“I spoke to the spirits too, and I gotta say, I’m impressed with them for knowing how much of a goddess you are,” Jasper chuckled.
“It’s over now, love.” Bastian grinned.
“Now we can start on our forever—hopefully peacefully,” Silas told me with sincerity.
A smile spread over my lips as the bond between us grew stronger with each passing moment. We could finally enjoy the peace that came with knowing that we were all safe from Matthieu.
He had been such a catalyst of darkness in my life and in Hexarium. Without his stain on the world, everything feltlighter.
“Thank you, all of you,” I said softly. “I couldn’t have done any of this without you.”
“We know.” Silas kissed my forehead.
“We’re just glad you’re okay,” Aimon added, holding my hand tightly.
The others nodded in agreement, and I felt a rush of love and gratitude flow through me. We had been through so much together since they’d barged into my office and presented me with orders to help break their hexes.
But now, we had to help Hexarium rebuild.
18
FAWN
The next fewweeks were a blur of activity. We had gone through all three empires, finding the destruction Matthieu and his monstrous horde had left behind and beginning the task of rebuilding and repairing.
It was a time of healing and hope. We kept our heads down and focused on restoring our homes and lives, one step at a time. Together, we vowed to rebuild the empires Matthieu had destroyed and restore them to their former glory. We were determined to bring peace and justice back to the three empires, no matter what it took.
We traveled to and from every village in every empire we could, helping innocent mages get back on their feet. We shared resources, provided support, and held meetings with local leaders to make sureeveryonewas being taken care of.
The citizens of Hexarium welcomed us with open arms, grateful for our help in restoring their homes and lives after the war. Everywhere we went, we were celebrated and thanked for our part in ending Matthieu’s rage-filled destruction.
Emperor Lloyd had called a meeting after the war to thank us and deem us theheroesof Hexarium. He was humble and more than happy to give us the credit since wehadbeen the ones to take him down.
We had come to an agreement to continue being a shield, but not just for the Lethium Empire. We were now considered protectors of all three empires, and we would reside in the Allura Empire inour home.
Emperor and Empress Lovington continued to rule the Allura Empire while their son, Lincoln, took over the Revivium Empire. Unfortunately, the Hayes line had been demolished by Matthieu, and there was nobody else with the knowledge or experience to take over. But thenewEmperor Lovington would be a great ruler, just like the original Lovingtons.
The goal was to get things back to an even more peaceful state than before.
The monster population had been brought down to dangerously low numbers, but the monsters that were left co-existed mostly. It was affecting the ecosystems of the empires already, but hunters had been keeping the animal population down. There were obviously certain monsters thatwouldgo and attack villages, but that was what the adventurer guilds were for.
A monster attack here and there was nothing considering what we had just been through. All I knew was that I and everyone else in Hexarium were grateful for the lull in monster attacks.
The first thing the guys and I did after the war was rebuildourcottage with an even bigger bed than before, and I loved everything about it.
Even my phantom cats seemed more at home than ever before there. They didn’t even bother coming on missions with us in my runes anymore. Instead, they preferred to stay home and lounge in their designated elemental area.
My bonded mages and I had settled into our new roles as the protectors of Hexarium pretty easily, but we had also strengthened our bond and relationship.
I was so deeply in love with each and every one of them.
“I’m so happy for you,” Ash squealed, tears leaking down her cheeks as she leaned her head on Lincoln’s shoulder.
Yeah,Lincoln.The new Emperor of the Revivium Empire.
Evidently, one of the royal guards had found Ash unconscious and in bad condition after Matthieu attacked the guild and they brought her to the Lethium Empire to heal. She’d told me that after Matthieu had cut off her braid, she’d been trampled by another monster. Matthieu must’ve thought the attack killed her because he hadn’t checked.
Somehow Lincoln had noticed her in the infirmary and decided to visit her as she healed from being in a coma, and he was smitten. She claimed that when she woke up and saw Lincoln, it was love at first sight.
