The Long Walk to the Temple

Chapter 11

"Why is the traitor's daughter even here?"

Elara heard the whisper before she reached the courtyard gates.

Mira glanced sideways. "Don't turn around."

"I wasn't going to."

"You were."

"I'm trying not to."

"Then keep walking."

Elara obeyed, keeping her gaze on the temple rising beyond the palace courtyard. The procession had already begun forming, and nearly every candidate had someone beside them.

A mother adjusted her daughter's silver ribbon.

"Stand straight."

"I am standing straight."

"Not like that. You're shaking."

A father pressed a small charm into his son's hand.

"For luck."

"I don't need luck."

"Take it anyway."

Laughter moved through the crowd.

Elara's fingers tightened around the edge of her sleeve.

Mira noticed.

"You're doing it again."

"Doing what?"

"Trying to disappear."

"I'm a servant. Disappearing is one of my talents."

"Not today."

Elara looked at her. "Why not?"

"Because you fought for three years to attend this ceremony."

"I petitioned."

"You begged."

"I petitioned."

"You wrote letters."

"That is called petitioning."

"You threatened to write directly to the royal chamber."

Elara gave her a look.

Mira smiled. "Exactly."

Before Elara could answer, a palace attendant approached with a clipboard.

"Candidates to the eastern line. Servants and attendants to the west."

Mira frowned. "She's a candidate."

The attendant checked his list.

"Elara Veyne?"

"Yes."

He looked up at her, surprised.

"You're listed under palace staff."

"I'm also registered for the ceremony."

"I don't make the lists."

"Then perhaps check yours again."

The attendant glanced toward the main procession.

"The candidates continue through the eastern gate. Palace staff use the west aisle."

Mira stepped forward.

"She belongs with us."

The attendant lowered his voice.

"Mira, don't make this worse."

Elara touched Mira's arm.

"Go."

"I'm not leaving you."

"You are. Before Bellamy decides you've abandoned your duties."

Mira's expression tightened.

"I'll find you inside."

"You'd better."

Mira squeezed her hand and followed the servants toward the west aisle.

Elara watched her go.

"Touching."

The voice beside her belonged to a young noblewoman in a silver gown. Two friends stood behind her, already smiling.

"Your servant friend doesn't want to leave you alone."

"She's my friend."

The girl shrugged.

"Same thing, really."

Elara looked ahead.

"Do you need something?"

"I was curious."

"About?"

The girl's eyes traveled over Elara's simple dress.

"Why you're here."

"I was invited."

"That's what I heard."

One of her friends laughed.

"King Kael had to overrule Steward Bellamy just to let her attend."

The noblewoman tilted her head.

"That sounds less like an invitation and more like charity."

Elara smiled faintly.

"Then I suppose I should be grateful."

"You should."

"I am."

The girl's smile widened.

"So you're not expecting anything from the Moonstone?"

"No."

"Not even a mate?"

"No."

"How convenient."

Her friends laughed.

The noblewoman leaned closer.

"You know how the ceremony works, don't you? The Moonstone responds to the wolf bond."

"I know."

"And you don't have a wolf."

"I know that too."

"So what exactly are you expecting it to reveal?"

Elara looked at her.

"Perhaps something you don't know how to see."

The laughter stopped.

The girl blinked.

"That's a strange answer."

"It's the only one you're getting."

"You really think you're different?"

"No."

"Then why talk like you are?"

Elara's hand moved unconsciously toward the letter hidden inside her dress.

Because my mother knew something.

Because Yssa said something was sealed inside me.

Because for the first time in fifteen years, I have a reason not to believe everything I've been told.

Instead, she said, "I think you talk too much."

Mira would have laughed.

The noblewoman's mouth fell open.

Her friends exchanged looks.

"You should watch your tongue," the girl warned.

"Why?"

"Because you don't know who you're speaking to."

Elara held her gaze.

"And you don't know who you're speaking to either."

For a moment, neither moved.

Then the procession lurched forward.

Elara turned away first not because she was afraid, but because she refused to waste another second on someone determined to misunderstand her.

Behind her, the noblewoman muttered, "She'll regret that."

Elara heard it.

She kept walking.

The temple gates came into view.

"Candidates, remain in order!"

The attendant's voice echoed across the courtyard.

Families moved closer to their candidates.

Mira reappeared from the servants' aisle long enough to catch Elara's hand.

"You survived."

"Barely."

"What happened?"

"Someone wanted to know what I expected the Moonstone to reveal."

"And?"

"I told her it might reveal something she couldn't see."

Mira stared.

"You actually said that?"

"Yes."

"Elara."

"What?"

"I'm proud of you."

Elara laughed softly.

"Don't encourage me."

"I intend to."

A horn sounded from the temple steps.

Mira released her hand.

"They're starting."

Elara nodded.

Mira squeezed her fingers once.

"Whatever happens, don't run."

"I won't."

"Even if everyone stares?"

"I won't."

"Even if Bellamy"

"Especially then."

Mira smiled and disappeared into the servants' section.

Elara turned toward the temple.

Then she saw him.

Kael stood at the top of the steps beside two councilors and Sarn. He wore ceremonial black trimmed with silver, his expression unreadable as he listened to an older councilor speak.

"Your Majesty, the eastern packs have already been seated."

Kael nodded.

"And the final candidates?"

"Almost all present."

"Almost?"

The councilor checked his list.

"One candidate remains."

"Who?"

"Elara Veyne."

Kael's expression changed.

Only slightly.

But Elara saw it.

His head turned.

Their eyes met.

Elara stopped breathing.

He wasn't looking past her.

He wasn't looking at the crowd.

He was looking directly at her.

Steadily.

Something unreadable moved behind his expression.

Then his gaze dropped toward the center of her chest.

The letter.

Elara's stomach tightened.

Could he somehow sense it?

She pressed one hand against her dress.

Kael's eyes sharpened.

"Who allowed her into the candidate line?" he asked.

The councilor frowned.

"Your Majesty?"

"Elara Veyne."

"She petitioned for attendance."

"I know that."

"Steward Bellamy objected."

"And yet she is here."

The councilor hesitated.

"The decree was yours."

Kael's jaw tightened.

"I know."

Sarn looked between them.

"Is there a problem?"

Kael's gaze remained on Elara.

"No."

But his voice was quieter than before.

"No problem."

The temple doors opened.

Everyone fell silent.

A priest stepped onto the threshold.

"Candidates of the Silver Moon Kingdom, enter."

The procession moved.

Elara followed.

Inside, Mira found her near the entrance.

"Stay close."

"I thought servants weren't allowed."

"Apparently today has become a day for breaking rules."

Elara almost smiled.

They moved forward with the candidates.

At the center of the temple stood the Moonstone.

It was larger than Elara had imagined pale stone streaked with silver veins, surrounded by seven ancient pillars.

The priest raised his hands.

"One by one. Place your palm upon the stone. Speak your name. Let the Moonstone reveal what the bond has chosen."

The first candidate stepped forward.

"I am Tilda Marr."

She placed her palm against the stone.

A soft silver glow appeared.

The crowd applauded.

Tilda returned to her family, laughing nervously.

Another candidate stepped forward.

Then another.

Nothing unusual happened.

Elara waited.

Her heart beat harder with every name called.

Mira leaned toward her.

"You're shaking."

"I know."

"Want to leave?"

"No."

"Good."

"Why?"

"Because you would have to explain it to me first."

Elara smiled despite herself.

Then the priest called the next name.

"Elara Veyne."

The smile disappeared.

The temple seemed suddenly too quiet.

Someone whispered from the crowd.

"Her?"

Another voice answered.

"She's wolfless."

The priest looked toward Elara.

"Come forward."

She stepped out of the line.

One step.

Then another.

The letter pressed against her ribs.

Her mother's words returned.

If you are reading this, then the Moonstone has finally begun to awaken.

Elara reached the final step.

She lifted her hand.

The Moonstone pulsed.

Elara froze.

A flash of silver raced beneath its surface.

The candles flickered.

Murmurs erupted.

"What was that?"

"Did you see it?"

"The stone moved."

The priest stepped backward.

"Impossible."

Elara stared at the Moonstone.

It pulsed again.

This time, brighter.

A crack of silver light spread across its surface.

Mira whispered, "Elara..."

Elara couldn't answer.

Across the temple, Kael had risen from his seat.

His face had gone pale.

"Your Majesty?" Sarn asked.

Kael didn't respond.

His eyes were locked on the Moonstone.

Then they shifted to Elara.

Fear was written across his face.

Not surprise.

Not confusion.

Fear.

The Moonstone pulsed a third time.

The entire temple shook.

People screamed.

The priest stumbled backward.

Elara's hand hovered inches from the stone.

Then a voice not from the priest, not from the crowd, but from somewhere inside the Moonstone whispered through her mind.

Veyne.

Elara's eyes widened.

Kael suddenly shouted.

"Don't touch it!"

Too late.

Elara's palm met the Moonstone.

Silver light exploded through the temple.

And Kael whispered the words that made Elara's blood run cold.

"She's awake.”