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My Dearest Sweetie,

M y quill hesitated over the parchment yet again.

The festivities had already begun, and my absence wouldn’t be tolerated for long.

My window of opportunity was shrinking by the second.

I had to finish this letter. It was time to scrap the original plan to reassure Gwen that everything was going smoothly in Hiraeth.

After hearing Fallon’s concern ignored, I’d made up my mind—I needed to convince Gwen to send Lucius home.

And I had to do it without raising alarm.

The last thing I wanted was for her to come charging into Hiraeth, fanning the flames already licking at our heels.

I think I have read and reread your letter a thousand times.

You would have laughed if you heard the squeal that came out of me when I read the news.

It is bitter sweet though. I should have been there.

We should have walked arm and arm down that aisle.

I should have been there to give you away.

You know I would have made each and every one of them grovel before I gave my blessing.

Because you deserve a happy life. You’ve earned your happily ever after, so you better damn well be enjoying every minute of it.

My eyes welled with tears as I imagined Gwen on her wedding day.

She must’ve been a vision of beauty. Her “boys,” as she always called them, had brought forth a light into her darkness in a way I’d never seen before.

No one deserved that kind of happiness more than she did.

I’d never allowed myself to dream of her wedding—not when the cancer had all but stolen any hope of reaching life’s milestones.

I wasn’t supposed to survive another year.

It was simply easier to avoid dreaming of the things I was destined to miss.

But once we discovered the possibility of a cure lay just beyond the veil of our world, everything changed.

My life, my reality, my entire outlook took a sharp turn overnight.

I want you to know how proud I am of you.

After everything that happened, you never gave up.

You’ve always been true to yourself, and you never lost sight of what’s most important…

love. I knew you’d find your way. Your light shines through, even down the darkest of paths.

Never forget that, and make sure those boys remember just how perfect you are!

I love you to the moon and back, sweetie.

I could stand to learn a thing or two from Gwen’s resilience.

She never gave up. No matter the consequences.

And now, it was time for me to shine a light on my own shadowed path—channel her courage and find a way.

If I was going to be here in Hiraeth, I was going to do my part to protect it.

The realm, my health… my future depended on it.

I wish this letter could be nothing more than catching up and simple rejoicing, but I need your help.

I know I was supposed to write the moment I got here, but things haven’t exactly gone according to plan.

The situation in Hiraeth is dire. While the princes were trying to establish a foothold in Neverland, their own kingdom was falling through their fingertips.

Everything has been compromised. Not to mention that it didn’t help their cause when the princes waltzed back into the realm with a human girl on their arm.

My presence has taken a tense situation and poured fuel on the fire.

I can’t go into detail because I have no idea who we can trust, and I wouldn’t want these scrolls to fall into the wrong hands.

I hate to ask for your help, just when you’re finally getting to the good part, but I need you to convince Lucius to come home.

I know he’s not the easiest to get along with.

And I swear I can hear you cursing to yourself all the way from here, but I need you to work your charm and get him to return.

He’ll say no. He’ll tell you he can’t come back— that it’s forbidden.

But there is no other way. The kingdom and his brothers depend on it.

He’s more a part of this than he realizes.

Just remember, I need Lucius to come here.

Not you! Are you listening? I don’t want you to come here.

Stay in Neverland with your husbands. I will return once everything has settled here and we’ll have a proper celebration.

I promise I’ll be fine. Your life is just beginning!

Go and live it… It’s an awfully big adventure.

Love Always,

Mic

I stared at the scroll. It was done. The words were written.

The request made. Now I could only wait.

I closed my eyes and prayed Gwen would receive it quickly.

Time flowed differently between realms, and I still didn’t fully understand how it all worked.

While Gwen had been away in Neverland, for her it was only a few days.

In my reality back in London, she had been gone for months.

A day here in Hiraeth could stretch into weeks or even longer in Neverland.

I hoped the letter reached her in time to make a difference.

That I had made the right decision and that the princes wouldn’t see my meddling as betrayal.

A loud knock stopped my heart in its tracks and pulled me from my worrisome thoughts. I tried in vain to hide the scroll as the door opened, and an irritated Finn stepped inside.

“What’s the point of knocking if you aren’t going to wait for an answer?” I snapped, shoving the Loquentes Cartis under my pillow. “Am I not allowed a modicum of privacy?”

Like all his brothers, Finn was painfully attractive.

He wasn’t quite as tall as Nico or Luca, but he still towered over me.

All the princes were intimidatingly large.

Tall and muscular. A nod to the feral bear looming inside each of them.

His long wavy brown hair was neatly tied back at his nape.

Hints of highlights caught in the dim light like spun gold.

“Fallon sent me to escort you to the feast. Apparently, I’ve been reduced to your governess for the evening.” His words were filled with disdain as he dismissed my question.“They’re waiting for us in the great hall.”

I glared at him. “My governess?” I repeated. “I don’t need a glorified babysitter to walk me across a bloody courtyard.”

He arched a brow, clearly unimpressed. “That remains to be seen.”

“Are you sure I even need to be there? Fallon said?—”

“Fallon has a tendency to speak out of turn,” he cut in. “I personally think this is a mistake, but Nico wants you there. So, you will be there.”

“I don’t want to cause a scene. Sounds like you already have enough to deal with.”

Finn huffed under his breath. “You’ve caused a commotion alright.”

I glared at him, silently scolding his blunt remark. The last thing I wanted was to be put on display for everyone to gossip about. “See? That’s my point. This whole Crownspire… thing is a monumental occasion, right? Why would Nico want me there if I’m only going to be a distraction?”

“The Crownspire is indeed monumental, and that is why my brother wants you there. A distraction might be exactly what we need. Discussion over. It’s time to go.”

The great hall was alive with music and dancing. Finn and I made our entrance without drawing much attention—just a few glances from prying eyes. Nothing like the overly dramatic scene I had envisioned. I let my shoulders drop as I relaxed.

Large dining tables adorned with linens, flowers, and elaborate candle-scapes lined the perimeter of the room.

Giant iron chandeliers hung from the stone ceiling, casting a flickering glow over the enchanting ambiance.

The heavenly aroma of savory spices filled the air—a promise of the delectable feast being prepared for the evening’s festivities.

I took a moment to reflect on how far I had come.

I’d been on the brink of death only a few weeks ago.

And now, I was living in a real-life fairytale—a life I’d never dreamed of living.

Despite the dark premonitions lingering over the evening, in this place, I couldn’t help but bask in the promise of time…

the possibility of a future. A smile spread across my face, and I squeezed Finn’s arm, seeking proof this wasn’t just a dream.

The table at the end of the hall was raised on a dais.

A large, ornate seat sat at the center, with three chairs flanking each side—seven seats of honor.

Nico sat in the chair just right of center, a large drinking horn in his hand.

Luca sat beside him, the two engaged in heavy conversation.

To Nico’s left was a large, greasy-looking male.

Dark curls hung heavy over his forehead, and his beard—speckled with grey—gave away his age.

He loomed over the room with a scowl on his face, mindlessly sipping from his cup as he watched the festivities in silence.

“Go, find Fallon, and stay out of trouble.” Finn dismissed me with a flick of his hand.

“But… I…” The words stumbled from my mouth. “You’re going to leave me alone?” My skin prickled with sweat. So much for being relaxed. I couldn’t help feeling like he was leaving me to the wolves—easy prey for the court gossips.

“You’ll be fine, Mic. Don’t speak to anyone. Remember, pleasantries only.” He raised his brow, waiting for my acknowledgment. “Fallon’s around here somewhere. I have things to attend to.”

And just like that, I found myself alone. Gone was my moment of hope and optimism—quickly snuffed out by fear and trepidation. You’ve got this, Mic. Chin up. Don’t show them your fear. Animals can smell that shit, right? I giggled to myself. Are shifters animals? I still had so much to learn.