Page 115 of Fated

The crowd erupted again, cries of disbelief, gasps of horror.

Ash held firm, waiting patiently for the noise to die down. “His name is Agidius, and he and his mother, who we know as Cynthia, Queen of the Dark Kingdom, are after power.”

Gasps swept through the crowd once more, but Ash’s voice rose above it, commanding their attention. “They murdered every healer, every descendant of the royal line of Astern except one. When I awoke from the curse, I had no memory of my identity. Agidius used me to track down the last remaining healer … a healer with the power to break the curse.”

More gasps of disbelief filled the air.

“This brave and powerful healer reached in and pulled me from the darkness before I could bring her to Agidius. She brokethe curse on me, and it is my hope, with her help, that we can break the curse on every divine in Astern.”

The crowd stilled, absorbing Ash’s words, and I could feel the shift in the atmosphere. Where there had been sorrow and fear, now there was hope, fragile but growing.

“I want to introduce you to my savior and best friend, the person to whom I owe my life—Areya, Princess of Astern.” Ash turned to me and, to my shock, bowed his head. In a ripple of movement, thousands of people, following their king’s action, also bowed their heads to me.

The weight of the moment crashed into me, shock tumbling through my mind and body.

Barely processing what I was seeing, my heart set off pounding as I glanced to Ash looking up at me from under those long lashes, giving me a wink and a subtle smile.

My stomach flipped, and my nerves gave way to something warmer.

Then Ash rose and faced the crowd once more.

“As soon as we can gather the right people, Areya will begin working with some of our brightest minds on a cure for the cursed—one we can distribute on a large scale.”

Cheers, applause, andscreamsofjoyburstfrom the crowd below, theirenthusiasm building. A shy smile spread across my face as the reality of their acceptance overwhelmed me.

I caught Ash’s gaze, and the gleam in his eyes only magnified the flutter in my chest. These people weren’t just tolerating me; they were embracing me.

Goosebumps prickled across my skin, and in that instant, a powerful sense of purpose ignited within me. These people—Ambrosia’s people—weren’t just Ash’s anymore. They were mypeople now, too, and I vowed to do everything in my power to help them.

“In addition to research toward a cure,” Ash continued, “the palace will begin military operations, starting with acquiring High Commander Calyx, who will be crucial to our next steps. I promise to keep the public updated on every development during this war … Because that is what this is. A war against evil. And we will prevail.”

After his final words, Ash took our clasped hands, raised them high, and the crowd below erupted into wild cheers.

With one speech, Ash had united his people, giving them hope. The excitement in the air left me buzzing with adrenaline, leaving me utterly in awe at the man by my side.

Suddenly, a tiny ball with wings, like a hummingbird, buzzed before me, causing me to take a startled step back. Ash’s shoulders shook with laughter beside me.

“They’re cameras,”he explained in my mind, his amusement clear.“That’s how we’re being broadcast right now.”

I smiled, watching the tiny flying ball zip away.

Together, Ash and I turned and made our way back into the castle, the energy of the crowd still thrumming in my veins. Once inside, Ash led me a few paces from the nearby people and, with a quick glance around, pulled me against a wall, his body close to mine.

I gripped his shoulders, my hands shaking with excitement, my eyes wide.

“That—that was incredible, Ash! I mean, you’re a freaking king!”

I couldn’t stop the beaming smile from spreading across my face.

Ash chuckled, his bright eyes locking onto mine with a smilethat made me weightless. I felt on top of the world, as though I could conquer anything with Ash by my side.

“I told you they would love you.” He smiled at me affectionately. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of Nadia. She stood a little way off, watching us with a tender, gentle smile. The moment she realized I’d seen her, she quickly averted her gaze, her expression soft but tinged with a deeper understanding that I couldn’t quite place.

Ash and I walked openly through the grand halls of the castle, hand in hand, many people stopping to bow in our direction. When we entered the royal dining hall, the atmosphere was one of pure joy and celebration. The enormous room buzzed with laughter and conversation. The long tables were packed with people who seemed to carry a newfound hope. Servants moved swiftly, bringing out lavish servings of food, filling the tables with a feast fit for a kingdom.

Ash guided me toward the royal table, standing slightly elevated above the rest.

At the center of it, two thrones stood side by side.

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