I don’t regret what I did—that bastard deserved every moment of his fiery end—but I don’t want to use the Power as a weapon. I want to use it as a tool to help faekind.
Finn wraps his arms around me, pulling me close.
“I love you so much,” I say, finally able to voice the words. “I should have said it sooner, but I love you, Finn. You’re my everything, too.”
“I knew how you felt even without the words, love. And now that it’s officially after…” He tilts my chin up to meet his gaze, his eyes soft and filled with unspoken promises. “Can I finally ask you to marry me?”
I laugh, my happiness causing a fresh wave of moisture to gather on my lash lines. “Damn all this crying lately.”
He smiles wide, his twin dimples creasing beneath the short beard on his cheeks. “Is that a yes, solnyshko? Will you be my mate?”
“Yes, sire,” I say, grinning at the way his pupils blow out at the use of his Dom title. “I will absolutely be your mate.”
FORTY-ONETARYN
The grand hall of the Summer Palace is a vision of elegance tonight. The long table is set with shimmering Ember dinnerware and draped with delicate vines of blooming flowers that seem to glow in the soft candlelight.
The air hums with the faint notes of a light melody created by the Ember Pixies flying high above, and the scent of fresh, summer air wafts through the open windows, mixing with the aroma of the feast laid out before us.
I sit beside Finn, his hand warm in mine under the table. On the other side of him is Caiden and Bryn, who is positively glowing in the last weeks of her pregnancy.
Across from them are the Woulfe brothers, and Fiona and Tiernan are seated across from us. Dmitri is stationed at the foot of the table, with Aine opposite him as the hostess of this gathering.
A week ago, the battle with Edevane seemed like it might be the end of this world. It almost was. There was a lot of damage done, both structurally and in lives lost. But in the aftermath of a tragedy is when people come together to aid those in need, and it was no different here.
Flora Fae of the Spring Court, Frost Fae of the Winter Court, and Fauna Fae of the Fall Court all came out to help the Fire Fae clean up, rebuild, and honor their dead.
I was prepared to use the Power to fix it all, but Aine advised me against it. “Just because you can does not mean you should,” she said to me. “If you snap your fingers and resolve everything for them, the Elemental Courts would not be forging these bonds. I suggest you help in smaller ways that will continue to foster goodwill among our people.”
It had been good advice, and it made me realize I have a lot to learn from her experiences, both good and bad. However, I did make it a priority to lift the exile on the Celestial Courts as well as the subsequent curses.
Darks and Lights will soon be able to choose whether they want to live where they are or return to their home regions in Faerie. They’ll also be able to travel back and forth without losing time when they go back to the mortal world.
The blood curse on the royal lines is gone, so Caiden and Bryn no longer have to worry about their proximity to each other—though I’m fairly certain they don’t need a threat of death to be attached at the hip.
The lifespan curse won’t take them around the age of 500 anymore, so they’ll live as long as is normal for us. And finally, the court-born powers and wings have been returned to those who once lived in Faerie and future generations will inherit their magic and be born with wings as well.
Sadly, I was only able to return things to what they were, not create magic where it never was. Specialty powers had never been taken, so Finn still has his seer powers now that they’re no longer muted. But for fae born in the human realm, they’ll never have their court-born magic or wings. I felt awful about that, but Finn reassured me they won’t miss things they never had, and I hope that’s true.
Yes, much has changed in such a short time, and tonight is a celebration of new beginnings.
Aine rises from her seat at the head of the table, her eyes sweeping over the guests. “Thank you all for accepting my invitation. This is a celebration of our victory and a gathering of new friends,” she begins, her voice clear and regal, yet tinged with a softness she’s not known for. “But I would also like to take this opportunity to make amends.”
A hush falls over the room. I glance at Finn, who gives me a reassuring squeeze.
“Some time ago, two kings angered me, and for that insignificant slight, I chose to banish everyone in their courts and placed curses upon them as well,” Aine continues. “What I did was not only wrong, it was inexcusable. I am exceedingly remorseful for my actions, and though I do not deserve it, I hope that one day I might earn your forgiveness.”
She turns her gaze to Tiernan, as he’s the current Night Court ruler, but never one to cater to proper protocol, the Rebel King winks at his older brother. “Go ahead and take this one, man, I know you want to.”
Caiden, ever the composed royal, stands and bows his head. “We graciously accept your humble apology, Your Majesty. And, as we are about to become family,” he says grinning briefly down at us on his right, “I believe it is only right that we forgive the past and begin with a fresh slate moving forward.”
“I am grateful, thank you,” Aine says genuinely, offering him a respectful dip of her chin.
Then she turns her gaze on me, her eyes gentling further. “Taryn, I deeply regret pushing you to be someone you were not. I should have listened when you expressed your desire to serve our people in your own way. You have proven that your heart and spirit are stronger than any title.”
Emotion swells in my chest hearing the words I never thought I’d hear. “Thank you, Máthair,” I say quietly, feeling Finn’s thumb tracing comforting circles on my hand.
“I also have a proposal for you,” she says.
“You’re too late, Your Majesty, Finni already proposed.” Conall holds his Ember goblet of fae wine up. “To the happily engaged couple!”
I laugh in shock as everyone—including both of our usually very low-key brothers—erupt into various forms of cheering as they clink glasses left, right, and across. Apparently, not even the rigidly formal dinner party with the One True Queen will curb this family’s vivacious camaraderie. It’s contagious, and amazing, and I love it.
Finn uses practicing for the reception as his excuse to kiss me—keeping it mother-appropriate, thank Brigid—and I’m happy to go along with it because I’ll never get enough of kissing him. Eventually, we break apart and the others settle down.
Dmitri, who’s promised to make an effort to be civil with my mother, gets us back on track. “I believe you were saying you had a proposal for my sister, Aine.”
In Dmitri’s world, being civil does not include using her title, because “she is not his tsarina.” The stubborn ass is lucky I love him.
My mother gives Dmitri a cool look and the arch of a single dark brow. “Indeed, I do, vampire. Thank you.” And that is the extent of her agreed civility. But no hurled insults across the table. So, winning.
Aine lowers herself to the plush, high-backed chair and speaks to me in a more informal manner. Well, informal for her means she’s physically on the same level as someone, but I’ll take it.
“Historically, the One True Ruler is whomever possesses the One True Power. They go hand in hand, you see. For they are each a burden and a gift and must be utilized together for the good of Faerie and her people.”
O-kayyyy, so we’re just going to gloss over all those years a certain someone was emotionally volatile and highly retaliatory? Good to know. Absolutely no denial detected, and no therapy needed. Moving on.
“Which brings us to our current dilemma,” she continues, oblivious to my snarky inner monologue. “You are in possession of the One True Power, yet you have never coveted my title. Has that changed?”
