The implication lands hard, reverberating through all of us.
“What’s more, I have a wedding gift for you. You may kill one final fae. That bloodthirsty animal who killed your bride’s mother.”
It’s hard not to hide my surprise.
Varua straightens slightly, her authority returning in full force as she turns her attention back to them. “And you,” she says, her voice cutting through the air with unmistakable command. “Never forget the labyrinth. Never forget what it has taught you, what was required of you to stand here.”
Her gaze hardens.
“You came to this labyrinth divided. Prideful. Willing to let old grievances define your future. You would have destroyed yourselves, and your people, had you continued on that path.”
Silence falls heavily around us.
“You have been given a second chance,” she continues, her voice like iron wrapped in velvet. “One that will not be offered again.”
Her eyes flick briefly toward me, then back to them.
“You owe it to your people,” she says, “and to this woman you have chosen, to honor what you have learned here. To build something better than what you inherited.”
Then, softer, “Do not fail her.”
The ground beneath us begins to tremble, and the air grows heavy with an unearthly energy. Varua’s form begins to fade, her light dimming as the labyrinth around us shakes violently. The hedges collapse into the earth, the paths disappearing in a cascade of dirt and vines. I grip Oberon’s arm for balance as the meadow shifts and crumbles, the world spinning around us.
We stand frozen, watching the labyrinth sink away, as if the earth is swallowing it whole. The altar cracks and crumbles, disintegrating into nothingness. I look to the kings, their faces mirroring my astonishment. Whatever power Varua wields, it’s far beyond anything I’ve ever known.
And then, just as suddenly as it began, it stops. The silence is deafening, broken only by the sound of our ragged breaths. When the dust clears, we’re no longer in the meadow. The labyrinth, the altar, everything, it’s gone. We’re standing by our horses, the familiar landscape of the forest surrounding us once more.
“Is this real?” Ashton mutters, his eyes scanning the forest as if it might vanish any moment.
“It’s real,” Oberon says, his voice low but certain. “She brought us back. She destroyed the labyrinth.”
None of us speak, the weight of what just happened settling over us. Then, Ashton lets out a breathless laugh, the sound breaking the tension. “Well, that was dramatic,” he says, his grin returning in full force.
Sylvian chuckles, his green eyes sparkling with relief. “It’s finally over.”
Oberon pulls me into a tight hug, his warmth chasing away the lingering chill in my bones. “You did it,” he murmurs, his voice rough with emotion.
“Wedid it,” I correct, my arms wrapping around him.
The others join us, their laughter and relief spilling over as we embrace. The weight of the journey, the fear, the pain, it all begins to lift, replaced by a fragile but growing hope. We’ve done what seemed impossible. We’ve ended the curse.
I reach up and touch the crown on my head. It feels lighter now, its weight more symbolic than physical. “This feels… surreal,” I say, my voice shaky, still trying to wrap my head around everything that has happened.
“Get used to it, little queen,” Ashton says, winking at me. “You’ve got a kingdom to rule now.”
Cassius steps closer, his usual calm giving way to a rare smile. “And you won’t do it alone.”
“Never alone,” Sylvian agrees quietly, his gaze fixed on mine.
And somehow, I let myself believe it. Believe in them. In us. The path ahead will be hard, but I feel ready. With these kings by my side, there’s nothing we can’t face.
Together, we mount our horses, the forest stretching out before us like a new beginning. The sun breaks through the clouds, casting the world in golden light. As we ride, laughter bubbles up inside me, unstoppable and free. It’s over. It’s finally over.
22
Alette
Oberon carriesme through the doorway, his arms strong beneath me. The fabric of my wedding dress brushes against his chest, the soft rustling of lace the only sound besides my breath catching in my throat. I can feel the heat of his flame-tinged aura even through the layers of fabric. His blue eyes meet mine, blazing with primal possession, and I shiver in anticipation.
