wisp. The gods send them after all.”
I float my hand above one of them and nod, knowing Sage is right. It was a wisp that brought me to the academy. I wonder where they want to take me now.
“I will be back soon,” I tell my guys, knowing this is a part of my story I have to do alone. Two wisps stay at my side and one moves to float in front of me as I follow it through my people and to the forest. I look back to see Izora following her own wisps somewhere else in another direction. So we aren’t going to the same place it seems.
I follow the wisps for a good half an hour before reaching a clearing in the forest. On a glowing black rock lies the crown Narah had for me in her mausoleum, and surrounding it are dozens of other wisps, each floating together like they are dancing to a song only they can hear.
“I guess you want me to take the crown and become queen?” I ask the wisps, but it’s not them that answers me.
“My child, yes, you deserve the crown.”
A woman who glows white from every inch of her body appears behind the rock and slowly her features come more into view. She is stunning in an otherworldly way. Looking at her hurts and soothes me at the same time.
“I am the soul of Selena, but you know this, child. Come and kneel before me.”
In pure awe, I all but stumble to the goddess and kneel before her. Her hand rests on my head and I feel her magic wash over me. I look down to see my ruined clothes have been replaced with a black dress. It’s beyond beautiful, covered in ravens, and it has a high neckline with long lace sleeves. My hair half up and not the messy, blood-covered state it was a few seconds ago.
“Thank you,” I say nervously, and she laughs. It’s the most melodic sound in the world.
“I cannot have my new queen accepting the Throne of Luna in such clothing,” she answers me and I smile bashfully at her. “Now, you can never speak of this moment. Every queen or king that takes the throne will meet me or my sister’s soul for a moment. This is a gift given to only true heirs.”
“Thank you for this gift,” I whisper.
“Do you accept the Throne of Luna and promise to always protect its people and the forest?” she asks me, the weight of her question pressing on my soul for the answer.
Sensing my next words mean everything, I straighten my back and bow my head. “I accept the throne and promise to always protect my people and the forest.”
Selena rests the crown on my head and offers me her hand. “Now rise, Queen Corvina of the Dark Fae Kingdom. Long may you rule. Long may you live.”
In seconds, she fades away, and I miss her light almost instantly, but I know in my soul that was the last time I will ever see the goddess. Holding my head high, I follow the wisps back through the forest to the academy. When I get there, all the light fae and shadowborn are on their knees, bowing at Izora on the other side of the forest. She has King Urlic’s crown on her head and is wearing a silver dress covered in wolves. We both smile at each other as the dark fae begins bowing to me, and my mates all grin before kneeling. Even Ambrose nods his head and kneels. Without another thought, I run to my sister and she runs to me, too. We crash in the middle of all our people and hug each other.
Two sisters brought life into the Enchanted Forest all those years ago.
And now, two sisters will protect it, love it, and be the best royals the fae has ever seen.
Five years later
I wrap my arms around myself, rubbing the chill from my arms. Staring out into the Enchanted Forest from my balcony, the wind whips my hair around me and lifts the hem of my black dressing gown. The forest hums and sings with harmony and peace, much like it has done since I took the throne and promised my soul to the forest and its people. I glance back into my bedroom behind me where my mates are all laid out in various positions on our enormous bed. My dark soul belongs to the forest, but