Epilogue
Staring at the ruins of the castle, I tighten the bag on my saddle, Kaden standing close beside me.
It’s only been hours since the castle fell, the palace still smoking in sections, but we need to hurry. Fenrir walks up next to me, Kaden growling at him in warning.
He’s still a beast, but for some reason he’s tame with me. He can sense who I am and what I am to him, but he doesn’t speak. Our bond is weak as the curse muddles it and I yearn to feel it again—to feel him once more.
Placing a gentle hand on Kaden’s large arm, I smile softly. “It’s okay. He won’t hurt me.”
Fenrir side-eyes the beast, asking, “Are you ready?”
“Are you sure your mother will know what to do?” I hold the book close to my chest, the cover’s rich leather stark against my blood splattered tunic. For some reason, only I can handle it. I’m not sure what to make of it.
“My mother is one of the strongest Fae in the world. She’s ancient.
She’s seen many things, fought many wars.
She’ll know how to reverse the curse.” Fenrir moves close, but Kaden takes one menacing step toward him, and he freezes.
“Kaden is the favorite son she wished she had. She’ll beg Sola herself to save him if she must.” There’s a drop of bitterness in his tone but I ignore it.
Hope flares in my chest. Hope that we can save my mate. And hope is in short supply, so I hold on to it with white knuckles, refusing to release it.
Fee stalks up the hill, dragging a bag behind her. It’s filled with what little wasn’t destroyed in the fire. We’ll need clothing and money and a few weapons to traverse the lands to Fenrir’s home.
My necklace swings in her palm.
“I’m not wearing this,” she blurts out, shoving the gem at me.
I gave it to her when Kaden finally left the palace roof and I had to chase him into Crow’s Foot Forest where he sought sanctuary.
I didn’t want to lose it—it’s too precious to him and our future.
“I’m only securing the palace while you help my brother. I am not the heir.”
“Understood.” I secure the necklace around my throat, the heaviness a reminder of who I am. Who I will be. Of the responsibilities I now have. I am a Queen—or will be, once Kaden reverts to his Fae form and we assume the thrones.
Will I be able to handle it?
“I don’t want the throne.”
“I know, Fee.”
“My brother will be king. You’re the queen.”
“Fee,” I sigh, “I know. It’s alright.” I would never expect her to make a power grab during such turmoil. Fee was raised to be the heir, a role she never wanted, and will fight to keep Kaden in power, because she believes in him.
Stiffly, she pulls me into a quick hug, with a harsh slap on the back for good measure and I wince. Gods, she’s strong. “Good. Just come back. Both of you.” That’s probably the most emotion she’s ever showed me. Strangely, my eyes tear up.
She shoves me away, moving over to her brother, looking into his face. She doesn’t speak, but she seems to be telling him everything she can’t with her words.
He lifts a claw, chucking her chin and she snorts, loudly. It sounds like a broken sob.
My heart hurts for them. The siblings are close—born from trauma, pain and loss. Taking him away feels like another blow to Fee’s resolve.
I will bring him back.
Reid throws his bag on to the saddle beside mine. Glaring at the Fae, I shake my head. “No. You need to be here with Fee. She’ll need help.” She’ll need support.
Reid raises a daring eyebrow. “Fee, the warrior princess, needs help?” He’s mocking me, yelling it so his sister turns a hard look on me. “Sister, I think Max is calling you incapable.”
Rushing forward, I slap his arm. “I would never say that about Fee.” I don’t need a dagger in my throat.
“Good, then that’s settled. It would made for an awkward reunion when we all come back.” He throws his leg over the saddle, holding a hand out to me. “Coming?”
“Reid.” Pinching the bridge of my nose, I groan. “You have to stay. The less people I bring with me, the better.”
The faster we’ll move. The quicker I get my mate back. As it is, this is taking too long.
“Fee has five lords and their armies who have already pledged to help her rebuild. There are more coming in from their territories in the west. With their combined strength and resources, the castle will be rebuilt before we even get to Aoife.”
He’s not wrong. But I can’t take him. Fee needs someone here, family, to watch out for her. I don’t want her to be alone.
“Zeke,” I call, the captain weaving through the crowd of soldiers readying to leave. He’s the one I put in charge of judging who would remain a guard and who would find themselves in the dungeon.
He’s weathered, tired, and soot covers his face. But as he stops at my side, his eyes shine, ready for another battle. I’m glad he’s on our side. “Will you stay with Fee?”
“Of course, Your Majesty.” He bows deeply. It still unnerves me.
“Protect her,” I command. “She’ll be on her own. She’ll need someone she trusts.”
Zeke smiles, a fatherly grin that eases the worry in my gut. “You don’t have to worry about me, Your Majesty. I was close with the Queen, Serafina the First. I’ve taken an oath to protect all her children as if they were my own.”
Nodding, satisfied, I turn from him, to see Baris getting into a saddle.
“On Cella’s crown, you too?”
“Of course, me too,” he huffs. His side is sore, his leg still swollen and yet he swings himself over the saddle with perfect ease.
How is he still moving? “You might not know this, but I’m from the Woodland territory, little one.
I haven’t been there in some time. I’d like to return to it with my daughter. ”
“You don’t look like a Woodland Fae,” Fenrir says, his green eyes sharp and assessing.
“Did I say I was a Woodland Fae, boy?” he snaps, grabbing the reins and yanking. Fenrir has the right state of mind to bow his head. “Let’s get a move on. It’s a long journey there and the heir doesn’t have much time before his change is permanent.”
Anxiety curls around my throat, choking the air from my lungs. We have to move, to hurry. I need to save him.
Reid pulls me into the saddle behind him. “Scared?”
“No.” And I’m not. It’s the first time in my life I’m not frightened—not of our journey, not of what awaits us. I know, in my heart, that what I’m doing is for Kaden. And I’ll do it, regardless of the risks.
Because he’s worth it.
He chuckles. “What happened to the woman we found in the forest, who was terrified of what she could do?”
I adjust the gem at my throat, letting the crowd see my crown.
“She died the moment her mate was taken and reborn into the woman who would fight to get him back.” I lift my chin, gazing at Kaden. “I’ll end the world to save him. Now, let’s go.”
Reid nods, snapping his reins. To my side, my father sighs deeply, a sad smile lining his face. Before I can ask about it, he murmurs, “Where one goes, the other follows.”
THE END