“You’re welcome,” I said, putting on my best smile.
That seemed to make her even angrier, and she swelled up like a helium balloon.
“Is that all?” Elias asked with eyebrows raised.
Amihan huffed loudly and tugged on her skirt, straightening it out of frustration, before she stomped out of the room.
“You’re learning how to play politics,” Elias said, amused.
I leaned on his chair, resting my chin on the back of it, and sighed. “Yeah, well, it only took nearly destroying the city.”
“Welcome to being a queen,” he said.
It was a position I was quickly getting used to. I hadn’t heard from Qian since he had nearly tried to kill me that day. I doubted I’d ever see him again, and frankly, I was okay with that. I’d made a lot of enemies, but I guessed that came with the territory.
Elias asked, “And where is your mother?”
“She’s organizing the wedding festivities. She’s going to make it a night to remember.”
My mom had come back to Biringan City shortly after the battle. I had a lot to fill her in on. Admittedly, I was just glad I could hug her again. “I think she’s going to turn the whole palace into a party.”
“As it should be,” Elias said.
It was strange having the palace back. It had taken time to rebuild, but doing it for a wedding lifted everyone’s spirits. I had a lot of reasons to celebrate. There had been so many chances for people to turn their backs on me, and they hadn’t. I was grateful I was getting another chance to be queen.
Elias inspected me and my well-worn Arnis uniform, an eyebrow raised. “And shouldn’t you be getting ready for your wedding as well?”
I pushed off from his chair and gestured to my outfit.
“The wedding isn’t for a few months. There’s plenty of time,” I said. “But I’ve got more training to do first. Isn’t that what you always wanted?”
Elias simply shook his head as I left the room, a slight spring in my step.
I was totally free of the manananggal curse. Gani had visited shortly after the battle to check me over, assuring me that there was no sign of corruption in my body. I had been right in figuring out that I was doing it to myself. It had been a self-fulfilling prophecy the whole time. The manananggal had been a part of me from the start, and the only one who could have broken the curse was me.
Though, if I hadn’t had my friends around me, who had never given up on me, I wasn’t sure I would have made it that far. Yara hadn’t had anyone.
One of the first things I did after the battle was make sure that her name was reinstated in the archives. I made sure that she would never be forgotten again. I even erected a new statue for her in the garden.
Rumors spread about the lady of the mountain appearing all over the island, green and new growth following in her wake. I hoped she could find some peace now, too.
The palace was bright and airy while servants and attendants swept through the halls, decorating for the big celebrations. Parades were being planned, along with feasts in our honor and even a tournament—this time without the threat of a monster swooping in to attack anyone. There were no more surprises lurking around every corner, not even when I stumbled upon Nix and Amador, lips locked while they embraced each other in the middle of the hallway.
“I figured you two were long gone by now,” I said.
My voice startled them apart. “MJ!” Nix gasped, then smiled.
Blushes colored their cheeks, but their eyes were bright. They both looked happy, and that was all I could have ever asked for.
“Is my mother gone?” Amador asked.
“She’s lurking the grounds, no doubt,” I said. “How did you know she was here?”
“Her voice carries,” she said with a shiver.
“You better make sure she doesn’t see you. Is Romulo waiting for you?”
“Yes,” said Amador, “we should go soon, or he might set sail without us.”
