Page 77 of A Crown of Fates
I shake my head, chuckling. “You know I’m staying because mymateis here. I wouldn’t be alone either way.”
Isla scoffs, though there’s a glimmer in her eyes. “There’s nothing more important than having that one woman in your life who not only accepts you for who you are but embraces every part of you.”
The truth of her words hit hard, and I realize something I hadn’t before. I’m leaving her. I’ve always been that person for Isla, her confidante and constant, and now I have Drea. But who will my sister have?
“Oh, Isla,” I whisper, pulling her into another hug. “I’m so sorry.”
Her soft laughter fills the room. “Why in the world would you be sorry?”
“Because I’m leaving you withoutyourperson,” I reply, guilt curling in my chest.
Isla steps back, placing her hands firmly on my shoulders. “I love you more than all the stars in the universe, Estee, and no one will ever replace you as my soul sister.” She hesitates, her cheeks flushing slightly as she adds, “But I do have someone in Polaris.”
I blink in surprise. “Who is this ‘someone?’” I ask, feigning insult even as a grin spreads across my face.
“Her name is Maegan,” Isla says, and her face lights up in a way that makes me want to both cry and laugh. “She applied to be one of the royal guards. The way she spoke to Asher when we met her… You’d have been in love with her right then and there.”
I smirk, though jealousy nips at me, irrational as it is. “I look forward to meeting her,” I say, though my tone must betray me because Isla bursts into laughter, her joy infectious.
“Liar,” she teases, wiping a tear from her eye. “But I promise, when you do, you’ll love her just as much as I love Drea.”
Before I can reply, a knock at the door startles us, and my stomach flips with anticipation. The three of us exchange a glance before I nod. “It’s time.”
“You’re going to be amazing,” Isla says, her voice firm and filled with sisterly pride.
“What if I trip on my dress the second I walk into the great hall?” I ask, half-joking, though the fear is real. It’s a scenario that haunted my dreams last night.
Drea loops her arm through mine, her grin confident and reassuring. “You’re going to be fine. I promise.”
With a deep breath, I straighten my spine and push away the last of my nerves. She’s right. “Let’s do this.”
“As you wish, Queen Estee,” Isla quips, her grin mischievous as she ushers me toward the door.
Jerome is waiting in the hallway. He bows deeply as we step out. “If I may say, Your Majesty, you are breathtaking.”
“Thank you, Jerome.” My palms lightly glide over the multiple layers of fabric.
The dress is…extravagant, but the moment I slipped into it, I knew this wasn’t just a gown—it’s a declaration. The pristine white fabric, flowing and heavy, makes me feel like I’m draped in energy that comes directly from the gods themselves. The golden embroidery along the top of the bodice also circles around my waist, then splits the top layer of the skirt, continuing the intricate design beneath. Every stitch screams royalty, as if the dress alone could command a room.
And then there’s the cape. A deep red, bold and dramatic, cascading from my shoulders as though it’s trying to remind me of the responsibility I’m accepting today. This isn’t just about me—it’s about a kingdom, a future, a throne.
Jerome gestures for us to go ahead, and as we make our way to the great hall, where Theo and the rest of the pack await, I can’t stop the smile that spreads across my face. This is real. This is happening. I’ve found my mate. I’m about to become queen. And I have my family here with me. For the first time in much too long, everything is exactly as it should be.
When we reach the grand double doors, Cecil is there, his expression a mixture of pride and warmth. He knocks once, and the doors creak open slightly to allow my parents to slip out. Their eyes shimmer with unshed tears, and the sight of them nearly undoes me.
“Our precious girl,” my mother whispers, pulling me into her arms. Her embrace is welcome and familiar, and for a moment, I’m not a soon-to-be queen, I’m just her daughter.
“Thank you for being here,” I say, my voice steady but soft.
Their arrival with Isla and Asher was the best surprise of all. When they stepped off that ship, I’d never run faster to get to them.
“We wouldn’t be anywhere else today,” Dad adds. “Plus, I needed to see for myself that Theo was good enough for my little girl.”
That makes everyone chuckle, and I swipe at my eyes before I can ruin the work Isla and Drea did on me.
“All right,” Isla says with a clap of her hands. “Shall we?”
I inhale deeply. “Absolutely.”