The delicate flesh of her leg scorched and blistered to the bone. The dark bindings cutting into her delicate wrists and immobilizing her precious wings. The acrid scent of her fear rose above the rot. It had spurred me to act, to unleash my fire on the being that had killed my parents and stolen my birthright.
The reason I spent all those years without Arden. My mate.
Death for what the Void has done is a fitting punishment.
My beast agrees. Freed from his cage, he is no longer my adversary. Not a monster but the male I've always been.
He helps me guide my magic, spooling a protective circle around Arden to help her heal. His preternatural senses aid me in dodging the Void's attacks and deliver a series of devastating blows.
Fire eats away at the final dregs of the Void's magic. With the sun shining overhead, the creature screams as it withers. Sludge and steam rising from its writhing body. Claws shred at its face, and teeth snap together in pain.
In this new form, I can feel everything.
Colors are more vibrant, and my sense of taste and smell is heightened. I can pick up Arden's rose scent amongst the gore and death, and it steadies me. I feel her heart sliding against mine and the delicate brush of her soul.
Flames pour from deep within me and fly from my palms. A wall of fire encases the Void as it thrashes. It does not beg for its life, and I would not grant a reprieve. There are no words left to be said as I watch it sizzle and burn away. The traces of darkness bleed from the land as their maker is devoured.
Centuries of death and oppression end with a flickering green flame and an echoing screech.
The Void is dead.
I watch the final kernel of its power blow out. Rot and decay give way to my flames as they purge the final tendrils. The darkness is gone.
Freed souls fly towards the sky as glittering stars. They thread through the rapidly growing trees and fresh blossoms. With the oppressive magic cleared away, Goldren reknits itself to its former glory.
Large birds fly through the sky. Rabbits and mice and foxes with glowing silver eyes peer from between the sprouting trees. A family of gold-streaked deer with eyes the color of opalsscamper through the safe pasture and march up the pale steps of Sun Palace.
The castle will require work to be restored. Unlike the meadow, the damage to it is more invasive. There will be time for all of that later. My focus rests squarely on the Fairy Queen.
With the Void gone, Arden blossoms just like the rest of the realm.
My magic tangles with hers, swirling her in a glittering array of green and gold orbs. She was always beautiful, but more so now. Her skin glows like polished emeralds. Her eyes are the color of a blue-green pond.
Pink curls shine like the sky at dusk. Between the silken strands bloom blush-colored roses as verdant leaves sprout around her collar bones and upper arms. Starlight drips from her wings' edges as they flutter softly.
She is life itself—my life.
I stumble towards her as if there is a string around my middle. The wings at my back are an unfamiliar weight.
I flex them, kicking up a sun-scented breeze. My golden skin sparkles. I feel the press of my sharp teeth along my lip.
Arden's eyes are wide as I approach.
My flames pull back to reveal her. With much of my magic exhausted, there is a deeper well of it I can tap into. Raw power pulses through me like a current.
Arden's healing powers brush up against mine in a soothing caress.
Her eyes track down my chest to the top of my pants. I try and fail not to hold my even more ample muscles still under her curious gaze. My mate clearly likes what she sees as color swims in her cheeks.
A beautiful smile breaks out across her face.
"Finn!" she shouts, throwing herself into my arms.
I laugh as we stumble backward. She is stronger than before. Studier with her full power returned. More permanent.Mine.
Her seeking hands trace all over me, making my cock stir to life. I should will it calm down, but being hard around her seems to be my burden to bear for eternity.
Who am I kidding? It's not a burden at all. Nothing regarding Arden is anything less than wonderful.
