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Aiden removed his hand from Aeon’s shoulder and locked his fingers with Tempest’s. They gazed into each other’s eyes, their hearts beating as one. They were meant to be together, and nothing could tear them apart now. They leaned close for a kiss, their lips meeting in perfect harmony.
A look of understanding crossed Aeon’s face when they turned to him again, but he said nothing. Tempest studied the new emperor, wondering why someone she barely knew felt so familiar. She reached out to see his soul and suddenly understood. It was well-hidden, but she knew this soul almost as well as she knew Aiden’s. She would never know how she hadn’t recognized Aiden’s soul earlier, but there was no doubt in her mind as to who was before her now.
Aeon was the mortal trial of Vesper, god of stars and time.
Tempest chuckled to herself.
Aloysius had no clue who he had interfered with.
Not even a god dared to challenge Fate.
The End
…for now
Epilogue
AidenwatchedTempestasshe interacted with the young nymphs in her courtyard. They had returned to the land of the gods to make the transition of emperor less complicated. Every time he was in the room, the court deferred to him instead of Aeon—or, as Tempest had revealed, Vesper.
They told no one else of their discovery, but Aiden understood. If anyone would understand why Vesper had gone down to do a mortal trial, it would be Aiden. He had loved Tempest for centuries and would do anything to help her.
As the nymphs climbed onto Tempest, laughing and giggling, she fell over, tumbling to the ground. But Aiden just laughed along with them, enjoying the lightheartedness of this moment.
The nymphs seemed drawn to Tempest in a way that was almost inexplicable. They were enamored by her strength and beauty, admiring her from their tiny perches atop her body.
Tempest was clearly delighted by their attention, giggling as they climbed on top of her, tickling and teasing her all at once.
At last, after many laughs and moments of carefree joy, the nymphs finally dispersed back into the trees within Tempest’s estate. She lay there where she had fallen on the ground amidst a collection of leaves and grass stains. Aiden gazed down at his beloved goddess with pure adoration.
“What?” Tempest asked, breathless.
“You are perfection,” Aiden whispered.
Tempest smiled and closed her eyes. He knew she didn’t believe it for a moment. She knew how flawed she was, but she also knew that Aiden loved her anyway.
“It’s not my fault you took so long to realize how much I love you,” he teased.
“Oh, I knew. Not the entire time, but I knew.” She slowly stood up and brushed off her dress. “I wasn’t in a place where I could reciprocate it, so I ran. It was the biggest mistake of my life, but I couldn’t be who you wanted—needed—me to be then.”
Aiden approached her. Brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear, he replied, “I understand. I didn’t then, but I do now, and now is all that matters.”
Her grateful smile reached his soul. He pulled a small tin from behind his back and held it out in front of him.
“What’s this?”
He could feel his face reddening and glanced away. “Something I made for you.”
The tin disappeared from his hand, and a moment later a small squeal turned Aiden’s eyes back at her.
Crumbs tumbled from her lips as she spoke with a dandelion cookie in her mouth. “You really made these?”
He swallowed, then nodded.
Her arms flew around him and she embraced him, the tin poking into his back. “You’re the best thing that ever happened to me!”
“And you are the best thing that ever happened to me.”
