35. Epilogue

Epilogue

Carissa

Three months later

I expected Candora to look different. I can probably blame my expectations on the fact that most of what I've seen of this country has been over video chats with Freya, who almost never leaves her castle when she's at home. Everything inside the royal residence is an antique or designed to look timeless, and Freya is always so poised and proper that I sort of expected to be walking into Downton Abbey .

Sure, there are sheep on the side of most roads and people riding horses down the highway, but other than that, Invem, the capital city of Candora, looks like any other modern city. If that city is crazy clean and teeming with trees, of course.

"I might move here," I say, tilting my head back and soaking up the sun as we sit outside a cute little café in the middle of the city. Invem is just as full of people as Los Angeles, but there aren't nearly as many cars. Everyone is either on bikes or horses if they're not walking, which means the air is impossibly fresh. But that could also be because of the rain this morning. I didn't realize how much I love rain until I moved to a place where it has only rained like four times in four months, if that. "The only drawback is the fact that it's freezing."

Cole laughs and stretches out his legs, looking for all the world like he has never been more relaxed. "That's the only drawback? Not the fact that I live in California?"

I peek at him, still trying to get as much sun as I can. "You could move here too."

"But my team is in Los Angeles."

"They have rugby in Candora."

"What about Dad and Gramps?"

That makes me pause. I think August would murder me if I convinced Cole to move to a different country. Gramps, on the other hand… "Gramps would totally move here with us. He's still secretly hoping he has a shot with Freya."

Cole rolls his eyes. "Right now, I don't think anyone has a shot with Freya. I've never seen her this stressed."

"Can you blame her?" I think back to this morning when we arrived at the castle and Freya practically kicked us out as soon as we walked through the doors. I know she's happy to see us, but today's election will decide if she actually gets to be queen. Apparently it's not as much of a done deal as she would like.

With a yawn—neither of us has slept in almost twenty-four hours—Cole checks the time on his phone and gathers up his jacket from the back of the chair next to his. "We should probably head back up. Derek has probably landed by now, and someone needs to wake Liam up."

"Not it!" I say, putting my finger on my nose just in case. We'll probably make Derek do it regardless, but I need to cover my bases. "The last time I tried to wake Liam up, he wrote an angry song about me. "

I actually kind of love that song, and Liam has become a de facto big brother to me over the last few months. He says he likes my energy and the fact that I managed to keep his and Kasey's elopement a secret until he got back from his tour and broke the news to Bonnie and Derek.

It helps that I was a bit distracted by my new boss.

Taking my hand, Cole helps me to my feet and presses a kiss to my knuckles. Since we landed in Candora this morning, he has become quite the romantic. I don't know if it's the setting or something else, but I'm not mad about it. That's not to say he's not romantic most of the time, but there's something different today.

Giggling at his gesture, I curl myself up against him and soak up the warmth he offers. It's like fifty degrees today, which is way colder than what I've gotten used to in Los Angeles. And maybe I just like cuddling with him. "I kind of wish we could keep exploring Invem together."

"I kind of wish I'd followed Liam and Kasey's example and taken a nap." But he kisses the top of my head and wraps me up in a proper hug. "We can explore tomorrow, and the next day, and the next…"

We have a whole week in Candora before Cole needs to be back to introduce the Thunder to the new head coach he hired, and I fully plan to take advantage of this time we have together. Once training starts up, we're both going to be incredibly busy. Next year is the year we're going to win the championship; I can feel it.

Even if we don't, I'm going to be right there at Cole's side, where I plan to be for the rest of forever.

By the time we get back to the castle and shower and change after our morning adventure through Invem, everyone has gathered in the antechamber off the press room, where Freya is pacing and running her hands through her blonde hair. Her hair was in an intricate updo earlier, but now it runs down her back in thick waves and gives me serious hair envy. I thought my hair was thick, but Freya is reaching Rapunzel levels.

"Oh boy," Cole says as soon as he sees the princess's wild look. "Peach! You need to calm down."

"Already tried that," Derek mutters. He's standing next to Freya's most recent bodyguard, Elliot, and watching Freya with a grimace. I wonder how long he's been trying to talk her down. Leaning to the bodyguard, he mutters something that makes Elliot chuckle.

"I'm not going anywhere near that," Elliot says, nodding toward Freya.

Freya throws him a glare. "You are on thin ice, Mr. Reid."

"Good thing I know how to float," he replies lightly and raises his glass in a toast.

Freya groans and keeps up her pacing vigil.

It seems Derek was right about the American soldier, and Elliot has managed to keep his position for almost a month now, which apparently is a good sign compared to some of her other bodyguards. Despite that, Elliot drives her crazy. Cole is shocked Freya has kept Elliot around this long, based on some of the things she's said to us, and Cole has been nothing but barely civil to Elliot since we got here. He doesn't like how easily Elliot gets under Freya's skin, and he's clearly pulling out the protective brother moves on this trip.

"You should probably stop glaring," I whisper to Cole.

He grunts. "Not until he proves he deserves otherwise."

"How much longer?" Hank asks. He and Bonnie are sitting with Liam and Kasey, the four of them barely awake from the looks of it. They got in yesterday and are struggling with the jet lag that hasn't hit me yet. I can feel it lurking in the corners of my eyes, but I'm too excited to be tired. Besides, Derek recommended that we stay awake as long as we can so we can reset our body clocks, and I am determined to follow his advice.

Mostly because Derek looks wide awake and refreshed even though he arrived just a few hours ago.

"Any minute now," Derek says.

"Coleman!" Freya says, suddenly altering her trajectory and coming over to where we're standing. "I need a distraction. Tell me about the Badgers. Someone —" she throws another glare to Elliot, who smirks "—won't let me on the internet, but I have heard that that sports reporter released a story about your corrupted teammates."

Cole narrows his eyes. "Did you just say won't ? Like, an actual contraction?"

"Distraction!" Freya growls, pointing at him. Then she softens, looking wearier than I've ever seen her. "Please."

Smiling, he puts a hand on her arm. "Tamlin Park managed to dig up proof on everyone involved, and the FBI is launching an investigation into the entire league. All signs are looking good that there will be a purge before the season officially starts. It's going to shake things up, but I think in the end it will be a good thing for football."

Freya's eyebrows rise high. "You think there are other teams doing the same thing?"

"I don't know, but Tamlin wanted to be sure."

I'm so proud of my big sister. Darcy didn't mention the corruption to anyone until she was absolutely positive she wouldn't get innocent players into trouble, and this is likely the biggest story she's ever run. I am so glad she uses her alias as Tamlin instead of her real name and face because otherwise I would be terrified for her safety. Then again, she has a loyal and loving husband who would never let anything happen to her.

"Your Highness?" Elliot suddenly stands at attention, looking more like a bodyguard than he did a moment ago. "It's almost time. "

Freya hunches her shoulders and clutches her hair like it might protect her. "Do I have to?"

"No," Derek says, "but I doubt the people will be very happy if you're not on camera when you find out you won the election."

"Camera!" She squeaks and looks down at the hair in her fingers.

Bonnie and I both rush forward, quickly working together to wrangle her hair into a braided crown like it was before. It doesn't help my hair envy, but I'm glad I can be somewhat useful. Other than this, I'm basically just along for the ride.

As soon as she's presentable, Freya stands in front of the doors and takes several deep breaths. "You can do this," she tells herself shakily, and I've never seen her act less like a princess. "You…you can…"

Derek and Cole both step forward, but it's Elliot who reaches the princess first. Instead of words of encouragement, like I expect, he says, "If you don't go out there, I will make you go out there. I'm not letting you miss out on your future just because you're scared." He ducks down, almost like he's going to pick her up.

Freya flinches, but other than that she stands up tall and lifts her chin. "That will not be necessary at the moment, Mr. Reid." Something changes in her expression as she looks at him, a quick flash of something I can't name, and then she pushes through the doors and leads the way into the press room and its flashing cameras.

I step forward to take up the rear, but Cole grabs my arm. I turn to frown at him. "What are you— Cole, are you doing what I think you're doing ?"

He sinks to one knee, his eyebrows pulled together and a look of such worry that it instantly brings tears to my eyes. This precious man… "I need you to know that I had a whole plan in the gardens with candlelight and chocolate," he says.

A squeak slips out of me. "Then why— "

"I can't let myself take away from celebrating Freya tonight because we know she's going to win. And I also can't wait until tomorrow. So you're getting me here and now. No spectacle. No grand gesture. Just me." He slips his hand into his jacket pocket and pulls out the most beautiful ring. The stone is a gorgeous square-cut morganite, circled about by smaller stones of the same pinkish color, all of which sits on a rose gold band. I recognize it immediately from pictures I've seen in Cole's house.

His mother's ring.

"Carissa Lynn Paxton, I knew from the first moment I met you that you were special, and sometimes I hate myself for thinking I could be better off without you in my life. Your light and goodness have completely changed me and the way I see the world. I can't promise you a long life, but I can promise I will always fight to keep you, no matter what happens. I love you with everything in me, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to protect you and bring you joy and raise a family with you because you are the best person I know and make me want to be more."

I hiccup. It's a ridiculous sound that makes me laugh even as tears stream down my face, and even Cole cracks a smile. "Oh, this is ridiculous," I say, dabbing at my eyes with my fingertips. "You picked a terrible time to do this, Coleman Evanson! I can't go out there looking like this!"

Cole swallows. "You can't go out there at all if you don't answer the question."

"You didn't ask one!" I complain.

Chuckling, he settles on both knees and sits back on his heels, looking up at me with his warm, dark eyes. Just him is pretty spectacular. "Will you risk the curse and marry me, Carissa?"

I shake my head, and his shoulders fall. "No," I say through my tears and put my hands on his shoulders. "No, because there is no curse so there is no risk. I'll marry you with the intention of living exactly as long as you do. "

Face full of anguish but with a hint of hope, he cocks his head. "So…that's a yes?"

"Of course that's a yes!" I throw my arms around him and fall into his embrace, hardly caring that he holds me so tight that I can barely breathe. "Goodness, I don't think I could ever say no to you, Cole. You're everything I've ever dreamed of. No, you're more than the man of my dreams."

He takes a shuddering breath, like those words have settled deep inside him. "I don't deserve you."

"Sure you do." Pulling back, I press my palms to his cheeks and smile. I'm sure I'm a mess, but as long as we don't leave this room, that's perfectly fine. "I'm more concerned about the fact that I don't deserve you ."

He furrows his brow. "Are we going to argue about this for the rest of our lives?"

"Probably."

"Great." He kisses me, and it feels like a promise. One neither of us intends to break, no matter what the universe has in store for us.

For more of Cole and Carissa, get your FREE bonus epilogue here !

Keep reading for a sneak peek of Dumbstruck , Freya's story!