Epilogue
Living with a shadow prince had its challenges, boredom being the biggest for Ulseere.
While he did enjoy the occasional Netflix and Chill, he was a dude used to being active.
He also didn’t grasp why I needed to go to work.
Even after explaining the concept of bills and the fact I had to earn money to pay them, his alpha solution ended up being, “I shall provide. It is my duty.”
“And exactly what will you do to earn a paycheck?”
Which led to the issue of there not really being any jobs for a prince from another dimension. It was Cedric who ended up suggesting the perfect solution to a few problems.
“The prince should fight crime.” AKA become a vigilante.
It actually worked on several levels because, one, it allowed Ulseere to feel useful and keep his skills as a fighter honed.
Two, confiscating the wealth from criminals meant he could contribute to the household.
And three, after a successful night of hunting bad guys, he came home energized, which meant I reaped the sexual rewards.
However, while he seemed content for now, I did worry if it would be enough. After all, I’d seen where he lived. Understood a bit better what he’d given up. What he could have become…
The regret would eventually hit him, and when it did, I knew I had to be ready to open that door and set him free, even if it killed me.
To distract myself, I’d been working on the spell forcing Cedric to remain a cat.
Alas, I’d not had any luck. As powerful as I was, nothing I did turned him back into his old shape.
My most recent attempt had Cedric hissing in horror as he went from menacing black tom to an orange striped, fluffy, long-haired feline.
“Change me back!” he screeched.
“I’m trying,” I yelled back as I tried to fix my mistake. And failed. Thankfully, the doorbell saved me.
“I’ll be right back,” I stated, hustling out of the living room, where Cedric—who actually looked kind of adorable in his new fur—simmered in annoyance.
I opened the door expecting a package—because I loved online shopping—only to blink in surprise at who stood there. “You’re not dead.”
My daddy, still very much alive, shook his head. “No, but it was close. The healers aren’t sure how I survived, but I know why. It’s because of unresolved business.”
I arched a brow and crossed my arms. “Come to finish me off?”
“No,” he hastened to say. “I came here, with great difficulty I might add, to apologize.”
“And what are you sorry for?”
“For many things,” he sighed. “Firstly, for letting your mother go without an attempt to find her and thinking the fact I cared for her deeply made me weak. For allowing myself to almost kill my only daughter because of some vague prophecy. But most of all, I regret not getting the opportunity to know the fiercest child of my loins.”
I grimaced. “Ew. Can you not use the word loins?”
His lips twitched. “I shall avoid it since it’s repulsive to you.”
“You’re truly not going to try and murder me anymore?”
He shook his head. “No. As I said, I regret even thinking it.”
“What about the prophecy that says I’m going take your throne?”
The reminder had him clearing his throat. “Interesting thing about that… Upon studying it more in depth, the seer’s prediction only states that your arrival will end my reign. However, it doesn’t mention you killing me to make that happen.”
“Then how else would your kingship end?”
“Abdication.”
“You’re going to give it up?” I couldn’t help a note of surprise.
He nodded. “It took me almost dying for me to realize I’m tired of ruling. Tired of the constant pandering. The politics. The sycophants.”
“What will you do if you’re not king?”
“Travel. Learn. Maybe see if I can do this thing humans like to call relaxing. Get to know my daughter.”
“Good luck with that. I’m not ready to forgive you.”
“Obviously.”
“Although I am open to talking.”
“Really?” He brightened before turning somber again. He cleared his throat before mumbling, “There is one other reason I’m here, and it has to do with Infernal. The announcement of my abdication has created a problem.”
“Let me guess, too many people want to be king.”
“Yes, and all of them are unworthy. Hence why I declared an heir.”
“If you say my name…” I growled.
“While you might be of my blood, you are only half umbradriad, and females don’t wield power in Infernal like they do on Earth.” Said almost apologetically. “However, as my heir’s consort—”
“You’re declaring Ulseere the next king?” I shouted.
“He was always the smartest and also best balanced of all the princes,” Urieus admitted with a shrug. “When I found out Gryvak lied and he lived, he became the obvious choice.”
“How did you find out?”
He looked sheepish as he admitted, “A seer told me.”
“Have you spoken to Ulseere about this?”
My dad shook his head. “Given the seer mentioned your intimate relationship, I thought it best I speak with you first.”
Argh. I hated the fact he expected me to choose.
I could opt to not tell Ulseere and keep on going as we were; however, lying wasn’t my thing.
Which left only two options. Send off the elf I loved to be king while I stayed home—alone, miserable, getting fat on crispy fried food—or join him as his consort—and show those umbradriad that women could be more than babymakers.
“Will he be in danger if he accepts?”
Dear ol’ dad shrugged. “Probably. Being king isn’t without risk. However, he is a gifted warrior and strong in the five elements.”
“Plus, he’ll have me, his super-uber witch by his side,” I mused aloud, seeing the possibilities.
Urieus’ face brightened. “You intend to join him?”
Why the fuck not? It would give Ulseere the challenge he craved, me the castle I used to dream of as a little girl, and in a world of magic and monsters, I could finally be that bad-ass bitch I’d always admired in movies.
Oh, and let’s not forget become a true fucking queen.
Thanks, Grams. I’ll bet her ghost was simmering. As for me? After I told my dad to come back in a few hours for dinner—because he had made the effort to come see me—I went to tell my prince, ahem, king, the awesome news.
Let’s just say his joy was orgasmic—for us both.
A few weeks later…
I missed Charlie since she’d gone off to rule another dimension with her hot elf prince, now king. Lucky bitch. At least we could keep in touch via some cool-ass mirrors that Cedric programmed to act as video calls.
Still, not having my BF around sucked, which might be why I threw myself into helping Cedric find a way to reverse the spell that turned him into a cat.
Although, if Charlie couldn’t fix it, then I didn’t see how I could.
I did like a challenge, though. Hence why I pored through the books left behind by Grams that we didn’t auction off.
Went online searching for spells. Even bought some artifacts that claimed they could nullify any spell or curse. None of them worked.
On Cedric at least.
An ugly amulet bought for a song at an estate auction ends up changing me.
INTO A WITCH!
Will Florence and her new powers be able to free Cedric from his curse? Find out in Casting Butterflies.