It only made me love her more.
She took me through the secret passageways, delighting in making me find their entrances.
Parts of the palace were still destroyed—such as the royal bedchamber I’d set on fire and the tunnel leading away from it. But I didn’t mind that. I wasn’t planning on sleeping in Weylin’s old room anyway without remaking it.
I made a mental note of every place that caused Kiera sadness or anger so that I could include it in our plans of renovation. If this was to be our home, then we would change it until it felt like ours.
Everett and Delysia rejoined us, adding their own stories for the benefit of me and Henry. When Kiera told them of our engagement, they embraced us with cries of happiness. It made me ever fonder of my soon-to-be family.
Eventually, as the sun set, we crossed back into the city where Maz waited for us outside Asher’s mansion. The rest of the Dags stood with him, dressed for departure.
Last night, he’d told me the other Dags were eager to return home, and I could see in his eyes that he wished to go with his people. Yet, sadness still leaked into my heart.
I forced a smile and tapped my friend’s chest. “Not taking your armor with you?”
Maz snorted. “I tossed that hunk of metal in the heap as soon as I could.”
“Must you leave so soon?” Kiera asked, her eyes watering again.
Maz’s face softened. “How else would I find a stitcher for that tattoo I need to get?” When Kiera didn’t smile, he pulled her into a bone-cracking hug. “I’ll come back, lovely. I expect you to visit as well.”
“Of course,” she mumbled into his chest.
“We both will,” I said firmly. “But perhaps not until after our wedding.”
Maz’s eyes widened. “Fucking Four!” He thrust Kiera away to gape at her. “Is it true? Did you say yes?”
She laughed, wiping her cheeks. “Did you know he was going to ask?”
Maz grinned. “It was inevitable. I knew from the moment you two emerged from that cell with unlocked shackles you would be sharing a story for a long time. After you came back from The Hollow, I knew it would be a lifetime. I felt it.” He rubbed his stomach as he had that first night.
Kiera and I laughed.
“What’s all the ruckus?” Yarina demanded, poking her head into our little huddle.
“They’re engaged!” Maz boomed out.
Kiera’s cheeks reddened as the news spread like wildfire.
Ruru nearly tackled both of us, beaming with joy. Dags, Elorens, and Rellmirans alike congratulated us. I could see the hope and excitement in the city folks’ faces of not only a new king but a new queen as well.
We paraded in a celebratory fashion to the docks, where we said our goodbyes to Maz and the Dag warriors. Some were carried aboard Skelly’s ship on stretchers, including Jek, who was still healing from his leg wound.
The older Dag warrior gave me a firm handshake and a solemn promise to always uphold the alliance between Dagriel and Rellmira as long as my family ruled.
I thanked him, feeling a strange rush of eagerness for the future. No more raids between our countries. No more trade bans. We would be free to engage with each other as we wanted.
Our new world was already taking shape.
Kiera and Ruru said their tearful goodbyes with Maz while I said goodbye to his sisters.
“Keep him out of trouble,” I said, returning Yarina’s brisk hug.
“Unless it’s entertaining, of course.” She winked.
I chuckled and held out my hand for Sigrid, who shook it and went so far as to squeeze my shoulder. Her one blue eye looked brighter than I’d seen it.
My throat tightened. “I never thanked you for helping Nikella. With the final bomb. And me. I would’ve found what you did very difficult.”
