As the carriage rolled to a gentle stop, I took a deep breath, even though it did little to settle the anxious flutter in my chest. Outside, the town square bustled with even more energy than before. Children sprinted through the streets in chaotic games of chase, their laughter carrying over the hum of lively merchants, whose numbers seemed to have quadrupled since earlier.

Yeon stepped out first, turning back to me with an exaggerated bow and an outstretched hand. “Your Grace.”

“Cut it out,” I muttered, swatting his hand away and stepping down on my own.

Cullen climbed out next, his broad frame nearly filling the carriage door, followed by Gwen. She adjusted her maroon cloak delicately, her amber eyes scanning the square. There was a calm deliberateness to her gaze, a kind of quiet curiosity that made me realize something: aside from her name, I knew remarkably little about her.

“So, where are these famous friends of yours?” Cullen asked, his head swivelling to take in the crowded square.

“The Wyrmwood Inn,” I said, nodding toward a narrow street that wound deeper into the town. “It’s not far. They should be waiting for me there.”

Azriel had promised to wait until sundown to say goodbye, which meant he’d be delaying his return to Odristan by the quicker gate routes. It was a long, gruelling journey without them, and the fact he was willing to go out of his way just so we could meet meant more than I could put into words. I only hoped Zaria had stayed, too. I needed to hear about her selection for a change. I was already weary of the endless chatter about mine.

Gwen fell into step beside me as we made our way toward the inn, with Cullen and Yeon flanking us slightly behind. My new escorts moved in tandem, controlling the crowd to give us enough space. The faint scent of baked bread wafted from a nearby bakery, and my stomach growled in quiet rebellion.

As we walked, Gwen turned her head to me slightly. “Is it strange to be back here?”

I gave her a small smile, more wry than warm. “Strange is one word for it. I never thought I’d be back as” this.” I gestured vaguely at myself, as if the title was inscribed on my forehead.

“Well, for what it’s worth, you seem to be handling it well,” she said.

“Do I?” I asked, arching a sceptical eyebrow. “Because, honestly, I have no idea what I’m doing.”

Gwen laughed softly. “You’re not alone in that, Celeste. None of us do, really. We just pretend until it works.”

Her words brought me a small measure of comfort. Pretending until it worked, it was probably all any of us could do.

The Wyrmwood Inn came into view, its modest wooden sign swaying gently in the breeze. The carved crest of a twisted tree was imprinted on its surface, a nod to the name. It wasn’t the kind of place nobility usually frequented, which only deepened my curiosity about why Azriel had chosen it. For all his high-handedness, pretentious wasn’t really his style.

As we approached, I saw their familiar faces through the window. Zaria and Azriel seated at a corner table, a pitcher of warm nectar between them. Azriel, predictably, had taken the seat by the window. It was one of his odd quirks, though I couldn’t pretend to understand it. Personally, I preferred the safety of a shadowy corner.

I pushed open the door and the bell above it giving a soft chime. Zaria’s head snapped up, her violet eyes locking onto mine. Her face split into a grin, and she shot to her feet so quickly her chair nearly toppled over.

“Celeste!” she exclaimed, closing the distance between us in record time. Before I could brace myself, she pulled me into a tight hug, her laughter ringing in my ears.

“I was beginning to think you’d forgotten about us,” she said, leaning back to study my face. Her sharp eyes rolled over me, assessing. “And Supreme Successor, huh?”

I sighed, giving her a rueful smile. “Still trying to wrap my head around it.”

Azriel rose to his feet, offering me a polite nod. “It’s well deserved,” he said in that calm, refined tone of his.

“I’ll take your word for it,” I replied dryly, earning a chuckle from him.

Gwen stepped forward to join us with her warm, easily disarming smile. “I’m Gwen, Celeste’s sister-in-law. It’s a pleasure to meet you both.”

Zaria and Azriel both inclined their heads politely. Zaria’s eyes twinkled with curiosity as she looked Gwen over. “Your brother’s mate, huh? Seems like there’s a lot we need to catch up on.”

I laughed. “You have no idea.”

Yeon and Cullen stepped forward then, and I noticed Zaria’s gaze pivoting to them, a glimmer of intrigue in her eyes.’These are my brothers, Yeon and Cullen,” I said, gesturing toward them. “And these are Zaria and Azriel, my closest friends from the academy.”

They bowed to my brothers, and Zaria’s eyes widened as she glanced at Yeon. “It’s an honour to meet you both. Celeste talks about her family often—well, in the rare moments she actually shares anything personal.”

I shot her a mock glare. “I do share. Occasionally.”

Yeon smiled. “So, you’re the friends who managed to keep her out of trouble?”

Azriel chuckled. “We tried. Not always successfully.”

Cullen folded his arms, his gaze flicking between Zaria and Azriel. “Well, any friends of Celeste are welcome. She doesn’t exactly make it easy for people to get close to her.”

Zaria grinned, her eyes shifting back to me. “I take that as a compliment.”

We all settled around the table, with Cullen and Yeon taking seats near the window and scanning the square. My new escorts stationed themselves near the entrance like sentinels. For the first time in what felt like days, the knot of tension in my chest loosened. In the company of my friends and my brothers, it was almost easy to pretend everything was normal.

“So, what now, Supreme Successor?” Zaria teased, pouring me a glass of nectar. “Got any grand plans to reform the Sovereignty?”

I snorted. “No. Enough about me. I need to hear everything about your selection.”

Her eyes sparkled as she leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Well, it turns out I’m set to join the council of water witches. Not as exciting as becoming the Supreme Successor, but I’ll take it.”

“Are you kidding me?” I exclaimed. “That’s incredible, Z! The council of water witches is ridiculously prestigious!”

She gave a little shrug, but the smile tugging at her lips betrayed her pride. “Maybe, but I still think you got the more interesting end of the deal.”

“I beg to differ,” I said, reaching across the table to take her hands. I gave them a firm squeeze. “This is huge, Zaria. I’m thrilled for you. Truly.”

Yeon, who had been quietly observing, turned his attention to Azriel, one eyebrow raised. “And you? How was your selection?”

Before Azriel could answer, Zaria chimed in with a wide grin. “Oh, Azriel and Celeste tied for first at the academy, of course. And he was named successor to the governor of Odristan. No big deal.”

I rolled my eyes at her dramatics, but the twinkle in her gaze was contagious.

“My, my,” Cullen drawled, leaning back in his chair with a grin. “Royalty in our midst. Looks like you and Yeon have more in common than you thought, Azriel. He’s the successor to the governor of Ostonia.”

Azriel inclined his head slightly, his gaze flicking between Yeon and Cullen. “It seems we do.”

Yeon offered a faint smile, his usual brand of understated approval. “Quite the path you’ve carved out for yourself. Odristan isn’t exactly known for making things easy on its leaders.”

Azriel’s lips twitched. “Neither is Ostonia, from what I’ve heard. It seems we’re both in for a challenge.”

Gwen, who had been quietly following the conversation, leaned forward with an intrigued expression. “It sounds like all of you have been chosen for some very prestigious roles. Almost like Gaia is setting you all up for something bigger.”

Zaria raised her glass of nectar. “To whatever comes next, then. And to surviving it—with our sanity intact.”

I chuckled, lifting my own glass and clinking it against hers. “I’ll drink to that.”

Azriel followed suit, raising his glass with a faint smirk. “To surviving, indeed.”

As we drank, I caught myself wondering if there’d be a chance to slip away and check out those sigils on the way back. Probably not, but the thought lingered.

The conversation soon shifted to lighter topics. Our corner of the inn filled with laughter, warm banter, and the easy camaraderie that only old friends could bring. It was a kind of solace I hadn’t realized I needed until now.

Eventually, Zaria turned to Cullen. “So, how long have you two been together?” she asked, nodding toward Cullen and Gwen with a warm smile.

“Oh, good question. I was wondering the same,” I added, leaning in slightly.

Cullen glanced at Gwen, his eyes softening in a way I rarely saw. He reached up, brushing a stray curl from her cheek. “Not long. We met at a council gathering four seasons ago. I suppose I was lucky enough to catch her eye.”

Gwen’s cheeks flushed the faintest pink. “Or perhaps I was the lucky one.”

“She’s from House Ironglade,” Cullen added, turning his gaze toward me. “Mother wasn’t exactly thrilled at first, but Gwen won her over.”

I raised an eyebrow, a grin tugging at my lips. “House Ironglade, huh? That couldn’t have been easy. I imagine Mother wasn’t eager to expand her circle of “approved alliances.’”

Gwen smiled. “It did take some convincing, but your brother is surprisingly persuasive when he wants to be.”

“Surprisingly?” Cullen teased, feigning offence. “I’m always persuasive.”

Gwen laughed, shaking her head. “You’re impossible.”

“And you love me for it,” he shot back, his grin widening.

I smiled at the two of them. Their dynamic was light and easy, a far cry from the usual stuffy courtship displays I’d grown used to seeing. For once, Cullen seemed” happy, and I had to admit, I liked seeing this side of him.