Epilogue
Enzira fussed over my lacy sleeves, then ensured my curls were pinned in place. When she stepped back to look me over, her eyes were moist with tears.
“How do I look?” I asked, my voice trembling from my nerves.
Enzira’s lower lip wobbled, and she clapped a hand over her mouth, barely stifling a sob.
“She means you look like a queen,” Ramia said, bringing her hand to my cheek. Her eyes were moist, too, but she managed to keep the tears from flowing. “I’m so proud of you, lady.”
I offered her a breathless smile. “Thank you. Both of you. For everything .” I repeated the words in Agnarrish, then took both of their hands in mine.
I would not be here were it not for them. I owed them everything.
They both beamed at me, and I took a moment to gaze lovingly at my dearest friends. Enzira was in her seelie form, standing a bit shorter than me, with dark brown skin and a multitude of thick black braids. With her wide grin, I almost found myself missing the familiar sight of her fangs.
But she was still utterly beautiful to me, no matter what form she took .
From outside our tent, a loud horn blew, and I tensed, my body quivering.
“It’s time,” Enzira said, pressing her fist to her chest. “We will be right outside… my queen.”
Ramia curtsied, then followed Enzira out of the tent, leaving me completely alone.
I stared at myself in the mirror. This was so very different from the marriage ceremony.
For one thing, the ceremonial garb covered far more of my body than I was accustomed to.
White lace reached up to my neck, the sleeves falling to my wrists.
White roses were sewn into the skirt, and diamonds trimmed the hemline, making the fabric sparkle with each movement.
Despite the strength the diamonds gave me, I was still a puddle of anxiety.
This was the first time I would be facing my people. My kingdom.
Everyone.
The marriage ceremony had been a private affair. I knew now that it was because of the curse. The ritual only needed to be completed; it did not need to be publicly announced in any way.
Varius wanted to rectify that. So, with this coronation ceremony, he created a celebratory event for everyone, regardless of their station, to attend. He wanted to announce me not only as their new queen but as the one who had broken the curse and saved his people.
To be honest, it made me deeply uncomfortable. I had not acted alone, and it felt wrong for me to take all of the credit.
But it made Varius so happy. From the moment he began planning this ceremony, the gleam in his eyes had only gotten brighter. I had never seen him so alight with joy.
I took a deep breath to steel myself before stepping through the flaps of the tent.
An aisle of crimson fabric led the way from my tent to the courtyard in the center of town.
It had been a few weeks since the Necro Shadows had vanished.
Varius had sent a team to repair the Pern District so the civilians could return to their homes.
Now, the village was a bustling hub of activity. The homes had been rebuilt. New roads had been paved. Debris had been cleared away.
Cheers and applause rang from the square. I lifted my chin, gathered my skirts, and strode down the carpeted path.
A row of armored soldiers stood in front of the crowd. Each one drew their sword and pressed it to their chest as a symbol of honor and loyalty. I inclined my head to them before sweeping past, my fingers trembling at my sides.
On either side of the red carpet were thousands of fae.
Some still maintained their unseelie forms; others chose to wear their seelie forms. My eyes roved over the crowd, taking in the purple and green skin tones, the wings and tails that had once frightened me.
They mingled with the pale and brown skin tones of the seelie.
But to me, they all looked like one unified group of people. My people.
I found myself beaming at them, delighted to see them all here together. They cheered and applauded as I made my way down the aisle. Their grins of delight were infectious, and the sight eased the knots in my chest.
I climbed the steps to the dais and found Varius waiting for me, sitting on the throne that had been hauled to the village square. Next to him was a matching throne, this one unoccupied. My throne.
Varius wore his ceremonial jerkin, his tunic open at the chest. A silver crown was atop his head. And he, too, was in his unseelie form.
But I didn’t mind it one bit. I let myself admire the great wings stretched on either side of him, the barbed tail coiled beside him, and the glittering black claws extended from his fingers. He smiled down at me as I approached, his gaze heated and full of a love I did not deserve.
Stones, the heady look he was giving me… It was powerful enough to unravel me within seconds. My chest tightened, and I found I couldn’t tear my eyes away from him. His lips parted, and fire burned in his gaze, hot enough to scorch me from the inside out.
Next to him stood Tislora, a gleaming silver crown in her hands. Like Varius, she was also in her unseelie form—wings, claws, and all. She rolled her eyes at the steaming tension brimming between me and Varius, then lifted her hand to quiet the crowd.
The people fell silent, watching with interest as Tislora drew closer to me. I obediently knelt before her, ready to accept my crown.
“Sybelle of the Earthen Court,” she said, her voice ringing over the square. “Do you accept this crown that marks you as Queen of the Shadow Court?”
In a firm voice, I said, “I do.”
“And do you vow to uphold the laws and oaths of this kingdom as its ruler?”
“I solemnly vow.”
“Do you vow to protect your people at all costs, and put their needs above your own?”
“I solemnly vow.”
“The ceremonial dagger, please,” Tislora said.
From the side, Clermont appeared with the same jeweled dagger that had been used for the wedding ceremony.
He was in his seelie form—tall and wiry, with white-blond hair and olive green eyes.
He drew closer, his eyes questioning me.
I nodded and raised my palm. With one smooth motion, he slid the blade along my hand, drawing blood.
I clenched my teeth at the fleeting pain from the wound.
“Do you, Sybelle, swear on your blood to honor the vows you’ve made here today?” Tislora asked.
“I solemnly swear it on my blood.” Heat burned from the wound as the power of my vow swept over me.
“Then, by the ancient magic flowing through my blood, and the powers of the earth at our feet, I hereby crown you as the rightful queen of the Shadow Court.”
I closed my eyes as she lowered the crown onto my head.
The cool metal weighed heavily on me. I drew in a gasp as magic crackled in the air, circling around me.
Tislora offered a small smile before stepping off to the side with Clermont.
I climbed to my feet, careful not to let the crown tip over in the process.
Varius stretched his hand out to me, and I took it, gliding to the throne beside him before sinking onto it.
The people erupted in vibrant cheers, some jumping on their feet, others whooping with joy. I laughed at their enthusiasm, tears stinging my eyes. Varius squeezed my hand in his, then brought my knuckles to his lips.
“My queen,” he murmured against my skin.
I grinned at him. “My king.”
The people cried out with delight. From within the crowd, someone shouted, “All hail the King and Queen of the Shadow Court!” Several others roared their assent, raising their hands in the air to show their support.
Eira, my friend from the Winter Court, launched herself into my arms the moment we descended the dais.
She had been standing in the front row alongside her father, a fae with gray hair and a warm smile.
His bright blue eyes were identical to Eira’s.
Her raven black hair was pulled into a braid down her back, and she wore a cerulean dress that matched the color of her court .
“Sybelle!” she shrieked, squeezing me tightly against her chest. “You have no idea how thrilled I am for you.” She withdrew to give me a huge smile that was all teeth.
When her gaze slid to Varius looming behind me, her eyes rounded, and a faint blush crept into her cheeks.
“Blood and ice, Sybelle…” She pressed a hand to her chest and swallowed.
Then, she leaned in to mutter, “I don’t know how you ever thought he was curmudgeonly . ”
I elbowed her hard, and we both burst into laughter, knowing full well Varius’s fae hearing meant he had understood every word. I pressed a fist to my chest, inclining my head toward the king of the Winter Court. “Your Highness. I am honored that you are here.”
King Judas bowed to me, his eyes crinkling with his smile. “We were thrilled to receive your invitation. And I know my daughter has been anxious to see you again.”
“Anxious. Desperate. Frantic. Whatever you want to call it.” Eira’s laugh was infectious. I had always admired that about her.
Behind me, Varius cleared his throat, and I felt my face flush. I quickly stepped back and gestured to my husband. “This is King Varius of the Shadow Court.”
Eira sank into an elegant curtsy, her eyes sparkling. “Your Highness.”
King Judas bowed again, his eyes solemn. “King Varius. I had the pleasure of meeting your father once, long ago.”
Varius stiffened. “My condolences.”
Judas chuckled. “Yes, I can’t say I was too fond of him. But I can already see how different you are from him. You have my congratulations for such a happy union. And for already demonstrating yourself to be a fine king to these people.”
My chest warmed from his words, and I laced my fingers through Varius’s. His arm was rigid, though, and he said nothing in exchange. Instead, he merely pressed a fist to his chest .
An awkward silence passed between us. Eira's shrewd gaze flicked from me to Varius and back again, missing nothing.