The journey to Blue Star was quiet, but it was the kind of quiet that came from anticipation rather than tension. Alex and James traveled through the Stargate's portal network, emerging on the homeworld under a sky that was nothing like that of Starlight Base. The sun was brighter and warm here, a massive golden orb hanging in a sky of deep, cloudless blue. The air smelled of grass and distant rain. The wind carried the songs of birds that had never known the corruption of the inner zone.The Aurelian Empire's royal capital rose before them like a city from a legend. White stone towers reached toward the sky, their spires gleaming in the morning light. Gardens filled with flowers imported from a dozen worlds lined the streets. Fountains sparkled in every square. And at the heart of the city, built into the side of a mountain that had been carved into the shape of a sleeping dragon, was the imperial palace.Diana met them at the gates. She wore a formal gown of deep blue, the colors

"People of the demon realm!" The Demon King's voice boomed across the square, amplified by the dark energy that pulsed through his body. "Two hundred years ago, we sent our finest geniuses to strike at the heart of our enemies. The humans and other races were weakened by the monster surge. Their young warriors were exposed on the front lines. It was the perfect moment to cripple their future. To ensure that the demon race would reign supreme for generations to come."He paused, letting the weight of his words settle over the crowd."But our geniuses were slaughtered. Our plans were exposed. The humans knew exactly where we would strike, exactly when we would attack, exactly who our targets were. Our finest young warriors and the future of our race were cut down before they could reach their potential." His burning eyes swept across the crowd. "And now we know why. There was a traitor among us. Someone who sold our secrets to the humans. Someone who betrayed his own kind for promises o

The wedding preparations continued throughout the morning and into the afternoon. The royal palace of Blue Star had not hosted an event of this magnitude in centuries, and every corner of the ancient building hummed with activity. Servants polished the marble floors until they gleamed like mirrors, their reflections dancing in the stone. Gardeners trimmed the hedges and arranged flowers in the colors of both houses deep blue for Aurelia, gold and crimson for Roshar creating cascading displays that filled the halls with the scent of roses and jasmine. Chefs prepared feasts that would feed hundreds of thousands of guests from every kingdom on the planet, their kitchens a symphony of clattering pots and sizzling meats and the warm, yeasty smell of fresh bread.Alex stood in the middle of it all, feeling slightly overwhelmed. He had faced Titans and Immortal Kings and the crushing weight of three thousand years of solitude on an endless staircase. He had traced the source of the monste

The wedding of Alex Roshar and Diana Aurelius was held three days after the proposal, on a morning when the sky over Blue Star was painted in shades of gold and rose. The royal capital had been transformed. Banners bearing the colors of both houses deep blue and gold for Aurelia, crimson and gold for Roshar hung from every building along the processional route. Flowers imported from a dozen worlds lined the streets, their petals catching the morning light and filling the air with a fragrance that seemed almost magical. The citizens of the capital had turned out in vast numbers, their faces bright with joy, their voices rising in cheers as the royal procession made its way toward the Grand Cathedral.The cathedral itself was an ancient structure, built in the first centuries after the founding families had settled on Blue Star. Its walls were carved from white stone that seemed to glow from within. Its ceiling arched high overhead, painted with scenes from the history of both houses:

The broadcast began at dusk, when the sky over Blue Star was painted in shades of deep purple and fading gold. Every screen across the planet flickered to life simultaneously, from the massive holographic displays in city squares to the small monitors in remote village taverns. The people gathered farmers and merchants, soldiers and scholars, parents holding children on their shoulders, their faces illuminated by the soft glow of the screens, their hearts heavy with the weight of memory.In the Roshar royal palace, Alex sat with his family in the main hall. Diana was beside him, her hand in his, her amber eyes fixed on the screen. His parents were nearby, his mother's silver hair gleaming in the dim light, his father's weathered face thoughtful. His brothers and sisters were arrayed around the room, Aegar with Mia and their children, Cedric with Kaela and Kiara, Asher and his wife, Alena with Anna on her lap, Miara sitting cross-legged on the floor. James was in his usual chair, his