Page 208 of Tale of the Heart Queen

“I’m doing something useful,” he says, then turns to Gabriel. I notice the absence of the golden tattoo on his neck, and my throat knots at the sight. “I’m sorry. I’m never going to be the king I was. No matter how much I want to, I can’t ever go back. It hurts too much. Those walls will always be a reminder of what I want to forget.”

So many emotions cross Gabriel’s face. Absently, he touches his throat where the golden lines of the Sun King once marked him as a prisoner.

Then his shoulders drop in resignation.

“I know,” he says softly. They bend their heads together as they each wrap a hand around the back of the other’s neck. They murmur soft words to one another I can’t make out.

Then Tyr releases Gabriel and turns to face me. “I will take this burden from you,” he says before looking to the Empyrium. “If you will have me.”

The Empyrium says nothing for a moment, the various people of its form flickering in and out as if they’re having a discussion. I watch in hope while Nadir clings to me tighter.

“But you’ll be alone up here,” Erevan says. “You’ll have only this place. You already lived like that for a century.”

“I’ve been alone for so long,” Tyr replies. “When I sat in that tower, looking out over Aphelion, I could do nothing. But here, I can make a difference. I can be better than Zerra, and maybe everything that happened will have had a purpose.”

Tyr’s gaze meets mine, his eyes soft with conviction.

“Are you sure?” I ask.

He smiles and tips his head. “It’s the first thing I’ve been sure of in a very long time, Heart Queen.”

The Empyrium confer for another few seconds before they speak.

“The Sun King is pure of heart. If he chooses to relinquish his crown, then we accept his offer. Is the Primary ready to step into his place?”

Every eye turns to Erevan before he exchanges a long look with Gabriel. I hold my breath, waiting for my entire life to shift in one direction or the other.

Gabriel rests a hand on Erevan’s shoulder.

“This was inevitable, Erevan. You’ve resisted for as long as you could, but you understand it’s time,” he says. “Besides, after everything Aphelion did to Lor, it’s the least we can give her.”

He gestures towards me, and my eyes fill with tears again as he gives me a small smile that feels like I’ve just won a war I’ve been battling since the day he dragged me out of that hole in the Void.

Erevan lets out a long sigh. I watch as his shoulders droop like a giant weight has been set on top of them. He looks at me and then dips his chin.

“Very well,” he says. “I will accept my place.”

I expel a shaky breath as Nadir kisses my temple. I can hardly dare to believe this is real.

“Say your goodbyes,” the Empyrium says to Tyr. “Your life changes today.”

I watch as Tyr turns to Gabriel, and they stare at one another, both of them holding very still. I swear I can feel the moment they both accept that this is the end for them. The air around them seems to bend and then settle into another place, but maybe this is what they all need.

“I love you,” Gabriel says, choking on the words. “I’m sorry that I let you down so many times.”

Tyr shakes his head and then wraps his arms around Gabriel.

“You were the only light in my life during all those years. I would have died without you, Gabe. Never forget that. I love you too.”

They cling to one another as their tears flow and their shoulders shake.

“He will be able to visit you,” the Empyrium says gently. “From time to time.”

“I’ll come whenever I can,” Gabriel says, and Tyr nods. They squeeze each other’s hands, and Tyr kisses Gabriel’s knuckles.

“Be happy,” Tyr says. “Promise me you’ll stop blaming yourself. None of it was ever your fault.”

Gabriel blows out a long, slow breath. “I’ll try,” he says before Tyr then turns to Erevan. They exchange a few quiet words, and then Tyr faces the Empyrium. He straightens his posture and smooths down the front of his beige tunic. I’ve seen the Sun King only a few times, but already, he seems like a different person. Like someone who dragged himself back from the teetering edge.