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Calista and Gideon lit the torches and tossed theraves Braith didn’t care to see the end result; he didn’t want Aria there for any longer than necessary "If they’re still in their graves does that mean that you wouldn’t survive a stake?" she quietly asked as he led her through the woods

"I don’t know Itto happen, it may have taken more time for them to rejuvenate, or it may have simply just been ainst his side "Are you sure you’re ok?"

Her hand absently fluttered to her neck, her eyes darkened as she nodded briefly "I’ll be fine The darkness Braith, I don’t kno you handled it"

He kissed her te her sweet scent beneath the hay, blood and sweat "Because of you"

"Yes, because of you," she murmured

"I understand the darkness Aria It will never rule you though; you don’t have to fear that"

She glanced at him from under lowered lashes as he squeezed her shoulder "Unless so to happen," he assured her "Apparently there’s a chance I ht"

A sh escaped her "Apparently"

He fought against the waves of anger that suffused him as he brushed the blood froain"

"I hope not If he coive him his crown, throw him a party, and admit defeat"

"Thankfully that’s not a possibility"

"Good, there are only soor not" He chuckled as he kissed the top of her head and they reentered the town

Chapter 26

Throughout the repairs, and rebuilding, the golden chains were salvaged froe had once stood That night, after taking some time to recuperate and consuathered all occupants of the palace, towns, and forest together to burn the chains with the re to set as he lit a torch and handed it to her "I thought you would like the honors"

The flames heated her cheeks as she twisted it within her hands She s it onto the pile of kindling She’d never seen anything as satisfying as watching all of those chains, and the king’s remains, spark and catch fire Braith reached into his pocket and pulled so out She leaned over hi that symbolized the House of Valdhai he’d hen she’d firstall the way around Aria" He stepped forward and tossed the ring into the fla her arms around his waist, she rested her head on his chest and savored in the hout the vast aher Sparks shot and leapt into the air as sht It had been an awful day, but this e cheer erupted froiht forth, h the air as the crowd of vahed and danced in celebration

There was still a lot of work to be done, still a long way to go before trust was fully established, but as the heat of the flaainst her skin, and Braith twirled her into the ether they could conquer anything, that they could make a world that neither of the to sacrifice anything for

She thought of the darkness that had threatened to drag her under earlier, but instead of being afraid of it, she found strength in the power she knew coursed within her now A strength that would help her get through the days and years ahead Days and years she couldn’t wait to experience with hiive Melinda her undivided attention until the wedding and coronation ceremony was over Melinda bo her breaking point when Maggie strolled into the apartment with an armload of dresses "I asked her to come," Melinda whispered in Aria’s ear

It took Aria a ain "You don’t have to wait on rinned at her as she placed the dresses on the arly"

"Every queen requires a lady in waiting," Melinda said flippantly Aria was eventhrough the dresses that Aria now realized were actually wedding dresses "I’ve ordered the tailor to come up also"

Aria winced at the prospect She knew she had to start adjusting to these things if she was going to spend an eternity within these walls, but even so, she couldn’t help but dreaain soon Maggie watched in amusement as Melinda held dresses up to Aria, shook her head and tossed them aside with rapid precision

They were almost to the end of the pile when Melinda seized hold of one that caused Aria to lurch forward She pulled it closer to her as she gazed at the beautiful dress in awe "This one This is the one"

Melinda’s grey eyes twinkled as she grinned at her "I knew you’d like it Didn’t I tell you this would be the one she chose?" she deet it on you before my brother decides to snoop"

Aria helped the before the azed at herself in amazement It was the only dress she’d actually loved, and not only could she not wait to wear it, but she didn’t want to take it off

Melinda fluffed out the bottom of it and took a step back to examine it carefully A radiant sly "You’re not the most conventional queen, but you can pull off a dress when it’s necessary"

Aria laughed as she twirled in front of the largeon Braith had added curves to her that hadn’t been there since her first captivity within the palace His blood had given her a glow of health that brought a rosy blush to her skin She was ae her life had taken As a motherless, wild child, she never would have drea here, a fatherless vampire, surrounded by , and h it took all her self control, she et, as the tailorhis approval

Melinda clapped her hands enthusiastically together as she eyed Aria with approval

"Are you ready to getis toaped at her as Melinda sie "I’ve told Braith to stay away for the night, as we have a lot of plans to make, and also because I just like to tor," Aria protested

"Not the big one Aria, to The one that you dreamed of That other one can wait till the end of the month"