She looks around us at the crumbled buildings and the ruined city. The ghosts of what our grandparents left us.

“No,” I say. “Let’s do this now. We’ve waited long enough.” I look towards the settlements in the distance. “They’ve waited long enough, and I don’t need anything fancy. You’re all here with me, and that is enough.”

I turn to Nadir, pressing his hand to my chest. “I know you’re no longer destined to become king of The Aurora, but how does the title of Heart King sound?”

He breaks into a smile that lights up every corner of my spirit. He pulls me in close. “It sounds really fucking perfect.”

He leans down to kiss me, and we linger on it, savoring the feel of each other until Mael clears his throat very pointedly, and we pull apart.

“Sorry,” I say, feeling my cheeks blush. But there are smiles all around the circle.

“How do I perform the ascension?” I ask.

Anemone steps out of the circle. “Place the Crown on your head, and it will take care of the rest.”

“Thank you,” I say to her. “For helping us too. I know what I did—”

She cuts me off. “You have freed me from Zerra. I am the one who can never thank you enough.” She presses a hand to her chest and dips her head.

Cyan comes up behind Anemone, resting a hand on her lower back. “All is forgiven, Heart Queen.”

“Thank you,” I whisper.

Linden joins them and hesitates before she bows at the waist. “Thank you,” she says curtly, and I can’t help but laugh.

“Are you always going to hate me?”

She shrugs. “We’ll see.”

I’ll take it.

Then I turn to my siblings.

“I guess it’s time.”

“Wait,” Willow says. “Tristan and I got you something. Maybe it was silly, but we couldn’t help ourselves.”

Tristan reaches into his bag and pulls out a small box wrapped in shiny red paper and tied with a gold silk ribbon.

“What’s this?” I ask, holding out my hand for it.

“Open it,” Willow says, her eyes sparkling. My siblings exchange an amused look, and I narrow my eyes.

Nadir peers over my shoulder as I tug on the ribbon and then lift the lid. When I see what’s inside, I burst out laughing.

“What is it?” Elswyth asks as I pull out the smooth bar of soap. She looks around the circle. “Soap? I don’t understand.”

“I’ll tell you the story someday,” I promise, and then I bring it to my nose, inhaling its soft floral scent.

“It’s perfect,” I say to my brother and sister. “Thank you.”

“Make sure you keep it somewhere safe,” Tristan says with a wink. “Wouldn’t want anyone to steal it.”

I laugh again and then look at my brother and sister.