“Is the Witch King gone?” she asks.
“I think so.”
“You used your fire.” Astra gives me a half smile.
“One blast, and it was horrible. I don’t think I… I’m sorry to say that I’m still afraid of fire.”
“It’s fine. We can eat cold food for the rest of our lives.”
I lean my forehead on hers. “The rest of our lives? It doesn’t sound bad, you know?” I’m trying to be playful, but my voice is strained with emotion, anguish, worry for my sister.
I think she notices my worry, as she says, “He promised they’ll heal her.”
“Let’s hope it’s true.”
“Marlak.” Renel’s beside me, worry clear on his features, as he stares me down, and I realize I’m all bloodied. “Are you wounded?”
“It’s Mirella’s blood. She…” I choke.
Astra steps away from me, and then I feel Renel’s arms on my shoulders. “They promised, Marlak. They’ll heal her.”
I lean on him and let my tears flow freely, and he wraps his arms around me. Of course he’s worried about her too. Worried for me as well. Of course he’s not a monster who tried to kill Mirella. Perhaps my mind was poisoned too. Despite Renel’s faults, in his own way, he tried to protect me.
Our arms touch, and then I’m somewhere else.A bedroom, and my little brother is dying. Zorwal shakes his head. “It’s too late.”
“Please!” My voice is hoarse. “I’ll do anything. Save him,” I beg. “Please, save him.”
Zorwal stares at me. “There will be some conditions.”
“Anything!”
That’s Renel’s memory, and I don’t even know if he noticed I saw it. I don’t know why or how I saw it, but being there, in his place, I can see why he’d promise anything to Zorwal. He’d do anything to save his little brother—to save me.
“I needed this hug,” I say.
“Same.”
ASTRA
Ten months later
Life can be good, and I realized nothing is ever too good to be true. It’s just good. Not that anything’s perfect, of course.
The Heart of Magic still sleeps, and while it sleeps, Tiurians won’t have magic in this land. Maybe it was meant to be. Maybe the heart will reawaken soon.
For now, the Crystal Court declared publicly that it’s a safe haven for Tiurians, but nobody has shown up. I suppose they might be in the Nowhere Lands. It’s where my parents were from. What I came to realize is that Otavio found out who I was, must have killed my parents, then brought me here. All his stories about the orphanage were lies. Just lies. He wanted the power of the heart, and wanted me to become a queen again to awaken it. It didn’t make a difference for him in the end. I still killed him, and I don’t regret it.
The Crystal Court is no longer that gigantic court taking over ancient territories. All the old courts were reinstated. Royal families that had been hiding for years emerged again, as well as people. That includes Azur and his Nether Court. He said that his goal had been indeed to destroy the Crystal Court, but the Crystal Court as it was. Once Marlak and I changed it, perhaps “destroyed” the Crystal Court as an oppressive court, it no longer needed to be destroyed.
Marlak can control the Crystal Castle. We’re near the Jewel City, which is a very different place now. The powerful faehere were powerful because they exploited others. At first, they exploited humans; later, they exploited “lower fae”. Without exploitation, they no longer have power, and without power, no more say. The land belongs to everyone. And the Crystal Court’s territory is just the Jewel, the Golden Port, and some areas around it. It’s enough. And it’s fair.
Renel and Tarlia are truly in love. They wanted to leave to the south to manage an inn, but Marlak convinced his brother to stay and help with the government and all the transition. Renel is incredible with books and research, and so is Tarlia, in fact. It’s good to have them here because the brothers, slowly, are mending their relationship. Zorwal was a nefarious figure in their childhood, as well as their stepfather, and now that they’re no longer around, the siblings are getting along again. Plus, I get to spend time with Tarlia.
Mirella made an effort to apologize to Renel, and they’re in speaking terms now. Sometimes he even shows her books, and she never used her magic against him or teased him. The Sea Court healed her that day indeed. I think they used a pearl of healing, even if they won’t admit it.
I heard the story about how Lidiane and Ferer’s mother hid Ferer from his own father, and my theory is that she stole one of these pearls, took the baby to the shore, when he was almost dying, and then healed him. She might have also used a strong glamour to make the baby look dead. I can’t imagine what must drive a mother to hide a baby from his own father, but she made the right decision.
Ferer has been going to the sea, and it turns out that he can breathe in sea water, even if he can’t breathe in fresh water. He assumed the position of crown prince while his brother is still imprisoned. Nelsin is usually with him, but he still maintains contact with the giants, who apologized for putting us in a cage.
