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Phantom and Rayne open their eyes, looking panicked and confused. I start to cry, but I want to be sure.Is Phantom… himself again? Is Rayne… Adrik or himself?
“Rayne?” I ask, and his name comes out no louder than whisper.
But he looks at me and smiles. “Yeah, it’s me. And my dumb ass plan worked.”
I laugh, hug him, and give him a kiss. Then, I turn to Phantom.
Those dark eyes of his find mine. He reaches up and touches my cheek, and I try not to shrink back. To remember the man he was with that shard in his chest. “Ann, I’m so sorry.”
I break, wrapping myself around him, and then we’re all hugging. Holding each other in the rain. Falling apart because of all that we lost, but also knowing that at last it’s over. The Shadow King has fallen. The Void is gone. And we’re all together.
In war there’s never truly a victory, but this is as close as we can get.
EIGHTEEN
Ann
It’s been months since that day in the woods, since Shenra and I rode in and found Phantom and Rayne seemingly dead. And things have changed in every way imaginable. I live in my mother’s manor now, although she’s retired to some place quieter and more tropical. I’m theladyof the manor. And the world is becoming what it used to be only better now that I have my mates with me.
It’s perfect. Everything I ever imagined life could be and more.
I stretch and roll onto my side to look at Dusk. His smile spreads across his lips as he leans in for a kiss. On the other side of me, Onyx runs his hand down my spine, kisses my shoulder, then makes a soft noise, and I’m sure, falls back asleep.
Dusk and Rayne are next to them, completely out. Not even stirring with the morning light filtering through the curtains, probably because they were up late putting the finishing touches on the new room next door to ours. The room that whispers of dreams beyond any we imagined before.
I lie still for a while, surrounded by the men I love, a smile glued to my face. I sleep on and off as I dreamily think of my new life running my family lands. Because, apparently, after all was said and done at the Royal Fae Academy, they decided to pass me. I guess helping to save all of my kind means I have the skills to rule my own lands.
It’s amazing lying between them, on a soft bed, with food in our stomachs. But after a while, I can’t quiet my mind enough to slip back into sleep, and realizing my men have all gone back to bed, I slip out between the tangle of their limbs and go to the window and look out.
The landscape is lush and full. Flowers bloom. Leaves and grasses grow. People smile,mypeople, as they go about tending to our lands and working away in the little town just beyond the gates of our home. This place is like a fairy tale hidden away in the middle of all the human cities, and I love every inch of it.
I’ve almost forgotten how long I spent here, miserable, alone, and being hurt by my stepfather. For all the lives we’ve saved, I’m glad his wasn’t and that he’ll never be able to hurt me again. I still haven’t asked for the details on how he died, but I know my men were involved.
Those grumpy guys would do anything for me. Forus. For our family.
Happiness is making a comeback in my life, and I’m here for it, forallof it, and I’m never going to let it go. If that war taught me anything it’s that no one is guaranteed a tomorrow, so we have to enjoy as much of our lives as possible. Not by throwing big parties or wearing fancy dresses, but by surrounding ourselves with the people we love.
And that’s exactly what I’ve done. Whatwe’vedone.
My body is changing with each day that passes, and I lay my hand over my stomach, smiling. There’s only a slight bulge there, but it doesn’t matter. I know that inside of me is so much hope. So much love. Everything we ever wanted and more.
I dream for the day this baby is born. For what she can be and how much we love her. Because I know in my heart that no child will ever be more loved that this one. By my men. By me. Even by Esmeray and her partners, who accepted all of this faster than I ever would have imagined, and who have plans to visit often.
“We’re bringing you into a beautiful world full of love,” I whisper to my belly, then press my hand over it.Is that a flutter?Probably not. It’s probably too soon, but I imagine I feel the baby.
I never thought I would ever… feel such peace and contentment, such love. “Your fathers are going to love you unconditionally.” I look down at the hand on my belly then out the window. The sky is so blue I think it must be painted and the trees are waving in a breeze that blows across the grasses and the flowers, too. We have so much to be thankful for. So much to love. “They’re good and kind and brave. Heroes, every one of them.”
“Yeah, we are.” Phantom’s arms slip around me from behind, and I jump a little, surprised, but then lean into him. He’s warm and solid.
I turn in his arms to face him because I want to touch him, look at him, feel the solidity that is him. When he smiles down at me, his pec muscle twitches and I trace the silver scar just over his heart.
Our kiss is slow and sweet, sensuous.
“I think of them often, my people.” I know. Sometimes, I see him staring, thinking, knowing he’s torn between this life and that. “I know Shenra will be a good queen, that they’ll follow her, and that she’ll take care of them. But I still can’t help wondering about them.”
I nod. There’s no doubt in my mind that Shenra is a woman of power, but that she’ll wield it with mercy and grace. As hard as it is for my men not to be there to help, it was the right decision, for everyone.
He nuzzles my neck and kisses my throat. “You’ve saved me in every way I could’ve been saved.”
