Epilogue
SIX MONTHS LATER
Iruled the fae with an iron fist at first, hunting everyone down who stood with Danu and banishing them to inhospitable realms as punishment. Some I outright killed.
Keeping my promise to disperse more land became a little complicated, as things did when the human government got involved.
But we were working through it, and we’d managed to grant two territories to two new fae leaders who proved themselves worthy.
Though I’d be watching them closely for a long time.
I’d dropped all my claims on everyone’s territories, Danu’s poison purged with her death. I’d kill the bitch a hundred times over if I could but turning her to ash and scattering those remains through different realms had reassured me she was really dead.
The Lords were…different.
Not personality wise, though they’d all come back shaken up. Every single Lord had new magic, and no one was fessing up. I smelled it on them every time I saw them, which was more often than usual after Fee had saved everyone’s bacon.
I missed the bird with a vengeance. Poe had left my side and hadn’t returned. I assumed he’d gone somewhere private to grieve.
And Moira…my best friend was forever changed.
Only me, Moira, and my father knew her secret.
I had him wipe everyone’s memory of what Fee had done, once I allowed him back into this realm.
Dad hadn’t even been angry about it. I suspected he and Mom could have come back at any time, but they’d chosen to respect my wishes not to see a single fae until I was ready.
Moira had gone back with Ethan, and I hadn’t heard much from her since. A phone call here and there, but like me, Moira had her own shit to deal with.
I sat cradled against Rowan’s chest, his steady breath a balm to my wounded soul. All these months later, I still woke screaming in the middle of the night, reliving the tearing of that bond over and over again.
“I’m here,” he would whisper when he felt my distress. “I promise.”
Rowan never spoke much about that day, but I caught his haunted look when he thought I wasn’t paying attention.
Things were slowly getting better. The Lords were closer than ever, though everyone was getting used to a new normal with the gifts Fee left behind. Even Rowan hadn’t told me what she’d done, shaking his head every time I asked.
I’d find out one day. We all would. She’d even left something behind for me—something I couldn’t quite figure out.
I entwined our fingers and lifted his hand to kiss the back of his palm.
“I love you,” I whispered.
Rowan smiled against my hair. “Love you, too.”
He paused. “Evie?”
“Hmm?”
“When are you going to build that garden Pax has been drawing when he thinks I’m not looking?”
I grinned, knowing he couldn’t see my face. The bond sparked between us. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
His chest rumbled with a chuckle. “Mmm hmm. Build it, Evie. Make this place into your dream, and I will walk beside you every single day for the rest of our lives.”
I exhaled and turned my face up, smiling when he kissed me.
The only dream I had was Rowan, and every single day I had with him was a blessing. No matter what may come, as long as we had each other, I knew we would be alright.
Keep reading for a look at Book Ten
Shift Happens