A new warmth, fresh and secure, filled my heart and wove through my body. Bylur’s magic. Only a moment had passed since I’d fallen into the flames, and Bylur’s magic rushed through me, infusing me with the strength I needed to jump back on my feet. Beautiful, black swirls of shadow churned around me. The flames on my clothes snuffed out, as if they couldn’t exist while I held Bylur’s power.
A clanging sound, like two swords crashing together, rang just above my head. I looked up and saw a sword bounce away from my neck. I hadn’t felt a thing.
And then I realized it was the swirling shadows. They’d wrapped around me, like a thin stone wall, blocking swords and flames and…
I spun around as a series of clangs echoed at my back. Queen Daneira’s arm extended toward me, and she fired another set of ice daggers. They, too, hit my shadow shield and fell into the flaming ground.
“No!” she yelled. “Soldiers! Attack her!”
I darted forward, propelled by her shout. Swords bounced off me. Fae who charged too close were flung away from me by violent shadows rising to keep me safe. I was as untouchable as Bylur. No wonder so many thought he should be king.
I locked eyes with him and ran out of the maelstrom. I threw myself at his body, wrapping my arms around his waist and holding on with all my strength.
“I made it,” I panted into his tunic—the same one he’d worn to the ball. “I made it.”
A loud crack split the air and a blinding, bright light flashed around us. I closed my eyes and buried my flame-sore face in Bylur’s clothes. He wrapped his arms around me, lifting me up off the ground and crushing me to his chest. “You’re alive,” he breathed into my hair. “Tell me I’m not dreaming again. I refuse to wake up ever again.”
I laughed into his shoulder. “Never again. We get the dream forever now.”
“No!” The queen’s shout cut into our happiness like a soldier destroying a party. “You are mine!”
Bylur shifted me to his side and kept one arm around me as he raised his other hand to interrupt a blast of icy blue magic that the queen fired at him.Sheattackedhim,and he countered it immediately. His shadows surrounded her blue magic and twisted it until it turned around and plunged back into the queen.
More shadows dove into her. She screamed, lifting her hands and shooting a few bursts of icy blue magic out of the darkness. More and more shadows collided with her, snuffing out any remaining ice magic and surrounding the queen in a black cloud we couldn’t see through.
Bylur fisted his free hand, and the black cloud erupted. Shadows exploded in every direction, followed by a burst of sparkling ice. As the black and blue settled, complete silence filled the dungeon. The queen was gone.
Bylur’s soft voice rumbled like a drum in a sea of silence. “Let me heal you, Auria.”
I nodded as he cradled my face with his hands and bent his forehead down to meet mine. Cool, calm magic started at the top of my head and poured down through my face, throat, arms, chest, legs, and feet. It soothed blisters and aches as it flowed. My shoulder and back relaxed, and my face and legs felt as if they’d never been burnt.
I breathed out a long, slow sigh. It was over. All the pain and uncertainty and fear and curses. It was all done. “Thank you,” I whispered.
“Of course. Any time. Every time. There is never a reason for you to feel pain.” His voice caught. “Do you hear me, Auria. I am not a good enough reason for this.”
I opened my eyes. “I told you I’d break that curse. I promised.”
His voice lowered. “I know that. But I don’t want to see you hurt ever again.”
A corner of my mouth tipped up. “Then don’t get cursed ever again.”
He shook his head slowly, careful to keep his forehead pinned against mine. “I love you.”
I tipped my head up so I could kiss him, but first I spoke against his lips. “I love you too.”
We barely had time to start kissing when one of the soldiers cleared his throat. Loudly. I folded my arms and glared at him.
Bylur wrapped one of his arms around my shoulders and turned to face the soldier. “Do you need something?”
The soldier looked at the floor. “You just defeated Queen Daneira. You are the new ruler of Kerebos.” He knelt. “Hail, King Bylur.”
IfeltBylur’s internal grimace through the key, but instead of responding to the soldier, he turned back to me. His terrible sense of loyalty made him feel responsible for these people, but he didn’t want that, and his council hadn’t taken over Kalshana yet. It was nowhere near ready to take charge of two kingdoms.
I wrapped an arm around Bylur’s waist. “Bylur, I’d like to introduce you to someone.” I scanned the room until I found her investigating the explosion where her mother had been. I pointed at her. “This is Daneira’s daughter.”
Bylur’s brows raised so high they were in danger of jumping off his face.
“It’s a long story, but I think she might be the solution you’re looking for.”
