Epilogue
Petra
“Ma! You’re stepping on the train again!” I griped, my palms in the air.
“Oh!” she yelped, jumping backward. “I’m sorry. This strand of hair just won’t stay in its place.” Her eyes narrowed as she fiddled with the pins. “There.”
“Oh, it’s perfect, Irabel,” Queen Anja said, her hands clasped in front of her mouth as she stared at her daughter. Anja did look similar to Ma. I could understand if Tyrak had chosen her and King Bastian as Cielle’s adoptive parents on that fact alone.
Cielle peered at herself in the mirror, her easy smile lighting up her entire face as she smoothed her hands down the satin skirt of her gown. “How do I look? ”
“You are perfection, darling,” Queen Anja whispered, tears brimming in her eyes.
Ma stood by, a teary-eyed smile on her face as she reached for my hand.
I knew she was thinking about Larka, how they’d never have this moment together.
But she could have this moment with Cielle, and that was all thanks to Cal.
When Ma’s soul had been returned to her body after Cal retrieved it from the Sanguilite’s Realm, she was both terrified and thrilled to hear about Cielle.
Though things had been a bit uncomfortable in the beginning, there was an inherent bond between them. They were mother and daughter by blood. They’d both opened their hearts to the idea of a relationship, and Queen Anja had been immediately supportive.
And now, here we were, in the keep of the newly rebuilt castle in Eserene. They’d managed an impressive amount of progress in rebuilding the city as a whole. But with a little help from Onera, it was just about done.
As is human nature, Astran quickly began to fall apart without a leader.
In a unanimous decision, the countries of Astran decided to dissolve their borders and move forward as one unified kingdom.
Relations with Nesan improved dramatically, and trade had begun almost immediately after everyone returned home.
I supposed the fact that the newly crowned King of Astran being the newly discovered grandson of the King of Nesan may have had something to do with the improved relationship.
The amount of convincing it took to get Miles to accept the position of king? I deserved a title far greater than Saint. It was as monumental a task as killing Malosym. But the thing that did it was when I suggested Cielle’s family would love it if she was married to royalty.
He said yes to my proposal, and two hours later, he made one of his own .
My head was still grappling with the way time moved so differently between the Saints’ Realm and the Human Realm.
It was something I’d have to get used to since I decided not to give up my title as Extos.
A royal wedding was not a small affair, but they managed to throw it together in less than a month’s time.
If Miles had it his way, however, they’d already be almost a month into their marriage.
“Look at that,” Nieve's voice sounded from the door, a bouquet of white roses in her grip. “Lieutenant Dumbass turned out to do one smart thing by marrying my cousin. He knows I’ll kick his ass if he fucks this up, right?”
“He’s very aware,” Cielle answered, beaming at her cousin. Anja pinched the bridge of her nose. “And you know he’s not a lieutenant anymore.”
“Right. King Dumbass.” Nieve passed the bouquet off to Cielle with a sigh. “Last chance to run.”
“Oh, give it a rest, Nieve,” Cielle scolded with a laugh. “I’m not running.”
“Good.”
The sound of bells chimed through the open window. I clapped my hands together, excitement sending butterflies fluttering around in my stomach. “Okay, that’s our cue.”
It was a flurry of hugs and tears as Queen Anja, Nieve, Ma, and I made our way to the door.
“Your father is on his way up,” Nieve said with a nod as we left. “You look beautiful, Cielle.”
“Wow, I get to marry Miles and I received a compliment from you? I’m not sure which one is more exciting.”
Nieve blew air through her lips. “Yeah, yeah. See you down there, you doe-eyed dumbass.”
—
Obitus, Gehenna, Rixa, and Ventus lounged in the expansive gardens outside the cathedral — gardens that may or may not have been designed with the enormous size of a driva in mind.
They lounged in the sun, dozing peacefully as children from the city climbed their scales and jumped from their shoulders.
Adorex would’ve loved this, but I knew she was probably doing the exact same thing in Heaven right this second.
The orchestra’s music flowed through the cathedral as I stared down at my ring finger, adjusting the thin gold band holding the small piece of lapis lazuli.
Two Saints in the New World had never wed before, even though there was no rule in the Canon that forbade it.
Children most likely weren’t in our future, either, but I didn’t care much so long as I spent the rest of time by his side.
He wanted so badly to be here today. But I promised him, their mother, and Aunt Berna that I’d tell them every single detail about the entire day as soon as I returned home. Even Kauvras was invested, even though Miles wasn’t his.
In all honesty, I hadn’t been sure where Kauvras and Ludovicus — Vic — would find themselves on the other side of the Human Realm.
They both died on the day of the battle, though under very different circumstances.
While Vic perished at the end of Solise’s needle, Kauvras found himself impaled on a bonehog’s tusk.
Thankfully, Soren was forgiving enough to look past the time both lived under Malosym’s control.
Seeing Kauvras and Arimara together… Even the mere thought of their reunion made me teary-eyed.
Though I was sure a small spark still burned for Arimara, Ludovicus had easily accepted the love he’d lost. That was, until Cal told me Vic and Berna had been disappearing daily for hours at a time.
They’d claimed they were enjoying walks together .
But I wasn’t sure how one could end up with reddened knees and grass in their hair from a walk .
All that aside, Vic was especially excited to see Miles again one day, and make up for the time they lost back in the Human Realm .
That day would hopefully be a long, long time from now, because there was plenty to be done here first.
Miles stood at the altar, bouncing up and down on his toes.
He looked handsome in his navy blue surcoat.
And completely uncomfortable. I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen him in anything but leathers or armor since I’d met him.
He shifted on his feet, his fingers playing nervously with the hems of his sleeves.
He was careful not to look toward the back of the cathedral where the orchestra was arranged in a way to keep a certain harpist hidden.
Nell had shuffled in to sit beside Nieve, and I didn’t miss the way their knees kept bumping together.
I fought a smile as I stared down at Whit, who was all but blubbering, blowing his nose noisily into a handkerchief.
He’d invited Cielle to join the Penumbra, which she eagerly accepted, and to which Miles replied, “The Penumbra doesn’t exist.” I think he secretly liked the Penumbra, though, even if he’d never admit it out loud.
Commander Summercut observed all of it with a close-lipped smile from the seat behind me.
Cenric, who I learned had a fascination with all things furry, scaly, and slimy, sat beside his mother on the other end of the bench.
When we first made our way to our seats, he motioned for me to come closer.
With a barely contained snicker, he whispered to me that he had a surprise for Miles at the end of the wedding that would make Nieve mad.
My eyes widened, and I decided it was best if I knew as little as possible about his little surprise .
The music came to a crescendo, the flowing notes of the harp cascading through the cavernous hall until it came to a stop.
The doors opened, revealing Cielle’s father standing alone.
He took only a few steps through the doors before a blonde head of hair popped up over the rest of the orchestra, shuffling through with her bouquet of white roses in one hand.
She joined her father, who was trying everything in his power to remain stoic — and failing — as they began walking down the aisle together, an orchestra playing minus one harpist. Though Cielle had told me she’d been practicing a soft, demure smile for today’s event, she seemed to be making no attempt at withholding her sheer joy.
Her entire face was alight as she walked toward Miles.
And Miles… A large part of my heart fused back together at the look on his face.
Tears glistened in his eyes, his hands clasped in front of him as he waited for the love of his life.
I knew it would take him a long time to forgive himself for leaving Cielle all those years ago, but I hoped today was a step in the right direction.
As Miles and King Bastian shook hands, and Cielle joined her betrothed at the altar, he stared down at her with a reverence I’d only seen matched by his brother when he looked at me.
Solise began reading the excerpt from the Book of Saints that lay open on the altar in front of her, and after Miles all but attacked Cielle with a kiss that made most of the attendants turn away with a blush, I stood and joined in with the cheering.
Even Nieve let out a whistle as her cousin walked back down the aisle, holding hands with Lieutenant — no, King Dumbass.
I found out what Cenric’s surprise was when he produced a clear jar from somewhere in his wheelchair, popped the top off, and shook out…
Oh, Saints, were those crickets? Yes, those were crickets, and Cenric was throwing them through the air like flower petals.
They hopped in all directions at the base of the altar.
Miles and Cielle howled with laughter as Nieve descended into a red-faced rage and the wedding’s attendees yelped and jumped out of the way.
Carefully stepping to avoid the crickets, I made my way out to the courtyard.
The sun in the Human Realm felt nice, but nothing beat how it felt in the Saints’ Realm.
And that was the beauty of being an Extos and a Keeper.
I could hop from realm to realm on a whim and feel whatever sun I wanted to .
I still hadn’t found the courage to open the book Tyrak left for me.
One day I’d read it and hopefully understand the inner workings of my birth parents, why Rhedros gave up his role as an Extos, why he and Katia switched places as Keepers.
Cal had affectionately begun to call the book Mercy & Fury , a name I’d grown fond of when thinking of the story that awaited me.
I was happy. Saints , I was happy. That happiness felt good, like it had been waiting for me all along. And for the first time, I had no fear of losing that happiness, because I knew if I ever did, it would come back to me. I was okay. Everything always turned out okay, somehow, some way.
When everyone was focused on the bride and groom, I easily slipped away, back to the Saints’ Realm.
Cal was sitting on the front porch of the cabin set far back from the other homes.
He still kept Noros’ home, and I still kept the homes that had belonged to Katia and Rhedros, but we lived here.
We were not the only ones who kept a home separate from the one officially bestowed to us.
And true to his word, Cal had built our cabin log by log with not an ounce of help.
He shot to his feet when he saw me. “How was it? Did she go through with it?”
I huffed a laugh. “Of course she went through with it.” Cal visibly relaxed as he sank back into his chair. “It was as beautiful as you can imagine,” I answered with a smile, climbing up the front steps.
I told Cal I wanted a porch similar to the one Da and Larka had in Heaven and he was more than happy to oblige. Larka had, in fact, yelled at me and Cal for leaving Heaven when the Occulti came. She understood, but she still yelled. That was Larka.
She and Da were excited to meet Cielle one day, or Real Petra , as Larka referred to her.
I was now lovingly known as Impostor Petra .
She wasn’t wrong, and it made me laugh every time.
And Real Petra was just as excited to meet the rest of her family by blood when it came time for her to cross realms .
My eyes caught on Cal’s right arm, which now sported a whole lot of ink that wasn’t there when I left for the wedding. “What is that?”
He gave me a devastating smile, flexing his arm to show off the shadowed storm clouds inked from shoulder to wrist, pointing out the bolt of lightning snaking from beneath his elbow up to his bicep.
“Faldyr volunteered to tattoo me. He did a pretty good job. Onera did have to clean up a few spots though. Now they match,” he said with a smile, extending his left arm, where the flames he’d had tattooed for me rippled as he moved.
“You’re unbelievable,” I answered, shaking my head. “I love it.”
“I love you,” he murmured, reaching for my hand and placing a kiss across my knuckles, right next to where my ring was.
“Are you ready to go to your mother’s?” I asked as I squeezed his hand. “I’m sure she’s busting at the seams with excitement.”
“She can wait a little while longer,” he hummed. “I missed you.”
I opened my mouth to tell him I’d only been gone a few hours, but remembered how differently time passed here. “I missed you, too,” I said, breathing in his smoke and cedar scent that was so much more intoxicating here in the Saints’ Realm.
“Come here,” he said, gesturing for me to crawl into his lap.
With a giddy smile, I took a step forward, and promptly tripped over my own foot. “ Fucking shit ,” I muttered to myself before catching Cal’s smiling eyes. “Apologies.”
Some habits never die, no matter the realm.