“You can marry whoever the fuck you want. You’re the queen.”
Fifty-Five
Tessa
We held the ceremony in a forest full of fireflies. Months had passed since the end of the war, and the realm of Aesir was thriving. So was Talaven. But before we got swept up in too many courtly things, there was one thing we had to do first.
I stood with Kalen Denare, my hand in his. He wore a black tunic, the edges lined with silver crescent moons, and a matching pair of trousers. The cut of his cloth hugged his chest, highlighting his physique. I was very much looking forward to our wedding night.
Druid Balfor stood before us. An archway of branches and twisting vines climbed from one side of the platform to the next. Spectators were scattered throughout the small clearing. Everyone we loved had come to witness the official union. Val and Niamh stood together, clasping hands. Just beyond them was Gaven, silent and still as ever, but there was a spark in his eye I’d missed.
And then there was Alastair, of course. He spent half of his time in Talaven and half in Aesir. He seemed to like the arrangement. Silver had even asked to come. He couldn’t go out in the daylight, still allergic to the moon and the sun, so I’d made certain the ceremony was held under the cover of darkness.
But as I cast a glance over my shoulder at the gathered crowd, it was my sister’s smile that caught my eye the most. She was beaming up at Toryn, who had rarely left her side in months. They hadn’t said so, but I had a feeling their own wedding would not be far behind ours.
The Druid cleared his throat. “Kalen Denare of the shadow fae realm and Tessa Baran of Teine.”
“TessaDenare!” Alastair hooted. A ripple of laughter went through the crowd.
“I’m trying to do this properly,” Balfor said with an eye roll. “It is not every day I wed a couple who are…well,already wed.”
He’d relaxed a great deal since finally revealing everything he knew about the visions and prophecies. It seemed, in reality, Balfor was quite snarky when he had a mind to be. It made me like him so much more.
“Balfor,” Kalen said, trying to take control of the situation.
“Yes, yes.” He sighed. “TessaDenareof Teine.”
“Thank you,” I said, grinning. “You may continue.”
In truth, Kalen and I did not need a ceremony. Between our previous marriage vows and our mating bond, all legalities were taken care of. But there’d been a time, when the darkness had been pressing in around us, that we’d promised each other we’d one day celebrate our love. It had been a golden thread, leading us toward a future we couldn’t see through the cloying mist.
“We will speak the ancient words of the ones who came before us,” Balfor said solemnly. “These words are for those who have died and left us for the higher realm. And they are for newborn babes who have only just joined us in this world. It is only fitting we speak them now for the joining of two souls. Everyone, repeat after me:
Grant, O Life, the strength to carry on;
And in that strength, give us understanding;
And in understanding, let us know love;
The love of all existences.”
“The love of all existences,” I murmured, staring into the depths of Kalen’s sapphire eyes.
Kalen tugged me to his chest and kissed me fiercely. I wound my arms around his neck, pressing up onto my toes.
“I am yours, and you are mine,” he whispered against my lips. A promise, a vow. One I knew we’d never break. And as our gathered love ones cheered, he took my hand and led me through the forest. King and Queen, husband and wife, fated mates.
He was everything to me and more.
Epilogue
Tessa
I’d been born to fulfill a promise to a fae king. It was an ancient promise, bound in powerful magic. I’d been sworn to consume the magic of the gods, find a way to control it, and lead Talaven toward a brighter future made of peace and prosperity instead of war.
But I did not do it alone. I was never meant to, for one woman does not a successful queendom make. My friends and family were never far. And together, we changed the world.
The years passed by. My reign was peaceful for the most part, but life is never perfect. There were small skirmishes over the years, mostly land disputes. Now and then, someone would get it into their head that they wanted to claim my power as theirs. They’d make attempts on my life. They never got very far.
