But out of all that, one fear weighed on her the most.

‘I feel like an imposter,’ she admitted, letting only a quick silence grow between them before adding, ‘does that upset you?’

A soft smile spread across the queen’s face as she took Sapphire’s hand in her own.

Sapphire lapped up the comfort of the touch. Today, she’d allow herself that much, at least.

‘My sweet girl.’ They shared a private smile. ‘If it’s of any comfort, if I doubted – even for a single moment – that you were ready, we wouldn’t be here, standing together now.’

It was easy to be lulled by her words. But Sapphire’s childish fear remained. The fear she had been trying to smother since the beginning. Approval. Rejection. Love. Acceptance. She stood at the precipice of them all.

‘What if they don’t like me?’

‘How could they not?’ the queen asked innocently enough. But all it did was send the dark, festering brew of feelings down to Sapphire’s churning stomach.

‘Would it help you to know that, when I was in your shoes, I felt very much the same as you do now?’

‘You did?’ Sapphire questioned, raising her eyes to meet Araxia’s.

The queen offered a small nod in response.

‘How did you manage it?’ Sapphire whispered.

‘My mother,’ Araxia said, another small smile spreading across her lips. ‘She told me something that I’ve carried with me every day since. I keep it close, chant it, breathe it, every time I feel doubt will consume me. Their eyes may try to dismantle us, their thoughts cage us, but our own fear is the only thing capable of keeping us prisoner.’

Sapphire bit her lip, letting the queen’s words sink in as they neared the door to the terrace. She could feel Araxia’s heavy gaze. ‘Majesties, we should begin …’ Claye’s voice came out rushed, and Araxia shot him a look.

‘Are you ready?’ The king’s green eyes were bright, clear, and expectant. Araxia took Sapphire’s hand once again. ‘I’ve dreamed of this day for eighteen years. I know you’re nervous, but we’ll be right there beside you. Today another Canmore rises. She will let us know when she is ready.’

Kip nodded his head in support of his wife. ‘When you are ready, Sapphire.’ His voice echoed out.

Outside, she could hear the crowds. The shouting. The cheers. The expectation. The air was thick with it. But Kip and Araxia were watching her so closely, one panicked and one stressed, that she knew she had already wasted more time than they could offer.

‘I’m ready.’

At Sapphire’s strangled voice the king’s features softened even further, and he reached out to her, giving her shoulder an affirming squeeze before taking Araxia’s hand and heading towards the terrace doors.