The profundity of that statement stunned me to silence for a while. Then I slowly shook my head. “You continue to amaze me, Angel, my guiding light.” I pulled her close again.
“I am amazing, it’s true,” she said playfully.
“Thank you, again,” I whispered, holding her tight. “I was lost, and you found me. You shone a bright light into my dark life and forced me to change my ways. You saved me from Saldrea, and from myself. You allowed me to forgive myself and start over, learn to grow again, be the man I want to be.”
“I’m pretty sure you did most of that on your own.”
“I did, yes, but I wouldn’t have done any of it if you hadn’t come into my life. And you did save my life, at least once.”
“True,” she whispered, hugging me back with her fierce elven strength.
“My heart and spirit are free now,” I whispered. “They’re both yours, now and forever.”
“And you have my heart and spirit too,” she whispered back. “Now and forever.” Then she pulled back again, a quizzical look on her face. “That sounded a lot like vows, are we unofficially married now?” She smiled as if that was exactly what she wanted.
“Any marriage at this point would be a formality,” I said, dipping down to kiss her softly. “Words are all well and good, but it’s what we feel that counts.”
She shifted, sliding her arm behind me as she came to my side. We continued the short walk to her residence.
Her voice was a little dreamy with remembrance when she said, “You once had issues with me being with just one other guy, are you okay with the small horde I’ve picked up?”
“I am,” I said solemnly. “Their hearts are true. Together, you and I and them, we’re unstoppable.”
“Right answer,” she said squeezing me from the side.
It was amazing how a few minutes with Izzy could liftmy spirits from the depths of gloom to the heights of joy. It’s why I called her “Angel” and “guiding light” because she rescued me from myself every day, in so many little ways.
I squeezed her back as we made our way inside.
Izzy was going to make a great queen. She’d irrevocably change the realms of fae, even if she had to do it one life at a time.
BAYN
I knelt beforeIzzy as she — with hands cupping my face — removed the binding from me.
It was the day before her coronation, nearly a month after the battle and so much had happened that we hadn’t found the right time to do this until now. And I hadn’t minded in the least. Izzy’s command to me, before the battle, to act as I wished and be who I needed to be, had given me all the freedom I’d needed. I’d barely noticed the binding most days, another reason we’d waited this long to do anything about it.
“You’re a free man,” Izzy said with a playful grin as she released me. I stayed kneeling, it felt appropriate for what I had to say.
“I’ve been a free man ever since you helped me defeat my parents,” I said. “I knew then, you’d never try to control me. It just took me a little longer to accept it.” I hung my head. “I’m sorry, Izzy.”
“You’re sorry? I was the one who put the binding on you.”
“I’m sorry I was such a royal asshat—” one of her words, which I’d grown to like, “—to you and everyone.”
I shifted to face the other guys, who all stood nearby. “I’m sorry I asked so much of you when we first met. I was selfish.”
“Your sister was wrongly imprisoned in a hellhole, you’d earned a bit of righteousness in wanting her freed,” Rook said.
“Which isn’t actually that selfish,” Vyns finished.
“Still, I… could have helped you sooner. I’m sorry.”
“Just get up, you big lug,” Myel quipped.
I stood, but I wasn’t done. I took everyone in with a sweeping glance, then continued.
“All my life I’ve scraped and clawed to get anything. I thought the only way to be in control was to dominate others, push them down. That’s what everyone around me did. Well, everyone except for my sister.” I probably should have listened to her more.
