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Epilogue
EIGHT MONTHS LATER
Vori rubbed a hand over her aching back.The castle’s stones in the throne room glowed brighter.Even the amethysts in her crown sparkled.
The magic book flitted through the room, not bothering to hide away.According to its pages, the crown’s jewels only shone as a reflection of her royalty.The greed magic that’d plagued the royal line for centuries was gone.Burned away by the powers of her witch, her consort.
Tonight’s court was loud but cheerful with laughter, music, and the clinking glasses of celebratory toasts.Couples danced and flirted.The two little goblins she’d seen at the banquet of horrors played a game of tag.Men surrounded Mykata—the last single goblin royal.The honorary captain seemed to enjoy the constant entourage, showing off her latest blade.
Tonight had been for Vori’s official blessing of a goblin and faerie wedding.Not hers.No, that celebration and her coronation had been only days after Perry had carried her through the goblin glass and back to Kradnovtl.
Since then, the realm had recovered.Thrived.Grown even.
But damn, the throne was as hard as a rock.
She didn’t dare move too much.Or it would have the heavy crown’s thorns pressing into her, the whole court gossiping, or worse, Perry worried about her.
Her consort had more than enough to deal with.He’d been relentless in restoring the realm.Fielding reports from the mines, meeting with advisors, making plans for a parliamentary election, setting up schools—her man did it all.Including noticing everything about her.For better or for worse.
Perry leaned close, his warm breath against her temple sending delicious tingles through her as she remembered his low voice against her skin this morning and all the wicked things he’d done with that mouth.“How are you feeling?”
“Huge.”
“Pregnancy looks good on you.”
“Of course you’d say that.You knocked me up.I’m the size of a small planet, but thank you.”Twins.She was pregnant withtwins.The entire realm had celebrated.As much as she’d protested the theory that royal blood was linked to Kradnovtl’s survival, everything had changed with two little royals on the way.Crops had grown.The woods were green.The realm feltaliveagain.“How many more matters do we have to hear this session?”
“Just one more.But we need to wait a few minutes to begin.”
She fought the groan, but a tiny one slipped out.“Can they hurry it along?”A swift kick from one of the twins had her gasping.“I swear your kids are going to be cage fighters.”
“Ourkids, and they’ll be awesome at it if they’re anything like their mom.”He rubbed the sore spot on her back, and oh my powers, it felt sinfully good.“Need something to eat?I can send down to the kitchens for those lemon tarts you love.I meant to get you extras morning.I’m not as good at running your life as Jura was.”
“I miss her.”The part-fae had been in Queen Clio’s realm for months now.
“I know.She’ll be back soon.”
The faerie queen had sent a spelled mirror for Vori’s coronation.With it, Vori could communicate with Jura or her cousins in the human realm.Perry could talk with his father.It’d been a connection to all they’d left behind.“I’ll check on Jura tonight after this last session.She knows the happy couple.She’ll want to hear how wonderful today’s wedding was.I wasn’t sure when Clio suggested another marriage between our realms, but this seems to be a love match.”
Perry frowned.
“We can check on the witches first if you want,” she said.With the humans waging war on magic users, he had to be worried about his father.
“We can only save one realm at a time.”
“True.”Damn, she hated when he was right.Which was far too often.
“We’ve made a good start making sure this one has a future.For our family.You’re an amazing wife and queen.”
She grinned.“We could find a nearby room while waiting for the next court matter.You could express your appreciation privately.”
“Can’t.You had me install surveillance cameras everywhere except for our private suite.Something about being tired of security surprises and keeping the castle safe.”
“Ugh, we arewaytoo good at our jobs.”
He propped against the throne, his consort tattoo flashing gold behind his ear above the band he’d kept in honor of Kradnovtl tradition.“I’ll rub your feet later.”
“Ooh, now that is appreciation.Tell me the last matter isn’t a complaint.I don’t need a downer after such a good day.We get so few celebrations and so many of the you-need-to-save-the-realm kind of sessions.”
