Queen of Stars and Shadows (Dark Fae Guardian #3)

Sarielle

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Sarielle

I stand at the head of the meadow, framed by mountain peaks on all sides. In the distance rise the towers of the rebuilt Court of Nightmares. This place reminds me so much of my hidden valley back in Eldare, the place I visited in my waking hours and in my dreams. The place where Zyren first visited me, my shadow fae guardian.

It is, therefore, the perfect place for our wedding.

Or perhaps, vow renewal is a better name for it. One year after the first time we wed, but everything is different now in the best possible way.

My gaze travels down the crowd of people before me. The citizens of Selaye, and others from all around Valaron. Zyren’s friends Riya and Naryo. The Veyeni who helped us on our first journey. The king and queen of Eldare. Zara and Asher from the City of Night. Dain is there, as Lilette’s escort, and of course, Lilette and Owyn, standing on either side of the priestess who will preside over our ceremony. There are even a few nightmares perched in the trees along the clearing.

I begin to walk down the aisle, which is merely a carpet of green grass. My pale lavender gossamer dress trails behind me. As I move, all the faces but one fade. My eyes lock onto the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen, the man who still makes my heart stop for a moment every time I look at him.

Zyren’s storm-gray eyes burn into mine as I approach him. When I reach his side, he wraps his fingers through mine, brushing one thumb over the back of my hand. Even that simple gesture sends a spike of adrenaline through my veins. The tiniest of smirks twitches the corners of his lips; he can tell.

“We are gathered here to renew the vows of Sarielle Otreyas and Zyren Lyonian,” the priestess begins. “Who bears the rings?”

“I do,” Lilette and Owyn both say, stepping forward.

I take the ring Lilette presses into my hand, the cool metal kissing my palm.

“Sarielle Otreyas, speak your vows before those who have come to witness this union.”

My lips tremble as I look up at Zyren. I release his hands long enough to slide his ring on his finger. It’s dark gray, nearly black, with runes in lighter gray etched across the inside and outside. The runes translate to the vows I now speak.

“Zyren, you hold my heart, my magic, and my soul. Even death cannot keep us apart. When this life is over, we will return to the stars together. I love you and I choose you, forever.”

Zyren smiles and reaches out, sliding my ring onto my finger. It’s pale silver with a large round black diamond set in the center, surrounded by a ring of tiny diamonds.

“Sarielle, you are my reason for living. You are the air I breathe, the song in my heart, the magic in my soul. You continue to entrance me each and every day that I’m blessed to have you by my side. I love you, and I will love you until we return to the sky, and I will love you beyond even that.”

The priestess raises her hands above her head, and a pulse of magic shoots across the meadow. “Sarielle Otreyas and Zyren Lyonian, I pronounce you husband and wife once again!”

An uproarious cheer rises from the guests, and the nightmares take into the sky, shrieking and causing a ruckus.

Hours later, after a night of decadent celebration in the newly rebuilt palace, just as dawn begins to lighten the sky, Zyren and I find ourselves in the throne room. We stand in one of the huge arched windows and look out over the glowing lights of Selaye.

“We did it,” I whisper, nestling into the crook of his shoulder. “We saved Valaron, and we didn’t die, and we kept our vows to each other, despite everything we went through.”

“We did,” Zyren echoes. “Because you are the queen this realm has always deserved. You freed your people, fae and nightmare alike. We’re no longer cut off from the rest of the world, because of you.”

“I had a bit of help,” I say with a soft laugh. “I could never have done it without my guardian.”

He dusts a kiss over my lips. “How about I help you to bed? It’s been a long night.”

I raise my brows. “As long as you don’t think you’re going to sleep. It’s our wedding night, after all.”

Zyren grins devilishly. “I would never disappoint my queen.”

We turn and walk toward the exit. As I pass the throne, I brush my fingers along the cool, black stone. I’d had this remade, too, something I would have done even if the old one hadn’t been destroyed. It’s made of smooth stone with a slight sheen, glittering bits of silver veining through it that make it look like the night sky, and it’s ornately carved with a motif of feathered raven wings, one fanning out in each direction.

Zyren pauses, letting me look at it for a moment longer, then he tugs gently at my hand.

“Come, my Queen of Nightmares. Your throne will still be here tomorrow.”

I step forward and he pulls me into a kiss, long and slow and sweet. When he pulls back, his voice is velvet and smoke and full of dark promises. “We have a lifetime of tomorrows, my love.”

A lifetime of tomorrows, and all the world to share.

THE END

I hope you enjoyed Sarielle and Zyren’s story. Their tale may be over, but you can continue the connected Crowns of Aureon series with A Court of Ash and Midnight . Set 500-years in Aureon’s future, follow Embyr’s story as she’s taken from her home and brought to the castle of the Shadow Guardians, where she finds herself the pawn in a game of power and deception. It’s impossible to know who’s a friend and who’s an enemy, except for the dark loner Daemon, who she’s warned to stay away from. He’s the most dangerous of them all, but fate keeps drawing them closer, a fate which spells her doom…

If you haven’t read Zara and Asher’s story, you can read the City of Night duology, also part of the Crowns of Aureon connected series. Or, if you like paranormal romance with witches, shifters, and demons (I have a type, what can I say), then binge the Raven Society Series today.

XOXO, Aurora