Thirty-seven

Thirty-seven

DESI

I'm swallowing the devil's claw root pill my mom handed me before we left the throne room, hoping that it works like it did for Jace when he left Infernis the last time he was here, when he finally speaks.

"Um, Desi?"

I look over at Jace as we walk toward the carriages my father had rushed around to the front of the palace. I cling to his hand, scared if I let go he'll disappear, and with the other, I fumble with my dress, nearly tripping on the train every other step.

I can't explain the feeling of relief I get every time I look over and realize that he's here, with me. Somehow, miraculously, I have a second chance. I don't know how, or what's going to happen next, but I know that I'm happier with him here than I was without him.

"Yeah?"

"Where are we going?" he asks as he picks up my train, clearing it from the path of my stilettos.

"Thank you," I say, flashing him a smile before continuing. "Dex's court. She's the one who makes all the decisions for both angels and demons. She's the final say, the judge for both Infernis and Pax."

His face pales. "We have to take a portal? Oh. God, Desi, I almost didn't make it through the last one. The medium from the human realm said I couldn't come back . . . that I'd remain in Infernis forever."

He doesn't even trip over the word forever. It's like it's second nature to him to be with me in the same place for eternity. Did he really choose this existence, choose me? Or was he forced to come here to save us? I'm dizzy with the thought, so I push it aside.

"No, going to Dex's court is different. It sits upon the In-Between. It's not in any of the three realms. It's neutral. Think of the In-Between as the border between Pax and Infernis. You'll be fine."

A look of relief passes over his face as we approach the carriages. "Oh, thank god."

I grin as I look at the drivers for guidance. "Which carriage should we take? The one with my parents or my brothers?"

The driver gives me a knowing look. "Neither. Your mother arranged for your own carriage with Mr. Wilder."

Jace and I exchange glances and a thrill runs through me, my cheeks, chest, and the space between my legs all heating at once. Only a day without Jace, and my body is reacting as if it's wandered the desert for decades and just happened upon an oasis.

"How nice," I say with a smirk, and Jace winks at me as we climb into the carriage.

I settle in next to the far window and watch as Jace steps inside. Instead of sitting on the bench opposite, he sits right next to me, our thighs flush against each other.

"Hi," I whisper, drawing my bottom lip between my teeth.

"Fancy meeting you here," he replies, and one corner of his lips tilts up.

I swing my knee toward his and bump him playfully. "Now that we have a moment alone, I—"

There are so many things I want to say . . . do . . . touch . . . but I don't know where to start. I suddenly feel shy, and I know that's idiotic, but I can't help it.

I try again. "Now that we're alone, I want to talk about . . . about what this really means, Jace. You came here. For me? You do realize what that means?"

"I know what it means. And I also know that I don't deserve you after the way I treated you." He looks away from me and his lips tense as his tongue swipes over his front teeth. A minute ticks by while he composes himself. Clearing his throat, he turns his attention to me again. "I hurt you. I assumed you were the same as my mother and Hannah, when you did nothing to justify that. I refused to believe you when you made your feelings for me clear, and I let my fear govern me. I'm so sorry for the way I treated you. And I understand if you need space and time to forgive me and figure out how I fit into your life." He shrugs. "My mortality lies in your hands, but I'm hoping you will grant me all the time in the world to wait for you, Desideria."

I turn to him and intertwine our fingers, meeting his gaze. "Forgiving you isn't even a question. Did you hurt me when you refused to come to Infernis? Yes." His eyes flick down to his lap, and I hook my finger under his chin and force him to look at me. "But for fuck's sake, I was asking a lot of you. I was asking you to leave your entire realm. Give up your entire existence. It would be a lot for anyone, let alone someone who's been through everything you have. And then you sacrificed everything, the dream you've worked so hard for, to come here and save my life—to save my entire realm. Do I need time to forgive you? Come on, Jace. I'm in love with you. I've been in love with you for a while, and I never thought I'd have the chance to tell you. But now I plan on saying it over and over again until you tell me to stop," I whisper, running my thumb over his knuckles, dying to kiss him.

"I knew you would wiggle your way into what was left of my heart as soon as you sat beside me to watch my favorite movie. How could I not be weak for a woman who came up with her own theories and spent the rest of the day beeping at me like R2-D2? But I was a goner the moment I saw you in that green dress and you spent the evening dancing with me, doing something for me." He slides his fingers along my neck and tilts my face up with his thumb. "It's like your laughter and goodness filled in all the holes left in my soul, and your touch mended my broken heart stitch by stitch. I'm so very in love with you, Desideria."

I've never believed anything as much as I believe Jace.

He loves me.

The corners of my lips tip up as I meet his eyes. "I'd only have expanded my movie tastes beyond rom-com for one person, Jace Wilder, and that's you."

"It's good to know your love has no limits. Neither does mine."

He kisses me then, not like the hungry kisses we've shared in the past. This kiss is slow and tender. His mouth is soft against mine and the glide of his tongue sure. This kiss seals his words and speaks of more promises to come. It is the start of our forever.

Everything falls back into place and it's like I never left him, like we've never been apart. I can't quite move the way I want to in this dress, but I do my best to pull it up as far as I can and shift onto his lap. "This isn't as close as I'd like to be," I whisper against his lips as I pull back for air, "but it's a start."

"It's a good start and more than I deserve right now."

The guilt Jace feels for letting me go will take time to dissipate, and I can give him that. The past will find its place behind him, and I'll continue to walk with him toward our future.

I slide my fingers into his hair and press a kiss under his ear and pepper them along his jawline. "You deserve everything in this realm and every other, and I have an eternity to give it all to you." Slipping the fingers of my free hand under the hem of his shirt, I sigh when my skin makes contact with his. I've missed this; simply being near enough to him that I can feel him against me. To know he's within my reach.

"I like the sound of that, and that I get to do the same for you," Jace says, gliding his fingertips down my spine.

Our lips meet again, and his grip tightens around my waist. I rock my hips over the growing length of him, and he moans into my mouth. Neither of us can get enough. Our hands search for bare skin and our tongues frantically lap for a taste of the other. It's more than I thought I'd ever feel again, yet it's not enough. I want my body naked and tangled with his, for his hard planes to press into my soft curves. Every inch of me is aching to be one with him again.

But time is an asshole, and the carriage comes to a stop.

I pull back, both of us breathing heavily, chests rising and falling in tandem. "Damn. We're here already."

He brushes his thumb over my cheek and asks, "What's going to happen to Cannon?"

I crawl off his lap and straighten my dress. "I don't know. It's up to Dex to issue the judgment. But I don't believe she'll go easy on him."

"Good. He could have killed you. He deserves a harsh punishment."

The anger radiating from Jace is so clear, from the tinge of pink in his cheeks to the harsh set of his jaw. But beyond the rage is a glint of concern deep in his gray eyes. He may want to see Cannon brought to justice, but that doesn't change that they were once friends.

I reach over and brush Jace's hair off his forehead and turn his face toward mine. "I know. But I really think we should get Angelo's side of the story before we judge Cannon too harshly. I just don't believe that he actually set out to hurt me. Before you busted in the room like the Incredible Hulk, he was asking me why I looked so sick, and what was wrong with everyone else. He was genuinely confused. Do you really believe he could hurt me?"

"I don't know what his intentions were, but I know what could have happened if he became your eternal partner. I'm struggling to see past that, Desi."

"But did he know what could've happened? I think he just thought he was going to screw things up for my dad regarding the bet and get on his daddy's good side. I don't think he would've come here if he knew it would harm anyone. Least of all me. I believe he cares about me, at least as a friend."

Jace tangles his fingers with mine and brings my knuckles to his lips. "And that is why you were made to be a queen. I can't be fair when it comes to your well being. I've discovered that I'm blinded by love." He flashes me one last charming smile before the coachman opens the door.

I squeeze his hand and we crawl out of the carriage, trying not to appear like we just got done making out, but of course, Lux is right there climbing out of the carriage in front of us, grinning like the asshole he is.

"Well, well, looks like our little royal couple got reacquainted on the ride over," he mutters, leaning toward me and Jace with a teasing smirk.

My face burns and I shoot him a glare, tucking myself in close to Jace's side. "Shut it, Lux."

"Come on, little sister. Own your lust because you two sure as hell can't contain it when you're around each other."

If I'm being honest, the thought of Jace and me acting affectionately in front of my family isn't as repulsive as it once was. I want them to know that I can't keep my hands off Jace, and it's another extension of the love I feel for him.

Jace surprises me by leaning in and nibbling at my earlobe. "I'll be happy to show everyone just how little I can contain myself around you," he whispers against my neck.

I grin and bump him with my hip. "You're naughty. We have extremely pressing matters at hand right now, sir."

"I can't believe you were going to bond yourself to this asshole for the rest of your existence," Colére says, pushing a restrained Cannon forward.

The remorse written on Cannon's face tugs at my heart. It isn't the type of regret someone has when they're caught doing something wrong. The sadness radiating from him is like a heavy weight causing his shoulders to slump and his face to contort in pain. Perhaps I'm mistaking his fear of punishment for something deserving of pity. Knowing that Dex may sentence him to the Perpetual Torment and set his soul on its final journey should trigger regret. It's hard to decipher what the true state of his emotions is.

"He's not an asshole," I mumble under my breath, and Jace looks down at me, squeezing my hip.

I resent the tears that fill my eyes as we walk toward the atrium where Dex presides. I don't want to shed a tear for Cannon, not knowing for sure what his true motives were, but I can't help it. All the memories we made together are rushing back to me—all the Star Wars movies we watched on the couch, the trips to eat fried pickles, ice skating, target shooting—was all of that a ruse and am I that foolish?

"I know," Jace says, placing a kiss on top of my head. "It's hard to believe that my little hurricane is a softhearted demon queen."

My lips lift into a reluctant smile and as we stop behind the rest of my family, I turn to him and press my body flush against his. Rising to my tiptoes, I whisper, "I may have some soft spots, but don't worry, I have plenty of rough patches that I save especially for my king."

"Rough patches?" One side of his mouth quirks. "I'm very interested in seeing what those parts entail."

"And I'm happy to show you."

Jace places a hand on either side of my face and presses his lips to mine. "You're all over the place right now. I think you can't figure out if you want to ravish me in the back of the carriage or do your duty and get to the bottom of what Cannon was up to when he came here."

I smile against his mouth. "Oh, no, I've figured it out. I want nothing more than to take the carriage back to the palace, ravish you in my bed, and then figure out Cannon's motivations in the morning. Unfortunately, that's not an option."

He shakes his head, and we follow my family.

My father leads the way up the white steps to the enormous stone doors. The moment we step inside, the atmosphere changes. It becomes lighter, as if nothing resides in the space. We are no longer in Infernis, or Pax, or the human realm. This is the gateway to the In-Between—the place the most powerful being in the universe calls home. Images depicting the creation of the realms are chiseled into the arched ceiling, which is held up by towering columns. The judicial building has no walls, giving a clear view of the billions of tiny lights zipping across a black backdrop. There is no beginning and no end to what lies beyond, just the In-Between. When my mother and father are ready to take their final journey together, they'll walk through this building and into the onyx oblivion.

A shiver runs down my spine as I take in a wide hole in the middle of the floor. It's the brightest white I've ever seen, but instead of all of the chaos and beauty of Infernis or peace and light of Pax, it's nothing but a meaningless reflection of the two. It's the embodiment of nothingness. The Perpetual Torment.

A woman sits behind a raised desk and peers down at us. Her eyes, such a dark shade of brown that they're almost black, rake over each of us. Her black hair is pulled into a tight bun, placing her sharp nose and round cheeks on perfect display. The golden robe she wears contrasts with her red lipstick but complements her brown skin.

"Chaos," she says, and her voice is steeped with authority, even more so than my father's. "My clerk has filled me in on the gist of the story here, but I want to hear directly from the parties involved—namely Desideria and Cannon." She looks around the room, her bottomless eyes landing on all of us before saying, "Where is Angelo?"

My father opens his mouth to answer, but his words are cut short when the doors to the atrium fly open and bang against the wall with an echoing thud.

"Who is that?" I ask whoever's listening.

"Angelo," my dad and Mandis answer at the same time, both rolling their eyes.

The ruler of all tranquil things looks as if he just came off a hard night with his rock band. His shaggy blond hair flows past his shoulders, and his beard is in desperate need of a trim. The attire he chose for today is more fitting for a day at the beach than to witness his son's judgment by the most powerful being in existence. He's out of place in his fringed shorts, tie-dyed T-shirt with a peace sign over the chest, and leather flip-flops. I expected a lot of things from the ruler of Pax, but this wasn't one of them.

"Sorry I'm late. I was in the middle of this relax fest and just chilling to some psychedelic tunes. Man, there is nothing like some shrooms and great music to help you find your zen."

Dex raises a sculpted brow and clicks her tongue on the top of her mouth. "If you're done enlightening us about your latest head trip, we have a problem that needs to be addressed. And why am I not surprised, Angelo, that it involves your son?"

The older angel flashes a look that makes Cannon flinch.

"Father," Cannon says, the normal certainty he speaks with muted into a timid greeting.

"How and why did you end up in Infernis?" Angelo's voice is so buttery smooth, and if I didn't know better, I'd think he was actually confused. "Do you want to kill every demon who lives there? Explain. Now."

Jace shifts beside me and crosses his arms over his chest. He lifts his brows and gives Cannon his undivided attention. The next words that come out of our friend's mouth will make or break them, these two men who have formed a tight friendship built on so many common interests. I don't think any of that was fake; at worst, it was a side effect of Cannon's ulterior motives.

Cannon's eyes harden with rage. "What do you mean how did I end up here? You sent me to distract her by, and I quote, ‘Any means necessary.' And when I told you how well Desi and I got along and what a tough time I was having deceiving her, you suggested I should become her eternal partner. Where did you think I'd have to go to marry her, Dad?"

Angelo shakes his head and laughs. Laughs. "Cannon, you must've skipped school on the day they talked about what happens if an angel goes to Infernis. I would never suggest that."

Cannon's eyes narrow. "You know damn good and well I never missed a day of school. They never—"

"They did, you just weren't listening. Just like you weren't listening when I told you that you can't bond yourself to a demon in her realm. Why would you want to do this? You two aren't sexually compatible. All the headaches of marriage without any of the fun."

"Agreed," Lux says.

Julius whips his head around, his long red locks fanning across his face. He exchanges a glance with his platonic partner, Verte, and together they say, "Bullshit."

Angelo waves his hand like he's shooing away flies. "Maybe you don't care about the order of things. I raised you better than this, son."

"You were hardly there for my upbringing!" Cannon yells, fighting against his restraints and taking a step closer to Angelo. Like he's reining in an angry dog, my father calmly grips the back of Cannon's shirt and holds him in place.

Jace elbows me, and I look up at him to see his eyes as wide as saucers. "What is it? What's wrong?" I ask.

"He's lying."

My heart sinks. Everything's about to come to a head and boil over. Cannon played me. He was never my friend. He never cared. Even worse, he played Jace too. He made Jace think he cared about him, that he was his friend. Jace has already been abandoned by so many people in his life. Now, one of his closest friends?

"I think Dex will sentence Cannon to—"

Jace grabs my arm, leans down, and hisses in my ear, "No. Not Cannon. Angelo."

I rear back and my jaw drops. "What? How do you know that?"

"Three reasons. One, Cannon may have been up to no good, but he was diligent about it. He was ‘dealing with business' just as much if not more than being with us. Two, why would something as important as the ins and outs of your rivals be taught only one day and never reiterated? I don't think it's ever taught at all. By design. Three, I have a strange feeling. A nagging deep in my gut that Cannon's telling the truth."

"But what reason does Angelo have to lie? He's the ruler of an entire realm, the long reigning king of Angels. To stand before Dex and concoct lies like this could lead to the end of his son."

Jace shifts side to side and his eyes lock on Angelo. He goes so silent watching the scene unfold that I question whether he's even breathing. It's like he's the lightning rod in the middle of this storm waiting for the blow that sets this all alight.

Finally, he whispers to me, "Is Cannon Angelo's only child?"

"Yes."

Jace's jaw ticks. "That's what he wants. The end of his line. Colére said something in the throne room that stuck with me. Maybe Angelo never wanted to give Cannon his throne but to get him out of the way. Then who could rule in his place? No one."

My breath catches. Angelo has never wanted to give up power. He's ruled Pax as long as anyone can remember while Infernis has gone through a reasonable number of rulers in the same time span. Father has always said Angelo is power hungry. I just never imagined he'd sacrifice his own son to cling to it.

"You're right. We have to stop this."

Jace nods and steps forward. He strolls through the room with his hands behind his back. As if he's speaking to himself out loud, he says, "What a shame that your only child committed such a breach of trust and put our entire realm at risk. The imbalance he would have caused to humans is unfathomable."

My emotions rip in two. Jace is claiming my realm as his own, but he's doing little to prove Cannon's innocence. If he isn't careful, Dex will have our friend thrust into the Perpetual Torment, and Angelo will get what he wants.

Angelo shrugs. "Kids. You do the best you can to raise them right, but they seem to always disappoint you."

Jace clenches his jaw so tightly his lips pucker. "I completely understand. Kids are such a burden. Now, you'll have to rule Pax for eternity."

Dex crosses her hands on her desk and sits forward. Something tells me she's waiting to see Angelo's reaction. And rightfully so. If my father was in Angelo's place, I know he'd be fighting to save us. He'd go as far as to take the blame and suffer the consequences if it meant sparing us pain. Angelo doesn't strike me as the type to do the same.

"I'll do what I must for my realm. My first responsibility is to the angels and energies I rule."

Dex turns her attention to Jace. "Who do you believe is the guilty party, Mr. Wilder?"

I am stunned into silence. Dex asking Jace for his opinion on the situation is strange to say the least. He's a human who's been in Infernis for only a few hours, and she's asking him for his opinion on a crime that is certain to end in extinction.

But Jace doesn't appear to be taken aback or scared. He looks strong, certain, and . . . kingly, if that's even a word. My chest is warm, and my body erupts into tingles when he speaks in a loud, clear voice.

"Angelo. He's lying about Cannon learning what happens when an angel or demon goes to another realm. I don't know how I know that, but I do."

The angel king scoffs. "So says a human. They can't figure out what's best for them without our intervention. I'd hardly put value on his opinion, Dex."

"You're really freaking out about my opinion for a being who cares so little for it. I take it that you don't like the idea of your son taking over your precious rule. You want Dex to kill him off so you can rule forever. Don't you, Angelo?"

Without any warning, Angelo shakes out of his hallucinogenic haze and charges at Jace. He slams his shoulder into Jace's center, knocking them both off their feet. They skid across the polished floor toward the gaping hole in the middle. They stop just short of toppling over the side, Jace's head hanging over the edge. Angelo straddles Jace with his hands around his neck, shaking him as his grip tightens. The movement causes Jace's glasses to slip from his face and vanish into the void.

I rush forward with my father and brothers, but Angelo's snarled words stop us.

"Touch me and we'll both find our final rest in the Perpetual Torment. I hear it's even worse for a human energy—the silence, the disconnect from all other beings. Don't make that his fate."

I continue forward but then Glen and Mandis are on either side of me, hanging on to each of my arms. "Don't move, Desi. You know he'll do it. This is a desperate angel we're dealing with," Mandis whispers, his usual sarcastic tone absent.

Rage bubbles inside me and hot tears fill my eyes. "We have to stop him." The idea of losing Jace again, and to the Perpetual Torment no less, makes my entire body shake with horror.

My heart is pounding against my rib cage, and Angelo is so close to me that I could shove him over myself. But it's too risky. His grip on Jace is firm, and Jace would end up going too, and I could never forgive myself.

"Desideria, stay back. Please," Jace chokes out.

Angelo turns to me. "You heard your king," he says, the last word dripping with sarcasm. "Don't put yourself in this, sweetheart. You'll be sorry."

Cannon moves beside me and rubs his shoulder to mine. He quietly says, "It'll be all right. My father doesn't want to give up his crown. Let Dex judge us, Desi. It's the only way to ensure Jace's safety."

I turn to him and meet his eyes. "What if your father pushes Jace over the edge before she has her say? Look at him, he's lost his mind!"

"Stop this nonsense! This is my courtroom not some damned wrestling ring. Get up. Before I sentence everyone in this room to the Perpetual Torment!" Dex's command halts all sound, and I breathe a sigh of relief as Angelo's hands loosen on Jace's neck.

Angelo stands, yanking Jace up with him. Neither of them moves far from the edge of the hole, doing little to calm my nerves. I won't be happy until I can hold Jace's hand in mine and know he's safe. He hasn't gone through the transition into immortality yet. Angelo could still end him without shoving him into the void.

"Never in my existence have I seen such a debacle in my courtroom. And I've dealt with my fair share of archaic rulers. What should have been a good-natured bet between rivals has spun out of control and put more than one realm in peril today. I should punish the lot of you," Dex says, dragging her gaze over each of us.

The room is eerily quiet. I'm not sure anyone is breathing anymore until the telltale crinkle of plastic draws my attention. Glen fumbles with a round chocolate cake, fighting to open it. I inch closer to him to put a stop to what sounds like a swarm of bees buzzing around us during this serious moment. We might all be tossed into the hole, and his insatiable sweet tooth could be what drives Dex to make that call.

Dex carries on chastising us for our behavior, either not hearing the racket or choosing to ignore it. "Cannon, I'm disappointed that you allowed yourself to become a pawn in this ridiculous bet. You used deceit to worm your way in with not only Desideria, but Jace Wilder as well. Angels and demons do not resort to these means. Your calling is to guide humans with truth."

"Glen," I growl out through clenched teeth.

He glances at me and clutches his snack for dear life. Taking a step away from me, he continues pulling on the wrapper.

"But I understand your desire to please your father," Dex continues. "As an angel under his command, it is your duty to act upon his wishes. I believe you meant the demon realm no harm. In the future, I suggest you educate yourself on the realms and what might destroy their perfect balance. I would also suggest you educate the other angels in your realm. All of them need to understand the consequences of their actions."

"Yes, Your Honor," Cannon says, bowing his head.

"Angelo—"

I reach for the chocolate snack cake, and Glen moves to the side, furiously ripping it open. His elbow shoots back, jamming Angelo in the side. The king of Angels stumbles and reaches for Jace, but he jumps away from the side of the chasm. Glen turns with wide eyes and holds his cake to his massive chest. With flailing arms, Angelo falls into nothingness.

The entire room gapes at Glen.

He throws his arms to the side and says, "Sorry, I'm a nervous eater!" He looks over the ledge into the vast pool of blinding light and takes a bite of his cake. "That's sort of a tragedy."

If I weren't so scared for Glen's fate, I would laugh. But Dex hasn't announced her punishment yet, and Glen quite literally sent Angelo into the void. I don't have time to think for long because Jace rushes to me and folds me in his arms, and I tangle myself around him, breathing in his scent and convincing myself that he's really here. "Jace, you're okay," I murmur against his chest.

"I'm kind of feeling like a superhero after that."

"Too bad the same can't be said for Glen." I watch as he gingerly takes another bite of the cake, afraid it will be the last thing he ever eats.

Dex releases a long breath and tosses her hands in the air. "I guess that saves me from another long speech about inappropriate behavior. I was sentencing him to the Perpetual Torment anyway." She turns her focus to Cannon. "Congratulations, you're the new ruler of Pax. Please make better decisions than your father and stay away from the drugs."

My jaw unhinges, and everyone's heads snap toward Cannon. "Cannon!" I exclaim. "You—you're king!"

Cannon's eyes widen and a litany of emotions rush over his face—the sting of betrayal, grief at losing his father, shock at Dex's proclamation, relief that we know he was telling the truth, and joy that he's now the king of his realm.

"I—thank you, Your Honor," he says with a bow. "I vow to keep Pax guarded and to teach the angels everything they should know about the three realms. I know I have a lot to learn, and I swear I'll do just that."

Dex nods once and bangs her gavel. "Very well. Now, go so I can return to binge watching trashy human television and finishing my jewel art of a kitten wrapped in yarn."

My stomach flips and Jace's grip tightens around my waist. I look up at him, and when my eyes meet his, there's nothing but pure love reflected in them. No more fear, no more uncertainty, Jace Wilder is ready to open himself up to a life of being loved by me.

We file out of the atrium. My family is all smiles and boisterous recounting of what just happened as we make our way to our carriages. The driver holds the door open for us and before I climb in something urges me to look back. A lone figure walks with his hands in his pockets, heading in the opposite direction from us.

"Cannon," I yell and run after him. "Cannon, wait."

He turns toward me with a sad smile pulling at his lips. I reach him and we awkwardly stare at each other for a second, knowing it will be a long time before we see each other again.

"I didn't want you to leave without me saying thank you." I laugh, tears clogging my voice. Jace steps to my side and places his hand on my waist. "I know that may sound a little batshit after what you almost did by accident, but I want to thank you for showing me friendship. You didn't have to do that."

He clears his throat and blinks back tears. "I'm sorry I wasn't up front with both of you. I really thought I could work this all out in your favor in the end. It looks like that's the case, but not because of me. Just know that my friendship was sincere."

Cannon holds out his hand to Jace. A moment passes before Jace finally wraps his fingers around Cannon's and pulls him into a hug.

"I know what it's like to have a parent betray you, man. Take the time to feel that hurt. You hear me? But once you've felt it, deal with it, and move forward. Don't let it steal your joy for years, like I did," Jace says against Cannon's shoulder.

The tears Cannon had been blinking back slip down his cheeks and he doesn't even bother to wipe them away as he pats Jace on the back and they separate. "Noted. I'm glad you came to your senses. Keep the queen happy and let up a little on all the cleanliness stuff."

"No chance."

The two laugh, and Cannon sobers as he turns to me. "Good luck ruling your Circle."

I raise an eyebrow. "Good luck ruling all of Pax."

"Maybe one day we can have a friendly wager . . ." Jace begins.

"No!" Cannon and I exclaim in unison.

Cannon grins and his eyes soften. "Goodbye, Desi."

"Goodbye, Cannon."

With one final nod, he starts down the road toward his realm.

"That was commendable, Desideria."

I spin around and find my father watching us. He leans against one of the massive columns of the atrium, spinning his ax in front of him from its chain. Stress lines still mar his face, and his body isn't as bulky as it once was, but he looks better than he did when I returned home.

"I'll give you a minute," Jace says, kissing my temple and walking away.

I close the distance to my father, and he lets his weapon fall to his side.

"Dad." I don't even know what to say because I feel like no matter what words I choose, they'll never be enough. But I owe it to him to try. "I almost don't want to go back and do all the things we need to do. Because that means it's time for us all to step up . . . and I'm afraid you're going to lea—" My voice cracks and I look down and chew my bottom lip. "I'm afraid you're going to leave me right away. And I'm not ready."

"If I'm telling the truth, this feels like my weakest moment as a ruler . . . as a father. I have to let go and trust that I've taught you and your brothers everything you need to know to rule. That's hard for me to do when it's been my job for centuries to protect you. I'm good at that, but now I'm feeding you to the wolves. Or the demons."

"You've taught us everything you could. There are some things we'll have to learn for ourselves, but you've prepared us to deal with that. And you've never been weak. Not as a ruler, and definitely not as a father." I step forward and throw my arms around him, careful not to squeeze too tightly. "Thank you for letting me go to the human realm to find my partner—to find Jace. I can't imagine what would've happened or who I'd have ended up with if you hadn't loved me enough to give me that freedom."

He hugs me tighter and inhales like he's breathing me in for the final time. "You're welcome. Letting you go might have been the best parenting moment of my life." He pulls back and lifts an eyebrow, looking over my shoulder to where Fier and Mandis are in a brutal argument with my other brothers egging them on. "Your brothers could have benefited from living in a little less chaos for a minute."

I turn and follow his stare, laughing through the tears. "They're ridiculous." I shake my head and look back up at my father. "Did Glen really end Angelo with a snack cake?"

He nods with a disgusted expression. "Not the way I would have done it, but it got the job done. No one will ever deny that my kids aren't good at wreaking chaos. The same can be said for their partners. Except for yours." He hooks his finger under my chin and lifts it. "Jace is good for you, Desideria."

"I know."

"I need you to do one more thing for me before I let you go rule your own Circle."

My heart sinks with the finality of his request. "Anything."

"Tell me I was right about him and the way he feels about you. Let your old man win this last battle."

A grin spreads across my face. I'm happy to give my father this victory fair and square.

"You were right. Even when we came here the first time, and it was all a ruse to buy me a little more time, it was real. It was just that neither one of us was ready to admit it yet."

He nods and flashes a proud smile. "A good ruler always knows when to admit they're wrong. You'll make a great, lazy queen." Father gives me a kiss on the forehead. "I love you."

"I love you," I say, choking back tears.

He pulls back and nudges me in the direction of Jace. "Let's get your eternal partner home so we can complete the ceremony and bond him to his form. I'm guessing you want to keep him as he is."

"Yes," I say with a laugh.

I return to the carriage to find Jace leaning on the side, his arms crossed over his chest. He doesn't say a word, just pulls me to him, where I can safely let my emotions go. When I feel drained, yet a little lighter, I pull away and say, "Are you ready to face life in Infernis?"

His lips pull into that contented smile that always melts my heart. "If that entails being your eternal partner and sharing a bed with you, then yes."

I sweep my arm in front of me and bend at the waist, saying, "Then after you, my king."