“A Princess is supposed to be merciful.” Dae sat tall in her throne, poised and regal. A smile spread across her lips. “But in this world, being Princess means blood.”

As she concluded her speech, a cheer went up among the people. My people. And now her people.

My father, the King, approached her, carrying a crown. A crown of thorns and diamonds, steel and flowers, that would seal her fate forever. For a single second, I wondered if she would ever regret this. Ever look back and pin this moment as her downfall.

But then her eyes locked on mine, and I saw her determination in every feature. Her smile faded from her mouth, replaced by a spark in her dark ocean blue eyes. The corner of her mouth tilted up in a tiny but powerful smirk. God, I loved that smirk.

She stood from her throne, as elegant as any Queen. To think she was ever not royalty seemed absurd. She walked to my father, her heels clicking with every step.

When she reached him, she bowed, and he nodded his head in return. After tonight, she would never bow to anyone ever again.

“Do you, Daelyn Stylar, swear to serve our people, to protect them from harm, and to honor our traditions and history?” Our people had never been much for eloquence and pretty words, so that was the only fancy speech part of her coronation. Her Trials on the other hand…

As she stood in front of my father, her eyes found mine once again. Her expression was of complete devotion, trust, and loyalty. “I do,” she said, hey eyes never leaving mine.

Okay I’m changing the title to something that actually makes sense with my story: Princess of Shadows.