After everything her sister had done, Adelina still loved her. She had grown up with her after all and a lifetime of kind and fond memories was all that was left of the dark and intense queen-to-be. Fear of that queen was gone and all that remained was the sister she’d had; the sister who’d laughed and talked with her about clothes and dresses and males.
Raena would never know true love; she would never bear children Adelina could love on and cuddle and secretly spoil as they were taught the royal ways. She would never know if Raena could have grown into a good queen. Then Adelina lit Raena’s pyre and refused to blink and let the tears fall.
They threw their torches into the burning flames roaring into the night sky.
And then Adele began her song.
It was a deep keening; a gorgeous wailing of words and sadness and death. The ancient language beat against Adelina’s breast with the soft sound of the drums. When her mother finished the mourning of her husband and daughter she began the ancient song to celebrate their lives.
Then Giselle joined in, and then it was Adelina’s turn. When she raised her voice to sing about the love her father gave her, the throaty sounds and rumbling words soothed part of the ache in her soul.
Her father would never be able to give her advice again, or tell her when she was about to make a mistake, or laugh with her – but he would live on in her, and in Asher; in William, Giselle, and Ian. His memory would not be forgotten.
They did the same for Raena, singing of her life and death and promising to carry her memory so she would not be forgotten as the fires blazed and the smoke disappeared into the night. The stars were clear and bright with all the lights of the city and the palace extinguished. Only the fires lit the night like in the ancient days.
When they finished their song it was their people’s turn.
Millions of voices lifted up into the night sky, and the sound of them made it somehow easier to breathe.
Varan stepped forward and slipped his hand into hers. Nadyah came up on her other side, and Veri joined Asher. Nobles came closer, filling the spaces between the royals. They dipped their fingers into the fire and marked their faces as part of their mourning and condolences.
They filed out and others filled their place. All night the fires burned and the people marked their faces with soot to show their grief. King Orion would be missed by all and Raena’s death had shaken them to their core.
Not even a royal was immune to fear.
Adelina only hoped Giselle would be able to get them through this war.
Roxy bumped her shoulder and dipped her head in acknowledgement before marking her own face. Then she disappeared back into the crowd and Adelina felt a tear fall. Even a female who had never liked the royals had come to show her respect. Even if she only did it for Varan, Adelina would never forget.
She tipped her head back and howled to the night sky, releasing every emotion she’d buried inside with the sound. It was a mournful howl, a loss of pack members that could not be replaced. Asher joined and soon her entire family sang a different song as their people continued to mark their faces with soot and ash, singing the ancient words for a great king and a daughter of Draga.
Giselle took the ceremonial knife and performed the last ritual. She sliced open her palm and let her blood fall on their father’s pyre and then Raena’s – the blood of the new ruler. Once that was done she too looked up at the stars and howled long and loud.
Both moons bathed them in their light and Adelina closed her eyes, breathing in the scent of fire, her people, and the night sky. Varan squeezed her hand and she opened her eyes and found his searching her face.
“Regretting the diamond?” she asked.
“I was just thinking,” he said slowly. “What better way to keep Orion’s memory alive, than to care for one of his greatest treasures?” Varan kissed her cheek gently.
Adelina blinked back her tears and swallowed the emotion she felt clogging her throat. There was nothing she could say to those words, nothing that would tell him how much she appreciated them and the honor Varan had. She was so very grateful he would be her husband.
They both stared into the roaring fires with soot-covered faces under the twinkling night until only embers remained.