39. Chapter 39
A month after the final battle
M y mind wandered as I sat on the windowsill, watching the dragons soar and dip in a beautiful dance of joyous celebration. Agnes was plaiting my hair, but I hardly registered her brushing and gentle handling, sitting as still as a doll.
The day of the winter solstice dawned beautiful, with the sun shining brightly over a cloudless blue sky. After the snowfall last night, the skies had cleared to reveal a fresh layer of shimmering white covering the world, hiding the battle’s aftermath that we had to finish clearing.
‘ Vahin, will you take me to the sea? ’ I asked, focusing on his black silhouette as it swooped down to the ground.
‘ Right now, Little Flame? ’ he asked. ‘ I thought you had to get ready for the Solstice Ball. ’
‘ Not now. But maybe later? Before we leave for home? I want to fly so close to the sea that I can touch the waves. ’
‘ I think I can manage that after my wing has fully recovered. I wouldn’t want to risk giving you an icy bath ... ’ Amusement flashed in his thoughts. ‘ On second thought, that would be quite entertaining. ’
I rolled my eyes at the mental image he sent of us plunging into the freezing sea as I screamed, clinging to his neck.
Not funny , I thought back, observing him as he flew up before performing a challenging spiral ascent. ‘ Should you be trying that manoeuvre already? What if your wing gives out? ’
I hadn’t realised how badly injured he was when I had woken up in the courtyard. I’d learned my dragon had given up his future to save my life, but the shock of returning from beyond the Veil meant I had missed seeing the full extent of his injuries.
His wing had been broken whilst fighting the ?mij, and after binding his life force to my mortal life, his ability to create a storm and heal using the primal power of nature was severely limited.
‘ I am well, Little Flame. This doesn’t even tire me, ’ he said, and I watched in awe as he twisted in mid-air and swooped down towards the palace. ‘ I like it here. This land calls to me. When I soar between the land and the sea, with nothing but the horizon before me, it feels like home. ’
Our bond filled with a feeling of freedom and happiness, making me smile.
‘ Orm likes it here, too. He likes to ... sort things out. ’
I couldn’t help but chuckle. My Ursus had a meticulous, methodical nature that made him perfect for managing the chaos that followed a battle. Barely had he sheathed his sword than he was already issuing orders—organising supplies, overseeing repairs, and ensuring the injured were cared for. That whirlwind of activity, though necessary, often had me volunteering to hunt down any surviving monsters. It was far more appealing than putting up tents or clearing the wreckage of war.
And there was certainly no shortage of monsters to kill. Cahyon and Rowena’s demise had freed the creatures summoned from the Void.
We couldn’t send them back, for no one truly understood what the Void was—only that it was a realm entirely separate from ours, and that the tear they had created in reality had let loose beings no one wished to meet. Some even theorised that the monsters in our world had once came here from the Void and evolved, influenced by the aether in our realm.
Still, we had to deal with the horde of intruders. Their freedom may have shortened the battle when they had taken the opportunity to run away, but now they’d spread over Katrass like a plague.
As soon as we were able, Alaric and I had organised hundreds of soldiers into hunting parties. They went out every single day, and apart from when Talena arrived to collect her brother’s body, I made sure to join and do my part.
A shudder ran through me as my thoughts returned to the day Talena had stormed into the throne room where I kept vigil. I wasn’t able to do it for Katja, but Valaram had loved me in his own peculiar way, and even though I didn’t reciprocate his feelings, he had become my friend.
Talena, of course, saw things differently. I couldn’t blame her. The slap she’d delivered had sent me flying across the room, but I didn’t raise a hand in retaliation.
‘At least you could’ve loved him,’ she said with tears in her eyes.
I dropped to my knees. ‘If I could have, I would. I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry. I didn’t want any of this to happen,’ I said, humbling myself to the woman who hated me with every fibre of her being. I knew that in her eyes, I was guilty of his death, and maybe she was right.
Vahin’s anger broke through my reminiscence.
‘ You weren’t ,’ he said firmly . ‘ The fae mage chose his path. He knew you couldn’t love him, but he followed you anyway. He chased a dream and stood by his choices to the very end. ’
I thought of Valaram, remembering the many times his subtle interventions had helped me out of trouble. ‘ He was a good man ,’ I responded, a pang of regret twisting in my chest.
Vahin’s tone softened. ‘ No, he wasn’t. He was a cunning, ruthless fae lord, known for centuries to be the power behind Talena’s throne. But for you, he was a good man. And for that, I will always hold him in my memories. ’
‘You seem deep in thought, Domina,’ Alaric said, kissing the top of my head. ‘Let me guess, a certain dragon is entertaining you while he soars the skies?’ He chuckled, kissing his way down to the shell of my ear, making me squirm. ‘Are you ready? People are waiting.’
I hadn’t heard him coming, but I wasn’t surprised.
Free from the curse and burden of his family, Alaric was a new man. Today, he looked every bit the dark fae lord—dashing in a black kaftan embroidered with silver runes, his necromantic power subtly woven into the fabric. His hair, braided back from his temples, left his upswept ears exposed. As I turned to scold the mischievous fae, my eyes caught the many earrings decorating his ears and the silver beads nestled in his braids. He had the polished look of a noble, but beneath that, he was a predator—one who had spent the last month either decimating the rest of an undead army or bending them to his will.
The success of the cleanup was largely due to his power to control the remaining undead, using them for the heavy lifting that needed to be done.
They worked day and night to clear the palace and city from corpses and rubble, which were later incinerated by our dragons in massive pits away from the city walls.
The stench lingered for days, but as the work neared its end, Alaric had gathered the remaining undead outside and granted them their eternal rest.
‘Is my presence really necessary?’ I asked, sliding off my perch, careful not to hook my gossamer-thin spider-silk dress on any malicious protrusions.
Winning the war had uncovered the hidden face of Ozar, initiating a change we weren’t ready for. As news of the battle’s result and the demise of the Lich King spread over the Barren Lands, its remaining citizens flocked to Katrass in surprisingly large numbers.
Perhaps they sought refuge under the safety our army provided, or maybe it was the mountain of gold and treasures we’d discovered in the palace vaults. The undead had no use for wealth, and Cahyon had been ostracized even before he became the Lich King. Now, we had inherited the spoils of his pillaging—the riches of the former Ozar Kingdom at our disposal. Even the dress I wore came from those newly discovered vaults.
‘Yes, you are needed,’ Alaric replied, his voice low with admiration, ‘and Annika, you are a vision in liquid fire.’
He slid his hand along my back, the touch sending a shiver down my spine. I had to admit, the old Moroi dress looked good on me, and the sensation of his fingers on my bare skin made my heart race.
‘How about we stay here, and you can play with that fire?’ I teased, noticing with pleasure the swirling crimson that crept into his eyes.
‘If you genuinely don’t want to go, I won’t make you,’ he murmured, his fingers tightening on my hips, his breath warm against my neck. ‘But Orm is waiting with Reynard, along with a hall full of Ozar citizens.’
I shuddered as Ari’s breath caressed the sensitive skin of my neck.
‘I can’t refuse you anything, but we should at least tell them not to wait for us.’ Ari’s voice sounded like a purr, but we both knew we wouldn’t give in to temptation.
‘Let’s go. The sooner we deal with this, the sooner it’s over,’ I said. ‘Though I’m not naming any kings this time,’ I added. The throne of Ozar had been the subject of constant discussion, and I didn’t care to indulge further. Alaric looked at me, and we both sighed in unison before bursting into laughter.
As we walked down the long hall, the throne room doors swung open. Inside, the space was majestic—galleries of carved columns lining either side, polished white stone floors leading to floral tiles with a golden rose at the centre. Fae lights and candelabras illuminated the room, reflecting off crystal flowers etched into the walls. Semiopaque curtains covered the windows, allowing the Moroi to join in the gathering without discomfort.
A wide array of people filled the room—humans, dark and light fae, uncorrupted Moroi, survivors from the Barren Lands, and even orcs and dwarves who had once lived or intended to settle here. The diversity of the crowd made the chamber feel like the beating heart of a reborn kingdom.
‘All hail Annika, Harbinger of Light, the last conduit mage of Dagome, and her consort,’ the herald’s voice rang out. My steps faltered at the announcement, and I immediately felt the urge to choke the life out of the man as every eye in the room turned towards me.
‘Are they fucking serious? Harbinger of Light? ’ I muttered under my breath to Alaric.
His lips twitched, struggling to suppress a laugh. ‘You’re talking to her consort . At least you were mentioned by name,’ he teased.
We continued walking, and I nodded my head, occasionally greeting those who called my name as I passed. I knew Reynard was about to name the new king, but this all felt like too much, even for such an occasion, and the uncertain expression on Orm’s face made me feel uneasy about the entire situation.
He stood in the centre of the royal dais, Reynard by his side, as well as representatives from the dark and light fae courts. A sense of grandeur hung in the air, and my frown deepened as Ari and I drew closer.
Reynard stepped forward as we neared, gesturing for us to take our places on either side of Ormond. Only then did I notice the large throne behind my rider and, on either side of it, two equally impressive seats. As soon as I was close enough, I tilted my head to my Ursus.
‘Please tell me this is not what it looks like,’ I hissed, anger simmering in my veins.
‘I’m sorry, Ani, I’ll explain later.’
‘The hell you will,’ I said, turning to look at Ari. ‘Did you know?’
To my horror, he looked at me sheepishly and said, ‘I may have heard a thing or two.’
‘You are both in so much trouble,’ I muttered, forcing a smile when Reynard began his speech.
He talked a lot about the trials the once-prosperous Kingdom of Ozar had endured under the Lich King’s rule before speaking about the events of the last few months. I fought to stifle a yawn as he eventually moved on to speak of Orm’s unyielding bravery and leadership, and of my power that had helped free the country from Cahyon’s tyranny.
‘This land has suffered enough, but after losing so much whilst fighting for its freedom, we can’t allow it to fall into the hands of another madman. This kingdom needs a king who respects the people and will return Ozar to its former glory,’ Reynard said.
‘Therefore,’ he continued, ‘after consulting with our allies and representatives of the fae and humans that still live in this kingdom, I name this man as the first of his name, King Ormond Erenhart of Ozar. Those who wish to object may step forward now.’
He fucking did it, I thought, though the tiny voice in my head whispered that Orm was the only logical choice. Regardless, the question remained: was I ready to live here?
The answer came with surprising clarity. Alaric may be free to return to the Care’etavos Empire, but his family estate was lost, Zalesie was ash, and Varta Fortress would forever hold memories of Katja and all those we lost in the war.
Maybe Ozar is the perfect place to start anew , I thought . Vahin does like the sea ...
My anger slowly subsided, but it didn’t mean I was going to let them off the hook for blindsiding me like this.
‘Annika, will you care to answer our new king?’ Ari’s amused voice broke through my stream of thoughts. I look down to see Orm on one knee, holding up a beautiful ring with a red gem the exact colour of my soul’s aether.
‘This land needs more than a king,’ Orm said, his voice steady but filled with emotion. ‘It needs hope. From the moment I saw you fighting at the lake in Grey Stone Valley, alone and determined, you became my ray of hope that brightened my darkest days. I can’t do this without you.’ He looked up at me, a shy, boyish smile tugging at his lips. ‘My tenacious Nivale, will you be my Queen?’
The bear of a man had knelt in front of all those people, leaving Ozar’s future in my hands. He would make an excellent king, that I was sure of, but I certainly wouldn’t make a good queen.
‘Oh, for fuck’s sake, say yes. I want my new forge!’ Bryna’s voice broke the tension, and the gathered nobles started laughing.
‘Yes!’ I said, letting Ormond slide the ring onto my finger. ‘You’ll all end up regretting it. I’m not the best choice for the queen, but yes!’
Orm stood and turned to face the crowd, his voice carrying authority as he spoke.
‘According to the old laws of Ozar, there can be only one king. But while I have chosen my queen, there is also a man who holds my heart, without whom this country wouldn’t be free. Alaric’va Shen’ra will stand by our side. This will not be a monarchy, but a triumvirate. I will dedicate my life to restoring Ozar to its former glory, but Alaric will stand with us as our equal. That is my only condition, and it is one I won’t forfeit.’
Reynard looked at us, clearly surprised by the turn of events. He studied the three of us for a long moment before he smirked, raising a fist to his heart in salute.
‘You make your own rules, King Ormond. As long as they benefit your people, I doubt anyone will question them,’ he said, backing away to leave the three of us on the dais.
Orm addressed the crowd again. ‘The day my heart chose my queen, there was a big celebration in her town. Today, we will celebrate again. A winter solstice and a new beginning. Eat, drink and be merry. The time of grief is over.’
Ormond’s words were met with cheers, and I chuckled quietly as I nudged Alaric. ‘Our illustrious king forgot to mention that on the day he so-called chose me, I wanted nothing to do with him and got so drunk I could barely stand,’ I whispered.
Ari only smiled softly, his gaze filled with devotion as he looked at Orm.
‘I didn’t expect that,’ he murmured.
‘What? To become a king, or the celebration?’
‘Acknowledgement. I would be happy living in his shadow as long as we were together, but this ...’ Alaric said, a slight hitch in his voice. ‘Even in my empire, the second male is but a silhouette, rarely seen and almost never heard.’
I reached for his hand. ‘You are a warrior and a mage. I wouldn’t let you hide in the shadows. Orm did the right thing, and if this is to be our home now, we can rebuild it as we see fit.’
I stepped closer to Ormond, and he wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me into his conversation with an elderly Moroi nobleman and the young woman beside him with a vaguely familiar face.
‘My lady. Err ... I mean, Your Majesty. I was just—’ the Moroi man stammered, his alabaster face flushed with panic.
‘Call me Annika,’ I said with a smile. ‘I’ve lived long enough as a peasant mage to feel uncomfortable with titles.’ I raised an eyebrow. ‘So, what you were discussing?’
‘Lady Annika, I was asking the king to grant mercy for the corrupted Moroi. There are ways to reverse the bloodlust, or at least control it for those too far gone,’ the woman said, looking between Orm and me, the spark of hope dimming the longer we remained quiet. ‘So many of us were lost. If there is any chance ...’
‘If there is a chance, then we’ll take it. I will honour my promise to you, Lara,’ Alaric finished for her as he turned his attention to us.
The woman beamed at him with such a beautiful smile that I felt a pinch of jealousy and reached for his hand, instinctively staking my claim. She bit her lip as I raised my chin, knowing nothing would hide the blush that crawled up my cheeks.
‘Very well, we won’t hunt your corrupted brethren, but I won’t make exceptions for those who kill to feed,’ Orm said, unknowingly saving me from further embarrassment. ‘Until you deal with the problem, find them a willing donor and ensure they can restrain themselves.’
Lara nodded, pulling the older man into a bow. ‘We will, Your Majesties. Thank you for your time.’
As soon as they left, Bryna took their place.
‘What about the soldiers? Those from Varta want to stay here, or at least a large portion of them do. They’ve asked for land to settle, and this kingdom needs farmers and workmen ... fuck it needs everything,’ she said, placing hands on her hips as if daring Orm to argue with her.
‘As long as Reynard grants them leave, they are welcome to stay and claim any land they feel they can manage—as long as it doesn’t belong to any human or fae already living here. They’ll also be obligated to return to service if the need arises—either they, or their children or grandchildren,’ Orm said.
Bryna frowned. ‘Only one per household,’ she insisted, her tone sharp. ‘You can’t strip farms and shops of every pair of working hands.’
‘Fine, you got them a deal,’ Ormond agreed, then smirked. ‘What would you like for yourself, Mistress Blacksmith?’
I held my breath as I listened to the exchange.
‘An artisan quarter, with low taxes and freedom to trade with whomever we chose. I want to bring dwarven smiths and my kin here. You need a skilled workforce to rebuild this city,’ Bryna replied, then paused. ‘Plus, if Annika is staying here, I may as well,’ she added.
I couldn’t help but leap forward, wrapping my arms around her sturdy frame.
‘Thank the gods! I didn’t want to ask, to pressure you, but you promise you’re staying, yes? Gods, I wish Katja were here. She would whip this place into shape without breaking a sweat,’ I said, tears slipping down my cheeks as Bryna patted my back.
‘Katja would be so proud of you,’ she said softly. ‘She always believed you were made for greater things than hunting monsters in a backwater village.’ She squeezed my hand then, pulling me towards the exit. ‘Come, O mighty Harbinger of Light. I’ve got the finest moonshine stashed in my tent.’
Before I could follow her, Orm’s hand shot out, pulling me back.
‘Oh no, you can have your artisan quarter and low taxes, but Annika stays here ... at least for today,’ he insisted, and despite my weak protests, I knew I had to stay until the celebration ended later that evening.
‘My back is aching, and my legs ... Why did we have to listen to everyone’s petitions? What kind of celebration is it when you have to work all evening?’ I grumbled, leaning against Orm for support. ‘And these bloody heels...’ I hissed, finally pulling off the torture devices.
Ormond laughed, embracing me as he pointed towards a small door at the back of the throne room.
‘I think our subjects will relax more if we leave. It is time for this repentant king to kneel before his fiery goddess and grovel for forgiveness while massaging her aching toes,’ he said, his mischievous grin making me forget about my exhaustion.
‘A few hours of being king, and you’re already trying to steal my job,’ Alaric teased, approaching us. ‘If my lady needs a healing touch, I’m clearly the obvious choice.’
‘You know I have two legs, right? And you’re supposed to share,’ I said, smiling as I watched their baffled expressions.
I burst into laughter, realising with surprising clarity that if this was my new life, I bloody loved Ozar.