It was all she got out before Rivella cast her flames upon them. They were cinders in seconds.
“Ashes to ashes, bitches,” I said, slashing my hand forward in my take-that motion.
Rory and Rivella looked at me.
“It's a modern thing.”
“Ashes to ashes,” Rivella repeated. “I like it.”
“Cinders suit you better.” I winked at her.
“Cinders,” she said as she stared at the scorch marks on the ground. “What was it you called me, Fairy Godmother?”
“Cinderella,” I said, a sense of rightness settling on my shoulders.
Chapter Sixteen
Cinderella found her dress and shoes amid the wreckage of the cottage. After she got dressed, Rory took great delight in going down on one knee to slip the glass slippers on her feet. Seeing them like that, against the backdrop of a pumpkin patch, Rivella in her fine gown and Rory in his crown, sent chills down my spine. Here was the real story, finishing before my very eyes. And I had played a part in it.
King Rory set his lady atop his unicorn, and we rode back to Crith-Fuinn. By the time we arrived, the sun had long since set and all that lit our path was moonlight and purple fey fireflies. The glowing insects danced around the path and rose before the unicorns in complicated designs, looking like streams of magic. I breathed in the crisp, night air and sighed. I was home and yet I wasn't.
After saying goodbye and thank you to my unicorn, I went into the castle with the Earth King and his soon-to-be Queen of Cinders. I knew the knights would spread stories that very night and those stories would grow into legend, especially after Rivella was crowned.
“I think we could all use a drink,” King Rory said.
“Yes, please,” I said.
Rivella only nodded.
He took us to his chambers and saw Rivella seated comfortably on the couch before the fire before he poured two glasses of something golden and handed one to each of us. He went back for one for himself, then sat down beside Rivella. I took the chair closest to the fire.
“Thank you,” Rivella said suddenly.
“I wouldn't have found you without Queen Vervain's help,” Rory said. “She tracked you with your forgotten shoe.”
“Thank the flames I left it behind,” she whispered. Then said, “Thank you, Queen Vervain. I was lucky you were here.”
“That's what fairy godmothers are for,” I said distractedly.
“What is it?” King Rory asked me.
“No, it's just . . . you weren't meant to die today, Rivella. But I wasn't meant to be here either.”
“So something has changed,” Rory concluded.
“Yes. I'm just hoping this was it, and we worked it out well enough that the future isn't affected.” A chill ran down my spine.
“It will be all right,” Rory said as he put his arm around Rivella's shoulders.
“Sure,” I said.
Then the clock on Rory's mantle struck twelve.
I chuckled and stood before the last gong.
“You don't have to go,” Rivella said.
I smiled at her. “Yes, I do. Your happily ever after is waiting. And it won't arrive with me hovering. Goodnight, you two.”
