Len’s hand on my back reminded me that he didn’t fear me, and Tabby was already reaching for me, either not knowing or not caring that I’d just destroyed a fae without even touching him.
Queen Glendriel cheered, breaking the awkward tension. “Here’s to the Great Queen,” she called. “Prune out the weak to expose the strength.”
With almost no hesitation, the room exploded in cheers, my name chanted in time with the shouts. Even the Metallic Meadows cheered, looking like a weight had been lifted from them with the death of their king.
“Shadow just sent a message through,” Len said close to my ear, his mouth brushing my skin and sending shivers down my spine. “Petre was disposed of, so now we just have to bless the new leaders of Metallic Meadows and Ochre Sands. Then Faerie is ready for healing.”
Healing sounded like the best plan ever. “Count me in,” I whispered back.
Faerie was on its way back to being a superpower, and I was on my way to a bright future.
Sammia might have died the day I shed myself to form a new being, but there was no need to mourn. Fuck knows, Samantha was exactly who I hoped to become one day, and I was embracing every second of it.
For now until eternity.
56
SAMANTHA
The council of royals were easily able to handle the blessing and ascension to the throne for the new kings and queens, since their line of succession was already in place.
No need to vote. The mantle was inherited by blood or battle.
“They’ll vet them first, and ensure they weren’t involved,” Len told me as we left the room. “But by the new day, there should be two new royals.”
The smaller details like that weren’t my role here, so we left them to it, and Len and I spent that night at the silver palace. There was little sleep to be had again as he destroyed my body and soul until I couldn’t breathe or remember my own damn name. Our sweet daughter continued to sleep through the night like a perfect angel.
The next day as we made our journey to the Library of Knowledge, my steps were light as flickers of silver and gold energy pulsed through me. Excitement and anticipation filled my soul, and I couldn’t be sure if I’d ever felt this particular combination of emotions. Just seeing my pack, and the library again, had me buzzed up.
Even Tabitha noticed, patting my cheeks as we crossed from Len’s garden. “Happy,” she said, and I leaned over and blew a small raspberry on her cheek before kissing it.
“Very happy, baby,” I told her, kissing her cheek again. “We’re going to see our family. Your little baby family too.”
Tabitha would grow up with the other powerful offspring of the pack. Aurora and Damon would never fear her since they were children of gods too.
“How does your wolf feel now that your other power is unlocked?” Len asked me, and I loved that while we got the sense of each other’s emotions, there were still mysteries between us to be explored. It kept life interesting.
“She’s the same as she ever was,” I said, brushing a metaphorical hand across the dark fur of my wolf. “A true beast, but one who is tempered by the Faerie energy I used to create her. She will be part of me forever, but with my fae power unlocked again, she’s more of a spirit friend. I don’t have to shift, not that I ever had much urge, and she’s not burdened by that because she’s a created fae beast, not a true soul from the Shadow Beast.” I paused. “If that makes sense.”
“Perfect sense,” he said.
When we entered the library, it felt a little smaller and less powerful than the last time I’d stood in here. At first, I wondered if the room had changed somehow, before I realized it was me. My new power tinted the world in different shades and reminded me of my place in the scheme of it all.
“It feels less intimidating,” I told Len, breathing deeply. “More homey and comforting.”
He wrapped me in his arms, holding me and Tabitha for a beat. “This has always felt like home to me. Just as Faerie does. I’ve never seen a downside to two homes.”
There was literally not a single fucking downside.
“Home,” Tabitha echoed as she waved her arms and wiggled in my hold. She was getting bigger and stronger, so I had to really hold on to her when she was excited like this.
Len looked more relaxed as he pulled away. I loved the duality of who he was. On Faerie, he was a silver prince, with all the responsibilities that came from that role. He loved his world and fae, but it was clear that here he was calmer and carefree.
I felt the same way, as if here I could simply be Samantha, and not have to worry about the role of the Great Queen. Even powerful fae with responsibilities needed some downtime.
As we wandered out of the fae shelves, there was a small pop, and I almost dropped my baby when another child appeared in my arms. Aurora had zapped herself right to us, and before I could wipe the look of absolute shock off my face—I hadn’t even remotely felt her coming, and I could sense energy all around me—she was hugging Tabitha.
Len’s laughter broke me free from my surprise. “You look like you’re about to throw up and then cry,” he told me.
