Ascension Saga (Interstellar Brides): Book 9

Dad smiled lifted their joined hands to his lips and kissed her knuckles. The crowd went wild.

I’d read what Mom had sent to the media, a thorough yet simple outline of… everything. King Mykel’s betrayal, Radella, Pawl. The plan to kill Mom and take over the throne. Her escape. Lord Wyse’s long desire to have Radella rule, the kidnapping and attempted murder of Trinity. Dad’s arrival and his ridiculously alpha male plan to protect his mate. All of it.

The truth had been shared. It was out. The true traitors were now a part of history, to learn from and never repeat.

“The Herakles legacy continues with my daughters. Trinity, Faith and Destiny.”

Mom looked to us, curled her finger so we would join her. I didn’t release Nix’s hand as we went, stood in a line beside Mom and Dad.

“I have been gone a long time. In the few short weeks my daughters have been on the planet, they have become worthy princesses. Princess Trinity has ruled in my place and you have embraced her. She is a worthy future queen.”

Again, the crowd cheered. Trinity smiled and waved her hand like the Queen of England on the balcony at Buckingham Palace.

Mom looked to Dad, who nodded, before she gazed out at her people. “My spire has been lit while I have been gone. Your hearts have held me well. But I am the past… and Trinity is the future. That future is now.”

Trinity stared at Mom, wide-eyed.

Oh shit. This was like the time Mom told us she had a surprise for us. We’d waited on the couch, all three of us side by side, and held our breaths. Of course, then, it was to say we were going to Disney World for spring break. Yeah, I had a feeling we weren’t going off on a family vacation.

“I, Queen Celene Herakles of Alera, do hereby relinquish the throne to my heir and successor, Trinity Herakles, your new queen.”

A gasp came from Faith. Trinity said, “Mom!” and the entire crowd started murmuring. This was huge. Like… holy shit huge.

Mom came over, stood before Trinity. “You’ve proven yourself to me, to the people of Alera. They need you to lead. I stopped being their queen all those years ago. I’ve just been their hope. They’ve been waiting for you.”

Tears streamed down Trinity’s cheeks as she hugged Mom. They stood like that for what seemed like a full minute. Mom was stepping down as queen? She just got back! But Trinity had been leading the planet. She had been raised to ultimately take over. And Dad had done everything he could to make sure she was ready. Law school. Debate club. Ethics and philosophy and all that fucking talking. I loved hitting and kicking and playing. Trin? She r

eally was born for this.

What Mom had said was true. She’d been gone for so long. Her spire had been the hope the planet needed to keep going during her absence. And now, they didn’t need Mom anymore. They needed a queen and duh, that was soooo Trinity.

Nix wrapped an arm about my waist and I leaned into him. He was my anchor, and I knew no matter what happened, no matter how things changed, he would be there.

Leo took Trinity’s elbow and had her step back. He leaned down and whispered something to her, something no one could hear. As she wiped her face, she nodded, then nodded again.

When he was done, he kissed her temple.

Then she turned to Mom, lifted her chin, rolled her shoulders back and nodded.

“Come,” Mom said to Trinity and started walking back toward the citadel, once again back in full royal mode. God, the two of them had that down pat.

I could barely walk in my long dress and yet the two of them appeared to be floating. I had no idea what Mom was up to… some things Aleran she’d never mentioned to us growing up. I glanced at Dad, who smiled indulgently. He’d grown up on Alera, left Alera when he was about my age. But he knew what was happening. I had no doubt Mom had talked with Dad, worked it out with him.

The barrier accepted them both.

In front of the large doors, they stopped and turned to face everyone once again. The crowd fell silent. Not even a baby cried or a bird chirped. Nothing. It was possible the wind ceased to blow just for this moment.

Mom reached up behind her neck and undid the clasp on the necklace. She moved to stand behind Trinity and put it about her neck, fastened it and moved back beside her.

No one said a word. I held my breath.

Mom looked up at the pale glow of the citadel, the spires. It was dusk now, the sky almost black, but Mom and Trinity were easily seen in the brightness. So were we, even outside the barrier.

As one, everyone tilted their faces up just as their queen did. One last time, they followed her silent command to look, to watch.

Slowly, the white glow changed, grew darker. Within seconds, the citadel was bathed in a royal blue—god, no pun intended—and the spires, the four that were lit, changed from bright white to cobalt beacons in the night.

It was stunning. Beautiful. Like something out of a fairy tale.