She shrugged. “I’ll find work. Maybe open a mortuary. People will still need help with the dead, even with peace.”
It was hard to imagine her, alone, cleaning bodies. Without a coven, she’d be vulnerable. “Why not come with us?”
She waved her hands in the air. “No. You just take care of my siblings. Get them out of these parts. I don’t care if there’s a peace accord or not. Trouble will be back. Mark my words.”
I wanted to reach for her, to set a hand on her shoulder, but I knew it would be too much. “We have room for you, too.”
She scoffed. “And be treated like a criminal the whole time? Followed around by a guard? I’ll take my chances on the road.”
Devlinn’s death was just as much on my hands as it was on hers. I had pushed her before she was ready. If I’d had magick when Shreesa was pushing me, I might’ve killed her too.
“I won’t pressure you to come with us,” I said, trying to push calm into my voice. “But you’re welcome to join us. As long as you understand that you’ll encounter Witches of the Light and people different from you in the Unified Territories. And if you hurt anyone or threaten them, you will face punishment. There won’t be second chances.”
She gave me a look, I thought she might agree, but then her eyes dimmed, and she left. I wanted to go after her, but knew it wouldn’t change her mind.
A cold wind clawed at my face as I stood beside Bastien in the clearing outside Chastity’s Stronghold. Tiny snowflakes swirled in spirals around the large funeral pyre.
Chastity’s witches stood behind her. Each dressed in ceremonial black robes that were embroidered with crimson thread at the hems. The thing that surprised me the most was the horns they wore. Different sizes and shapes. Even Mellie was wearing a short, stubby pair that she must’ve smuggled with her.
There was so much I didn’t know about the ways of Dark Witches.
There was one thing I knew that they didn’t: what the God of the Underworld’s horns looked like. The way they twisted from his brow. I also knew what his grace felt like. Even though my mother had insisted he was evil incarnate, Damien hadn’t demanded I become one of his demons. He’d let me come back to Bastien. I touched the mottled scars at my neck, thankful for the life that he’d allowed me to come back to.
I glanced at my husband, carved from cold stone like his Château.I knew his lack of a smile didn’t mean he wasn’t happy. In fact, quite the contrary. He was about to secure a peace he’d long sought. The wind tugged at his cloak, revealing the bloodstone that pulsed at his chest. He wasn’t hiding our matebond anymore. He was displaying it. Loud and proud for everyone to see. And it made me love him even more.
I wanted to reach for him, but I didn’t. I stood beside him as his duchess. As his wife. Chin held high.
Chastity’s crimson lips curled into a smile. “So, it’s agreed,” she said, extending her hand.
“It’s agreed,” he answered.
Her smile deepened. “Then, by the old magicks, let this accord be struck.”
She extended her hand, and Bastien clasped it. A warm light formed between their palms, just as it had when he’d shaken the hands of all those people inside the fort.
“Now, I am under your protection.”
“Now, I am your guardian. And I will protect this peace.”
The cold wind howled around us, and Bastien turned to those gathered around us.
“Let this land be lawless no more. Let its people find peace. Let this moment signify the beginning of a long and lasting truce that serves the people and forges a new era of prosperity.
Cheers went up. Then a witch brought Chastity a torch. I reached for Tansy’s hand as Chastity ignited the pyre. She passed the torch to Bastien, and he lit another side. On it went. We all took turns sending them off with prayers on our lips. Finally, Tansy took the torch and tossed it on top, and it landed right on Devlinn’s chest.
I held her as it burned. Bastien stood at my side, one hand on my shoulder, silently supporting me. I don’t know how long we stood there, watching it burn down. Long enough that mylegs ached and my eyes were raw from tears. Until there was nothing left to see.
Bastien left me long enough to bring our horse around. Tansy rode with Lady Okeri. Sera with Alec.
Bastien helped me climb onto Lucien’s back. The horse’s hot breath puffed white in the icy air. He mounted behind me with the ease of a vampire. One hand resting protectively on my stomach. I still hadn’t told him about meeting Damien, or the trade I’d made. Not because I wanted to keep more secrets, but because parts of my journey were meant to be private.
The choice I made to give up immortality wasn’t something I needed to retell. It was deeply personal. And I didn’t want to see guilt in his eyes every time I fell ill, or when I struggled. Or, when I eventually died. I wanted him to feel nothing but gratitude for the life we had together and for the ones to come. For the children that will stay with him when I’m gone and who will be waiting for me to be reborn. For the grandchildren and great-grandchildren who will get to know me as a young woman and who will teach me things.
My husband pressed a kiss against my temple. “Let’s go home.”
I nodded, leaning against his broad chest. Clicking his tongue, then giving a command in Sanguisi, Lucien began trotting away. The smell of the pyre lingered on my clothes and in my hair.
Chastity’s voice chased us into the distance. “Don’t forget! If you fuck me over, I will haunt you forever!”
