Epilogue
Cedar—Two years later
“Now listen, Savina,” I mumbled through an exhausted brain. “Just because you can shift and fly to the top tower of Sabrecrest Manor, doesn’t mean you must.”
My daughter smiled up at me, her deep ocean blue eyes shining back with more knowledge than should be possible at her age.
She’d seen almost two winters now, and the Court of Wolves remained her favorite place to run wild.
When the moon was full in the night sky, and Oren’s court shifted to their wolves and ran through the forest, she’d shift with them.
Her deep midnight black wings gliding just as fast as the wolves.
Thankfully, between Cora and I, keeping her between us had become easy. Almost routine.
I watched as my mate, my princess, strolled across the room.
A deep velvet midnight blue gown hugging her curves perfectly.
The sleeves billowed around her wrists and the bodice had intricate flowers embroidered into it.
Since things had slowed down, Cora had taken to crafting her own gowns for herself and the ladies around the Court of Wolves.
She never sold them, she simply made them for the women she’d see and gifted the ones she felt they’d enjoy.
When the sun was high and Savina was finally asleep, she’d whisper stories about the different women she’d met that day and what she thought the Fates had in store for them.
Was she ever right? I had no idea, but it was a moment of quiet and fun between us that I enjoyed every morning.
“Did you hear from your aunt?” I asked her as Savina started jumping on the bed, her dark curls bouncing with her until she made it to Cora’s arms.
“I did. She said she’d love to see us soon.
Apparently the castle is almost brand new in the sense that it’s mostly livable now and not gold.
” She chuckled. “She’s been so busy helping the people around Whitbourne and the other towns, she’s only just begun having things burned in that horrid place. ”
Her eyes turned over to Savina, her gaze softening the way it only did for our little girl as she held her hand and kissed along each of her fingers.
“Where has she been staying if not in the castle?”
Her teeth sank into her bottom lip as she looked back towards me. “Apparently Heliot’s home is quite comfortable for the Lady of the Court of Ice.”
Wide-eyed, I nodded as if to say, Oh, of course it is.
She giggled. “Anyway, Raiden and Silv will be here within the night. They want to check in on Oren, help us go through the new coven leaders and such.”
Since Keres had died, slowly and painfully as planned, and Zima had been crowned, officially taking over the Court of Ice, Cora and I had taken it upon ourselves to help Oren get his court back in order. We had no desire to rule this place, but we did have a strong desire to ensure he was okay.
The male didn’t have any family left and Keres had killed any of his close friends and circle when he imprisoned him.
It had taken us almost a full winter to even find him.
Getting him to shift back and stay as such was another task, but he was getting better.
Gradually becoming the male his court remembered.
If I had to answer, I’d say it was Savina. She pulled him out of his internal worries and he wanted to be around her. Which, honestly, I understood. She was special and loved her uncle Oren more than almost anyone. She’d take him in either form—man or wolf. Didn’t matter to her.
In my heart, I think having her around reminded him of his daughter he’d lost many moons ago, but I’d never asked him about it, nor would I.
However, getting him back within the castle was only part of the problem.
Half his court had been killed by Silvana and me, and the other half were left resentful for their leader disappearing and leaving them vulnerable.
Gaining back their trust would be a task on its own, but we were here for him.
His own little forced family, so to speak.
“Good, I’m glad. I don’t know shit about politics, so I’ll take all the help Raiden wants to offer us,” I replied, laying back across our bed, an arm tucked under my head as I peered up at my perfect mate and daughter.
Savina chose that moment to leap from Cora’s arms, and crawl across the bed until she curled up on my chest, her eyes closing.
“Unc O later,” she whispered, her head of curls brushing against my chin.
“Of course, my little ball of trouble. I’m sure he’d love your input into his court politics.”
She giggled as her eyes finally closed and her breathing deepened—the final stages of her deciding now was nap time.
Cora laid on the other side of her, her hand reaching over and resting on my chest just below our daughter.
“I love you, my raven,” she whispered.
“I love you, Princess.”
And I always would.