“As long as you keep your hands off Karmuth, we will. I’m sure we’ll get the chance. My mother lives here, after all.” Isay shrugged.
I gave Sela a smile, all that I was allowed to do.
Isay did not stop Ronya from hugging me after Sela stepped away, though. “We’re going to miss you, Kar. Will you write to us?”
“If I’m able.” I looked to the Hessians waiting on the far side of the courtyard. The king tapped his hand against his cloak impatiently as if goodbyes bored him. The queen held herself like she was above everyone here in the court. And then there was Devina.
I couldn’t figure her out, but she was certainly a force to be reckoned with. Isay’s father might allow it, though.
I turned back to Ronya. “You’re the first one I’ll write to.”
“Princess.” She nodded at Isay. “I’m sure you’ll take care of him.”
“It will most likely be the other way around. I will do my best, however.” Isay smiled at her. She was absolutely stunning when she smiled. “I’m glad to see you’re all right. I would’ve loved to get to know you. Karmuth feels strongly about you, the both of you.”
Ronya’s eyes teared up, and Drek coughed from beside her. “Such a sweet thing to say.”
“It’s true,” Isay confirmed, making me look at my feet and dig my hands into my pockets.
“Oh hell,” Drek cursed. “Come here, boy.” He pulled me into a hug too and patted my back.
I officially didn’t like goodbyes when Hiko and the guard replaced Drek and Ronya. “Brothers for a day and you’re already leaving.”
I snorted. “We’ve been brothers for a whole lot longer.”
“It won’t be the same without you.” Regar pouted.
“I’m sure it’s just my tight ass you’ll miss,” I laughed.
“Don’t—” Regar raised his hand dramatically. “Yeah, just don’t.”
“I’ll miss you too, although not your ass. Just not my style.” I looked to Isay smiling beside me. She was the only one whose ass I’d be thinking about.
“You sure know how to break my heart,” Regar sighed, both of his hands coming up to grip at the shirt over his chest.
I shook my head at his playful theatrics. “You’ve got the wrong brother. You’ll have Hiko, You’ll be fine.”
“So will you.”
“Yeah. So will I.”
I embraced both Regar and Hiko. Sinister just gave me a nod.
“It’s time to go!” Devina called out.
I grabbed Isay’s hand and together we walked towards our fate. I would be fine. We would be fine. Nothing could touch us if we stood together.
“I’ll be with you, forever and always,” I told her. “Come what may. We will get through it all, beautiful.”
She squeezed my hand. “I know we will.”
THE END
Acknowledgements
I am so incredibly astonished to have written this book in less than two months, and I have the Realm of Midnight boxset and my incredible beta readers to thank for the motivation and encouragement. I couldn’t have done it without you, and I mean it.
Did I know Isay and Karmuth’s story would turn out this dark and emotional? No. Did I enjoy torturing you with the cliffhangers at the end of each chapter? Yes, I did.
PS: I am so sorry about the rabbit. I cried when that scene came to me, and I cried again while writing it. I am not heartless!!
Kay, you are the best listener, even if you did not manage to beta read for me. I love all of your support. It is priceless!
I’d like to thank my father, who was not part of my life when growing up, in the help this experience provided in fleshing out Isay’s and Karmuth’s emotional journey in finding a family. Sometimes something you never had will inspire greatness, and I feel like both of the characters born from my fatherless past have true depth to them.
To the rest of the readers, I hope you enjoyed the book, even if it broke you a little. I hope the unconditional love Isay and Karmuth share helped to knit your heart back together. If you did like their story, please leave a review. Your reactions mean the world to me, and will get me to write the next book faster. Which, by the way, is coming. I have a beautiful cover to prove it!
About the Author
Victoria Liiv is a writer, reader, nature lover and traveller at heart. She has been travelling through magical worlds since a very young age and wants more than anything to share that wonder with everyone else eager to escape from all things mundane. Let it be a magical adventure through the slowly darkening Earth or a soul-crushing fight for survival and love while the world burns. Sometimes all it takes is a little bit of romance.
She self-published her debut novel Through Hell & Highwater in 2020 when the pandemics keeping her isolated gave her the reason to follow her dream of becoming an author. She hasn’t looked back since.
Her second novel, Afterworld: Road to Redemption, released September, 2022.
Angels Around Us was published first in the Tease Me collection but is now available separately. It is also her first book with an audiobook available.
With many more ideas and characters keeping her awake at night this is only the beginning of her writing career.
