Chapter 50 Rose
As the trees of the Weeping Forest slowly unfurled, no longer cowering in fear, the sound of weeping filled the air. There was no sign of Oonagh’s army.
Rose recognized her own pain in the cries of her soldiers, of the witches, all these people she fiercely loved. She heard their sorrow over those they had lost and their guilt that they had been the ones to survive. And yet in that pain, there was relief, too. The first to arrive told her what she already suspected – the undead had stopped fighting when Oonagh did, collapsing like wind-up toys that had taken their last step. The war was over.
But as she studied more and more faces coming through the trees, Rose swayed on her feet, overcome by an old, clawing fear that those she loved would not return to her. ‘Where’s Shen?’ she said, panic hitching in her voice. ‘And Lei Fan? And Tilda? And—’
‘Just wait,’ said Wren. But her voice shook just as badly as Rose’s did, and Celeste’s expression was so grave she didn’t say anything at all. Rose knew she was scouring the treeline for Anika.
As more soldiers spilled out of the forest, wearing torn and bloodied uniforms of green and gold, Rose realized they were looking to her and Wren, waiting for another command or a much-needed measure of comfort.
‘We need to take charge,’ said Rose. ‘We need to say something.’
Wren stepped forward, rising to the task like a true and capable queen. ‘Warriors of Eana, we have battled together through the darkness and at last emerged into the light. Today marks the end of the war in Eana and the beginning of peace in our land.’
‘You have all fought valiantly,’ said Rose, picking up the thread of her sister’s speech as easily as if it were her own. ‘For that we thank you. And we honour those we have lost.’ Her voice cracked but she went on. ‘As we mourn them, we will remember their sacrifice and their bravery.’ She gestured behind her. ‘Please, come and lay your dead beneath the great Mother Tree, where they will find peace in her magnificent shadow.’
She rolled her shoulders back, pressing on. ‘Those who can heal, come to me. Those who can stand, please help those who cannot. We must bring the injured forward, so they can be healed.’
There was a flurry of movement as soldiers and witches hurried to follow her orders. More broke off and ran back into the forest carrying forth Rose’s message.
Rose went to Celeste then, embracing her dearest friend. ‘You saved us,’ she said, her voice thick with emotion. ‘If you hadn’t fought your way through the forest to return Night’s Edge, I don’t know if we would have defeated Oonagh.’
‘You would have figured something out.’ Celeste hugged her back, tightly. ‘But that certainly came a lot closer than I would have liked.’
‘That’s an understatement,’ said Wren, coming to embrace Celeste as well. ‘Thank you, Celeste. I really owe you.’
‘Now that is the understatement,’ said Celeste, huffing a tired laugh. She pulled back, glancing around, anxiously. ‘Have either of you seen Anika?’
‘Not since we left the cliffs.’ Rose gave Wren a careful look, her heart aching for her sister. The last time they had seen Tor he’d been pinned beneath a beast, with his own beloved wolf collapsed at his side.
As if she was reliving the very same memory, Wren took off towards the treeline, glaring at the forest as if she was willing it to fall away entirely so she could see all the way to the cliffs beyond.
Rose let Wren go. She looked to the trees, too, fear like a fist in her throat, but she was not searching for a telltale glimpse of blue and silver. She was looking for a warrior who moved like the night wind. She was looking for the other half of her heart.
And then she heard a voice that stole her breath. ‘Rose!’
Shen Lo came tearing through the forest, shirt torn and bloody, but he was alive. Alive and running and smiling, and oh his face was the most beautiful thing Rose had ever seen.
Celeste nudged her. ‘What are you waiting for? Go to him.’
Rose hitched up her skirts and ran to Shen, and when she reached him, she flung herself into his arms. He held her tightly, so tightly, as if he couldn’t quite believe that she was real.
‘Rose,’ he murmured into her hair. ‘Rose, Rose, Rose.’
Rose laid her head against his chest and listened to the thundering song of his heart. They stood still, holding each other in this moment of sweeping relief, their chests rising and falling in perfect harmony, as the world carried on around them.
‘Come with me,’ said Shen, pulling her into a slip of forest that had been untouched by battle. Even the small white wildflowers that dotted the forest floor were undisturbed.
‘You’re hurt again,’ said Rose, gently examining a new puncture wound on his neck.
‘I’m fine,’ said Shen. ‘It will heal.’
‘Of course it will. Because I will heal it.’
‘You’ve already healed me once today.’
‘I’ll heal you as often as I need to. Now hold still.’
He brushed her hand away, curling his arms around her waist. ‘I’ll survive,’ he said, pulling her close. ‘Leave it for now.’
‘Stop being so stubborn,’ said Rose, putting her hands on his chest. ‘I want to make you feel better!’
‘Then kiss me, Rose Valhart.’ He dipped his chin, brushing his nose against hers. ‘Please.’
‘Oh.’ Suddenly dizzy, Rose went up on her toes, pressing her lips to his. Shen groaned, sliding his tongue into her mouth and deepening the kiss. She kissed him, fiercely, with a hunger that surprised them both. He pulled her closer still and she pressed herself against him, wrapping her arms around his neck. He groaned again, running his hands down her back as she arched her body against his, losing herself in the heat of his kiss.
When they finally broke away from each other, Rose tilted her head back so she could see his face. He gazed down at her and brushed his thumb across her cheek.
‘You, Rose Valhart, are the bravest person I have ever known.’
She let out a sound that was part sob, part laugh. ‘I would quite like to go back to Anadawn and not be brave for a while.’
‘We can do that.’
Rose stilled. ‘Together?’
Shen’s dark eyes sparkled. ‘Well, I was thinking we could stay at Anadawn for a while, and then perhaps you could come back to the Sunkissed Kingdom with me for a few weeks … And then after that, we could go back to Anadawn …’ He cleared his throat. ‘And then the Sunkissed Kingdom. And … well, you get the idea …’ He raised his brows, his voice hopeful. ‘Don’t you?’
‘Are you saying what I think you’re saying?’
‘What? That if anyone here is organized enough to rule two kingdoms, it’s you?’
‘Shen! Can’t you try to be romantic?’
He smiled, and it felt as if the sun had come out at night. ‘I’m saying that I accept your proposal, Rose. That I can’t think of anything that would make me happier than to marry you and spend every day of the rest of my life loving you.’ He held both her hands in his. ‘I know that falling in love with you took me by surprise. Even now, I’m still reeling from just how much I love you, how lucky I feel whenever you smile at me. I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to it. I don’t think I ever want to get used to it.’ He raised her hands to his lips and kissed them. ‘I know how much you love Eana, and how deeply you respect the Sunkissed Kingdom, too, and I believe together we will do a fine job of ruling them both.’
He grinned and so did Rose. ‘Perhaps you are a romantic after all, Shen Lo.’
‘Perhaps you set romance alight in me.’ Shen glanced through the forest, where the soldiers were still making their way back to the Mother Tree, and his expression sobered. ‘I nearly lost you twice, Rose. I’ll never lose you again. I swear it.’
Rose’s heart danced as she pressed a kiss to the corner of his mouth. There was just one more matter to settle. ‘If we are making this official, I’ll be expecting a ring.’