He gave Robin a quick glance, then went back to Theo. “Seems my, uh, illness was a little 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