Page 62 of Ozma

Ozma clenched her teeth. Tik-Tok had known the entire time what she’d held, and he hadn’t said anything. But why would he? “Mombi had one and I traded it.” She handed the stone back to Reva.

“The Gnome Queen’s heart,” Crow said softly. “That’s where it was.”

“Now it’s with a pirate named Tik-Tok.” Ozma sighed. A rush of anger fired up in her. She could have used that stone against the Wizard if she’d known sooner. Though she’d defeated him anyway, she still couldn’t help feeling a little bitter about it.

Reva narrowed her eyes. “I know Tik-Tok. He’s a sneaky, cocky bastard, but he shouldn’t be a threat.”

Yet he would be a threat for someone… One day.

“Glad you made it,” Thelia said, strolling up with the faun. “This is Birch. Part of my new guard.” The youngling straightened his spine and lifted his chin, his small antlers peeping out from his hair.

Ozma could feel Tin rolling his eyes behind her.

“You will do well in keeping Thelia safe.” Ozma smiled and locked her gaze onto Thelia’s brown irises. Taking a deep swallow, she glanced over her shoulder at Tin, at his silver hair. A nagging feeling washed over her—she quickly shook away the thought. It was just a coincidence. Lots of fae had silver hair and brown eyes.

“Please tell us the Wizard is just as dead as Locasta,” Reva said.

A weight lifted off Ozma. The wicked had been defeated. All of them were now gone. That didn’t mean that there weren’t others out there who would attempt to rise, but the ones who had driven Oz into despair were gone. “The Wizard and Mombi are both slain.”

“Fuck yes.” Reva grasped Ozma by the shoulders and smiled. “We did this.” She spun and looked at everyone standing there. “We all did.”

They all smiled back, except for Tin, who appeared as though he were done with this conversation.

“It was a bitch removing the spell from the palace that was suppressing our magic,” Reva continued, “but Thelia helped me wipe it out. A protective barrier from King Pastoria remains, though. Has your magic returned?”

Pastoria—her father whom she would never know. At least part of him was still here. Ozma lifted her hands and called on her power. The blue glittery fire rocketed through her until two orbs of flame rested on her hands. She quickly flexed her spine, the wings shooting out from her back.

“I have to say I’m envious.” Reva chuckled. “It’s beautiful.”

“She is,” Jack finally spoke. And all eyes turned to him.

“This is my Jack.” Ozma grabbed his tunic sleeve and tugged him closer. “He’s going to be my husband.”

“A wedding!” Thelia clapped her hands together.

“Before we start discussing wedding plans,” Ozma started, “I think we’d better talk about our next steps in rebuilding Oz.”

“The three of us together, ruling, will become enough,” Reva said.

“It will remain enough,” Thelia added.

“It will forever be enough.” Ozma sucked in a breath of true victory. They’d all been a part of liberating their world. Now, she and Jack were both free, and, with their freedom, they had still chosen each other. Soon, the rest of Oz would know what it meant to be truly free too.

Ozma turned to her beloved, his smile mirroring hers when she said, “Welcome home, Jack.”