Epilogue
SERA
The door slams open, and Alex appears, looking slightly disheveled with a grin so wide, his fangs are on proud display. “She’s here! A dragon was spotted a few minutes ago from the tower.”
An unladylike squeal comes out of me as I jump to my feet, stretching my arms overhead.
I’ve been cramped in this office for days, trying to sort through the mess the impostor queen left behind, hoping to make the transition a little easier for Gabriella.
It was a good distraction for me after Rae and Kian left.
Alex holds his arms out. “Would you like me to rush you to the gates?”
My stomach lurches at the thought, but I nod. “I hope I don’t regret this, but yes.”
Alex laughs and swoops me up into his arms effortlessly. I’ve been anxiously awaiting Gabriella’s arrival. Travel, even by dragon, takes more than a week from the Mountain Court, and Jade left here almost three weeks ago.
The palace moves by in a blur, so I squeeze my eyes shut to keep the nausea at bay. I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to how fast Alex is now. When he finally slows and deposits me at the gates, I take a few deep breaths to calm my racing heart and stomach.
“You didn’t throw up this time,” Alex teases. “That’s an improvement.”
I fling a vulgar gesture in his direction, and he laughs, pulling me back into his arms and pressing a kiss to my forehead.
Sensing a rise in my nerves, he asks, “Are you okay, sweetheart?”
“What if things are awkward between us? It’s been over three hundred years for her. What if she doesn’t like who I’ve become after all this time?” All my fears come spilling out of me.
Alex pulls me in closer, and I breathe in his calming scent. “You’re incredible, Seraphine, and I have no doubt she will absolutely adore who you’ve become.”
“If you say so.”
“I do.” Alex drops another kiss on my forehead, then turns me around. “They’re here.”
I look up, and sure enough, there are Darius’ green scales shimmering in the afternoon sunlight.
Thankfully, there is enough space for him to land.
My heart picks up as he glides closer to the ground and I spy Gabriella’s dark chestnut waves.
She always was a spitting image of our mother, with the exception of our father’s violet eyes that we both share.
The ground quakes when Darius lands, and Gabriella practically leaps off his back and comes running straight for me.
“Seraphine!”
Tears flood my eyes when we collide, her arms wrapping me in the tightest of hugs.
“I never thought I’d see you again,” I sob into her shoulder.
“Oh sweet sister,” Gabriella cries, her own sobs rivaling mine. “I’ve been worried sick for centuries. Don’t you leave me for so long ever again!”
“Never,” I promise, squeezing her tighter.
The mixture of relief and joy intertwines with the grief of all we’ve lost, but we’re reunited now. Gods willing, we can find some healing together.
When we finally pull apart, I wipe the tears away and smile, fully taking Gabriella in for the first time in over a hundred years.
We’re practically the same height, but she’s slightly curvier than I am with a smattering of freckles dotting her cheeks.
There’s a small heart-shaped scar on her left cheek that’s new, but otherwise, she looks almost the same.
“Gods, it’s so good to see you,” I breathe.
Gabriella smoothes a wayward strand of hair behind my ear, taking me back to our childhood. She was always so put together, while I was the one running through the forest barefoot with my hair a mess, getting in trouble for showing up unkempt for dinner.
“You have no idea.” She beams.
Alex clears his throat behind me, and I turn, waving him closer and switching to the common tongue. “Gabriella, I’d love to introduce you to Alex Grey, my mate.”
Gabriella’s jaw drops as she takes him in. “Wait. Uh, did you say mate?”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness,” he says with a quick bow.
“The pleasure is all mine,” she replies, her surprise melting into her typical composure. “I look forward to getting to know you better.”
“Jade didn’t tell you?” I ask.
“She left out quite a bit, apparently,” Gabriella says. Jade’s bright laughter drifts over on a gentle breeze.
Gabriella and I turn to glare at her, and she shrugs, sending her voice on the wind. “I thought you’d want to tell her yourself, and to be fair, I didn’t know if he’d wake up.”
“Jade . . .” my sister and I groan in tandem before turning to each other and giggling.
“We clearly have lots of catching up to do,” Gabriella says, “but I am truly thrilled for you to have met your mate. I will need to make sure he’s good enough for you though before you get any ideas about bonding ceremonies.”
“Should I be scared?” Alex asks.
“Terrified,” I tease before turning back to my sister. “You do know I’m over three hundred years old, Gabi. I’m old enough to decide who to bond with.”
“I’m still your big sister and soon your queen,” she quips. “But I’m sure you made a wonderful choice.”
“Seven hells, are you going to be this insufferably bossy as queen?” I ask, throwing my arm around her shoulders as we make our way into the palace.
“Probably.”
Alex chuckles as he grabs my free hand, and I squeeze it. Our future is bright, and I’m so happy to be home.
One month later
Gabriella’s official coronation is this afternoon, and I can’t wait to witness her take her rightful place as queen. She was made for this. After much debate amongst the nobility, it was decided the summer solstice would be the perfect setting, and the day has finally arrived.
We’ve spent the last month getting our court back to normal and finding a rhythm again as sisters, along with making plans for the coming season and how Alex and I will fit in best. We agreed to stay in the Woodland Court for the foreseeable future, with the caveat that we can take plenty of trips exploring Lunesai and visiting family in the forsaken realm.
Alex slips his arms around my waist, and I smile. “Careful or you’ll get burnt,” I chastise as I work on curling a strand of hair.
“There are so many maids in this palace, why do you insist on doing your own hair?” he asks, kissing the top of my head.
“Watch out. If you mess up my hair, there’ll be hells to pay.”
He lets go of me and steps back, looking at me in the reflection of the mirror. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
“As far as your question,” I say, “after doing hair for so long back in Rakveren, it would be strange to completely stop.”
Alex nods. “You do such a lovely job too.”
I stick my tongue out at him. “I actually like doing it myself.”
“Control freak,” Alex teases. “Now . . . would you say you could do your hair with your eyes closed? ’Cause you’re so good at it?”
I tilt my head, looking at him warily while wrapping another long strand around the heated wand. “What in the realms are you up to?”
Alex grins cheekily, and before I can blink, he’s kneeling in front of me, hiking my skirt up my legs.
“Alex!”
“What? I’m hungry for you. I don’t want to leave a mark on your pretty neck for the coronation.”
“By all means,” I laugh.
Alex sinks his teeth into my inner thigh, and my eyes roll back as pleasure cascades through me. I’d be on the floor if he wasn’t holding me up with his strong arms.
Gods, I love it when he bites.
“Alex,” I breathe, digging my fingers not holding the wand into his hair, wetness already pooling between my legs.
“Ride my face, Sera,” he moans into my center, and I cry out as he licks and sucks, practically sending me to another realm.
I drop the heated wand and comply. My hair can wait.
Alex keeps giving me looks. Looks that scream all of the unspeakable things he did to me only hours earlier and all the things he plans to do later.
I squeeze my thighs together, relishing the subtle ache between them.
It’s a damned good thing fae bodies heal quickly, because he is a voracious lover. So generous and so damned good.
“Sera,” he growls under his breath, “unless you want to add public sex acts to our repertoire, you better stop thinking about it. I can smell it all over you. It’s almost impossible to ignore.”
“If you ruin my sister’s coronation, I will punish you,” I say under my breath, rolling my shoulders back.
“Don’t threaten me with a good time,” Alex whispers in my ear, sending the most delicious shiver down my spine.
“Shhh, it’s starting,” I scold him, trying to keep the smile off my face.
The double doors swing wide as lutes and lyres play the coronation melody. Gabriella glides down the aisle toward our father’s throne in a flowy violet dress that matches her eyes, looking positively regal.
For a split second, the image of Alex kneeling on the floor with the enchantress queen’s teeth at his throat flashes through my mind.
I shudder, and Alex immediately has his hand on my lower back, strength radiating from our bond.
The memories will fade, and for now, I will try to focus on my beautiful sister and her special day.
Alex and I stand to the right of the throne, watching as she gracefully makes her way to us and the highest-standing lord of the Woodland Court, who is positioned right before the throne.
A small pedestal in front holds Father’s amethyst rose gold crown.
It’s incredibly beautiful and glitters in the late afternoon light.
The courtiers bow as she passes by. She was made for this role, unlike me. I can’t help but feel relief that I don’t have to carry the burden of ruling. Perhaps that makes me selfish, but I know Gabriella is more than excited to take on the challenge and honor of ruling the Woodland Court.
The ceremony goes off without a hitch, and the utter joy expressed by our people brings tears to my eyes.
It took a few weeks after the enchantress queen’s death for the people to fully awaken from all of the lies and compulsions she had woven over the past centuries, but they are finally free to thrive and trade again, our borders open and alliances reforged.