Rainne blushed and wiped at her cheek. “It sounds like your minds are made up.”
“I know it’s hard to believe, but this isn’t a rash decision. It’s something we were considering before the accident. Isn’t it, Finnick?”
He nodded and turned to Rainne. “You more than anyone will realize how difficult it is for me.” He indicated his face and body. “This is my true self, my pure nature. To deny this was a living hell, but I had no way of reclaiming it. When the spell transferred to you, it stole my very essence. For seven years, I’ve been living someone else’s life and it was slowly killing me.”
Tears slipped over Rainne’s cheeks and Theo reached to wipe them away. Her heartache was difficult to witness.
“I do understand and I’m sorry I’m being selfish.”
“You’ll come back for the wedding?” Theo asked hopefully.
A cloud passed over Finnick and Fleur’s faces.
“Won’t you want to be married at Elvenwood? You can’t expect me to attend looking like this.”
Theo still wasn’t used to seeing the bulbous head and elongated ears, nor was he particularly fond of the jutting teeth, but he had liked Finnick well enough before to see past the ogreness of him. He seriously doubted anyone at Elvenwood would be as charitable. He had some work to do to erase centuries of prejudice at the palace.
“There might be a way around that, but we can discuss it closer to the date.” He could slip the couple in through a doorway and out again without anyone the wiser.
“I think you all are forgetting something very important.” Rainne tapped her finger on the edge of a teacup, a smirk on her lips.
It reminded him of the looks she gave in bed, when she had something mischievous planned. His body warmed and he tried not to think of her, naked, sitting astride him.
“Not only has Theo not asked me, I’ve not said yes.”
“I did ask.”
“No, you blurted out that you’d like to marry me, but I don’t remember a question in there.”
“You mean, you don’t want to marry me?” Theo’s pulse quickened and anxiety spun in his gut.
“Of course I do, you ninny. But I’m a lady. You need to court me properly. Woo me.”
“Woo you?” He didn’t even know what that meant. None of the books he’d read mentioned wooing. His anxiety twisted into panic. What the hell was wooing?
“You sure you want to marry her?” Pora jumped onto the chair next to Theo and cocked his head.
“Is that cat talking?” Finnick stared at Pora as if he’d grown four horns and a dragon’s tail.
“Yes?” Rainne looked sideways at her stepfather.
The duchess sputtered or coughed or laughed, Theo wasn’t sure which.
“I’ve missed this. All of this.” Fleur’s smile lit up her pale face. “Hello, Pora.”
“It’s good to see you up and around, Duchess. I told you everything would work out.”
Theo, Rainne, and Finnick stared from Pora to Fleur.
After breakfast, which was really more like supper considering it was mid-afternoon by the time Egritte left and they all had a chance to sleep for a few hours, Rainne and Theo went to the top of the tower where they could see all of Duir’s lands. He surveyed the area with an eye to improvements they could make not just to the castle, but outlying areas. The village had grown beyond its capacity and with a few minor adjustments could be a thriving city.
His gaze went to the grassy area where they’d fought the raiders the night before. The servants and men from the village had cleared the bodies before they’d woken up, and for that Theo was grateful. They’d have to come up with a solution to dealing with future raids. He lifted his face to the sky and breathed deep of the fresh air.
He’d proved to himself last night that he wasn’t a worthless prince. He could defend those he loved and protect their home. If he hadn’t been there, it would’ve been Rainne and Finnick against all eight men. Pora rubbed along his pantleg and he adjusted his count: Rainne, Finnick, and Pora against the raiders. He bent and scratched the fur monster’s head. In time, he might get used to a talking cat, but one thing at a time. At Duir, there were a lot of adjustments he needed to make.
And happily make them, he would. They would rebuild the foundations of the castle together, as well as their relationship.
He wouldn’t mind a place where he could set up his telescope and they could watch the stars together.
“I believe we’ll be happy here.” He wrapped his arms around her and she relaxed into his embrace.
“You won’t be bored by our rustic charm?”
His chuckle rumbled in his chest. “I was wrong to say such things. Duir is lovely and only as boring as I make it.” He turned her to face him and her smile drooped.
“What is it?”
“Is there anything else I should know before I begin my wooing? Any talking cows, or secrets you’ve kept?”
Rainne looked at her hands and Theo’s stomach flipped.
“I have one.” She glanced at Theo and he braced himself for the worst. “I think I saw your brother in the village just south of here.”
“You saw Therron and didn’t tell me?”
“It was dark and I didn’t know who he was. At Elvenwood, I recognized him by his scar. He was at the pub where I went to meet the witch. It was the night of the wolves’ attack. I wanted to tell you, but I was afraid.
“Afraid of what?”
“That you’d leave me to continue your search. I was scared and selfish. I should’ve told you. I’m sorry, Theo.”
Theo took a long, calming breath. She hadn’t known who Therron was, and even if she’d told him at Elvenwood, well, it was too late now to go after his brother. He couldn’t bemoan the past.
He caressed Rainne’s cheek and kissed her lightly. “I have a feeling Therron is going to be just fine.” He moved to stand behind her and wrapped her in his arms. “I read the book.”
She half-turned. “And?”
“You’re right. There are two sides to every story. I was wrong to judge the fae harshly and mean to make amends for my bigotry.”
“We do the best we can with the knowledge we’re given.” She relaxed against him. “I judged you and Finnick harshly, too. And myself.”
He hugged Rainne close and sent a silent blessing to the gods. If he hadn’t gone after Therron, he never would’ve met Rainne. Life worked in strange circles.
Rainne’s body stiffened against his. “What is it? What’s wrong?” He scanned the landscape looking for raiders, but the day was peaceful.
“It’s coming on sunset.”
To the west, the sky was turning shades of purple and orange.
“I hate this time of day.”
Theo understood her fear. The spell or curse or whatever it had been had only just been removed, but there was still a lingering question of whether it would return.
“Whatever happens, we’ll handle it together.”
She turned to face him and he kept his arms wrapped around her. “Do you love me, Theo? Truly?”
He’d told her a dozen times that day alone that he did. “I love you, Lady Delarainne Dequette.” He got down on one knee and took her hand in his. “You would make me the happiest man in all the kingdom if you would consent to being my wife, my partner, my life mate.”
The sun dipped lower and her lip trembled. He couldn’t tell if it was in happiness or trepidation. Probably a mix of both.
“I will.” It was barely a whisper.
Those two words were what he’d longed to hear ever since he’d made his declaration a few hours earlier. He’d still woo her. Hell, he’d spend the rest of his life wooing her, but right then, as the sun disappeared and stars appeared above their heads, he was right where he wanted to be.
There, on their tower at sunset, he pulled her close and stole a kiss from her.
Will Ishnara’s curse ever be broken? Find out in FATAL ILLUSION, when Therron Mistwalker meets a fae
assassin who will either break the curse, or his heart.
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BOOKS BY TAMERI ETHERTON
The Fatal Fae
Fatal Illusion
Fatal Assassin
The Song of the Swords
The Prince of Dragons
The Stones of Resurrection
The Temple of Sacrifice
The Ruins of Betrayal
Standalone Books in the World of Faerie and Elvenwood
Fae Cursed
Sunset, She Fights
About the Author
Tameri Etherton is a USA Today Bestselling and award-winning author. She grew up inventing fictional worlds where the impossible was possible.
It’s been said she leaves a trail of glitter in her wake as she creates new adventures for her kickass heroines, and the rogues who steal their hearts.
She lives an enchanted life traveling the world with her very own prince charming and their mischievous dragon, Lady Dazzleton.
Read More from Tameri Etherton and explore the Worlds of Faerie and Aelinae at
www.TameriEtherton.com
Author Notes
I didn’t set out to write a book about accepting ourselves—the good, the bad, and the ugly, but that’s what Sunset, She Fights wanted to be. I hope in some small way Rainne and Theo’s story will help someone to accept not only themselves, but those that are different. We are all made of stars and we all shine in our own unique way. Kindness starts with ourself.
Since writing is never a completely solitary experience, I have a few people to thank who helped make Sunset, She Fights happen. Lynn Trahan, darling, you are amazing. Thank you for being available at a moment’s notice and beta reading for me!
Ever wonder where writers get their character names? Sometimes we ask our readers! A special thank you to Timothy Hall for coming up with Finnick’s name. Amanda Price came up with Pora, while Lynn Trahan and Tannie Lowe suggested Octavius and Edgar, respectively. We have Sammi Tuggle to thank for Rainne. A huge thank you to all of my wonderful readers and your creativity. Love you all.
Once again, my lovely editor Faith Williams at the Atwater Group worked her magic. Thank you, my darling!
The gorgeous cover was designed by Daqri Bernardo at CoversByCombs.com.
I’d like to thank my Dazzling Dragons. Having readers as fabulous as them is a joy I cherish.
The other authors in the Never After family - may your books do well and may we have more adventures in our Never After worlds!
To my fabulous husband David. Thank you for being my sounding board, my therapist, my business partner, and my favorite human. I love you.
Sunset, She Fights
Copyright © Tameri Etherton (2019) All rights reserved.
www.TameriEtherton.com
ISBN: 978-1-941955-30-7
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
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