Epilogue
KIAN
The trial of Lady Olivia Astoria has finally arrived. The king was not pleased when I insisted on bringing her in, but he finally acquiesced; proof of a plot against the late Lord Astoria was the final straw. I know Rae can’t wait to close this door of her life.
Rae still has nightmares, and I desperately wish I could erase them. She also feels responsible for Sera’s curse. When we met Alex on the beach, Sera lay limp in his arms; only, it wasn’t Sera . . . I shake my head. Alex has been a mess, and of course, Sera continues to push us away during the day.
We forgave her betrayal once she was finally able to explain the binding oath Cary had placed on her. He’d abused his knowledge of her fae heritage to use her for his own gain, but still, things have not been the same.
Deciding to keep Rae’s new goddess status a secret has been difficult, to say the least, but she insists it remain that way until she gains full control over her gifts.
It’s still a little too early to tell, but reports have trickled in that this season’s crops have made a miraculous recovery, and we’re looking at a more bountiful harvest than we’ve seen in years.
The Shadow just might need to go into early retirement . . .
Rae squeezes my hand as we rise for the king’s entrance. “What do you think he’s going to do?” she whispers.
“Gods, if I know,” I mumble under my breath. “It completely depends on what mood he’s in.”
The king sits upon his throne, and everyone takes their seats on the uncomfortable benches.
I swear they were made to torture us at these hearings.
With a motion to the guards, Rae’s stepmother, who looks quite worse for wear, is dragged into the throne room.
Her clothes are filthy, and her blonde hair hangs limply around her haggard face. The dungeons did not do her any favors.
“Mother!” a high-pitched female voice shrieks from the right, and I groan as I notice Rae’s siblings being herded into the room and held off to the side.
Rae stiffens beside me. “I don’t know if I’m actually ready for this.”
I squeeze her hand again. “I’ve got you, love.”
The prisoner is pushed to her knees before the king, and he frowns upon her.
“Lady Olivia Astoria, you’ve been charged with assaulting Princess Raelyn, plotting the murder of your late husband, Lord Astoria, and the questionable deaths of your previous husbands. Do you have anything to say for yourself?”
“I never killed anyone,” she simpers, her head bowed.
“Will anyone speak on your behalf?” the king drones on, bored.
The room is completely silent until Rae stands, placing a hand on my shoulder. “I’ll speak for her.”
“You may come forward.” The king motions.
Rae looks like the goddess she is, draped in green and gold. Her hair falls in gentle waves around her face, and as inappropriate as it probably is, all I can think about is slicing the gown from her body and wrapping that hair around my fist so I can—
My father’s voice breaks into my daydream like a pail of icy water thrown over me. “What do you have to say for her, princess?”
“While I have no love for my stepmother, I do not wish her dead.” Rae speaks clearly.
“What would you have me do?” the king asks.
“Your Majesty, I do not pretend to have all your wisdom and knowledge . . .”
I try not to snort. She has far more than he ever will.
“But I believe it would be just to strip her of her title and wealth and send her to work in the farmlands.”
“I beg your pardon?” Lady Astoria raises her voice, a note of panic in it. “I wouldn’t survive out there!”
The king has an amused grin on his face.
“I like the way you think, princess. I approve of your suggestion with one caveat.” The entire room seems to hold a collective breath, waiting for his judgment.
“Send her to the borderlands, to Paiden. I have no desire to lay eyes on her again.” He looks to his advisor, Ethan. “Make it so.”
“No!” Lady Astoria shrieks. “Please, Your Majesty, have mercy!”
“Get her out of here,” the king commands, and the guards drag her out. Good riddance.
“Your Majesty?” Rae asks.
He turns his attention back to her. “Yes, my dear?”
“What will you do with my brother and sisters?”
“Ah, yes, I almost forgot. Well, as they no longer have parents, spouses, or any estate to speak of, would you like to take responsibility for them?”
Rae rolls her shoulders back and shakes her head. “No, Your Majesty.”
Chessa starts to cry rather loudly, and Erika sends a seething glance in Rae’s direction. What did they expect? They abandoned her. Rae owes them nothing. They don’t even share blood.
“However, I believe my father has a distant relative in Sillamae. Perhaps they can be sent there.”
“Perfect,” the king says. “Well, if this unpleasantness is over, I’d like to get to my dinner.” He rises from his throne and is escorted by his guards out the side door.
Rae returns to my side, sliding onto the bench. “I’m so glad that’s over.”
I press a kiss to her forehead. “You and me both, love.”
“Do we need to join your father for dinner?” she asks.
“Absolutely not.” I grin. “I have plans to unwrap my dinner in our wing.”
Rae’s cheeks tinge bright pink, but her eyes glimmer with desire. “Lead the way.”
Grabbing her hand, we swiftly make our exit, only to be stopped by Rae’s sisters and her sulking brother. Erika and Chessa stand with their arms crossed, bodies practically vibrating with anger.
“How could you?” Chess whines. “No one wants to live in stinky Sillamae! You have everything you ever wanted. Why can’t you make space for us?”
Rae narrows her eyes. “What? You want me to give you my room here the way you stole mine at the manor?”
Erika shoves past Chess and puts on what I think is her best attempt at an apologetic look. “Listen, Rae, I’m sorry for how we handled things at home. It was wrong of us to take advantage of you and allow Stepmother to treat you that way.”
“Out of everyone, I thought you and I had something of a relationship, a friendship, even,” Rae says to Erika.
“And yet, the minute it became inconvenient, you left me to rot.” She taps a finger on her chin.
“Should I call the king back and have him send you to Paiden with darling Stepmother? Backbreaking labor is quite character-building.”
Chessa gasps. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“Watch me.”
“I hope you’re happy,” Erika says, voice dripping with sarcasm.
“I couldn’t be happier,” Rae replies and squeezes my hand.
I take her cue, and we briskly make our way out of the throne room.
“Do you mean that?” I ask, so fiercely proud of the beautiful goddess at my side.
“Is life perfect?” she replies. “No. Do we still need to figure out Sera’s curse situation? Absolutely. But I have you. We’ve got this.”
Unable to stop myself, I pull her into a quiet alcove and capture her mouth with mine.
My tongue teases the seam of her lips, and she opens for me, her body relaxing, so pliant and willing for me to have my way with her.
She tastes divine, and I will never grow tired of kissing her.
Rae hums happily into my mouth as I devour her, one hand gliding down her body while the other finally wraps itself into her glorious hair.
“Ki.” She groans. “Our wing. Now.”
“As you wish.”
And then the Sun and her Shadow disappear into the night.
The End.
Stay tuned for Book 2 in Tales of the Forsaken Realm, where we learn the cost Sera paid and the curse she must overcome.