After the council finally ended, Sarisa discovered that surviving a political battle did not feel triumphant.
It felt like having one's bones replaced by warm wax.
She stepped out of the council chamber with her head high because people were watching. Servants.
Guards. Junior officials pretending to organize documents while clearly trying to hear everything. A few council aides bowed too quickly when she passed, their faces still pale from the morning's revelations.
Acting sovereign.
Future queen.
Demon-mated princess.
Apparently, she had collected titles like a woman falling down a staircase and catching knives on the way.
Once the chamber doors closed behind her, Sarisa allowed herself one quiet breath.
Only one.
Then Raveth appeared at her side like violence wearing a casual expression.
"Well," Raveth said, "that was less boring than expected."
Sarisa looked at her. "That council nearly tried to turn my marriage into a legal battlefield."
"Yes. And Lara chewed through their law books with her teeth." Raveth smiled. "Very sweet. Very romantic. Mildly terrifying."
Elysia walked on Sarisa's other side, serene as ever, though her eyes were warm with quiet approval. "You handled yourself well."
Sarisa almost laughed. "I thought I was going to throw a chair at Councilor Vaeris."
"That would also have been handling yourself," Raveth said.
"Poorly," Elysia added.
"Memorably," Raveth corrected.
Sarisa's mouth curved despite everything.
The hallway beyond the council chamber opened into a private gallery overlooking one of the inner gardens.
Pale flowers bloomed below in strict geometric beds, everything clipped and arranged with the old Celestian obsession for control.
The sight made Sarisa's chest tighten for a moment. She had grown up surrounded by beauty that had been disciplined into obedience.
Now even the roses seemed to be waiting to see who would rule them.
Elysia guided her toward a small alcove with cushioned seats and a low table. "Sit for a moment."
"I have another meeting in—"
"Sit," Raveth said.
Sarisa sat.
Not because she was afraid of Raveth. Mostly.
The moment she lowered herself onto the cushion, exhaustion moved through her in a heavy wave. She leaned back, eyes closing for a breath, and felt the mating bond hum faintly.
Lara was somewhere in the palace with Malvoria and Veylira. Not far. Close enough that Sarisa could sense the warmth of her, the familiar flicker of impatience, the guarded steadiness beneath it.
Raveth followed her gaze toward the corridor and grinned.
"I'm sure they're threatening Lara right now."
Sarisa opened her eyes. "Threatening?"
"Lovingly," Raveth said. "Mostly."
Elysia sat across from Sarisa, folding her hands in her lap. "Malvoria and Veylira are making sure Lara understands what she has offered."
The smile slipped a little from Sarisa's face. "You mean marrying me."
"And standing beside you through the consequences," Elysia said gently.
Sarisa looked down at her hands.
The council's words returned, ugly and cold. Consort. Tradition. Heirs. Legitimacy. It was absurd how quickly love became law the moment a throne was involved.
She and Lara had already vowed themselves to each other in ways the council could never understand. Blood. Water. Night. Breath. The mark at Sarisa's neck pulsed like a quiet refusal.
Still, the council was right about one thing.
A public marriage would change everything.
It would anchor Lara to Celestia in the eyes of law.
It would also place a target on her back.
Sarisa whispered, "What if they're right to ask her?"
Raveth's expression changed first. The amusement dimmed.
Elysia leaned slightly forward. "They are not asking because they doubt her love. They are asking because Lara has spent much of her life running from crowns."
"I know."
"She is not running now," Elysia said.
Sarisa looked up.
The certainty in Elysia's voice steadied something inside her.
Raveth stretched one leg out, boot tapping lightly against the floor. "Lara looks at you like a starving wolf who found a sacred bakery. She's not going anywhere."
Sarisa blinked.
Then laughed.
It came out unexpectedly, soft but real. "A sacred bakery?"
"It's accurate."
"It is deeply strange."
"Love often is."
Elysia smiled faintly. "Raveth's metaphors are improving."
"Thank you."
"I said improving, not good."
Raveth placed a hand over her chest. "Cruel."
For a few minutes, the three of them sat there in the alcove while the palace breathed around them in frightened little currents. Sarisa had not expected this, either.
To sit in the Celestian castle with Elysia and Raveth and feel safer than she had ever felt under her mother's roof.
Then a woman approached.
She moved with the quick, precise grace of court staff, wearing pale blue robes with the crest of the inner household embroidered at the sleeve.
Her hair was pinned high, her expression respectful but strained, as if she had rehearsed her next words and still did not trust them.
"Your Highness," she said, bowing deeply.
Sarisa straightened at once. "Yes?"
"I apologize for the interruption. I am Merielle, assistant to the former Mistress of the Royal Household." The woman hesitated on the word former, as if the palace itself might object. "With the transition of authority, there are several domestic arrangements requiring your attention."
Sarisa stared at her.
Domestic arrangements.
Wonderful.
She had dealt with treason, forbidden laboratories, a public speech, and a council argument about marriage before midday, and now the palace wished to discuss curtains and scheduling.
"What arrangements?" Sarisa asked carefully.
Merielle clasped her hands. "Among them, Your Highness may need to choose ladies-in-waiting for later. Women who will attend you formally, assist with court functions, manage your personal household, accompany you to ceremonies, and help establish your new public image."
Sarisa's mind went blank for half a second.
Ladies-in-waiting.
Of course.
Because apparently becoming acting sovereign also meant needing a small, elegant flock of women to follow her through corridors and remind everyone she was important.
Raveth leaned closer to Elysia and whispered, loudly, "Do they come with weapons?"
Merielle blinked.
Elysia replied, equally calm, "Usually embroidery."
"Disappointing."
Sarisa pressed her lips together to avoid laughing.
Merielle looked between them as if uncertain whether demons were joking or threatening. A reasonable concern.
Sarisa cleared her throat. "Yes. All right. Prepare a list of candidates."
Merielle looked relieved. "Of course, Your Highness. Traditionally, candidates are selected from noble houses of strong loyalty and refined reputation."
"No," Sarisa said.
The word came faster than expected.
Merielle froze.
Sarisa sat a little straighter. "Prepare a wider list. Noble women, yes, but also scholars, healers, administrators, women from lesser houses, and at least two candidates from outside the capital."
Merielle's eyes widened. "Outside the capital?"
"Yes. If my household is going to represent the future court, it will not be built only from the same polished families who watched my mother rule and noticed nothing."
Raveth smiled slowly.
Elysia's eyes warmed with approval.
Merielle swallowed. "That may be controversial."
"So is everything else today."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"And Merielle?"
"Yes?"
Sarisa's voice softened. "Do not bring me women chosen because they will spy on me for frightened councilors."
Merielle went pale.
Then, to her credit, she bowed lower. "Understood."
When she left, Raveth looked delighted.
"You are becoming fun."
Sarisa sighed. "I am becoming tired."
"Also fun."
Before Elysia could respond, footsteps approached from the corridor.
Sarisa felt Lara before she saw her.
The bond warmed suddenly, bright and familiar, and Sarisa turned just as Lara appeared with Malvoria and Veylira behind her.
Lara looked utterly betrayed by the world.
Malvoria looked smug.
Veylira looked serene, which meant she had absolutely participated in whatever emotional ambush had just occurred.
Lara crossed the alcove in three strides and dropped onto the seat beside Sarisa, wrapping both arms around her waist and burying her face dramatically against Sarisa's shoulder.
Sarisa blinked, then lifted one hand to Lara's hair.
"Lara?"
Lara's voice came muffled against her neck.
"They were bullying me. Please help."