"Damn right I won’t."
She stepped back, carefully wiping away her tears, and then offered me a knowing smile, the kind that said I understand without needing anything else.
"I’m so proud of you." Her voice still trembled a little. "And remember: just a tiny drop of Fyrin sap."
I laughed openly, shaking my head, my chest feeling light despite the farewell.
"I’ll never forget, Mama."
I watched them depart, the Ceilte troop following my family, the sound of their footsteps becoming more and more distant until it disappeared completely. I turned to Malek. He was waiting for me with his hand extended, the strength and tranquility in his gaze warming my heart.
"Ready, krash’uk?" he asked, his voice deep.
"Let’s go."
I took his hand, and we left the clearing, marching toward the heart of the forest where the Oksha village—my home—lay. The journey back felt lighter, guided by the hope of a newfuture. For the first time in centuries, Oksha and Ceilte would stand side by side, united by a love as improbable as it was world-changing.
Fate had written the events in a way that no one, especially me, had expected. The curse had become my greatest blessing, the war had given way to an alliance, and hatred had been replaced by the strength of a love that transcended legacies and appearances.
And it had all started—and been fulfilled—with a touch of magic.
Epilogue
Months later
Returning to Ceilte after so much time felt strange.
The forest of Marukoksha, once wild and intimidating, now felt more like home than the castle, filled with the familiar scent of pine and damp earth. The time I had spent in Oksha had changed me: the scent of jasmine had given way to something more earthy, and the braids Malek made in my hair made me feel stronger and more connected to my new people.
The castle, with its impeccably manicured gardens and white marble walls, seemed almost cold, too sterile to shelter the life I had learned to love.
Despite my complaints and Malek's insistence that the ceremony should be held in Oksha, my parents remained unwavering. They insisted on a "public reconciliation" and a celebration that would seal the alliance in a way no one could question. That was why I was there: in my room, getting ready for another marriage.
This time, my heart pounded as if it might tear free from my chest. My mother and Kristan chattered nonstop about the preparations, which didn’t help my nervousness at all.
"Fionnuala, stop moving," Laurelin scolded impatiently. "Alyssandre’s trying to fasten your dress."
I had chosen the dress myself; I could have worn the traditional attire of an Okshai wedding, but instead, I opted for something that honored my High Fae heritage as well.
The bodice fit my body like a glove, neither suffocating nor restricting my movements. Its off-the-shoulder necklineunveiled my green-tinged skin and the newly etched protective runes along my shoulders and arms. The skirt cascaded in long, flowing layers that caught the light with every movement, tiny stones sparkling as if the dress itself were enchanted. The rose-gold color, my favorite, reminded me of the Oksha sky at dusk and the quiet, stolen moments I had shared with Malek in our clearing, lost in each other.
My long blonde hair tumbled down my back in a cascade of braids, threaded with tiny beads of polished bone and rose quartz, a birthday gift from my mate. Atop my head rested my favorite circlet, crowning me as both a Princess of Ceilte and krash’uk of Oksha.
"You look beautiful, Fiona," Kristan murmured, her eyes misty. She stepped closer, adjusting a stray braid in my hair.
"You're next," I teased, watching her flush instantly. "Whenever Drak stops being a brusak."
"Malek and Drak are very different," Laurelin said. “Your mate, my dear, is a devoted and protective male who would never take a step without ensuring you were safe. Kristan’s, however, hides behind a mask."
"He isn’t mine…" Kristan protested, but the affection in her voice could not disguise her true feelings.
Laurelin chuckled but, thankfully, didn’t say anything else.
I admired my reflection. The female staring back at me was the same one who had fled on that fateful day of my first wedding, yet she was so very different. I had new curves, more toned muscles, and leaf-green skin. Even my blue eyes now shone with the determination and serenity I had discovered only in the forest, at my orc’s side.
"Kristan, dear, may I speak with my daughter alone?"
My friend nodded and, with one last smile in my direction, left the room.
