Chapter 26 #2
That’s Renel’s memory, and I don’t even know if he noticed I saw it. I don’t know why or how I saw it, but being there, in his place, I can see why he’d promise anything to Zorwal. He’d do anything to save his little brother—to save me.
“I needed this hug,” I say.
“Same.”
ASTRA
Ten months later
Life can be good, and I realized nothing is ever too good to be true. It’s just good. Not that anything’s perfect, of course.
The Heart of Magic still sleeps, and while it sleeps, Tiurians won’t have magic in this land. Maybe it was meant to be. Maybe the heart will reawaken soon.
For now, the Crystal Court declared publicly that it’s a safe haven for Tiurians, but nobody has shown up.
I suppose they might be in the Nowhere Lands.
It’s where my parents were from. What I came to realize is that Otavio found out who I was, must have killed my parents, then brought me here.
All his stories about the orphanage were lies.
Just lies. He wanted the power of the heart, and wanted me to become a queen again to awaken it.
It didn’t make a difference for him in the end.
I still killed him, and I don’t regret it.
The Crystal Court is no longer that gigantic court taking over ancient territories.
All the old courts were reinstated. Royal families that had been hiding for years emerged again, as well as people.
That includes Azur and his Nether Court.
He said that his goal had been indeed to destroy the Crystal Court, but the Crystal Court as it was.
Once Marlak and I changed it, perhaps “destroyed” the Crystal Court as an oppressive court, it no longer needed to be destroyed.
Marlak can control the Crystal Castle. We’re near the Jewel City, which is a very different place now.
The powerful fae here were powerful because they exploited others.
At first, they exploited humans; later, they exploited “lower fae”.
Without exploitation, they no longer have power, and without power, no more say.
The land belongs to everyone. And the Crystal Court’s territory is just the Jewel, the Golden Port, and some areas around it. It’s enough. And it’s fair.
Renel and Tarlia are truly in love. They wanted to leave to the south to manage an inn, but Marlak convinced his brother to stay and help with the government and all the transition.
Renel is incredible with books and research, and so is Tarlia, in fact.
It’s good to have them here because the brothers, slowly, are mending their relationship.
Zorwal was a nefarious figure in their childhood, as well as their stepfather, and now that they’re no longer around, the siblings are getting along again. Plus, I get to spend time with Tarlia.
Mirella made an effort to apologize to Renel, and they’re in speaking terms now. Sometimes he even shows her books, and she never used her magic against him or teased him. The Sea Court healed her that day indeed. I think they used a pearl of healing, even if they won’t admit it.
I heard the story about how Lidiane and Ferer’s mother hid Ferer from his own father, and my theory is that she stole one of these pearls, took the baby to the shore, when he was almost dying, and then healed him.
She might have also used a strong glamour to make the baby look dead.
I can’t imagine what must drive a mother to hide a baby from his own father, but she made the right decision.
Ferer has been going to the sea, and it turns out that he can breathe in sea water, even if he can’t breathe in fresh water.
He assumed the position of crown prince while his brother is still imprisoned.
Nelsin is usually with him, but he still maintains contact with the giants, who apologized for putting us in a cage.
Marlak always thought that the nymphs wanted to have their kingdom recognized, but instead, they wanted to go back into hiding. One thing I know is that they have better terms and a much better relationship with the Sea Court, which is nice.
To be honest, my only worry nowadays is Mirella.
Ziven didn’t kiss her that day, even though she was healed, and instead went back to Krastel, where he assumed the crown.
I don’t think it was easy for him, as the whispers we heard are that he had to be ruthless against his enemies.
The idea sounds so absurd. Still, he promised to kiss Mirella in one year, and she’s been hanging on to that promise like her life depends on it.
I can’t imagine what she went through in her years on that island, but the wounds are still there.
She can’t control her shifting very well, but she spends days as a bird, only to shift back when she receives letters from Ziven.
I don’t know how she can see those letters from her bird’s eyes, all I know is that she shifts back and then becomes giddy and happy, running to her bedroom.
She’s insanely, madly in love. With Ziven!
I tried to put some sense into her, encourage her to go to parties, meet people, but she’s obsessed. The worst is that she still has the innocent youth of someone who’s never even kissed. Marlak thinks it’s normal and that she’s in love, but I worry for her.
We’re now in Azur’s house, getting ready for the wedding, and Mirella is obviously in her fae form.
I’m not sure I’m imagining things, but I swear I can hear her heart from a distance, just because Ziven was invited.
Ziven, Ziven, Ziven. It’s all she thinks about.
The worst is that he might not even show up, and then she’ll have a broken heart on top of everything.
I’m wearing a purple dress made by Irene, the most famous seamstress from the fae lands, even if she’s not the best. Lidiane rarely creates clothes for others anymore, but she’s been working on magic garments.
Still, I heard she made her own wedding dress, and I can’t wait to see it.
Marlak is wearing a shirt and pants, and we’re both wearing our crowns, since this is an official ceremony.
Tarlia and Mirella are wearing dresses made by Irene. Tarlia’s burgundy gown has a voluminous skirt, in human style, while Renel wears a navy suit. They are such a stunning couple, especially when they look at each other and their eyes shine.
Mirella is wearing a silver dress that makes her look even younger and more innocent. I know she was a brat when she was a child, but I still think she’s innocent. Perhaps she reminds me of myself when I was younger—minus the brat part, of course.
We walk to the beach where they’ll hold the ceremony. The castle is white and stands at the corner, and the sand strip is ultra wide with the low tide of night. Only lightstones illuminate the sand, and I wonder if they avoided fire because of Marlak.
We stand at the edge of a circular dais, waiting for Lidiane and Azur to come in. Mirella takes a walk with Tarlia and Renel, and Marlak hugs me from behind.
I say, “I can’t wait to see her dress.”
“I bet it’s going to be incredible.” He chuckles. “I’m so happy for her, and you know what? She’s dressing a queen.”
“Like she wanted. I doubt there will ever be a bride more beautiful than she.”
“No. Now I’ll have to disagree.”
“Why?”
“Nobody will ever match you.”
That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard, and I laugh. “In an ugly wool dress? Really?”
He hugs me tighter. “You were luminous and beautiful. Your hair was black for the first time, and it accentuated your face. And then the dress was so tight on your breasts. You were so sexy that I wanted to rip it off you and make love to you there and then.”
“Oh. That’s… I don’t know if it’s flattering or perverted. And you said you wouldn’t touch me.”
He kisses my cheek. “Of course I did. You were trembling. I thought you had a secret plan to torture me with desire, but I also thought that maybe you were forced into that role. You were so scared. Scared of me, of course, which was disturbing at the time, but I still wanted to protect you.”
“Your words were helpful and put me at ease that day. Still, I think about our coronation as our wedding, you know? With friends, and we were in love.”
“They were both important moments.”
Mirella returns, giddy and excited. “I heard there were human carriages on the way.”
I sigh. What am I going to do when Ziven breaks her heart? Marlak insists he didn’t kiss her because he was being honorable, but Ziven and honorable are two words that simply don’t fit in one sentence. I think Marlak believes Ziven is just like him, and he’s not.
I look at the guests and see fae from many courts.
The Court of Bees princess passes by, holding her friend’s hand.
Or more than friend. The girls smile and wave.
There are a few people from the Nether Court, and I recognize them because of the horns.
Some of them have blue skin too. It explains why Azur wears a hat all the time, as if he’s ashamed that he had his horns cut when he was young.
The Sea Court sent many guards and honorable guests, all of them wearing breathing tubes, but we haven’t seen the king yet. I’m thinking he might enter with Lidiane.
“You know what I keep thinking?” Marlak asks.
“How should I guess?”
“Ferer and Lidiane’s parents. She was a land fae, and he was a sea fae.”
Where is he going with this? “Yes, and?”
“One of them always had breathing equipment, right? Can you picture it?”
“I don’t want to picture it. And it’s the same with Ferer and Nelsin.”
“No, because Ferer can also breathe air, so they can come to the surface and—”
“Yes, yes. I get it.”
Mirella grins beside us, then turns around, and her face lights up.
Ziven walks to us, dressed all in white, like a prince, or rather, king. He’s wearing a beard now, and looks some five years older, and more serious. Hopefully Mirella will find him old and ugly.
He glances at us, walks to Mirella, pulls her—and they kiss.
It’s such a long, passionate kiss that I avert my gaze, not wanting to intrude in this moment. Marlak also turns away, and we stare at the waves. A few seconds or perhaps an eternity later, I hear Ziven’s voice. “Marlak, Astra.”
We turn and see him alone.
“Where’s my sister?” Marlak asks.
Ziven crosses his arms. “I asked her to go for a walk with Tarlia. I wanted to speak with you. Alone.”
He looks and sounds so serious, almost like a different person.
Marlak strokes his own chin. “You changed your look.”
Ziven chuckles. “I had to look more kingly, I suppose.” He looks at me. “Astra, I thought you were my friend.”
“Am I not?”
“You… have told Mirella to forget me, haven’t you?”
I can’t believe she told him that, but I decide to be honest. “I feared you’d break her heart.”
Marlak glares at him. “You have a problem with Astra?”
“No, I’m just… hurt, I guess. But if it’s because you care for Mirella, I can’t fault you.” He pauses. “You know why I’m here.”
Marlak smirks. “For a spectacular fae wedding, of course.”
Ziven looks at the circular dais and smiles. “That, too. And to see you all again. I heard great news from the fae lands. You’ve been doing a good job. Both of you.”
“You too,” I say, then ask, “Have you ever found Driziely?”
“She’s dead.” His voice’s devoid of emotion.
“Did you…” I can’t bear to finish the question.
“Sayanne and Otavio left a trail of blood, and I won’t say my hands are clean. But I didn’t kill her, no. That said, the crown is heavy.”
“Why don’t you quit it and come live here?” Perhaps I’m wondering if the carefree Ziven I used to know is there somewhere.
His expression hardens. “You think Mirella would marry a human with no prospects?”
“She would,” I say, shocked at the nonsense he just uttered. “Of course she would. If she loves you, she’ll want you regardless.” Mirella would want Ziven even if he were swimming in a lake of shit. I’m sure of that, even if I don’t dare say it.
Ziven huffs. “Well, I love her, and I’ll give her nothing less than a crown.” He turns to Marlak. “I said I’d wait a year, but I can’t. If she agrees to marry and come with me, can she come?”
“If it’s her choice, sure,” Marlak says.
“To marry you?” I ask Ziven. “Become a human queen? I told her once that human women have to pay attention to decorum, and she couldn’t understand the concept, no matter how hard I tried to explain it to her. And she’ll lose her magic!”
“I know. I told her it’s going to be hard, and different, but she understood. And I just can’t stay away from her. I’ll get her an opus stone, and I got a room on the top floor, with a large window. In case she shifts.”
Marlak pats him on the back. “It will be an honor to have you as a brother-in-law. But ask her, not us.”
Ziven grins and leaves, I suppose to find Mirella. Marlak pinches my cheek. “Why so grumpy, azalee?”
“I fear he’ll break her heart. And Krastel is a hard place for a woman.”
“If she doesn’t like it, she can come back home. Let her follow her heart.”
“Won’t you miss her?”
“Yes, but I’ll be glad to know she’s living her life again, that she’s free to make her choices.”
A trumpet sounds, then a brilliant light illuminates the dais. Lidiane appears in a dress that mimics the waves of the ocean, with colors shifting from blue to gray to green. Azur is all in black, still wearing a hat. The Sea King and Ferer stand in the middle, Nelsin beside him.
Tears come to my eyes as I see that family reunited and Azur and Lidiane so happy, with so much hope.
I look around us and see Tarlia and Renel so happy.
It means so much that they’re here, that Renel and Azur mended part of their friendship.
On another corner, I see Mirella and Ziven.
They are luminous together, looking at each other with so much love. I think they’ll be all right.
We’ll all be all right.