FULL NOVELXO Chapter Song of Sorrows and Fate: Epilogue 4
“This is going to be a disaster, sweet menace.” Ari crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m telling you. I pride myself on my logic, my ability for reason, but not on this. Not this.”
I chuckled and pecked his lips. “I think you’re being a bit overbearing.”
“Overbearing, she says.” He scoffed. “Overbearing would be chaining the girl to my wrist and dragging her to this dull council instead of allowing her to attend a masque—a bleeding ball—where stupid, feckless boys will be pawing at her, and don’t say they won’t be, she’s gods-awful lovely and I’ve been a stupid, feckless boy before.”
I kissed Ari a little longer this time. First, for my sheer enjoyment. Second, because it soothed his busy tongue and mind.
When I pulled back, his shoulders relaxed a bit. “Ari, I love you.”
“This, I know.” He kissed the tip of my nose. “But that is not the point of this discussion, wife. I’m going to box her away. I’ve officially become that father and it’s an awful look on me. I’m not this man. I’m levelheaded—”
“I would challenge that.”
“In most things,” he insisted. “When it comes to this, no. I’m a fiend, and I plan to become so should one sod give her the slightest salacious glance.”
Gods, I loved this man. He was utterly enraptured by me, by our daughter, and he proved it every sunrise, and every sunset. Some might laugh, thinking Ari was merely attempting to be humorous, but in truth, he would start an entire war all over again should someone break his girl’s heart.
“She’s sixteen, Ari,” I said, trying to be reasonable. “It is bound to happen.”
“I detest that answer. Tell the others I must skip this turn’s festivities out of illness. Mira came down with it too. We’ll stay here.”
“Maj!” As if summoned, Mira burst into the room. Her dark, wispy curls were a bit wild, and her cheeks were flushed as she spun around holding a gown made of satin and velvet and intricately woven runes of gold in the threads against her body. “It came! What do you think?” She didn’t wait for my answer and faced Ari. “Daj? Think it’s pretty? I love it, but what do you think?”
She swayed side to side, a new kind of thrill on her face.
This turn at the annual Crimson Festival, what we all determined to name the anniversary of the battle’s end, the young royals and courtiers had pleaded to attend the ball. They insisted they were old enough to mingle amongst courtiers and warriors without the supervision of their parents. While our children celebrated at the fort of Raven Row, the kings and queens went to Kunglig—what Calista and Silas called their palace.
It was agreed, the littles were not so little any longer.
They were welcome to attend the masque. A masque requested, to our surprise, by Kase and Malin. As if they needed to know joyous masquerades could exist. As if they need to see lightness in the memories of their darkness.
“Daj?” Mira smiled up at him. “What do you think?”
Ari grinned. He cupped her cheek and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I think you will be the brightest star, Starlight. It looks beautiful.”
She faced me.
“Stunning, Mir. I love it.”
With a little squeal she turned around, calling over her shoulder, “I can’t wait to show Livie!”
Once we were alone, I slipped my arms around Ari’s waist from behind. “You know what I think?”
He covered my hands on his flat stomach with his own. “I am always, always game to know what you think.”
“I think.” I kissed the place between his shoulders. “You, Ari Sekundär, are a wonderful father.”
Ari lifted one of my palms to his mouth and kissed the center. “I wouldn’t be so certain.”
“Why is that?”
He turned into me. “I’m going to demand all the prints and plans of that damn fort, so I know where to strategically place every bleeding blood fae watcher. In fact, when we arrive to the Row, Bo will be placed on Mira. He’ll track her every move.”
I wanted to groan. I thought to tell him he was insufferable. Instead, I laughed, and cupped the back of his head, kissing him deeply.
Ari let out a sigh, his tongue brushed mine as he took possession of the kiss and demanded more of me. My back struck the wall. Ari dug his fingers in my hair. He kissed me until our lips grew raw and swollen. He kissed me until I was on the verge of arriving late to the fort to spend a bit of time tangled in my husband’s arms and legs.
When he pulled back, Ari dragged his fingertips across my cheek. “You are my perfect menace, Saga.”
“You are the most beautiful bastard,” I whispered.
Turns since our battles ended, turns since fate gave us a new path, a new chance to live the life we’d dreamed of, and I had reveled in every moment. Every busy word, every deep, pensive thought. I took all of Ari and held it close to my heart.
No, our life was not simple and quiet as we’d once dreamed. I was not an ambassador’s wife. I was a queen; he was my king. We ruled a realm instead of living humbly in a small longhouse somewhere in the fae isles, and yet, I would not change any of it.
I was certain none of the royals would ever change the paths that brought us here. We’d lost much, but we loved fiercely, and we knew by now, there was nothing we would not do to defend those we loved.
We were friends.
We were family.
We were free.
At long last, through blood and pain and tears, the Broken Kingdoms have reached . . .
The End.