gone, and if Leander was still searching for that demigod. Or had he and everyone given me up for dead, or as good as, by now?
Linking my arm with his, he helped me onto unsteady feet, and supported me out of the room that had witnessed my worst times, but also my most significant and happiest moments so far, both with him.
Through our descent from the tower, I felt the dark magic receding from my body, and I regained my strength and mobility, enough to steady myself by the time we reached the ground floor.
I was starting to worry if the briar field was still there, and how I’d clear it with Robin, when he pulled open the front door to reveal a clear view.
My curse, and all its amendments and counter-reinforcements, was broken.
Despite being literal, living proof of that fact, after a lifetime with its perpetual shadow darkening my every thought and cell, I couldn’t fully believe it yet.
Amabel galloped over to us, whinnying excitedly. I held out my arms, joyful tears springing from my eyes again as I wrapped my arms around her neck, a true hug this time.
“You are the best, bravest girl, Mabily,” I sobbed to her as I stroked her long powerful neck. “I don’t know what I would have done without you, in Faerie, and all my life. And from now on, there will be no more sneaking out to you when I can. Now it’s open fields and riding and playing—and apples and sugar, every day!”
She snorted and shimmied, seemingly delighted with my promise. I pulled back to rain kisses on her face.
“What about me?” Robin joined me in showering Amabel with affection, making her ears wiggle happily, his warm eyes melting indulgence over me. “Don’t I get at least one kiss for a job well done?”
There was the opening I needed to broach the insecurities that still niggled at me. “And now it is done, where do we go from here?”
“To your family, you know that.”
“I meant us.” I licked my parched lips. “You said you loved me, and you meant it, otherwise I wouldn’t be here.”
“I do mean it, with everything in me.” He suddenly frowned. “But I understand if you don’t feel the same.”
I pounced on him, grabbing his arms, still reeling at the feel of him. “Of course I do! Why would you think I don’t?”
He waved his hand around his head. “I’m the furthest thing from what you wanted, or what your parents would approve of. I’m half-fey, I lost my father’s title and lands, I’m a wanted man—the worst fit for even a lady, let alone a princess.” His mouth quirked in a resigned smirk. “The second they have you back, they’ll thank me, hopefully not arrest me, and send me on my way with a reward, then arrange for you to marry some prince or king.”
“They won’t. If they insist, I won’t be a princess anymore. Everything we’ve been through together made me realize who I am and what I want. I’m not meant to be a king’s wife or mother. I want to be more than that, and you want to be more than a vigilante. And I want us to be what we want to be, together.” I placed a trembling hand on his stubbled cheek, stomach in knots. “So are you going to stay with me, or will you vanish into the night again?”
He leaned into my touch with a squeeze of his eyes and a quiet groan. “I’ll stay as long as you want me to. If it’s for the rest of my life, then that’s what I’ll do.” Before I could jump with joy to give him that kiss he’d asked for, he added, “Besides, I miss spending time with your brother. And if I’m not arrested, I could talk to your father about a few things regarding the kingdom on a civilian level. I won’t make any promises about respecting Prince Jonquil, though. I’d sooner make him bow to me.”
“How would you make a prince bow to you?”
“Easy, with an arrow in his knee.”
Painful as that sounded, I couldn’t help laughing at how blunt he was about it. But then, he was the only one who could make me laugh this way. Everything he did made me feel—free.
And now I truly was. After a lifetime of having an executioner’s axe hanging over my neck, and the shackles of my status around it, they’d both been lifted.
As for all the obstacles