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“No,” I agreed. “In fact, I think ours was a special situation, what with my empathic abilities. That being said, perhaps my empathy was only a guide, teaching me what Heartbreak needed. It may be that our Curse specifically needed love as its counter, or perhaps all Curses need to be accepted and loved, not just their vessels.” I jerked. “Oh! Heartbreak just confirmed it. You need to find someone who will understand, accept, and love your Curse as well as you. That's the key!”

Seraphel looked at me for a long moment, then nodded. “We'll make an announcement. To all the Curses in the world. We'll tell them what you've accomplished and invite them to search for their own Destiny—using what you've learned to guide them.”

“Some won't want it,” Edmund said quietly. “Some have made peace with their solitude.” He grimaced. “Some even enjoy their Curses.”

Tanvi snorted. “That libertine.”

“And some have been waiting centuries for this,” Alistair countered. “For proof that they don't have to be alone.”

Without looking up, Tanvi said, “I think even those who have learned to enjoy the solitude will try to find a partner.” She lifted her head and met Cassian's gaze. “Making peace with a situation doesn't mean you want it to remain as it is. It means you've learned to endure.”

The Conclave members exchanged glances, a silent conversation passing between them.

Finally, Seraphel spoke again. “There's other news. Bart was sighted at the airport yesterday. He's left America. Our contacts tracked him to Norway.”

“Norway?” I asked.

“He's running,” Tanvi said. “He knows how great his betrayal was. He knows we won't forgive him easily.”

I thought of Bart's terrified face, his desperate apologies as he carried me away from the Conclave. I understood his desperation. I even pitied him. “So, he isn't working with Osric?”

“As of yet, that is undetermined,” Seraphel said. “We're not even sure if they've separated. Osric is better at hiding. He could very well have been on that plane with Bart. We'll remain vigilant.”

Tristan nodded, his jaw tight. “Good.”

“For now, you should rest,” Tanvi said. “You've been through an ordeal. Both of you.”

“We need to collect our things from the guest suite,” I said. “Then we'll go home.”

Home. The word felt right.

Tanvi smiled, a rare expression that softened her efficient features. “Of course. Welcome to our world, Destiny, bearer of Heartbreak.”

“Thank you.”

Tristan and I left the dining room and went upstairs. Our suite looked the same as it had when we'd left it—my bag sitting on the chair, Tristan's jacket draped over the back of the sofa, and toiletries scattered over the bathroom counter.

I went to the bathroom and put my things in my toiletries bag. Tristan crossed to the closet and pulled out his jacket, the one he'd worn the night we went to Rockville.

“Destiny.”

I went to the bathroom doorway to find him in the center of the room, holding a small velvet box. Smiling, he got down on one knee.

My breath caught. I stepped over to him.

“I've lived for seventeen hundred years,” Tristan said, his voice steady despite the emotion in his eyes. “I've loved and lost and learned to accept loneliness as the price of what I am. But then you walked into my life with your beautiful heart, astute observations, and your refusal to let me wallow in my pain, and everything changed.”

Tears pricked my eyes.

“You saw me—not the Curse, not the monster, but me. You chose to love me even when I tried to push you away. You welcomed Heartbreak when it would have been easier to run. You gave both of us your love.” He opened the box, revealing a diamond ring. Its facets caught the light and threw it back in shimmering sparks. “Destiny Takeda, will you marry me?”

“Yes.” The word came out choked, but clear. “Yes, of course yes.”

He slipped the ring onto my finger, and it fit perfectly. With a joyous grin, he stood and pulled me into his arms, holding me close while I cried happy tears.

“When did you buy this?” I held out my hand to admire the heart-shaped diamond surrounded by swirls of smaller diamonds.

“I had a jeweler the Conclave uses bring a selection here to the estate.” He pulled back enough to look at me, his thumb brushing away my tears. “I know the heart shape is a little cheesy, but what better symbol is there for us? You made Heartbreak whole.”