He gaped open-mouthed at the vision of her.Aside from Arianna, you were the only person I ever loved, she said to him, her face and voice devoid of all emotion.
The arrogant fae stared back at her, recovering somewhat from the shock, enough to say, “There is no room for love in our lives. We have duty, power, and responsibility. Love is for the weak.”
“When I was alive, I believed the same thing,” the Red Queen told him. “But I was wrong. It’s only in death that I realized how much I did love you and Arianna. I missed years with her. It is my greatest regret.”
The pain in my chest was almost unbearable, but I didn’t crumble.
“All the years you separated us kept me alive,” I told her. “You shouldn’t regret that.” I hated that Luca was here, witnessing these final intimate moments with my mother.
I pointed to him and wrapped mecca around his throat, tightening it to the point he could only just gasp for breath. “You should never have come to our world. This is my city. My mecca. You will now be punished how I see fit.”
His eyes were bulging as I continued to constrict his air supply. Without his mother, or his staff, he was weak. Useless. Reaching down to my ankle, I pulled forth one of the fae blades I had stashed there. I was only about ten inches long, but it would be enough to do the job.
I placed the serrated tip over his heart. “May you never find the peaceful rest and rebirth ofdeath. May you never walk in our worlds again. You are not fit for the royal blood you were borne. Goodbye, Luca.”
I leaned all of my weight forward and skewered the bastard, burying my blade to the hilt. With a gasp, he took his final breath and I felt the mecca pulse. Using that pulse of magic, I pulled on the Red Queen’s energy, and at the same time pushed on Luca’s, pushing his soul further into the stone. Somehow the power knew what to do; knew I wanted to exchange one for another, and unlike last time when I tried to remove my mother, this time she did not slip through my grasp.
No!I heard Luca’s shout echo across the room at the same time I heard my mother’s voice.
Goodbye, Luca. I hope you spend eternity seeking forgiveness.
A bright light flared inside of the room before me. I saw a tunnel, and at the end was the Red Queen’s familiar, the white lynx I believed I saw in Central Park after her death. Then it was gone, as if it was a mirage. I gasped. When the queen trapped herself in the mecca, her familiar must have become a spectral ghost, walking in between the two worlds. Now they were being reunited, as they should.
A blast of icy air caressed my skin, bringing with it her scent, lavender and rose.
I’m so proud of you, daughter. Thank you. I pray that you can forgive my times of cruelty.Her voice whispered in my ear and I could no longer keep my emotions inside. Tears spilled over my cheeks as a small sob escaped me. I had Calista, so I had a true mother, but it felt like I had missed so much with the Red Queen. So much we could have had together.
“Wait!” I wanted to tell her that I forgave her, that I understood everything she sacrificed for me. That I understood she did the best she could. But before I could say anything more, her scent, and the icy wind … was gone.
Violet reached her arms around me as Finn lay his head in my lap, and they both held me tightly, mourning right along with me.
You are the strongest woman I know. You have lost a lot, but you will always have me.Kade’s strong voice and energy caressed me, adding his strength to that my friends were filling me with.
I was blessed. I knew that. I would never forget it. But still, I grieved.
Thirty seconds later, Kade burst into the room, bringing with him the scent of forest and home. Finn stood and Violet released me as Kade bent over and placed one arm under my knees and one behind my back, picking me up. We both needed the closeness. I rested my head on his shoulder and breathed him in.
We’ve done the hard part. Now with a little more work we can have our happily ever after.Kade’s words seeped into me, soothing my soul.
He set me down gingerly and placed his forehead on mine. “Are you up for dealing with the Winter Court?” he asked.
I sighed. I wanted more than anything to just abandon all responsibility and go see my little sister, but I couldn’t leave the Winter Court without a leader.
“Yes,” I told him, before straightening my back and smoothing out my shirt. “What about King Samson and his people? Do they know the threat is neutralized?”
Kade nodded. “Yes, they are already returning home. They will wait for word from you, but for now they give their thanks.”
“Blaine and Bianca?” And whomever Kade’s guard was — his name was escaping me in my dazed state.
“Home. Safe. Already ordering the shifters back to their packs and dens. Reinstating guards.”
That was good. My friends and dominants would keep an eye on this world while I went to make sure the Otherworld wasn’t falling apart. I really hoped Shelley and Kian were faring well there, because I didn’t have it in me for another battle.
Taking a deep breath, I sought out the mecca stone in the Winter Court. Creating another portal, we stepped out into the icy lands. Well, into the room that housed the stone anyway. Violet, Finn, Kade, and I walked through the circular stone room, which had white wood floorboards, and was empty except for a purple, faceted stone. The main winter stone I was guessing. I was very careful not to touch it, remembering Dante’s words about the way their leaders were chosen.
We skirted the edges, exiting through a simple wooden door. Outside of the room were two guards, lazing back against the wall, looking half asleep. The moment we stepped out, they straightened with wide eyes, drawing their weapons. My winter powers froze their feet to the spot before they could attack.
“Thank you for your service,” I said. “I’m Arianna, granddaughter of the winter queen.” Their eyes went even wider and I recognized the complete and total panic there. So I hurried on. “Rest assured, I am nothing like my kin. I’m only here to ensure there is a just leader left in this court. Will you continue to guard this room for me? Until there is a new leader?”
