leaves and breathed again.
The wind picked up, stirring around Marcus and me as though welcoming us.
The palace that had seemed to glow was now radiant, the marble sparkling in the sunlight’s caress.
I watched as a woman ran from behind the palace doors, her familiar face breaking through years of doubt.
Haweigh put a hand to her mouth as though to bite back a cry, and tears poured from her eyes as she raced down the stairs. She threw her arms around me and pulled me into her embrace. I had seen this woman be stalwart in the face of every sort of tragedy. She was a leader.
But now she was a mother.
I had been gifted with two amazing mothers, two wonderful fathers. I hugged her and silently thanked the universe, was grateful where I had been dissatisfied and self-absorbed.
“I had given up hope.” Haweigh pulled back and looked me over. “When that terrible barbarian came through, I thought all was lost.”
“That was my bad.” Kelsey held up a hand.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t understand what was happening,” I admitted.
Haweigh’s lips formed a hard line. “It was the witch’s fault. No. It was mine for letting her trick me.”
“And if it hadn’t happened, I wouldn’t have been waiting for my love,” I pointed out.
She took a breath and when she let it out, she seemed to let her anger go. “You are right. All things are as they must be.” She looked to my parents. “I should have known I would see you again. I have word that you have changed much since our last meeting. You are welcome to the Summerlands, Your Highnesses. And Marcus Vorenus, you are most welcome, my king. I have no doubt you will rule these lands with a patient hand and a loving heart.”
For the first time Marcus seemed a bit disconcerted. “I am merely my queen’s consort.”
Haweigh shook her head. “No. You are her balance. You are night to her day. King Marcus, as Summer was created to perform a necessary job, so were you. You are age and wisdom to her youth and enthusiasm. You have watched mighty empires rise and fall. You have seen the whole of humanity, the good and bad, and never did you give in to despair. Have you ever asked yourself why you were so capable of patience and kindness? You learned to survive loss, pain, to sacrifice when you were called to. Marcus Vorenus, as we have waited for Summer, so we have waited for you to finish your long journey home.”
I looked up at my vampire, and his eyes were shining with unshed tears.
“And I am grateful to be here,” he said.
Haweigh’s head came up as though she was hearing something the rest of us couldn’t. “We don’t have much time left. They will leave right before the evening comes, at the in-between time. She wants to speak with you. She’s held on for so long.”
My predecessor. I nodded and followed Haweigh inside. Everywhere Marcus and I walked seemed to come alive. It wasn’t that the palace wasn’t beautiful, it was simply that where we walked it was more. There was a glow we left in our wake that I couldn’t deny. And down each hallway I saw familiar faces. My tribe was there, and others. Little brownies peeked out of doorways, watching us. Trolls and sidhe stopped their work as the new king and queen entered. I could feel their relief, their deep joy at our appearance.
Their sorrow because an era was ending.
I left my parents, Dean, and Kelsey with my foster father, who joked with my mom about how she could take an arrow. Haweigh hustled us to the royal wing of the palace.
“They are in their bedchamber.” Haweigh stopped outside the big, elaborate doors. “Hurry. There’s not much time left. And daughter? It is so good to see you again. I have missed you and I forgot something.”
“What is that?”
“You were so blessed,” she said with a sigh. “You had such a great destiny that I forgot that you were also a little girl who needed to be told how loved she was. I did. I loved you, but I thought you would know. You should be told. I love you.”
I let go of any resentments I had. My tribe had loved me. “I love you, too.”
“I will take care of your parents while you speak to her,” Haweigh promised. “Night will fall soon, and it has been a long time since the palace has