Chapter 51
VALANCE
I blinked into the snowy grove, surrounded by jinn again.
“What—”
Kormac sucked any future words from my throat, setting my heart on fire.
There he stood, dressed in a brown fur cloak and heavy leather boots, his lips curved in a smile, his eyes radiant.
“Valance…”
I couldn’t speak, couldn’t think. Was this a trick?
“It’s really me,” he said as if reading my mind. “I’m really here.”
Still, words failed me.
He’d died. I’d failed him. He’d died, and I’d wished myself to be…
Hot tears rolled down my cheeks, twin waterfalls with no sign of drying up. It hurt so much to see him, enraged me, and filled me joy. Was this another part of the price Lorien failed to enlighten me on? Would my oblivion come with this painful addition?
I’d been tricked by the jinn, falling for her words, for the apparent kindness she’d show me by sharing the price of my wish with me.
Only, the light snowfall breaking through the firs wasn’t a dream. The flakes landed cold and real on my cheeks, the song of the night birds not plucked from a nightmare, the icy breeze of Winter not conjured from my imagination.
I was really here in the jinn grove.
And Kormac was really standing there.
Frozen, muscles unable to react, the tears still hot and heavy, I managed to say, “You’re really here…”
He came to me quickly. Wrapped me in his arms, crushing me to his fur-swaddled chest. So tight, so loving. His own tears broke free.
“Valance,” he said. “I’m so happy to see you.”
He broke his hold, taking hold of my face.
I gazed into his blue eyes, stunned by his touch, by this reality. “But how?”
He kissed me so softly yet deeply, our joining of flesh igniting every nerve, every inch of happiness.
The relief of him almost took my legs out from under me.
We kissed for a long time, lost in each other until our bodies required air.
I wiped his tears with my fingers as he wiped mine, my smile so wide it almost hurt.
“I love you…” I whispered.
He rested his forehead to mine. “I love you. But…” His smile dropped. “But I have to tell you what happened.”
Ah, yes. The reason for being here, not buried deep.
“I…” He struggled, licking his lips. “I made a choice… For you. For us. I hope you don’t hate me for it.”
I stroked his hair as he told me of his wish, of the new life to come.
“Say something,” he tried as silence fell between us.
No more being king. Faerie would have to find a new leader, a whole new dynasty to take the throne. No more Tuatha destiny or silver magic. No more war. No more heart full of vengeance.
Only hope.
“Hope…” I whispered.
“What was that?”
I looked him in the eyes, stroking the side of his face with the back of my hand. “You’ve given me hope.”
“Valance…”
“Thank you. Thank you so much.”
“I suppose I was just doing my angelus duty,” he answered.
I fell into his arms again, sobbing with relief, with happiness I never thought I’d feel again.
He was here and alive. We had a chance at a future together. A real future.