the lost princess

Previously

…He extended a hand, not to touch her, but as an offering. “They are allies in the dark, Aurelia. And tonight, they are ready to step into the light, with you.” The moonlight streamed through the window, illuminating the dust motes dancing in the air, and for the first time, Aurelia felt not like a lost child, but like a beacon. The choice was hers. To remain in the comforting anonymity of her simple life, or to step into the unknown, to embrace a destiny she was only beginning to understand, and to face the darkness that had stolen her past. The wooden bird in her hand felt warm now, a tiny ember of hope, a promise of the allies waiting in the shadows, ready to follow her lead.