”
