“You went around the world?” I stared, eyes filling again.
“I would’ve torn the stars down if someone could’ve given me one more day with you. Then, one night, I found Xabracles working as a clockmaker.”
“A clockmaker,” I repeated, a tear slipping over my cheek. “How poetic that a Time would work with machines marking the hours.” I glanced at the door. “Why did he agree to help?”
“Turns out he’s a hopeless romantic,” Mav said with a smirk.
“The spell is gone?”
“Gone,” he said, cupping my cheek. “Now, there’s something I’ve been waiting a long time to say to you?—”
“I love you!” I exclaimed. “I love you entirely and endlessly. I should have spoken my feelings sooner?—”
He kissed me before the spiral carried me away. Once, soft and certain, like he had waited years to do it exactly like this. “You did,” he murmured against my lips. “And I heard you.”
The way he looked at me unmade everything I thought I knew about love. “I love you too,” he said. “I have loved you for seven years…and a fortnight.” Then he shifted, dropping to one knee on the worn plank floor. “And I intend to make that forever, if you’ll have me.”
My heart stumbled over itself.
He withdrew a ring. Simple. Elegant. Scuffed metal shaped into a delicate circle.
“I had it forged from my knight’s armor,” he said. “A vow that I will protect you, stand beside you, and that I’ll always come back for you. No matter how far I must go or how long it takes.”
Tears flowed freely down my smiling cheeks.
“Will you marry me, Quinn?”
The world tilted—not with fear, not with confusion, but with awe. With the sensation of something settling into its rightful place.
“Yes,” I whispered, tears bright. “Yes, yes, yes—forever.”
I dropped to my knees too, and kissed him. Mav’s mouth smiled against mine. I kissed him with every second we had lost.
He slid the ring onto my finger, and it felt as if it had always been meant to rest there.
He rose, helping me to stand. “There are a few people waiting to say hello.”
He guided me down the stairs and out into the sunlight. Beyond the ivy-draped arch stood two people and one cat I had fiercely missed.
Thistle reached me first, dark curls bouncing, eyes already brimming. “It worked!” She flung herself into me with an embrace so hard I nearly toppled.
I laughed and cried and held her tight.
Vesper bounded up, wrapping himself around my legs. “Welcome back, Quinn.”
“Hello, handsome,” I whispered, crouching to stroke his fur. “Did you keep them in line for me?”
“You know I did,” He said with a smirk.
Branrir stood a few paces off, arms crossed, his facecrumpling in the way that only love allows. He stepped forward, and I met him halfway with a quiet embrace.
A thread of panic wove through me. “What about the king? We killed Edric and fled. “I used Twilight magic in front of the court. I am already condemned.”
“When the court woke, all they found was a dead king and an empty throne. And what do frightened nobles do when a mystery threatens their power?” Branrir’s eyes gleamed. “They invent stories.”
A crease formed upon my brow. “What stories?”
“Depends on the house. Some say Edric ascended to the heavens as a Saint. Others claim he fell defending Avandria from invisible foes. A few whisper thatyoukilled him and fled with your ghost lover.”
