Epilogue
JAX
“Well, that’s the last of the guests gone,” Dmitri announced as he entered the private parlor where Queen Ivana had insisted Jax and the prince join her for tea as soon as they saw the last of the visitors off.
Jax followed a few steps behind, content to let Dmitri bear the full brunt of the queen’s attention.
Though Jax had gone toe-to-toe with both giants and wizards, Queen Ivana intimidated him.
His eyes scanned the room as he entered, glancing over the soft, feminine furnishings and pastel and gold color palette and searching for a familiar head of silver-blonde hair.
He couldn’t help the smile that spread across his face when Odessa met his gaze from her place on a low couch in the corner of the room.
Wide double doors opened up to a balcony behind her, upon which a contented Bean had draped himself, soaking in as much sunshine as he could.
Jax crossed the room and plopped onto the cushion beside Odessa, nodding at the two women who shared the couch across from her. “Good morning, Your Highnesses.”
Sonya promptly abandoned her place in favor of climbing onto his lap and curling into him with a beaming smile.
Jax’s arms instinctively closed around her.
“And how is my little duckling this morning?” he asked, ruffling her hair.
“Have we figured out where Bean has been hiding all the strawberries yet?”
She shook her head, though the sparkle of mischief in her eyes suggested that perhaps she was not as ignorant as she claimed. Jax leaned into Odessa’s space, speaking in a stage whisper, “I think your dragon is corrupting the child.”
“Our dragon,” she corrected, taking a sip of her tea and turning to him with an expression full of such unfiltered adoration that he was tempted to toss polite manners to the birds and kiss her there and then.
“Rude,” Bean grumbled sleepily from his position on the balcony. “Just for that, we won’t share.”
Sonya giggled and pushed away from Jax, hopping lightly to the floor and skipping out to the balcony to join her dragon friend. He stretched his arm out, resting it on the back of the couch just behind Odessa’s shoulders. “Still nothing?”
Though it had been several days since their curse had been broken, the little princess had yet to utter a single word, communicating instead through her smiles and giggles and expressive face.
“No,” Odessa said quietly, her eyes darting to the high-backed chair where Queen Ivana sat, still conversing with Dmitri.
“But she was cursed from birth; it’s not as though she experienced a normal language development.
Even Katrin said she wasn’t sure how or when she learned, right?
” She directed her attention to the eldest princess.
Katrin nodded, answering in her calm, quiet voice, “I know it wasn’t until Odessa started coming around with Boris.
She would chatter away as she cleaned, and while I was drawn simply by the sound of her voice at first, eventually I began to understand what she was trying to say.
But I used to wish so badly that I could answer her, and I would often try to speak during the long hours alone when I was by myself.
In some ways, Sonya never had to experience the same isolation.
She has always been able to make her wishes known. ”
Queen Ivana’s deep sigh interrupted their conversation. “Well, we’ve certainly given our friends and allies enough material to feed the rumor mills for at least the next year.”
Dmitri chuckled, finally seating himself in the empty chair on the other side of Jax. “But at least they know we have a dragon now, which might make them think twice before saying anything too insulting.”
“Yes, a dragon but no engagement.” The queen set her cup and saucer on the low table beside her. “Which I was made to understand was the entire purpose behind the affair.”
Dmitri shrugged unapologetically. “I’m not nearly as desirable a match now that I’m not really your son.”
Queen Ivana gave him a fierce look. “Dmitri Petrov, I’ll hear not another word of such nonsense from your mouth. You are my son—if not of my body, then certainly of my heart. You cannot be cast aside so easily.”
Odessa sniffled, and Jax looked down to see her watching their conversation with tears welling in her eyes, no doubt thinking of her own father.
He shifted, pulling his arm away from her shoulder and settling it between them.
He reached for her hand and threaded their fingers together with a fond squeeze.
She returned the pressure, leaning her head on his shoulder for a brief moment.
“I’ve no plans to,” Dmitri’s voice cracked with emotion as he answered.
He cleared his throat. “But we also can’t ignore the fact that I’m no longer the heir, and alliances will look different now.
I did receive several offers for Katrin.
” He smiled reassuringly at the young woman, who had paled at the words.
“I refused them, of course. You’ll have enough to navigate without worrying about proposals and finding a husband.
We don’t have to approach that conversation until you feel ready, and when you do, I’ll be there to help. ”
Katrin’s cheeks turned a blazing shade of red. She looked helplessly at Odessa, who nodded encouragingly. Jax looked curiously between them.
What on earth are they scheming?
“I–I don’t want your help.” Her voice was softer than normal, and she dropped her gaze to her lap, where her fingers were twisting together nervously.
Dmitri looked taken aback. “Oh. That’s alright, I suppose. We can always ask—”
“No.” Katrin said quickly, before taking a deep, shuddering breath and looking squarely at Dmitri.
“I don’t want your help because I want you to marry me.
” She swallowed bravely. “I don’t know the first thing about ruling a country, but you do.
You’ve been brought up for this role, and since you were willing to have a political marriage for the sake of the country before, I’m asking you to consider it still.
I know that in your eyes, we’ve only just met, but I’ve known you for years.
I’ve…I’ve loved you for years. I don’t expect that my affection will be returned, but I would be honored if you would consider it. ”
Stunned silence filled the room as she finished, smiling tightly at Odessa before looking back down at her hands.
“For what it’s worth,” Odessa offered, winking at Dmitri, “she’s the one I would have picked for you. She might think you hung the stars, but she’s at least reasonable enough to understand you had to use a stepladder.”
Dmitri was looking at Katrin with a soft light in his eyes, as if he were just seeing her for the first time. He smiled. “I think the honor would be mine.”
“But perhaps we should not rush into things?” Queen Ivana said with a wry smile. “While nothing would make me happier, nothing has to be decided right at this moment.”
The conversation turned to lighter topics, and a short while later, Jax and Odessa were making their way back to the Menagerie.
Bean, impatient to return to his lake, flew on ahead.
Jax swung their linked hands together between them as they walked.
“I’m proud of Katrin,” he said. “I will admit, I was convinced she was going to take her crush to the grave. It makes me wonder—is she timid and nervous because she spent so long as a deer, or was she a deer because it was already in her character?”
Odessa shrugged. “Who knows? But though she’s timid, she’s been robbed of too much to willingly let something like love slip through her fingers when it’s within reach.”
“Whose idea was the proposal?”
“It was a joint effort. She asked for my advice, and I helped her sort out the words to say. Dimi’s a romantic at heart, and all he wanted in marriage was to find someone who could love him for who he is, and not for his position.
The fact that Katrin fell in love with him when he was a prince and still loves him even now that she has his title will go a long way. ”
Jax drew her hand to his lips and kissed the tips of her fingers, grinning at the blush that spread across her cheeks. “You’re rather devious for a swan, love.”
“I prefer to call it brilliant, thanks.”
“Brilliant, then. And beautiful and brave and resilient and mine.” He punctuated each word with another kiss to her fingers.
She lifted an eyebrow and tugged him forward.
The lake slowly came into view, complete with a floating Bean leading his family of swans across the surface of the water.
“Speaking of being yours, are we ever going to talk about the fact that you announced to the world that we were getting married before you even asked me?”
“I didn’t realize it was in question. What else were you expecting to happen?
Swans mate for life, and Bird Catchers do, too.
” A whisper of doubt began to bloom in his mind.
“Though I suppose you might have a different understanding of the word ‘love’ now that you’re not a swan, anymore. You might—”
She stopped suddenly and grabbed him by the armholes of his vest, pulling him to her and silencing him with a kiss that thoroughly chased the doubt away.
His arms looped around her waist and held her in place as she broke the connection.
“My understanding is the same as it’s always been.
I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, wherever that may take us. ”
“To Faerie for a little while,” he answered, rubbing slow circles with his thumbs over her lower back.
“I want you to meet my family—and Bean, too. There are some things I need to say to my father, and probably a few things I need to hear as well. But we’ll be back.
You have a Menagerie to run, after all, Madam Keeper. ”
Odessa’s smile faltered, and grief flashed in her eyes. “Yes, though I’m not sure I’ll ever get accustomed to the title. It’s funny—when I was a girl, I used to dream of the day when Boris would pass on his position to me, but now that it’s mine, I would give it all up just to have my father back.”
Jax pulled her in for a hug, simply holding her and letting the moment rest. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “He’s still alive, which means there’s still hope. Who knows? Maybe being forced to live the same kind of life he inflicted on you will bring about a change.”
“Maybe.” Odessa didn’t sound convinced.
“But I will petition for the role of Assistant Keeper, and he can be the Assistant to the Assistant.”
She smiled at him, and all was right in his world once again. “That was never in question. He might be working the night shift now, but he’s still a bird, which means he falls under the jurisdiction of the Bird Catcher.”
“And Dragon Charmer.”
“And Dragon Charmer,” she repeated, rolling her eyes over a fond smile.
“And your future husband,” he added, sliding down so that he was on his knees before her.
“If you’ll have me. Bean might have beaten me to breaking your curse, but you have my undying devotion just the same.
I love you, Odessa. You see my quirks and flaws and, for some reason, still love me anyway.
Being with you is like breathing, and when I hear the magic of your soul, it adds harmony to my own.
I can’t imagine a life without you in it.
You’re it for me, until my dying breath when the Almighty grants me rest. Will you marry me? ”
Odessa laughed through her tears. “I thought you said there wasn’t any question about it?”
“You’re ruining the mood of my proposal, and my knees are starting to hurt. This gravel isn’t as comfortable as it looks.”
She tugged him to his feet and linked her arms around his neck. “You ridiculous man. Of course I’ll marry you.”
“You still can’t seem to pronounce ‘charming’ correctly.”
Odessa grinned mischievously. “You better teach me, then.”
His eyes dropped to her lips. “I would be delighted.”