Epilogue

Alessia

A bove ground, I pass the newly planted sunset roses. Sennah brought them as a gift of friendship, and Rainer was more than pleased. Together, we planted them around the entrance to my court. The light and soil conditions are right here because they’re thriving.

Their orange, red, and yellow colors blend, offering a beautifully bright contrast to the abundance of black roses sprouting throughout my land.

Finally, Rainer has his mother’s favorite roses.

And finally, the curse on the woods is broken after all this time.

Sennah and Ez successfully combined their elemental and air powers to create a rainstorm with the sorceress’s crafted potion of melted iron. It was a beautiful sight, really—dark clouds the color of steel and onyx hovering above the trees. And when it rained, the drops that streaked through the sky were metallic.

It was hauntingly beautiful and the start of something new for Avylon. Once Ezamae completes his task of succeeding Yvanthia’s throne, things will truly be as close to perfect as they could possibly be. It’s more than I could’ve ever imagined. More than I dared hope for, even back when Char was my only friend—the one who initially encouraged me to dream .

I glance up at the sky, giving a silent thanks to Fate’s hand—wherever she may be.

My steps are light, and I smile as I stride deeper into the woods. Soon, I come upon Tynan’s old dwelling. The vampyr remains in my court without change, and even I am beginning to accept the truth of his fate. A flicker of grief sparks inside me, but I focus on the positive changes instead. Rainer didn't want it to sit empty, so he turned it into a beautiful memorial for Tynan.

Morning glories and ivy crawl up the side, bringing some life to the old, rotting wood. The door is wide open, revealing the many pots and gardening tools scattered within. Rainer kneels in the dirt beside the shack, packing down dirt with his palms.

“Mo róisín,” he says softly without turning around.

Joining him, I lean against the side of the building to watch him work. He’s shirtless, and the lines of his muscles bulge and flex as he digs through the dirt. Beads of sweat drip from his collarbone, trailing down the dark ink on his chest and torso.

My mouth dries out as I’m lost to his beauty. Heat builds low in my core, burning me up from the inside.

Rainer chuckles, sitting back on his haunches. He removes his gloves and uses the back of his hand to wipe the moisture off his brow.

“Am I distracting you?” I tease, knowing he can very well sense the temptation within me.

“Never.” His pale eyes glint with mischief as they drag up my body. Even though I’m fully covered in plain leather pants and a form-fitting tunic, his eyes blaze with lust.

I toe the abandoned gardening gloves. “These are new.”

He smirks. “ They are.”

“You’ve never used them before.”

“I’ve never had a reason to keep my fingers clean before,” he says huskily, slowly rising. He stalks toward me, and in two steps, he’s hovering above me. He plants his forearm on the wood above my head and leans toward my ear.

“I prefer to dirty my fingers other ways,” he whispers, toying with the waistband of my pants.

My skin pebbles, and I suck in a sharp breath, tilting my head up to face him. His lips hover above mine, and for a minute, neither of us talks. We simply share air.

He pops open the button on my pants, slipping a finger into the top of my underwear.

A dark shadow flits over us, then another. The rhythmic sound of flapping reaches my ears. I glance up to see a dozen Angelli soaring high overhead.

Lex and Aife said they’d be back to check on us. They were kind enough to offer their army should we need it. Avylon and Dovenak are undergoing significant transitions, and with change often comes unrest. I appreciate that Lex’s army is trained in defense first—and offense second. We have the shared goal of minimizing harm. But I declined, not wanting to send the wrong message.

Until Ezamae said that today was the day. Then we decided it might be best to have additional support and sent for Lex as backup. The Council of Elders and some other courts might not respond well to their queen being assassinated.

But we’re prepared to do what it takes for both realms’ greater good and long-term peace.

Rainer sighs, slipping his hand from my pants and resting his forehead against mine. “I suppose now isn’t the time. ”

Gripping his hand, I slide it back down my stomach, planting it where it was.

“It’s never a good time.” I tangle my fingers in the back of his onyx hair, pulling his lips to mine, whispering, “Which means we need to make it the right time.”

Pouring out my passion through my lips, I kiss him frantically.

A loud, hoarse cough startles us. We jump apart, searching for the source.

"You didn't even have the decency to wait for me to die fully before fornicating on my sacred property, little brother?" A dry voice says slowly, as if straining to talk.

Hope and relief swell within me like a rising tide, surging higher and higher until it can no longer be contained. It bursts, flooding my chest and spilling into my limbs—a mixture of both mine and Rainer's emotions. We share a look, and his eyes glisten with moisture.

At the same time, we take off, tackling Tynan to the ground. He wheezes trying and failing to push us off of him.

"I thought I lost you, you feckin bastard," Rainer yells, punching his brother's shoulder affectionately as they tumble beside the flowers.

"Try harder next time." Tynan chuckles, and the sight and sound of him here alive is overwhelming. We climb off him, offering to help him up. He wobbles, but swats Rainer's hand away. "What the hell did you do to my home?"

"You mean this old shack?" Rainer asks, his lips twitching with humor.

Tynan glances at me, and I exhale, smiling up at him. "You're more than welcome to stay in my court, Ty," I say affectionately. "You'll have much of the space to yourself, actually." I turn my smile to Rainer, reaching for his hand and squeezing it. "If you'd like, of course."

"The feck did I miss around here?" He runs a hand over his hair—which has grown out a touch since he was last awake. "There's a bunch of weirdos with wings over there." He jerks his thumb over his shoulder.

Laughter bubbles out of me, and I turn my face to the sky, soaking up the joy of the moment.

Like the roses, we all need water, light, and nutrients to survive—but unlike the roses, it’s love that allows us to truly thrive . Love for ourselves and others—romantic, familial, and platonic.

There, beneath the expanse of blue sky and the soothing touch of the sun, I'm blessed to recognize that love touches my life in all its forms.

From a curse of malice and mercy, a love story took root—one that continues to flourish and bloom eternally.