Ellery and I weren’t the leaders of Tempest; instead, we’d distributed power throughout the realm, with each town and village having trusted leaders to represent them. We were here to keep everything running smoothly, oversee things, and cast our votes.
While we didn’t want to rule, the amsirah had voted to give us all a seat at the table too. We didn’t represent any village or town but Tempest as a whole.
Ellery had been against joining the council, but the amsirah wanted her here, and after everything she’d done, she’d earned a place amongst them. Whether we’d keep our positions or not remained to be seen. We’d at least stay until everything was in good, running order.
Originally, they expected me and Ellery to rule the realm, but neither of us wanted that. The time of kings and queens in Tempest was over.
Maybe it was for the best that Bria died in the collapse of the palace. No one existed who could contest our new policies or try to claim a demolished throne.
I’d failed Leo again by not being able to save his daughter, but I couldn’t have prevented the collapse. I also couldn’t save someone who didn’t want to be saved, and she’d clearly chosen her path in life.
We’d buried her with the other amsirah, though I was sure she would have preferred to be returned to the Gloaming. With the curse still in place, we didn’t have that option.
As I looked out at the room and the group of amsirah who led this realm, I was okay with my failure. Leo was the past, and we were building a better future for Tempest.
They’d also uncovered crying guy from the rubble. I’d still been in the infirmary when that happened, but Tucker informed me of his death. Unfortunately, he was one of the many.
All the homes and manors taken from the amsirah during King Ivan’s and the duke’s reign were returned to their rightful owners. Tucker had reclaimed his family’s home and returned to live there with Val’s son, Georgie.
After the war, Tucker adopted the boy. We’d learned they killed his father before his mother, and the boy didn’t have any other living family. Tucker was happy to take him in.
Ianto, Luna, and Callan were busy working with some other amsirah to improve and add onto the existing orphanage in Nottingshire. Many children had lost their families during the war and needed a safe place to live.
Ianto happily assumed the role of the orphanage’s headmaster, and while I would have thought the kids would be afraid of him, they loved the gentle giant. The orphans he’d rescued from the orphanage fire in Carthaway and brought into the Revenant Woods were also staying with him.
Scarlet, Ruby, and Billy had returned to their cottage on Ellery’s property, but they were as unsure about staying there as Ellery. I had a feeling that would change over time, so I stayed out of it when they discussed what to do.
Some days, they leaned toward remaining. Other days, they discussed building a bigger home to accommodate everyone and future generations.
After Scarlet left the infirmary, we took Fletcher’s body to the small family cemetery and buried him near Ellery’s parents. His spot, overlooking the manor, was perfect for him.
Many tears fell that day, but laughter also filled the fields as the surviving amsirah from the encampment joined us to celebrate Fletcher’s life. He’d deserved to see us win the battle, but so had many of the others who hadn’t survived.
Fletcher’s loss was a huge hole in the lives of Ruby and her family; they’d never fully recover from it, but they were starting to rebuild the pieces. So many amsirah were doing the same.
As I knew well, the scars would remain, but life went on, and love helped heal the wounds. Tempest had been devastated by the brutality of its former leaders and the war, but it would heal. The immortals here were strong, and the gargoyles brought a measure of peace and security to Tempest.
And there was a lot of love in this realm now. Things weren’t perfect—they never would be—but they were much fairer, and I, along with many others, would ensure they stayed that way.
Some of the soldiers had escaped the woods, but they hadn’t evaded the wrath of the amsirah who discovered them. I was certain some of them remained in hiding, but they weren’t a big threat, and according to the gargoyles, the woods and poltergeists had slaughtered the majority.
Eventually, we’d uncover the rest and kill them too. The amsirah knew those who had oppressed them. While wounds would heal, they wouldn’t allow their jailers to survive.
CHAPTER EIGHTY-THREE
Ryker
The steepled roof of the old school gave the gargoyles plenty of room to move. They stood to the side of our bench with their wings tucked against their backs and their attention riveted on the occupants.
Today was our first meeting, and we’d already established the terms of our new government. We still had a lot to get through, but so far everything was going well.
Ellery’s hand slid into mine and squeezed as the discussion turned to the next item on our docket—Samael and the duke.
They brought in Samael first. I spoke with my old friend before this meeting. He was aware that death was one of the options on the table for him. It wasn’t the one I wanted. However, while I had a seat at the table, I wasn’t in charge, and I’d have to accept the decision of the many.
Four amsirah escorted Samael through the double front doors. He hadn’t endured imprisonment since the palace’s downfall, but he wasn’t a free man either.
Someone, either amsirah or a gargoyle, always watched over him. He couldn’t open a portal to leave the realm, but he couldn’t roam free either. That was probably more for his protection than anyone else’s.
