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I stood on the front stoop of my old house and looked up at the sky. It was almost peculiarly clear. Seeming too innocent as compared with the black plumes that had just this morning covered the sky.

The source had not erupted as we expected. Its final act seemed to be returning me from within the fire, and now it had gone quiet. I suspected when we climbed the mountain to look the fires within would have gone cold.

Out of curiosity, I raised my hand and conjured a flame. To my relief, it danced there just as strong as it ever had before. Maybeit was a parting gift from Aisling. Or maybe it was simply that I didn’t have to become the fire to wield it.

Still, this felt like an ending, of sorts.

I knew the curse had lifted when I returned both the crown and myself to the source, letting Aisling free at last. I did not think any of my mates had really had the time to consider all that the ending of the curse could mean. What it might mean for us, but also for the greater kingdom.

This also felt like an ending for me. It was a death and rebirth. A complete destruction of who I’d been in my mortal life, and a new beginning for who I might become instead.

Though I had no wish to test it—dying twice was enough—I was almost positive that plunging into the source had killed whatever was mortal inside me.

Though, I might live for five hundred years, but I would still always feel human. Now, that didn’t seem like such a bad thing.

“What are you thinking about, love?”

I jumped and looked up at Ambrose. “What are you doing up?”

“Alone time,” he told me.

I nodded. “Me too.”

He sat down on the doorstep beside me, and I was glad of it. We could be alone together.

“Well?” He asked after a minute.

“What?”

“What are you thinking about all alone?”

“Honestly?”

“Always.”

“I”m thinking that whatever we do next is important.”

“How do you mean?”

I sighed, putting my face in one hand. “I want things to be different. I don’t want to go start another war, or track down Idris. If he comes to us then I’ll defend us. If he hurts anyone, I’ll protect them. But I don’t believe we need to be the aggressors anymore. If we’re going to be a kingdom full of monsters, I want it to be because we knock down the border wall. Not because we kill everyone who opposes us.”

“You’re talking about mercy,” He stated.

“Yes.”

We were silent for a long time. Alone, but together.

Finally, I turned to him again. “You know what else I’ve been thinking? That Queen Lonnie is a stupid sounding name.”

He let out a bark of laughter, then swallowed it, evidently not wanting to wake up Bael and Scion. “Why on earth are you thinking that?”

“Because I thought true names had no purpose once you had magic, but they do. Aisling proved they do. If enough people know your name they can call you for help. I like that idea. And Queen Elowyn sounds much better, don’t you think?”

“I think you can be whatever queen you want, love. There’s a long future ahead of us to figure it all out.”

LONNIE

SIX YEARS LATER