Epilogue

Dreams wonwithout a fight aren’t worth having.

~ Grandma Korbian

The long trip through the excavated tunnel the Virts had made, into the catacombs they connected to, and under the city to a squat stone access building beyond its walls took hours to traverse. Kaylina couldn’t complain, not when the wounded Vlerion was trekking at her side. He’d even had her wait while he slipped out near ranger headquarters, detouring to collect Frayvar and gather some supplies for them. The fact that he’d needed to do that alone, that it wouldn’t be safe for Kaylina to be seen even by the rangers, was depressing.

Night had fallen by the time they stepped out of the building on a hill overlooking the city. Snow drifted from the cloudy sky, dusting the earth and suggesting winter might never end, budding bushes nearby or not.

Shivering, Kaylina looked back across the city toward the royal castle. Frayvar had suggested they go to the harbor instead of in this direction, a direction that headed toward the druid preserve and the mountains beyond. After all, what did either of them know about surviving in the wilderness?

But Vlerion had promised that, thanks to the assassination attempt, every vessel attempting to leave the harbor would be searched. Across the miles, Kaylina could make out the lights of warships guarding the route out to sea. It might be weeks or even months before anyone could leave that way, and she doubted the passes were yet accessible for the land route.

“We should have come in the summer,” she muttered. “Or not at all.”

“At least we know people here think our mead is good,” Frayvar offered.

During their long trek, Kaylina had told him most of what had happened with Jana and the queen. Vlerion had glanced at her a few times as she’d relayed the story, but even without his presence, she wouldn’t have told Frayvar about the beast. She’d promised she would keep that secret, and she would.

What would the newspapers report about the day’s events? Maybe nothing. Maybe they wouldn’t print an iota about the insurrection, simply distributing the Queen’s Corner and her latest recommendation for a play to see.

“The only one who’s tried it is Jana, and she wants me dead.” Kaylina bent and gripped her knees, struggling not to give in to the despair that wanted to consume her.

“And my mother.” Vlerion had spoken little on their journey, leaving Kaylina and Frayvar to converse while he led the way. His expression had been grim, and it still was as he gazed toward the city instead of looking at her.

She wondered if he’d been disturbed by the carnage he’d wrought as the beast. Based on the man she’d come to know, she had to believe so. Even if those had been enemies that he would have fought as a ranger—and he had fought once they’d reached the courtyard—to tear their heads and limbs off… That was horrifying. She couldn’t blame him for it, but she had to admit that it would be good to have a few days away from him, to ponder her feelings and the future. Whatever future she could have.

“I also sampled it and enjoyed it,” Vlerion offered. “My mother is right. As is the dreadful woman who framed you. You have a gift.” Now he faced her. “You have many gifts.”

“Thank you.” Kaylina still felt like a screwup, that all of this had been her fault.

“Do you have a plan yet?”

“A plan?” She looked blankly at him.

“I briefly saw Targon when I collected your brother, and he forbade me from disappearing into the wilderness with you, but you must clear your name so you can return to the castle and open your meadery.” Vlerion held her gaze.

He wanted to disappear into the wilderness with her? Maybe that shouldn’t surprise her. He’d been protecting her all along, even when he’d claimed she exasperated him.

“I…” Kaylina hadn’t yet considered more than escaping with her life.

“I assume you aren’t giving up.” Vlerion set the pack of supplies he’d been carrying by her feet. “You’ll fight and find a way to return triumphant.”

Frayvar raised his eyebrows. Waiting to hear her response?

“Is that what a ranger would do?” Kaylina asked.

“Certainly. And I believe it is your fate.”

“People like me don’t have fates, Vlerion. I’m not a noble or a great warrior.”

“No? You’ve already changed the city.”

Kaylina thought he referred to the battle in the castle, but she’d done little to impact the outcome of that, unless seeing her in danger had been what caused Vlerion to turn into the beast and singlehandedly destroy half of the invasion force. But he pointed toward the city, his finger following the river toward a dark structure along it. Stillguard Castle.

She started to say that she hadn’t done anything there—thanks to the fire, it was in worse shape than when they’d leased it—but she started when she noticed a certain tower window. Not a red glow but a purple glow emanated from it.

“What does that mean?” she wondered.

“That plant may have liked your honey a lot more than it liked Targon.”

“My honey is muchmore appealing than Targon, but… that doesn’t mean… I mean, is a purple glow better than a red one?”

It was less ominous. She would admit to that. But had anything about the curse changed? And would the new glow last for a long time? Or only until the honey water she’d given the plant dried up?

She itched to go check on the castle. But she couldn’t return to the city. Not unless, like Vlerion had said, she could enact a plan to clear her name.

“I’ve never heard of the glow changing color. It’s been red for as long as I can remember.” Vlerion extended a hand in the direction of the castle. “It’s almost an invitation, isn’t it? For your heroic return.”

“You think so?”

“I do.” He clasped her hand, sending a warm tingle through her. He wanted her to return.

“It’s easier to be heroic for others than yourself,” she said, though some of her feeling of defeat was waning, replaced by growing resolution. Maybe she could deal with Jana and somehow make everything work out. Achieve her dream.

“I’ve found that to be true. If doing it for yourself isn’t enough, do it for me.” His eyelids drooped as he gazed at her.

Kaylina wished she knew if she had truly changed something about the curse, because if it was possible to alter the castle, might it also be possible to alter him? To lift his curse? So he could have the life he deserved and be the honorable ranger he wanted to be? That he was when the beast didn’t take him.

“Okay,” she found herself saying as she returned his gaze.

“Good. Even though you are a terribly exasperating woman, I would be distressed if I never saw you again.”

“I’d kind of miss you too, even though you’re a haughty aristocrat. I’d especially miss your taybarri.”

“The entire stable would be bereft if your absence were forever.”

“Ugh.” Frayvar turned his head and walked behind the stone building.

“What?” Kaylina called after him.

“You’re going to kiss, and I don’t want to see it.”

“We’re not going to kiss. We can’t…” Kaylina trailed off, wishing they could. But the last thing she wanted was to prompt Vlerion to turn into the beast again. She’d seen exactly how terrifying that was, how deadly.

“No,” Vlerion agreed softly, but he took her hands and continued to gaze at her. “But I do wish you to have a reason to return.”

Did that mean… he would kiss her? Hope and nerves teased her belly. She should step back so that he wasn’t tempted, so there was no danger.

But her treacherous feet took her closer to him, and she tilted her head back to search his eyes, though his face was hard to read in the dim night. The snow on the ground was bright but not enough to illuminate his features.

“You don’t think the mystery of the purple glow is enough to draw me back?” she murmured.

“It may be. I can tell you’re intrigued.” Vlerion lifted his hand to her face and threaded his fingers through her hair, brushing her scalp, his touch stirring pleasure in her entire body. “But you will also return for me.”

It was a statement, a cocky and arrogant statement, but when he bent his lips to touch hers, she couldn’t argue with it. His kiss was gentle—careful—and she knew he didn’t want to rouse his lust—to risk rousing the beast. It was for her. He wanted her to enjoy it.

And she did. Her heart ached with how much it meant that he cared, especially since the last man who’d kissed her had wanted to know why she couldn’t be normal. Vlerion would never ask that. Because he wasn’t normal. He understood what it was to have a dark side. But his was too dark, something no man should ever have to endure.

As she sank into his embrace, returning his kiss and wrapping her arms around his shoulders, she wanted nothing more than to fix his life. For his happiness and so he wouldn’t have to be the beast. And for this, so she could kiss him without worrying. So he could kiss her and more.

Heat spread through her body, images of what that more might entail creeping into her. The restraint faded from his kiss, and his hand drifted down her back, as it had in the dungeon, and he cupped her, pulling her into his hard body.

Desire flared within her, and she struggled to tamp it down, to keep their emotions in control. She’d never been so drawn to anyone in her life, never needed a man’s touch so much.

She curled her fingers into his hair, not wanting to break the kiss, to break away from him. There was hardly anyone out here. Maybe it wouldn’t be that bad if…

Vlerion broke the kiss with a growl that mingled frustration with desire.

“You are dangerous to me,” he whispered, his voice hoarse. Instead of pulling back, he nuzzled her ear, his lips and beard stubble brushing her, sending such delicious sensations through her that she almost groaned.

His arms still held her close, and she had to fight her body’s urges to keep from rocking into him, imagining him taking her to the snowy ground and making her cry out in exquisite pleasure.

“So dangerous,” he added.

“Do you still want me to come back?”

“You will come back.” He nipped her earlobe, sending a sharp stab of desire through her, before releasing her.

She gripped his shoulders, not wanting to let him go, not even able to object to the order. She did manage to infuse a hint of sarcasm in the, “Yes, my lord,” that she gave him.

Vlerion snorted, catching it. “You will also return to my training so I can drill respect into you.”

“I look forward to it.”

He took her hand, brushing her knuckles with his lips, before stepping back out of reach. Even that slight contact made her close her eyes and long for more.

The snow crunched under his boots as he walked into the stone hut, then climbed down the rungs, leaving her.

But not forever. She would be back.

THE END