Chapter 48
Alice
An hour later, Darius escorted me down the stairwell. He wore his beloved hat along with a black leather jacket, a purple T-shirt that matched his hat, and black jeans.
Gone was the ridiculous pink suit. Gone was the hollow-eyed man who had stood at Alanna’s altar. Gone was the madness. This was the real Darius. My Darius.
I held onto his hand tight. A tremor of fear ran through me.
He leaned close. "You're trembling."
"I know. I'm nervous, Darius."
He stopped on the stairs and turned to face me. "You don't know my family. I can't tell you how many times we've all made mistakes. Look at me, I went mad. And no, we don't always follow the rules." His silver eyes softened. "Our love for each other is unconditional—for better or worse."
"For you," I said softly. "You're their son."
He pulled me close. "And you're my mate. If it ever came to that, Alice, I would follow you. Wherever you go." His jaw tightened. "No one will ever separate us again. No one."
I took a deep breath and nodded as we headed toward the Great Hall. I could smell roasting meats and baking bread, and my stomach grumbled loudly.
Six impossible things before breakfast, I reminded myself. I'd done all of them. Surely I could survive dinner with the royal family.
There is a place called the Elder Dimension. A hat can force you to tell the truth. Weapons pick you. Harpies can be tamed. I can freeze time.
And love can survive madness.
I glanced up at Darius as he led me into the Great Hall. He smiled down at me, his silver eyes warm.
If I could believe in all of that, I could believe in this too.
Everyone sat at the table. Were we late? There were two empty seats next to Abrianna.
Darius pulled out my chair, and I sat down. Chester was on the other side of me, his golden eyes gleaming.
"Nervous, little witch?" His grin stretched wide. "Don't be. The hardest doors are already open. Dinner is just... dessert."
A servant came over and poured red wine into our crystal goblets.
King Gregori stood. "Now that we are all here."
My cheeks heated. Did the family know what we'd been doing?
The king raised his goblet. "A toast. To Alice. To the Darius’ loyal men.
" He nodded toward Flint, Steel, Chester, and Caterpillar.
"To all of you who risked your lives to bring my son home.
Our family is complete now—especially with Darius' new mate.
" His eyes found mine. "You will always be welcome here. "
The rest of the family stood, raising their glasses.
Armond held up his goblet. "Hear, hear." He looked at Darius, then at me. "My twin has returned. And Alice—I'm a Healer, but you're the one who healed my heart." He glanced around the table. "All of you have."
My throat tightened. A healer saying I'd healed him. After a lifetime of being told I was worthless, broken, unwanted—his words wrapped around me like a balm.
Caterpillar raised his glass, blue smoke curling around him. "Family... is not always blood." His dark eyes swept over all of us. "Sometimes... it is forged in fire. Tempered by sacrifice. Bound by love." He inclined his head toward me. "We are all... family now."
Gregori nodded slowly, his expression solemn.
"Wise words." He raised his goblet toward Caterpillar.
"Blood makes you related. Loyalty makes you family.
Everyone at this table has proven their loyalty.
" His gaze swept over Flint, Steel, Chester, Caterpillar, Bunny, and her children, even the harpies watching from the corner. "You are all Acostas now."
I took a sip of wine, trying not to cry. The coven had threatened to throw me away. Tinker Bell had tolerated me. I'd spent nearly twenty years believing I was unlovable, unworthy, a mistake.
And now I had a family. A real family. The tears spilled over before I could stop them.
The king had said his family was complete. And for once, that included me.
"Thank you," I whispered, hoping I didn't burst into tears.
We sat down to a dinner that took my breath away.
Platters covered every inch of the long wooden table—grilled steaks sizzling on cast iron plates, bright red lobster tails glistening with melted butter, baked potatoes piled high with sour cream and chives, green bean casserole with crispy onions on top, and baskets of fresh-baked bread still warm from the oven. The aromas alone made my stomach growl.
Abrianna wasn't kidding when she said we would have a feast.
Flint and Steel piled their plates high, elbowing each other for the last lobster tail.
Bunny's children giggled as Armond made silly faces at them across the table.
Chester's grin never faltered as he sampled everything, his golden eyes bright with curiosity.
Even Caterpillar seemed content, a rare smile playing at his lips between slow curls of smoke.
Darius' hand found mine under the table. He squeezed gently.
The laughter and joy filled my heart in a way I'd never experienced. This was what family felt like. Not judgment. Not proving yourself. Just... belonging.
Raven caught my eye and winked. Lucien told stories of Darius as a boy—embarrassing ones that made Darius groan and made me laugh until my sides hurt. Abrianna kept refilling my plate, insisting I was too thin.
For the first time in my life, I wasn't on the outside looking in.
I was home.
Darius leaned over and kissed me on the lips. "You know what I'm waiting for?"
"What?"
"To take you to my bed and listen to you cry out my name again and again."
Heat warmed my cheeks. "Darius."
He grinned, his silver eyes dancing with mischief. "What?"
"You're completely mad, you know that?"
He tilted his hat toward me, that infuriating smirk spreading across his face. "I'm the Mad Hatter, Fate. Madness is what I do." He leaned closer, his breath warm against my ear. "But I'm completely mad for you."
Later that night, he kept his promise. And I cried out his name again and again.
Six impossible things before breakfast.
Love can survive madness.
And it had.