Pryn approached them, slipping her arm around Robin’s waist. “Today was a good day. One for the history books.”
Robin put his arm around her as well. To have his mother back again after so long was just amazing. “I hope everyone accepts Marken as their king.”
“You mean the fae?”
He nodded.
“I don’t think that will be an issue,” Pryn said. “Limna is fae, so they will be well represented.”
“That will definitely help. Are there a lot of fae in the highlands?”
“Some,” she answered. “But more with mixed blood.” She smiled at him. “Interested in your heritage, are you?”
“My heritage?” He frowned. “I’m not sure I know what you mean.”
“Your great-grandmother on your father’s side was fae. And my mother had a little in her blood as well.”
“What?” He shook his head. “This is a discussion for another time, but I want to know more. Right now, we need to get back to Shadowvale and the people waiting on us there, who have to be absolutely frantic that we’ve been gone so long.”
Theo’s brows knit with worry. “I never meant to leave my father this long.”
Pryn stepped up onto the fountain’s edge and held out her hands to Robin and Theo. “Then let’s go. I want to see this land called Shadowvale.”
Robin took one of her hands, and Theo took the other as they joined her on the edge. Robin glanced over at Theo. “Ready when you are.”
She smiled at him, then spoke the words to open the portal. “Peri peri nixie ta.” The blue glow appeared instantly. She looked back at him. “Let’s go home.”
When they stepped out of the fountain on the other side, Welten put a hand to his chest as he came toward them. “You’re back. I was starting to think I’d never see you again.”
“I’d never leave you, Dad.” Theo embraced him. “And look. We brought Robin’s mom with us.”
Amelia, never one to appear all that worried about much, actually seemed relieved. She glanced at Pryn, then at Robin. “Is that what held you up? Or did you have trouble?”
“A little of both, but it all worked out,” Robin answered. With a smile he couldn’t contain, he introduced his mother. “Amelia Marchand, Welten Middlebright, this is my mother, Pryn Gallow. Mom, Amelia is the founder of Shadowvale, and Welten is Theo’s father.”
Welten stuck his hand out. “How about that? Nice to meet you, Pryn.”
“You, too, Welten. Your daughter is a real treasure.”
He beamed. “That she is.”
Pryn turned to Amelia, who took Pryn’s offered hand. “What a pleasure to meet you.”
“Thank you. It’s a pleasure to be here.” She smiled at Robin. “And to be with my son again after so many years.”
Amelia’s gaze held a deep understanding. “I’m sure you missed him terribly.”
“I did. But now that I’m here, I’m looking forward to seeing the place he’s called home all these years.”
“Shadowvale is a marvelous place,” Amelia said. “But then, I’m rather biased.” She glanced at Robin. “Will you be able to explore the town now, or…”
“Vesta was not only deposed as queen, but she was forced to remove the curse she put on me. I guess we’ll soon see if that’s what she actually did. Otherwise, I’ll be making another trip back to Limbo.”
“Deposed?” Amelia asked. She flattened her hand against her stomach as if something had just upset it. “I see. I suppose that means you’ll be taking the throne back, then?”
“No. I’m staying right here. Limbo is in far more capable hands than mine.” He gave Theo a smile. “But we’ll be visiting now and then.”
Amelia exhaled. “I am very glad to know we won’t be losing you. In fact, I’m even happy that you both have family with you now. Speaking of, I’m sure you have a lot of catching up to do. I should go. I have work of my own to attend to.”
“Amelia,” Robin said. “About that. If I could have a word with you?”
“Of course.”
Then he noticed his mother had taken a seat on the bench. “Mom, are you all right?”
She nodded. “A little tired is all.”
Welten was leaning on Theo. “I suppose we all are after that adventure.”
“Let’s go inside, then.”
Theo shook her head. “Have your chat with Amelia. I’ll take them in. We’ll be in the dining room, too, because I can already smell Mrs. Applestock’s biscuits. Amelia, you should join us for breakfast.”
“Thank you, but I don’t want to intrude on time with family. We’ll get together soon, I’m sure.”
“All right. Thanks again for your help.”
“You’re welcome, Theodora. Welten, don’t forget what we talked about.” Amelia gave them a wave, and as Theo left, taking Pryn and Welten with her, Amelia turned to Robin. “Now, what was it you want to talk to me about?”
* * *
Theo decided on the small dining room. The one where she and Robin had had their dinner. She couldn’t forget that he’d told her he’d pictured family meals in there, and breakfast with his mother and her father seemed to fit that bill.
She got Pryn and her father seated at the table, then ran to the kitchen to let Mrs. Applestock and the rest of the staff know what was going on.
To a person, they all seemed genuinely excited to have Robin’s mother in the house. As expected, Mrs. Baton and Elswood were less enthused about the arrival of Theo’s father. She ignored their lukewarm response and asked for coffee to be sent up with biscuits and jam as soon as possible. It had been a long night and a tiresome adventure. They were in need of sustenance.
Mrs. Applestock promised to get the coffee and biscuits out to them quickly, followed by the rest of the breakfast she was already preparing.
As Theo left, Elswood was loading a cart with the things she’d requested. She got back to the dining room and found her father and Pryn in a deep conversation about something that they immediately went silent about. Probably her and Robin, if she had to guess.
The man himself walked in a few moments later. His battle leathers had been replaced by track pants and a T-shirt.
She gave him a once-over. Whatever he had on, he was a sight to behold. “Everything all right with Amelia?”
“Very all right.” He kissed her cheek. “Thank you, by the way, for everything you did in Limbo.”
She grinned but shrugged. “Everything we did. We did all that together. And I have to say we make a pretty good team.”
“You make a wonderful team,” Pryn said.
Welten raised a finger. “I’ll second that.”
Robin and Theo took their chairs. With them now at the table, every seat was filled. He looked out over the group and smiled. “This is really something.”
Theo smiled. “A family meal in the family dining room?”
He nodded. “Exactly.”
Elswood arrived with coffee, tea, cream, sugar, biscuits, two kinds of jam, pear butter, and marmalade. He filled their cups, then piled the table with the food and disappeared again with the promise to return shortly with more filling fare.
They tucked in. Robin started with coffee. “There are plenty of rooms in this house, so we’ll find some that you like and get you both settled in. Then, if I may be so bold, Welten, we need to get you to a doctor and see what help is available. Theo said you’ve been unwell.”
He nodded. “I have. And about that…” He looked at Theo. “Your friend Amelia out there. She’s a witch, you know.”
“I know.” Theo spread nightberry jam on her freshly buttered biscuit and wondered where this was going.
“Well, she said there’s the taint of fairy magic on me.”
Theo stopped spreading jam to look at him. “Is that what she meant when she told you not to forget what you’d talked about?”
He nodded, looking a bit sheepish. He gave Robin a quick glance, then went back to Theo. “Seems my, uh, illness was a li
ttle bit of fairy dust your mother sprinkled on me years ago.”
Theo put her knife down. “Mom cursed you? I don’t believe that for a second.”
He sighed. “Not a curse so much as…encouragement.”
“In plain language, please.”
He sighed harder this time. “When I gamble, I get sick.”
She stared at him. Hard. “Are you serious? All this time, I thought you were dying, and you were just losing money?”
He made a frustrated face. “Well, we’re all going to die sometime. I was just hoping to do it with a little bit of coin in my pocket.”
A moment of silence passed. Then Pryn snorted. And Robin laughed. Soon, Theo couldn’t help but join in, and Welten followed.
He wiped at his eyes. “I’m sorry for everything I’ve put you through. I know I haven’t been the best father. And your life hasn’t been easy.”
She was too happy to be truly mad. “It’s all right. You know, if you hadn’t been sick, and I hadn’t thought you were dying, I never would have ended up here.” She looked at Robin. “I guess in a way, I have my mother to thank for all of this.”
Out of habit, her hand went to her throat, where the necklace used to be. Her smile faded.
“Speaking of your mother…” Robin got out of his chair and walked around to her, digging in his pocket as he approached. “I have something for you.”
He held out the necklace she’d given to Amelia for the starstone mine.
Her mother’s necklace. Theo almost sobbed as she shook her head. “Thank you. But that was supposed to make our way. Without that…we don’t have a thing to our names.”
“Yes, you do. When we were in the courtyard, I took a handful of seed pods off that elestia tree. Just now, out in the garden, I explained to Amelia that starstones aren’t mined. She understands completely. She’s going to start a grove of elestia trees in a protected park. The Caralynne Middlebright Grove. You and your father will have plenty to take care of yourselves with.”
Theo took the necklace and pressed it to her heart, doing her best not to cry. “I can’t say thank you enough. You’ve changed my life.”
He knelt at her feet. “And you’ve changed mine. For the better. In ways I can’t even express.”
He took the necklace from her and fastened it around her neck. “There is one more thing you could do for me, though.”
“Anything. Just name it.”
“Marry me, Theodora. Because I cannot imagine being without you. Because you said yourself we make a pretty good team. Because I am so in love with you that I will die if you say no.”
She laughed, no longer able to hold back the tears of happiness spilling down her cheeks. “That’s really unfair. Now I can’t say no.”
“Was that a possibility?”
She grinned wildly. “No, Your Highness. Not even remotely. But are you sure you really want to hitch yourself to a woman like me for the rest of your life? I have a reputation, you know.”
“I like moody women. Well…” His mouth twitched into a smile. “Just the one, really.”
“In that case…yes.”
Epilogue
Robin wrapped Theo just a little tighter in his arms as they reclined on the chaise watching the stars on their balcony. On the side table were a plate of iced oatmeal cookies and two hot toddies. The night was clear and slightly cool and utterly flawless. He’d never imagined his life could be this perfect, but here he was without a want in the world and the most profound sense of contentment he’d ever experienced. He kissed her temple, just above her braid.
She tipped her head back to see him. “What was that for?”
“Just for being you.”
With a smile on her face, she snuggled in closer. “The coronation ceremony was perfect, wasn’t it? Simple but beautiful and regal in a way that wasn’t the least bit gaudy.”
“Such a contrast to everything Vesta was.”
“For sure.” She stretched a little. “Soon they’ll all be here.”
He smiled. “Yes, they will be.”
“I can’t believe I’m marrying the former king of Limbo and that the current king and queen will be at our wedding.”
“And what a spectacular wedding it will be.”
“Thanks to all the help we’re getting from your mom and Gracie and Em.” She shook her head. “I also can’t believe you invited the entire town. This wedding is going to cost a fortune.”
“What better way to get to know our neighbors? And the cost doesn’t matter. There will be buckets of starstones in our future when the grove starts producing.”
“I have to pay my father’s debts off first. But according to Amelia, that could be as soon as a month from now. Her magic must be incredibly powerful to grow those trees so fast.”
“Her magic is very powerful and nothing short of amazing.” He slipped his hand under hers, and she interlaced her fingers with his.
Then she sighed a happy little noise. “Life is good.”
“Yes, it is.” Suddenly, movement caught his eye near the edge of the balcony. He sat up. “Pepper?”
The little black cat sauntered over and sat near the chaise, giving Robin a look that clearly said dinner had better be forthcoming.
He looked at Theo, then back at the cat, then at Theo again, frowning.
She sat up, too. “What?”
“You can’t be in two places at once, right? I just want to make sure.”
She coughed out a barely suppressed laugh. “You thought I was the cat? Sneaking up here to spy on you?” She gave the cat a wink. “Nice job, Pepper.”
“So you weren’t? Aren’t?”
“No. That would be sort of devious.” Her smile was sly and mischievous. “But I love that you thought I’d do something like that. I mean, it keeps you on your toes, doesn’t it?”
“Yes. Wait. Hold up. The second time I talked about having a cat visitor, you knew Pepper’s name without me telling you. How do you explain that?”
“I’m sure you mentioned it.”
“I didn’t.”
Her mouth bunched to one side, and she tipped her head coyly. “A good guess?”
He narrowed his eyes, so amused with her he could hardly stand it. “Theodora.”
“Okay!” She bit her bottom lip. “I might have been the raven in the tree.”
He snorted. “Oh, I see. Cat is devious. Raven is fine.” He chuckled. “I didn’t know what the rules were.”
“I was just checking on you. To see if you needed company.”
He pulled her close, pushing them both back against the cushion. “I always need your company.”
“I don’t know. You were pretty busy scratching Pepper and rubbing his belly.”
“Jealous, huh?”
She giggled.
Pepper meowed, clearly less amused by their banter.
Robin sat up again. “I think someone wants some dinner. Hey.” He looked over his shoulder at her. “How do you feel about adopting this stray and spoiling him silly? I’m talking about moving him into the house. Getting him his own bed. That sort of thing.”
She sat up, looped her arm through his, and studied the little animal. “I think he’d be a welcome addition. Would you like that, Pepper?”
The cat jumped up onto the end of the chaise, turned around once, then lay down. He lifted his head and meowed at them.
Robin slanted his eyes at Theo. “I think that’s a yes.”
She shook her head. “I think that’s a reminder that he still wants his dinner.”
“I’ll ring for Elswood.”
“I’m glad Marken told us that Vesta confessed that she didn’t have any spies in Shadowvale, but do you think Elswood and Mrs. Baton will ever get used to the idea of my father and me living here?”
“Yes. In fact, I think they’ve already softened a little since they’ve seen how happy you make me. Really though, they just need something new to be cranky about.”
“Well, in that case, Pepper
is a perfect addition.”
Robin laughed. “Yeah, they aren’t going to like having a cat in the house at all.”
Theo leaned toward the cat and gave him a scratch on the head. “You just became my new favorite resident of Gallow House, little one.”
“Thrown over for a cat. That didn’t take long,” he teased.
She chuckled. “Don’t worry, I’m still going to marry you.”
He sighed in mock relief. “I’m glad to hear that.” He dug into his pocket for the ring he’d been planning to give her over dinner tomorrow. “I’d hate to have to return this.”
She gasped. “Oh, Robin. Is that real? It’s stunning. Huge. But stunning all the same.”
He smiled. “You’d better believe it’s real.”
“That might be the biggest starstone I’ve ever seen outside of the royal jewels. And are those emeralds surrounding it?”
He nodded. “I thought that would be a nice tribute to your mother. She’s the reason we’re here, after all.” He slipped the ring on her finger.
She held her hand out, turning it slightly to let the gems catch the light. “How thoughtful. I love that. And I love you. Thank you, Your Highness.”
“You’re welcome, Moody.”
Pepper meowed, a much more plaintive cry this time.
Robin swung his feet to the floor and stood. “I’d better get his tuna.”
Theo caught his hand. “I could go for another slice of that cake Mrs. Applestock made for last night’s dinner.”
He shook his head in amusement. “With ice cream?”
“Is there any other way?”
“On it.” He looked down at Theo and Pepper, his new little family, and thought about his mom and Welten off in their own rooms and realized that he’d gone from feeling like the loneliest man in the world to one of the luckiest.
Gone were the thoughts of regret, revenge, and loss. His mind was filled with happy plans for the future now. His life had completely changed, and the bouts of dark rage he’d once fought against had vanished.
Moody had tamed the beast.
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