burst from the wealth of happiness inside. "Yes, if you want me."
His arms slid around her waist, pulling her close as a fierce love lit his face. "I want you. Forever."
She swallowed, joy reducing her to tears as adversity never did. "I've waited for you for such a long time."
Charlie laughed. "My brother, the freakin' computer geek, is king."
His gaze still locked with hers, Harrison slugged Charlie lightly in the arm with a grin.
His eyes gleaming with mirth, Charlie hooked his other arm around Tarrys's shoulders. "And all you wanted, big bro, was for things to get back to normal."
Harrison's grin turned wry. "I'd say you don't always get what you wish for, but I think I just got more than I'd ever dreamed of." His gaze bore into Ilaria's, melding with hers, heart to heart. "My soul mate, mine for eternity." He lifted his fingers to trace her cheekbone as if enchanted by her.
Never had she felt so treasured. So...loved. Never had she imagined feeling such love in return. But there was still a question unanswered. The land had chosen him. But he'd yet to give his pledge in return.
"Will you stay?" she asked softly.
His brows drew together. "My kids..."
Ilaria squeezed his hand. "You'll visit often. We both will. And I'll find a way to heal whatever Baleris did to Stephie." She turned to Charlie. "If you or those you love get ill, I'll come."
The younger Rand smiled. "Thanks, Princess. Or do I call you Your Majesty or Your Highness, or something, now? Queen Ilaria?"
Ilaria smiled, a bubble of joyous laughter finding its way loose. "Just Ilaria will do."
But her gaze returned to Harrison as she waited for his answer. "Will you stay?"
Pained indecision in his eyes, he turned to Charlie. "I can't live without her. But my kids..."
Charlie clasped his brother's shoulder. "Your kids have their mother. And, hell, you only saw them every other weekend when things were good. Now you'll be able to spend a month at a time. And I'll keep a close eye on them in between your visits, I promise." His eyes turned serious. "Think about it, Harrison. You and Ilaria will rule the Esri. What better way to not only protect your kids, but our entire world?"
Ilaria felt the tension ease from Harrison's shoulders as the indecision cleared from his face. "You're right. About all of it." He turned back to her, joy sparkling in his eyes. Joy that slid sideways, his brows crinkling again.
Ilaria pressed her palm to his cheek with a smile. "What are you worrying about this time?"
"I just realized I'm not going to grow old."
She laughed. "Is that a problem?"
"No." He began to grin, and grabbed her around the waist, pulling her hips against his as he held her captive in the loving warmth of his eyes. "Even forever won't be long enough to love you." In his face, she saw the truth of his words and heard it echo in her heart. He loved her completely, body and soul.
As she loved him.
Epilogue
Three months later
Harrison looked around him with a wonder that refused to dim. He stood within the Fair Court of Esria, Ilaria at his side. The open hall was filled with Esri in their jeweled gowns and tunics, and humans in their suits and dresses. The hall shimmered like a rainbow of silks and flowers, brimming with music and laughter. And love.
Jack and Larsen were on the dance floor, Kade and Autumn sipping champagne. Charlie and Tarrys had their heads bowed together as they shared private laughter.
His marriage to Ilaria, the love of his now-immortal life, was less than an hour old. His heart threatened to burst with joy.
Stephie's sweet laughter rang through the open air as his kids ran through the throng, already hopelessly spoiled by the Esri to whom children were a rare and precious treat. As she'd promised, at the first full moon after her rise to power, Ilaria had returned with him to the human realm to heal his little daughter, bringing her back, whole and perfect, from wherever it was her mind had retreated. Stephie hadn't remembered Baleris or anything after.
While he and Ilaria were in the United States, meeting with the Sitheen, and reclaiming the captured Esri, Tarrys, who was no longer enslaved thanks to Ilaria and her draggon stone, had led Charlie and Findris safely through the Forest of Nightmares as only a Marceillian priestess could. Ilaria had sent them to free her men. Charlie had worried they might