Now, here we are, changed and somewhat hardened, yet stronger and better all the same.
ↄ
We spent most of the afternoon with Sara and Ian. While I was intrigued with their blooming romance and more than pleased with the pieces of the puzzle that had fallen into place, Aras was mostly interested in teasing Ian to death.
I think Ian was relieved to see us leave.
“There you are,” Sireen says as we arrive back at my room. She rushes over to my nightstand, grabbing a letter in her hand. “I knew you’d want to open it as soon as you got back. Weston brought it up to your chambers not more than an hour ago.”
She hands me the letter, making my heart leap at the sight of the Orien seal. Reeve.
When I first woke up, I had asked after him, hoping to make him proud by breaking through the dark. His plea by my bedside had nearly broken my soul, and I longed to make things better for him, no matter how small. Unfortunately, someone had to run the kingdom after Knox’s demise. Seeing how my parents weren’t willing to leave my side, Reeve volunteered.
As the future heir, it’s a role he needs to know well, but it also meant not getting to see him when I awoke. While I had Weston send him a message, I’ve been waiting for what seems like ages for his reply.
Now, the wait is over.
Careful not to tear the paper, I stretch the letter out between my hands.
Dear Brave,
Weston sent word that you are awake. I would say it took you long enough, but if Darcy were to intercept this letter before you read it, she’d probably tear me to pieces—bear or not. Either way, I’m happy to hear that you are well. You scared me, Brave. As your blood, I ask that you never try to die on me again.
You’ll be happy to hear that all is well in Orien. Better than well, actually. The Orien people have taken to the change with ease, as they are more than happy to end their previous reign of terror. You may already know this by now, but I never had to put Knox’s men to sleep, although you know Lo was chomping at the bit to have them all passed out in a heap. Instead, I showed them a copy of the treaty Weston sent, along with your letter detailing your plans. Once the men knew they no longer had to worry about Knox’s threats, they quickly halted their march. It was the first step in winning them over and establishing my future rule. I know I never got the chance to tell you, but I’m grateful for the role you’ve given me. More than anything, I aim to make you proud.
After you heal and the world has settled down a bit, I’m counting on your help. As a member of Ashen and loyal friend to Theron, I want you to consider being my liaison of sorts between our three kingdoms. Seeing as you nearly gave me a heart attack with your bout of unconsciousness, I figure you owe me.
Stay out of trouble, and keep an eye on your sister.
Your Cousin,
Reeve
Forty-Six
“Come on, Brave. We don’t have all night.”
Vivi waits impatiently by the door, her boot tapping in time with her pulse. Two whole weeks have passed since I woke up, and tonight is my last dinner as Theron’s guest. Tomorrow morning, we’ll set out for Orien with Mother, Papa, Aras, and the rest of Ashen. It’s still unclear where everyone will end up living, but for now, heading to help Reeve revive his kingdom is a good start.
“Settle down, Vivi. We have plenty of time before dinner starts. I’ve never known you to be concerned about being late in the past. Usually, we are the last to arrive.”
Vivi huffs and swings open the door. Apparently, she’s not in the mood to wait.
“Fine.” I sigh, grabbing her elbow and pulling her into the hall. And only because I’m feeling especially irritated, I add, “Do you have a meeting planned with Sam? A duel with poisoned daggers or a battle of crazed arrows, perhaps? You can pretend to hate him all you want, but I know there’s a little part of you that will miss him.”
And a big part of him that will miss her.
Oddly, Vivi seems to take the jab in stride. In fact, she seems to take everything with ease these past few weeks. It’s as if a giant weight has been lifted off her shoulders, and my wild little sister has been set free. I don’t know why I was ever worried about her reaction to losing the crown. My sister was never meant to be tied down to anything, much less a kingdom. The new freedom suits her well.
“You never know,” she says, tugging me away from the hallway that leads to the dining room and up another familiar set of stairs instead. It’s the same stairs I went up with Ian on my first night in Theron, leading to the rooftop where I sat with Mother and looked out over the stars.
“Vivi? What’s going on?”
She presses her lips, trying to keep them from curving up at the ends. “Something I’ve been waiting my whole life to see.”
My head pops back at her words, suddenly nervous to continue our trek up the stairs. Ignoring my protests, Vivi grabs my hand, tugging me up the last remaining steps. She stops at the door, hand hovering over the latch as she peers into my eyes. “You did it, big sister. You took the destiny our father had laid out for you, and you threw it into the air, scattering it into the wind. Then, when you were good and ready, you made it your own. There’s only one piece missing. Tonight, you’ll find it once and for all.”
She rises on her tiptoes, placing a sweet kiss on my cheek. “I love you, Brave. Now go begin the story you were meant to live.”
The door swings open behind her back. She ducks under my arm, disappearing down the stairs, and I’m left with nothing to look at but a brilliant ocean of stars and the boy with hair as dark as night.
Aras stands with his hands clasped behind his back, a knowing smile perched on his lips. The rooftop has been transformed into a living garden of silver leiths and vibrant blooms of reds and pinks. A small quilt rests at his feet, piled with elegant desserts that would normally make my mouth water if it weren’t for the handsome boy striding to my side.
Dressed in a dark blue tunic with gold trimming around the collar and sleeves, he stands out against the sky—a shining star in the night. His dark hair is messy, but artfully so, as if it has been specifically trained to tug on the strings of my heart. His teeth flash, and that perfect, perfect dimple almost sends me to my knees.
“You look ravishing, Bravest Penelope,” he says, stopping in front of me so he’s just out of reach.
My eyes make a show of trailing him up and down and back again. He rolls his shoulders at my scrutiny, fully enjoying the attention. “As do you, Aras Renn.”
He steps forward, taking my hand. “I’m glad to hear it, considering it took half the day and most of Ian’s staff to make me look this good. Even though it will be difficult, I’m going to need you to really try to focus. I have something very important to say, and I can’t have you ogling me like that or you’re not going to be able to listen.”
I rise onto my toes, my mouth pressed against his ear. “You drive a hard bargain, Aras. I can’t promise I’ll cooperate.”
His heart pounds in tune with my own, a nervous energy stealing his breath. “Then I suppose I’ll have to make this quick.”
He drops to his knee, and a rush of cool air floods my heating cheeks. He grasps my fingers with one hand, while his other holds tight to an old wooden box. I stare down at him, afraid to move and scare him away.
I’m quite positive this is his serious face.
“There once was a boy and a girl who grew up on the opposite sides of the world. The girl, wild and strong, loved her life, but she always felt as though something was missing. The boy, courageous and handsome beyond belief, always knew he was meant to be her missing piece.
“Then, one day, the boy saved the girl’s life. At first, the girl didn’t want to trust the boy, and she gifted him with weeks of frustration when all he wanted to do was to keep her safe. But then, as time passed and the boy’s shining personality began to win her over, the girl realized the boy was more than what he seemed. He was her handsome prince.
“Sadly, the boy, w
ho never believed the girl would ever long to be with him, traded his life away to a cruel monster in exchange for keeping her safe. Months went by, and the boy was horrible to the girl, making her cry and twisting her heart. The girl, who could have had her choice of any other boy in the world, refused to give up on him. Instead, she saved the boy, and then she risked her life to keep him alive again.”
He pauses, eyes washed with tears. Dropping my hand, he opens the box, holding it out for me to see. Inside sits a silver ring with a single emerald stone shining in the middle. My hands shake as he takes out the ring and slides it onto my finger.
“You once told me I was your story, Bravest. At the time, I didn’t want to believe that the one wish I had always wanted could come true. Now I do, because it already has. Marry me, Bravest Penelope. Make my story complete.”
I fall to my knees, wrapping him in my arms. “Yes!” I laugh, kissing his cheeks and wiping away the tears. “I can’t say it enough for you, can I? Yes, Aras Renn of Orien, I want to be your wife. I want to fall asleep by your side and wake up in your arms every day for the rest of my life. Our story will be the best one to ever be written. It already is, and it’s only begun.”
He beams, years of want and need coming together under the stars. Just as it should be. I run my finger across the ring, the emerald shining in the pale light from above. He covers my hand, bringing it up to his lips. “The ring was my mother’s. I know she’d want you to have it.”
I hold back the tears, pulling him forward until our noses brush. “Thank you. It’s perfect. I promise I’ll always cherish it.”
He kisses me, and a slow burning heat builds against our lips, rising with each new touch. Skies above, this boy is made of fire—tried and true. He doesn’t need magic to light me aflame; he never will.
Laying back on the roof, I hold my hand up above us, watching the stone sparkle and shine against the backdrop of the stars. “How long do you think they’ll give us?” I ask, relishing the tingles as he turns his head and kisses me on the cheek. “Two seasons? A year?”
After a moment, he reaches up, entwining our hands. The stars form a pathway to our destiny and tell us the story we’re about to write above. “They’ll give us forever, Bravest, and it still won’t be enough.”
Forty-Seven
Three Months Later
“Are you ready?”
Sireen’s reflection stares back at me in the mirror, her dark eyes searching to see if she can find any uneasiness in my expression. She won’t. The truth is that I’ve been ready for quite a while.
We arrived back at Ashen four days ago, after having spent some much-needed time with Reeve in Orien. While Mother is still the rightful queen, she is preparing her people for Reeve’s eventual rule, a role he has adjusted to well. As it turns out, Reeve’s idea to be honest with the Orien army rather than brashly put them to sleep has more than paid off. The men trust him. As a result, most everyone else in Orien does as well. The work there was satisfying, knowing we banded together to end their suffering and begin a new reign. But I’d be lying if I said today isn’t a welcome reprieve for us all.
It also happens to be the day of my wedding.
“Is she ready?” Vivi snorts from the balcony, keeping a watchful eye on the arriving guests. “She’s liable to claw our faces off trying to get down that aisle.”
I cut my sister a hard glance, trying to appear somewhat insulted. I end up smiling instead. She’s not that far off the mark.
“As soon as you are done with the braid, Sireen, we will head down to meet Papa.”
Sireen nods, busying her fingers as she finishes the intricate crown braid. How she has managed to get all of that hair tied up in once place, I’ll never know. When the braid is complete, she steps back, admiring her work in the mirror. Then, taking my arm, she pulls me to my feet.
“You look beautiful,” she says, turning me around in circles to make sure we haven’t missed anything. “Aras is going to have a fit when he sees you.”
The mention of his name sends tingles through my stomach. I try to cover my blush, but the mirror tells me I’ve done otherwise. Sireen is a miracle worker, and I couldn’t be happier with the new tunic and pants that she sewed for me. She’s done such an excellent job I almost don’t recognize the woman staring back at me.
The tunic is white with swirls of blue flowers running along the chest and down my arms. The sleeves are loose and flowy all the way to my wrists. The fabric, so smooth it feels like water, floats over my body in the most soothing of ways. A small rope belt sits at my waist, and the pants underneath are relaxed but elegant. Their rich blue is a perfect match for the flowers on my tunic.
I’ve never felt so pretty, and I’ve never felt so ready to leave this room and meet Aras in the gardens below.
A sharp knock sounds at the door. Without asking for permission, Reeve and Lo stroll into the room. I try to hide my elation at the sight of them together. Ashen knows Reeve would try to flog me if I didn’t. Lo flashes her teeth when she sees me, knowing what I’m thinking without me having to say the words.
As a common fixture at Orien’s castle, she and Reeve have become much closer. Together, they’ve worked to win the hearts of their people, who were still left frightened and unsure because of their last reign of terror. Lo has been an immense help to Reeve. I’m hoping she will be an even bigger part of his life in the future.
One that will give Reeve the love he has been missing since he was young.
“You’re actually going to get married in pants? I thought you were joking.” Reeve’s tone is playful, and Lo’s grin only widens.
“I’d never joke about my attire, Reeve. You should know that. Besides, it’s my day. Am I not allowed to be myself?”
Reeve steps toward me, so close we could reach out and touch. “I’m teasing, cousin. You are allowed to be yourself, even if you are a little odd.”
I laugh, thankful for my blunt cousin and his insufferable ways. “I expect to see you both sitting in the garden when the wedding begins. If you’re going to make it, you better leave now.”
“We’ll be sitting in the front row,” he says, pulling me into a tight hug. My back tenses, my arms flailing at my sides, surprised by his gesture. But when the initial shock wears off, I find myself hugging him tight in return.
Sireen clears her throat. “I believe it’s time, Brave. We should get moving.”
Reeve releases me from his hold, a light hue of pink blossoming on his cheeks. “There, are you happy now? You got your hug.”
“Elated,” I say, trying hard not to laugh. “Now, go take Lo and have a seat outside. You know I can’t walk down the aisle without my big cousin cheering me on.”
Lo grabs onto his hand, pulling him toward the door. “Come on, Reeve. Let’s allow Brave a few minutes of peace before she gives her heart away forever.” She turns toward me. “And good luck to you, Brave. I always knew this day would come, and I’m happy it’s with Aras.”
I watch them walk out the door, quietly closing it as they leave. My fingers slide over my lips, feeling the smile that rests there as I stare at the door.
We’re all going to be fine in the end, even Reeve.
ↄ
“I can’t believe the day is here. You’re not my little girl anymore.” Papa squeezes my arm as we look out through the back doors into the garden. The small area is packed, bringing back memories of my youth when I’d hide away in its flowers forever. Times have changed, but I can only believe it’s for the better.
Now my handsome prince waits for me on the other side.
“I’ll always be your little girl, Papa. Nothing will change that,” I say, hoping he can hear the promise in my words. “Besides, if you plan on staying in Orien with Mother, you’ll only be a half-day’s walk from Aras’ home. Who knows, you may even tire of seeing us so often.”
He laughs, rolling his eyes at the daughter who has always provided him with more than a little mischief. “I don’t know
about that, Brave, but I do have something to keep you company whenever we are apart.” He steps back into the room for a moment before returning to the balcony with a wide grin. When I catch sight of the black fur and blue eyes that rests in his palm, I almost cry.
“Papa! It’s wonderful!” He places the stuffed animal in my hand, an exact replica of the panther he once was.
“You see,” he says, wrapping my fingers tight around the panther’s fur. “Now, no matter where you go or what you do, I’ll always be with you. I know you have Aras, and I know he’ll take care of you well. But if you ever find yourself afraid or unsure of what to do, just hold onto this panther. He will watch over you, just like me.”
I beam at him, hoping he can see the joy in my eyes. The understanding that I’ll never be without him, no matter where I go. My papa will always hold my heart.
“It’s perfect, Papa.” I tuck the panther into my pocket, a precious gift I’ll always keep close. When I look up again, I find Papa’s eyes full of mist—the price of love, especially when it’s time to give it away.
“Come,” he says, opening the doors to the garden. “Let’s get you married.”
Forty-Eight
The gardens have been transformed, an earthy magic that doesn’t come from the blood, but from the heart.
I hold tight to Papa’s arm. Together, we walk down the rock path, lined with flowers of every kind of bloom. Our friends and family mark the sides of the path, seated along wooden benches all of Ashen worked together to create. Every face I see is a testament to the power of love, the unseen force that works for the good of all things. It is because of them that I am here.
Darcy. Ian. Sara. Mother. Vivi. Sam. Reeve. Lo. Crisp.
Their faithfulness has been unending, and here they stand, leading me to the one who I need most.
Aras.
At the end of the path, he stands underneath an arch of vines and woven flowers of every shade. Weston stands beside him, a stoic, yet proud gleam in his eyes. Aras bites his lip, swaying from his heels to his toes. His blue tunic matches the flowers on mine, making his eyes pop like the cloudless sky above. His hair is the perfect combination of messy and kempt.
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