Epilogue
EXCITED MURMURS ROSE in the air as the ornately carved twenty-foot-tall doors of the red-and-gold Cathedral were finally thrown open.
In moments, the entire place was filled to the topmost rows of the gallery, so much so that the avian preters had shifted into their other form in order to perch themselves on window ledges and the bronze arms that curved from the hundreds of chandeliers hanging suspended from the domed ceiling.
A female Invisa soon stepped up to the dais, and a hushed silence swept over the crowd. Invisas were Caro females who dedicated their lives to work anonymously for the Brethren, which was the governing body of their race.
The Invisa called for Lysander to step forward, and Estrella's heart literally ached.
People would probably say she was being biased, but she didn't really think so.
She was absolutely certain he became more ethereally beautiful each day, with the way his ebony hair turned into the most mesmerizing shade of violet under the moonlight and the way his eyes gleamed—-
I can hear you all the way from here, my Star. He saw Estrella turn pink and had to lower his gaze to hide his smile.
"On the matter of the membership of Prince Lysander's," the Invisa was saying, "it has been decided that the Blood Oval shall have the final say—-"
Gasps broke out all over the cathedral, and Estrella fought to keep her expression blank even as she struggled with her own incredulity.
Her worried gaze flew to Lysander's direction, and her gaze immediately collided with her husband's.
It was as if he had already been expecting her to worry, and his smile curved ever so slightly just as his gruffly soothing voice purred into his mind.
Be at ease, my wife. The words had its intended effect, and his amusement deepened when the color of her cheeks deepened even as she gave him a resolute nod.
Oui, mon mari.
He nearly smirked.
Three...two...one...
She started gnawing on her lip, which he knew was one of her ploys to keep herself from squealing out loud.
His beautiful Star was really like no other.
She knew calling him 'husband' would have her feeling giddy and embarrassed.
It was always like that, and yet she kept doing it anyway, and it had him starting to wonder if she had a masochistic streak hidden inside of her.
"To announce the decision on the membership of Lysander Allard, we invite the heir to the Moretti pack, Domenico Moretti."
Estrella's brows shot up. What? Her head turned sharply to where the rest of the Moretti pack was seated, and the expressions on her family's faces told her they were just as stunned as she was.
Television cameras immediately zoomed in as the Lyccan prince stepped up the dais.
"On the matter of Lysander Allard joining L'Alliance, we, the members of the Blood Oval, unanimously vote—-"
Estrella held her breath.
"Nay."
Pandemonium threatened to break out, but the noise just as abruptly died the moment Domenico's steely gaze swept over the crowd.
"The rules of L'Alliance were not designed with the likes of Lysander Allard in mind, whose soul has been fused with that of an ancient beast. Moreover, verified historical accounts present concrete and consistent evidence of the very simple rules that Ammon lives by.
The beast is devoted to its mate, and for as long as Princess Estrella, ruler of the Faes, remain a member of L'Alliance, then Ammon remains on our side as well. "
Estrella was beginning to recover from her shock, and as her brain started working again, she also started seeing why the Blood Oval, no doubt at Domenico's urging, had to deny membership to L'Alliance.
Since the public emergence of their kind, many preters had come asking Domenico for help, sharing numerous stories about how humans had come to take advantage of the lax policies of L'Alliance. And in all those instances, Domenico had only a single reply. It isn't yet time to make a move.
"Leave the beast and its loved ones in peace," Estrella's brother went on, "and no blood shall be shed. Befriend the beast and those it cares for, and Ammon will come to your defense—-"
"Bullshit." The irate interruption came from one of the human reporters invited to cover the assembly. "If you don't force this monster—-"
Estrella stiffened at the insult, as did majority of the preters in the room.
"To play by the rules, then how the hell can we feel safe, knowing it could snap anytime—-"
"Your kind and mind have lived amidst volcanoes that can explode at anytime," Domenico interjected silkily, "and yet I do not hear of any human squads torching or bulldozing them into extinction."
"It's not the same," the reporter blustered.
"Is it not? Volcanoes are of the earth, and so is Ammon.
Volcanoes are ancient, and so is Ammon. Volcanoes have the power to kill, as does Ammon.
But unlike volcanoes, Ammon is a force of power that can be leashed.
Through Lysander, we can reason with it.
Even have the beast fight with us. So if anything, the Fae prince offers significantly better odds than any volcano. "
The reporter was nearly purple with rage. Everyone was either laughing or gazing at him with pity, with the way Domenico Moretti seemed to be toying with him. "Enough about the goddamn volcano—-"
"If it brings you any comfort," Domenico said in a hard voice, "then go ahead and think of Lysander as the monster that's always been living in the periphery of your existence.
He's the monster that can eat you alive.
The monster that you'll never see coming.
He's the kind of monster that's more terrifying than all your worst nightmares combined.
So if I were you, Mr. Gluck—-" Domenico's contemptuous gaze flicked to the man's name badge so he could properly address the idiot.
"I'd suggest you don't do anything that will invite this monster into your life.
Because if you do—-" The Lyccan prince bared his fangs.
"Trust me when I say you won't survive it. "
A few hours later, with dinner over and the ball in full swing, and people were still talking about Domenico's earlier speech, which had officially become viral with over two million views on YouTube...and counting.
Apparently, Domenico - upon learning from Misty about the possibility of Lysander having his soul fused with Ammon's - had made the rare gamble on the prince's return.
The Lyccan prince had always been known as the type to take only the most calculated risks, but his trust in Lysander had been such that Domenico had been willing to play the long game, racking up early losses as human offenders were allowed to walk scot-free while preters were left no choice but to suffer.
But that era has finally ended, Estrella thought happily, and a new one has now begun. With Lysander no longer bound to the rules of L'Alliance, her husband was able to work independently, and humans that sought to cause trouble against preters would now have an ancient beast to contend with.
Lysander was going to be everyone's guardian angel in other words, Estrella thought dreamily as she allowed her husband to take her hand and lead her to the dance floor, and no role could be more fitting.
The prince's lips pressed together as his wife's thoughts took an increasingly whimsical trend.
Words like 'real-life Avenger', 'John Wick with horns', and 'Mr. Danaerys but sane' were now popping in her mind.
Whatever makes her happy, Lysander thought.
Right now, he was just damn happy himself, with how Estrella was once again relaxed and confident in his love for her.
Three months had passed since the deadly trap that had almost killed Lysander and his men, and almost all of those days had been an uphill battle. The first weeks, she had kept her guard up with him at all times, and he had let it be, knowing that it was the least he deserved.
Instead, he worked tirelessly to regain her trust and prove his trust in her in return.
At first, she had been reluctant to resume her role as the Faes' ruler, but he had been adamant, and he made it a point to not only require her presence in their internal strategic meetings but to also ask for her opinion.
And in the times he would catch a flash of pain in her eyes...he would be by her side in a snap, whispering words of love to her ear just before dragging her to the nearest room with a door so that he could fuck his love into her as well.
As for Estrella's response, she had been tentative and wary at first, her confidence increasing gradually.
Until finally...they were now back to normal. Her thoughts were once again completely his to see, she was once again his internally squealing wife, and he would never fucking risk losing this again.
****
WHEN ESTRELLA OPENED her eyes the next morning, it was to the rare sight of finding herself awake before her husband.
Oh.
Lysander looked so much younger and innocent when he was asleep, and just gazing at him made her heart feel close to bursting. Life was really good these days, so much so that she sometimes had to pinch herself to make sure she wasn't dreaming any of it.
Fina was gone, with Lysander deploying her to take a post outside the country. And Misty - she was just Misty now; Lysander no longer gazed at the other woman like she was a treasure he had lost, and more surprisingly, he and Domenico had started getting along.
Granted, they only seemed to see eye to eye whenever talk about killing vampires came up, but that was a start right?
Her gaze drifted back to her husband, and Estrella could only sigh again. So beautiful, she couldn't help mentally gushing over him. Beautiful like an angel. In fact, as far as she was concerned, he was the most gorgeous angel in the world, with the longest lashes and the most beautiful lips...
Her gaze drifted down, and she couldn't help gulping when she realized that her husband had kicked his half of the covers to his feet...which of course left him completely naked to her gaze.
Estrella gulped again.
How could she have forgotten her husband also happened to be the sexiest beast in the planet? Like, seriously, how? When he had a monstrously oversized dick—-
The guards posted outside their doors suddenly guffawed...the very same time she heard laughter, snickers, and groans from below their bedroom window. What in the world—-
"Good morning, wife."
Estrella nearly fell out of the bed. "Y-You're awake," she stammered. Oh my God. How long had he been—-
His lips curved. From the very angelic start.
Estrella moaned in embarrassment.
And you know what, wife?
She dived under the covers, knowing by now that whatever it was her husband was going to say, it probably would just be more of him teasing her—-
I recently discovered another one of Ammon's powers.
Estrella poked her face out of the covers at his words. For real?
He nodded. Do you want to know what it is?
Of course! She gazed at her husband expectantly, but instead of speaking Lysander sat up and reached for his phone. She peeked at his shoulder as he began to type a message in the chat group he, Estrella, and the Fournier brothers were in.
Lysander: Tell me what you heard.
Alain: Can't. Still puking.
Aluin: Fine, I'll take one for the team.
"What are you guys talking about?" Estrella asked, confused.
Aluin: Gorgeous angel...
Alain: Fuck. I need to throw up again.
Aluin: Sexiest beast on the planet.
Comprehension dawned, and Estrella started feeling nauseous herself. "H-how—-w-what—-why—-"
"My new power," Lysander drawled, "is to broadcast whatever it is in my mind...whatever I'm thinking...or hearing...to all the Faes."
Aluin: Almost forgot - there was something about monstrously oversized dick.
And Estrella finally understood why everyone had suddenly started laughing, snickering, and groaning.
Oh. My. Aaaaaah!
Estrella suddenly found herself impaled on her husband's cock. "Lys—-" He pushed up, and a cry spilled out of her. "Lys—-" Another thrust, more forceful this time, and her hands curved over his shoulders.
"Ride me," Lysander gritted out.
And she did.
"Scream for me," Lysander panted out.
And she did.
"Cum for me," Lysander growled.
And she did.
And when it was all over, and she slumped against his body, his cock still inside her pussy, she felt his tongue lick her ear just as he murmured inside her mind, By the way...
Mm?
Everyone heard that, too..
The End