me tightly. The two of us remained in our loving embrace for a long moment.
"When I first met him, I think I was a kid. He helped me accomplish getting to the throne, and he appointed me queen. He encouraged me to spread love, happiness, and peace and said when I awakened, my wish would come true."
"What did you wish for?"
"I'm scared to say," I mumbled and gathered the strength to lean back to look up at him. "What if it ends up not coming true if I say what it is?"
He stared down at me with softened eyes and lowered his head until our foreheads pressed together.
"Then you don't need to say a word," he assured me. "All we can do is hope it comes true."
"Why we?" I inquired. "You don't have the same wish as me."
"Your wish will bring you happiness. As long as it does that, I wish exactly the same."
"I never knew you could be romantic," I teased.
"Hmph," he muttered. "Only because you look tired as fuck. You don't have the energy to deal with my normal bullshit."
"So you know your usual behavior is absurd."
"Is not," he huffed and blushed a little.
With a smirk, I leaned up to gently brush my lips against his.
"Thank you for sticking by my side. For never abandoning me, even though we moved to the dark side for a little bit."
"I said I'd never leave you. No matter what the circumstance or side we landed on. You're sadly stuck with me."
"Annoying," I huffed and he kissed me gently.
"Whatever. You like my company."
"Sadly," I countered and he rolled his eyes. "You still owe me chocolate."
"Sure," he casually replied.
"Don't you forget."
"I haven't," he assured me and gave me a kiss on the forehead. "We should get you to bed."
"I guess..." I trailed off as the idea of leaving to retire for what surely would have been the night made me sad. I thought I'd see some sort of sign that things would be even better, but it looked as though we'd really have to find an alternative for retrieving the souls of my men.
A tender melody began to drift to my ears, one that sounded like a flute that serenaded us through the air. I couldn't sense where it was coming from. It sounded almost as though it was being amplified to drift all around the restored castle.
"Where's the music coming from?" I pondered.
"A hummingbird shifter?"
"There's such a thing?"
"Yes," he replied. "Rare, but possible, though why now? Were they a part of the kingdom you awakened?"
We continued to listen to the serenading music, but I froze at the gentle yet thundering voice that began to sing the ballad masterpiece.
"Your tears make our hearts thrum like drums, anxious to embrace you. Your sadness makes our lungs expand to bring air into you. Without your light, there's only darkness, there's no life without you. Those blue jeweled eyes. Those luscious long locks. A heart of gold that’s tainted blue and black. Oh, beautiful queen. One villainous dream. A woman who hides your true beauty."
I pulled away from Omarion and forced my body to take the two steps I needed to reach the wall of the balcony, my eyes growing massive at the sight as my lip immediately trembled and my heart hammered against my chest.
Striking purple eyes locked onto mine as their glimmer heightened further while a stunning smile graced those soft lips that opened up to sing louder.
"From afar, trapped in a cage between life and death, we watch as our flower blossoms through the rain. No matter the shadow, the pain and neglect, we watch her flourish into something far brighter. No one can stop the delight she aims to bring. No one can stop the power of her beautiful reign. We watch until freed from our own shackles of dismay, and once again, we're united, together again."
His eyes watered at those words. I already was a crying mess. The soothing cold breeze did its best to wrap around us as I took in the hummingbird flapping its wings swiftly.
Omarion let out a sigh before he muttered, "I swear to the heavens, y'all weren't missed one bit."
"Hey! Don't let me get up there, you jackass!"
"Otis, you're ruining the closing part of the song."
"I don't give a shit. Why we gotta make a whole damn- GAH!"
"Did I say I was finished?!"
"You fucking punched me!"
"I'll fucking beat you with these damn hands if you don't let me finish!"
"Is this really the time for you two