Page 176 of The Dawn of the Cursed Queen

“Okay, Miska, final touches,” I said, turning toward the mirror. I tossed the long portion of the veil over my shoulder to hang down my back. Lifting it to my head, I slid the combs along the band into my hair, securing it. I tipped my head, studying my reflection in the mirror and adjusting the veil.

“I’ve only ever heard stories about amata ceremonies, the grand balls and parties that last for days. I’ve never participated in one before,” Miska said, bending to grasp the edge of the veil. She gave it a shake, fanning it out to let it lay against my back.

“It’s my first one, too. Hopefully, the last,” I joked.

She smirked. “Thank you for letting me be a part of it.”

“Well, you’re kind of stuck with us now since I destroyed your home, but you’re welcome.”

She smiled at me. “You seem sad. Most pairs are so happy they can barely contain their excitement.”

I looked down at my hands, twisting my ring. “Not sad, not really. I wish Neverra and Imogen were here. You’d like them, and they’d like you too. Plus, Logan, Cameron, and Xavier, I know they would be giving Samkiel a hard time, but he needs them, too. And I just wish . . . I just wish my sister was here. She loved giant celebrations and love and every mushy feeling you can think of.” I half laughed, blinking back tears. “She would give me so much grief if she could see me now. I was the person who scoffed at the idea of love and forever mates, and here I am, in a castle, getting ready to marry the one person I cannot live without.”

“Marry?”

I nodded. “It’s what it’s called in my world. Even there, it is sometimes a huge celebration. It depends on the person, really. Gabby always dreamed of a huge wedding. She’d been planning her own wedding since we were teens. She had a dress and cake, and everything picked out.”

“Did you?”

I shook my head. “No, I dreamt of surviving and keeping her safe. I never thought that weddings, sweet words, and flowers from lovers were for me. This was her dream, and she isn’t even here to give me shit about it now.”

Miska’s hands fell to her hips as she scolded me. “Who says she isn’t? We heard stories growing up of how our most loved ones could watch over us from beyond. Even if we can’t see them anymore.”

A short laugh left my lips at her newfound attitude. I looked out the open window and into the night sky. Had she followed me into this new existence of mine?

“Maybe she is,” I said as Miska continued to smooth and adjust the veil and my train.

We were silent for a moment before she stepped back and said, “All done.”

I stared at myself in the mirror, not truly recognizing the woman looking back at me.

“I think you’re lucky all the goddesses aren’t here for this. They’d be so jealous of you.”

“Me?” I laughed. “No, but you? In an old book I once read, there was a goddess of flowers and herbs, a healer. That’s who you remind me of.”

Color tinted her pink cheeks a darker hue as she smiled. She was so unused to receiving compliments it made me want to burn Jade City twice. “I’m not anything special. The others could heal better than me. They’d have your king completely well by now.”

I stepped forward, the long end of my dress snagging under my heel as I placed my hands on her shoulders.

“Samkiel is broken because of the betrayal from those closest to him. Not you, okay?”

“I should have known about the poison. They were always so sneaky and kept me out of things.”

“Miska.” I smiled and crouched in front of her. “He is not mad at you. I am not. You saved him. You made an antidote.”

Miska nodded. “Thank you for taking care of me and not making me work until my hands bleed.”

“I want you to start over. You can be something this world doesn’t stamp a label on. You have a home with us, Miska. Our family may be small right now and a little broken, but it’s a family that will always stand by you.”

Miska smiled and hugged me gently. A knock came from the doors, and she stepped back as I rose.

“You can’t see me yet. I told you!” I snapped toward the closed doors.

“It is merely me.” Reggie’s voice filtered through the heavy wood.

“Oh.” I headed toward the door, Miska giggling behind me. “Sorry, Samkiel was being insistent earlier, and I just assumed.”

I opened the door, and Reggie paused, beaming with pride as he looked at me.

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