Kel turns to me, and his eyes blaze. “Rose, I will never send you away again. You have saved me and saved the Autumn Realm. Without a doubt, this is where you belong forever.”
My heart sings at his words, at the devotion in them. “Kel,” I say, feeling the unbreakable tie between all three of us. “Farron broke his curse. He freed his people in Castletree. Together, we could—”
Keldarion straightens. “The events here have only strengthened my resolve. I’ll help the others to break their curses and hope that is enough to heal Castletree. But this curse will lay upon me forevermore.”
He turns to leave.
“Kel!” I yell angrily.
He waves a dismissive hand. “Do not be sad, Rosalina. Now your other mate may satisfy your base needs.”
Farron lets out a long sigh. “He really is infuriating, isn’t he?”
I loop my arms over his shoulders. “Sure you’re not regretting being my mateforevermorewith all that icy baggage?”
“I’ll take you whatever way you are.” He drops his nose to nuzzle against mine. “Forever with you doesn’t sound too bad. And now I don’t have to continue my secret research on extending the human life.”
I giggle as his lips drop to my pointed ears. There’s the rustle of wind as a gale brings a tumble of golden leaves. “I love you, Farron.”
“In the starlight way,” he says.
“In the starlight way.”
KeepOakheart’shallsarelined with Autumn nobility to bid the residents of Castletree goodbye. They whisper that their High Prince is a wolf guardian, that the other High Princes are blessed with the same magic. It’s good enough gossip to keep the curse under wraps for now.
Marigold, Astrid, and my princes wait by the door that will lead us back home.
Farron explained Castletree is still too weak for us to keep the door open, allowing the staff to come and go as they did before the curse. But it won’t be closed permanently anymore. Already these halls have been dusted and polished.
Dayton gives Delphia one last hug, spinning her up in the air while she grumbles. But when he goes to put her down, she wraps her arms tightly around his neck.
Farron groans, squeezed in the tight embrace of his father.
“I’ll be back soon,” he grumbles, squirming out, and quickly bestows his little sister Nori with a kiss to the top of her head, who bears it well.
Padraig straightens, wiping his watery eyes. “Thank you, High Princes of Castletree, for all you have done for the Autumn Realm.”
Then he gives me a broad smile I can’t help but mimic. “And here we have the Lady of Castletree, whose bravery has saved my son. Has saved us all.”
“There is nothing I wouldn’t do for Farron,” I say, “and for the Autumn Realm.”
“Ey, there it is. Because you’re not just the Lady of Castletree anymore.” He opens his palm, revealing a simple golden leaf. “Mate of the High Prince, a courageous defender. Rosalina O’Connell, Princess of the Autumn Realm.”
He drops to a knee, and akin to leaves falling from a tree, the rest of the nobility follow suit, one after another. Suddenly, everyone is bowing and I’m the only one left standing.
My princes incline their heads with the utmost respect. Farron stands and takes the leaf from his father’s palm. Delicately, he moves the hair from behind my neck and threads the leaf onto my necklace, so it falls perfectly next to the moonstone rose. “Princess of Autumn,” Farron breathes, “will you lead us home?”
I touch the golden leaf, feeling in my heart the magic of this place: the crisp nights, blazing bonfires, the forest of a thousand colors, the bravery and legends of these people.
“Woven together,” I say, looking out at everyone.
“Woven together,” Padraig and the others say. He rises. “You will always have a place in the Autumn Realm, Rosalina.”
Tears brim my eyes as I leave behind this new home for my other one. With a heavy heart, I turn toward the great door and grip the handle. I feel the magic of Castletree calling me as I pull the door open. Farron clasps my hand, and Dayton holds his. I reach out for Ezryn’s gloved hand, who follows suit to take Keldarion’s. I step onward to Castletree, to home, woven together with the princes who make it so.
90
Caspian
