Epilogue
The summer solstice saw both Sonya’s birthday and a royal wedding. It was a grand affair, with far too many guests and far too much fuss, but Sonya didn’t mind any of it—not with Azam by her side.
It was her last day as princess, and while she was sad to be leaving her father, brothers, and the castle staff behind, she couldn’t wait to be Azam’s wife, to return home.
A royal carriage took Sonya and Azam to the Outskirts, and while many came out to see the princess who had given up her crown to marry a tailor, when they turned towards Azam’s neighborhood, the people who came out were there to see Sonya and Azam.
Once the carriage stopped in front of his cottage, Azam turned to her, flashing her a brilliant smile. ‘Welcome home, Sonya.’
She leaned forward to meet his lips with her own, kissing him tenderly. Outside, she heard barking. When she exited the carriage after Azam, she spotted Butterscotch with Caden and Kiri.
‘They’re here!’ Dania shrieked, and before Sonya fully had her feet on the ground, the little girl launched herself into Sonya’s arms. ‘Baji!’
‘Munni!’ Sonya said, hugging her tight and spinning around. ‘I missed you! Oh, I missed you so much!’
She set Dania down, then went to hug and greet the others: Kiri, Caden, Butterscotch, Winnie, and Enzo, all out in full force to greet the newlyweds. Of course, they had all been invited to the royal wedding, but Sonya felt she’d hardly had a proper moment with any of them there.
‘Glad to see you home,’ Kiri said, kissing her cheek.
‘Glad to have her home,’ Azam said, putting an arm around her waist. She leaned into his side, inhaling the scent of tea as she gazed up at him.
‘Now, come, I’ve made scones!’ Kiri said, and she ushered them all inside.
Dania wiggled in between Sonya and Azam, clutching both of their hands and swinging their arms. ‘I helped Winnie and Grandma because I’m the bestest helper there ever was,’ Dania told them, as they headed into the living room.
‘We are so lucky to have you,’ Sonya said, reaching down to kiss Dania’s cheek. The little girl beamed.
There was a wonderful tea already set out on the table, along with colorful ribbons decorating the space. Sonya’s heart warmed.
Comfortable chatter filled the cozy cottage as everyone took scones and sandwiches and sweets, drinking tea and catching up.
Sonya glanced over when she heard Winnie and Enzo bicker-speaking to each other in a language only they understood. A perk of being tongue-witches in love, she supposed. They always have a plethora of private languages to choose from.
But love was its own language, she realized, looking over at Azam. He glanced over at her and then at Enzo and Winnie, eyes amused, and she knew precisely what he meant.
She had always felt alone, but ever since knowing him, that feeling had all but disappeared.
Sonya would never be alone again.
A year later, Sonya walked along a white sand beach.
Bunto’s was doing extraordinarily well with Sonya as Azam’s partner—well enough that they had closed everything up for two weeks and finally made the journey south, down to Seaview and the Cliffs.
It helped, of course, that they had a royal carriage to take them down. Royal horses really were the fastest.
‘Sonya, come join us!’ Kiri called. She was sitting on a blanket beneath an umbrella; beside her was Caden and Butterscotch. ‘Your father was telling us about the late queen.’
Her father sat on another blanket beside Kiri’s, Sonya’s brothers around him.
‘Let me get Azam,’ Sonya said. Azam was out in the water, teaching Dania how to swim, Dania’s laughter carrying in the wind. She dashed to where the waves were lapping onto the beach, wetting her feet.
‘Azam!’ she called. He turned, and even now, a year after being married to this man, the sight of him still made her catch her breath. He flashed her a brilliant smile, then picked up Dania, bringing her back to shore.
‘I found a shell!’ Dania exclaimed, showing Sonya.
‘Wow!’ Sonya replied, reaching down to kiss Dania’s cheek. Butterscotch ran over, and Dania went with him, leaving Sonya with her husband.
Azam pressed a kiss to her lips. He tasted like saltwater but was still so sweet. She smiled against his mouth, and he pulled her into his side, the two of them walking together to join the others.
‘As I was saying,’ her father said, as they all gathered round.
‘Zoya loved the water. Her father was the Duke of the Cliffs and Seaview, so she grew up on the beach. I hardly ever went in the water before I met her, it was always too cold! And the salt! The sand!’ Her father shuddered, and Sonya laughed.
She leaned against Azam’s chest, listening to stories of her mother.
‘But Zoya brought me enough times that even I fell in love with the water.’
‘We went quite a few times when we were boys,’ Shahmir said.
‘Even I remember,’ Mustafa added.
Roshan nodded. ‘I took all of you, except Sonya. I was always afraid the water would make her sick, but I know now just how strong my girl is.’
Sonya smiled, her heart warming. They sat on the beach for hours, telling stories. She may not have been a witch the way she’d always wished she was, but she had learned that love was its own magic.