Chapter 251: LAST CHAPTER: The Little Princess
The warm, golden light of the late afternoon sun washed over the high balcony of the Sovereign Palace, painting the smooth white marble beneath my boots in bright, vibrant colors.
Five years had passed since the sky tore open. Five years since the massive glass windows of the clinic shattered outward, announcing the arrival of a new, untamed magic to the world.
I stood at the edge of the wide balcony, resting my hands on the cool, polished stone of the balustrade. I did not wear a heavy, glowing gown or the Crown of Stars. I wore a simple, flowing dress of dark blue silk, the fabric shifting gently in the warm summer breeze blowing off the distant green mountains.
I looked down at the capital city of Lycanthia.
It was no longer a place of broken stone and gray ash. The city was a sprawling, thriving masterpiece of unity. The deep trenches and ruined walls were gone, replaced by wide, paved avenues lined with tall trees and vibrant gardens. The distant sound of the merchant district drifted up to the palace. It was a beautiful, chaotic symphony of life—the sharp, bright notes of brass horns playing in the central square, the loud, joyful laughter of children chasing each other through the streets, and the steady, rhythmic clatter of horse-drawn wagons carrying fresh grain and sweet fruits from the outer farms.
There were no separate districts for the Lycans, the Werewolves, and the Rogues anymore. The banners hanging from the tall stone buildings did not bear the isolated sigils of divided factions. They were stitched together, a single, unified crest waving proudly in the wind.
I took a slow, deep breath, tasting the fresh, crisp air of the mountains.
The deep, heavy fear that used to live in my bones—the constant, grinding terror of being discarded, of being too weak to survive—was completely gone. I did not constantly scan the shadows for threats. I did not brace my muscles for a sudden strike. For the first time in my entire existence, I was truly, deeply at peace.
The heavy glass doors leading into the Royal Chambers opened behind me.
I did not need to turn my head to know who had just stepped onto the balcony.
The Sovereign Bond humming in the center of my chest flared with a deep, steady warmth. It was a thick, roaring river of liquid gold, pumping a profound, unwavering devotion directly into my veins. Through the tether, I felt his quiet strength, his grounded patience, and a fierce, protective love that had only grown deeper over the last five years.
Wex walked across the marble floor, his heavy boots making a soft, rhythmic thud.
He stepped up right behind me. His broad, solid chest pressed against my back, a massive, unyielding mountain of comfort. He wrapped his thick, heavily scarred arms around my waist, pulling me flush against his body. He rested his chin on the top of my head, letting out a long, contented sigh that vibrated through my spine.
"You have been standing out here for an hour," Wex murmured, his rough voice a low, soothing gravel.
"I was listening to the music in the lower square," I answered, leaning my weight entirely against him. I reached my hands down, resting my fingers over his thick forearms. I felt the familiar, rough callouses on his right hand—the hand the stars had burned and rebuilt just for me. "Given Egypt Beirne opened a new clinic in the eastern ring today. The citizens are celebrating."
"She is doing good work," Wex agreed, pressing a soft kiss into my dark hair. "Finnegan Earle Ikin sent a missive from the forest borders this morning as well. The trade routes are entirely clear. Not a single bandit raid in over eight months. The realm is quiet, Eddena."
"It is strange," I admitted softly, looking at the vibrant purple clouds gathering on the horizon as the sun dipped lower. "Sometimes, I still expect the ground to shake. I spent so many years waiting for the world to end that this peace feels like a dream I am going to wake up from."
Wex turned me around in his arms.
He looked down at me, his golden eyes bright and steady in the fading light. The terrible, blistering burns that had once ruined his face were nothing but a memory, his rugged features relaxed and completely free of tension. He brought his right hand up, his thumb brushing gently across my cheekbone.
"It is not a dream," he promised, his tone carrying that dark, fierce certainty I loved so much. "We paid for this peace with our blood and our bones. We broke the gods to build this city, my Queen. You earned every single second of this light."
I smiled, reaching up to frame his jaw with my hands. I leaned in, pressing my lips against his.
He responded instantly. The kiss was slow, deep, and incredibly grounding. I tasted the sweet, dark mountain wine he had drank with supper, the rich flavor settling on my tongue. The golden bond in my chest flared, a rush of liquid heat shooting down my legs. Even after five years, the physical connection between us remained a wild, untamed fire.
We broke apart slowly, our foreheads resting together as we shared the quiet evening air.
"Shamus and Sacheverell will arrive tomorrow," Wex noted, his thumb tracing the line of my jaw. "The Emperor wants to discuss the new northern aqueducts, and the Rogue King wants to complain about the Emperor."
I laughed, the sound bright and clear. "Some things never change. They will bicker for three days, sign the funding charters, and then drink my private cellars dry before riding home."
"I will have the guards lock the cellars," Wex offered, a genuine, easy grin pulling at his lips.
Before I could answer, a loud, sudden crash echoed from the inside of the Royal Chambers.
It sounded like a heavy silver vase hitting the stone floor, followed immediately by the frantic, rapid clicking of heavy boots.