We show each other all the time.
He surprised everyone, except perhaps me, with his committed involvement in coven business the past year. I think they allexpected him to be... well,mercurialis the word of choice, and Azrael is nothing if not that, but he is also a stalwart supporter in bringing together the differentfactions the Joywood divided us into.
At last.
He has traveled the world searching out fabulae Healers for the witch hospital here in St. Cyprian. He has worked with a groupof fabulae and witches to search the far corners of the earth to ensure all fabulae were released from their curses. And hehas been an ever-vigilant caretaker of the dragon-princess statue that destroyed black magic once and for all, letting thebricks of St. Cyprian be a refuge once more.
But most of all, he has been by my side. The partner of my dreams I once talked myself out of.
The love of all my lives.
Tonight, he flashes that mischievous dragon smile at me, holds out a hand. “My own, my Georgina. Let’s go for a ride.”
And so we do, soaring over St. Cyprian and the confluence, our friends and family, and the marvelous world full of the peoplewe saved. The unfiltered light and power of the confluence glows for us. A ghost waves from the cemetery.
Every day, our home looks more like the vision of this magical place that Ellowyn showed us at the ascension trials.
Higher we go, until I can see Crow Island winking in the river, revealed at last—until we are so far into the stars that wesee nothing at all but each other. It’s a real fairy tale, my dragon and me. It’s a dream made real. It’s something I thoughtI couldn’t have just a year ago, and it didn’t require that I compromise who I am to get it.
I just had to be me. Books and all.
He remembers all the lives we’ve loved in, and then lost. I can’tremember the details, but I can feel the weight of them every time we touch.
And I know a secret.
Thislife is going to be the best one yet. Becausethistime, we’re going to do the hardest thing of all andliveour way into an ever-after. We’re not going todiefor love. We’re going toliveit all the way through.
I can’t wait.
All those books have it right—we just have to be willing to fight our way to the good stuff. Because we’re all worthy of fairy-taleendings, happy-ever-afters, and the love of a thousand lifetimes.
We’re all the princess in our own story. Don’t let anyone tell you different.
And it’s up to you to pick up that sword and fight for your own heart, no matter how dark it gets along the way to a lifefull of light.
I’ll see you there.
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