Epilogue

Aweek later I dug my toes deeper into the hot sand and watched blue-green waves break over the beach, one after another.

I was queen of New Valarian.

After a suitably monstrous show of power that nearly brought down the entire Keep and properly terrified the scheming royals, there had been no more challenges to my throne and I'd convinced Torin we deserved a full week away from our responsibilities.

To make our escape official, I'd even issued a formal decree.

I inhaled salty air and closed my eyes, letting the rhythmic crashing roll through me.

Peace.

This must be what peace felt like.

"Well?" Raz pressed a kiss to my sunburned shoulder. "How do you like the beach?"

He was gorgeous, sweat trickling over his dark skin, every muscle on full display.

"I don't think I've ever been anywhere so beautiful. Or so calming."

Raz looked over my head and chuckled. "Hold that thought, princess."

Tristan raced past us, smirking, sending sand clods sand flying as he streaked toward the water, Tavion right on his heels, a bright red handprint outlined in the center of his back.

"You'd better run, you fucking bastard." Tavion roared.

My mate tackled Tristan at the water's edge, both of them tumbling head over heels into the foamy surf, fists flying before Tristan dunked him beneath the water. An enormous white wolf broke through the surface, teeth snapping for the wyvern flapping up into the air, who, I swore to the gods, was laughing.

"Shouldn't we stop them before someone gets hurt?" I asked, digging my toes in deeper. "I mean, they're two fearsome predators, this won't turn out well."

"Nope. Let them work this out between them. It'll serve Tristan right if Tavion manages to catch him." Zor settled himself on my other side, and I took the opportunity to run my fingers through his still too-short hair, smiling at his soft groan of pleasure, his feathers lightly brushing my back.

"How are you feeling?"

"Good." His eyes met mine. Softened into pools of melted chocolate. "Perfect now."

Out of all of us, Zorander took the longest to settle into what Tavion affectionately called island life, which was mostly lounging around on the beach, eating and making love whenever we felt like it.

For the first few days, he'd kept to his rigid training schedule, practicing two hours at dawn, followed by a jog around the island and more training in the afternoon. But slowly he'd relaxed. Slept in later.

Stopped staring over his shoulder, jaw set in that stern, rigid line.

"I hate to bring this up, but there are only three more days before we head back to Blackcastle." Raz finally said as Zor and I groaned. "I say we make a pact right now to come back here at least twice a year. The break has been good for all of us."

"Agreed." I said instantly. "I'll just issue another royal decree and leave Torin in charge. If I have to play queen, I'm getting something out of it."

"Agreed." Zorander murmured. "Because wherever you go, I go."

I dragged my thumb over Zor's gentle smile, committing it to memory. "I like this look on you."

"Yeah?" He lifted a brow. "What look is that?"

"Happy." I leaned back on my elbows, sunburned shoulders brushing Raz's and Zor's as the three of us watched Tavion and Tristan disappear around the bend of the beach.

"Ten gilder says he never catches the wyvern." Zor flopped down beside me, grinning from ear to ear.

"I'll take that bet." Raz laughed, twining his fingers with mine. "Princess, are you in?"

"All in." I smiled at their faces, glowing with love.

Thank you for reading the Wicked Realms! If you enjoyed this story, I have three completed steamy vampire reverse harem series with similar themes (keep reading for a sneak peek of Night Marked):

The Darkfell Vampire Clan series

The Blackstone Vampire Clan series

The Shadowsend Vampire Clan series