Chapter 189: Seri

Seri

Maeve had chosen the dress.

I knew that before anyone told me.

There was something unmistakably Maeve about it, something soft and lovely and quietly dramatic in a way that made me smile the moment I saw it laid across the bed. The fabric was a deep ocean blue that shifted toward green whenever the light touched it, like shallow water over dark stone, and delicate embroidery curled along the sleeves and bodice in patterns that looked almost like waves, or vines, or both.

It was the most beautiful thing I had ever worn.

And, considering I had spent the last few weeks alternating between borrowed selkie clothes, practical human leggings, bloodstained sweaters, and the occasional emergency inside-out shirt, it felt absurdly elegant.

Caiden stood behind me while I stepped carefully into it, his hands gentle at my waist as he helped guide the fabric into place.

He was still healing.

I could see it in the careful way he moved, in the way his breath caught whenever he twisted too far, in the flicker of pain that crossed his face when he lifted his arms higher than he should. His ribs were better than they had been, but better was not the same as healed, and although he tried very hard to hide every wince from me, I knew him too well now.

I saw everything.

Still, he insisted on helping.

When it came time to ease the sleeve over my wounded arm, his touch became impossibly careful, his fingers barely brushing my skin as he guided the fabric past the bandage beneath.

The tenderness of it nearly made me cry before the evening had even begun.

"You know," I said softly, watching him in the mirror, "I can dress myself."

His eyes met mine in the reflection.

"I know."

"Then why are you doing all the work?"

The corner of his mouth lifted.

"Because I like taking care of you."

That shut me up.

He knew exactly how to make my heart stop functioning.

I turned slowly once the dress was fully in place, the skirt dancing around my legs.

Caiden looked at me as though I had personally rearranged the stars.

"Seri."

One word.

Barely more than a breath.

But it made warmth spread through my entire chest.

"What?"

He shook his head slightly.

"You're beautiful."

I smiled, though my throat had gone suspiciously tight.

"You're biased."

"Completely."

His honesty made me laugh.

Then he leaned forward and kissed me softly, one hand brushing along my cheek, and for a moment I let myself forget that anyone was waiting for us at all.

A knock sounded at the door.

We both froze.

Maeve's voice came from the other side.

"I know you two are probably adorably enjoying eachother’s company, but the entire town is waiting."

My face immediately heated.

Caiden grinned.

"Coming," I called.

Maeve swept in a moment later wearing a dress of pale silver, her freckles bright beneath the glow of the lamps, her expression softening the instant she saw me.

"Oh, Seri."

That was all she said.

Apparently it was enough, because my eyes started burning again.

"No crying yet," she warned. "You'll ruin all my careful work."

"I don't think you did anything to my face."

"Emotionally, I did."

Caiden laughed.

Maeve looked pleased with herself, then offered both of us an arm as though she fully intended to escort two injured people at once through the castle.

Somehow, she managed.

The walk down to town was slow.

Caiden leaned more heavily on me than he probably wanted to admit, and I did the same with him. Maeve remained on his other side, chatting lightly about nothing in particular, giving us something ordinary to hold focus on as we made our way through the castle corridors and out into the cooling evening air.

The moment we reached the edge of the town square, I stopped.

I couldn't help it.

The entire square had been transformed.

Flowers were everywhere.

Garlands hung between buildings in thick ropes of color, spilling over balconies and archways, wrapped around lantern posts and doorframes. The fountain at the center of town was surrounded by blooms in every shade imaginable, soft whites and bright yellows and deep purples and sea-glass blues. Lanterns glowed above the crowd like captured stars, and everyone on the island seemed to be gathered beneath them, dressed in their finest clothes.

For a moment, I forgot how to breathe.

"This is for us?"

Maeve squeezed my arm.

"For all of you."

My gaze swept across the square.

Then I saw them.

Near the fountain, several chairs had been arranged in a half circle.

Nymora sat in one, straight-backed and regal, her pale hair braided with silver thread. Beside her sat Iona, darker and striking and impossibly calm, though I saw the way her hand rested near Nymora's whenever she thought no one was looking.

Ronan was there too, his hands still wrapped but his eyes clear and proud.

Nali sat near him, her repaired cloak draped across her lap, looking fragile but alive.

And Finn, of course, lounged in his chair with his injured leg stretched dramatically in front of him, as if he were the guest of honor at a royal celebration.

I laughed through the lump in my throat.

When Finn saw us, he grinned and waved.

The crowd parted as Maeve guided us forward.

I could feel everyone watching.

With warmth.

Gratitude.

Love.

It was overwhelming.

Mairead stood beside the fountain, dressed in deep green, her silver hair woven with tiny white flowers. She smiled as we approached, and for once, her expression held no elder-like mystery, no intimidating wisdom, only kindness.

The last two chairs waited beside Finn.

Caiden helped me sit before lowering himself carefully into the seat next to mine.

The moment his hand found mine, I held on.

Mairead let the crowd settle before she spoke.

"We gather tonight not only to celebrate the return of our people, but to honor the courage that brought them home."

The square fell completely silent.

Her voice carried over everyone, steady and clear.

"We honor those who endured pain rather than betray us. We honor those who risked everything to rescue them. We honor those who fought not for glory, not for power, but for love, loyalty, and home."

My chest tightened.

Mairead turned first to Nali.

"Some of you were taken."

Then to Ronan and Caiden.

“You were broken and still did not yield."

Caiden's hand tightened around mine.

I squeezed back.

"Some of you followed into danger."

Her gaze moved to Nymora, Iona, and Finn.

"Some of you returned to the very darkness that had harmed your own people, not because you were unafraid, but because love demanded courage."

Then her eyes found mine.

"And some of you crossed the boundary between worlds, between forms, between everything we thought possible, to bring our people home."

I swallowed hard.

The crowd blurred slightly through tears.

“We lost one of our own. Callum. And we honor his sacrifice.”

Mairead lifted a flower crown from a nearby basket.

She placed the first one on the fountain, signifying Callum.

Then one by one, she placed the others on our heads.

Nali cried quietly when hers was lowered into place.

Ronan bowed his head with solemn pride.

Finn winked at the crowd and immediately made half of them laugh.

Nymora accepted hers like a queen accepting a battle honor, while Iona smiled just enough to make Nymora's expression soften.

Then Mairead came to me.

The crown she placed on my head smelled of salt, lavender, and something sweet I couldn't name.

"Seri," she said softly, for me alone this time, "you are not a guest here anymore. You are one of our own.”

A tear slipped down my cheek.

Then another.

Finally she turned to Caiden.

The crown looked almost absurd in her hands compared to him, all flowers and softness held above a warrior who had survived more than anyone should.

When she placed it on his head, I couldn't stop myself from smiling through my tears.

He looked beautiful.

Not handsome.

Not fierce.

Beautiful.

The proud selkie warrior decorated in flowers, bruised and healing and alive beside me.

It was the most perfect thing I had ever seen.

Across the crowd, Elira was cheering loudly enough for the entire island, while Maeve stood beside her wiping tears from her face with absolutely no subtlety.

Laughter rose around us.

Then applause.

Then cheers.

The sound filled the square until it felt like the island itself was singing.

Mairead lifted her hands.

"Let this night be remembered not for what was taken from us, but for what returned."

The crowd roared.

Caiden turned toward me.

His eyes were bright.

His hand still held mine.

And suddenly I thought of the boat where this had all begun.

The gunshot.