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A thousand emotions poured through me, and I listened to each one carefully before deciding which to grab ahold of.

Anna’s mouth dropped when I nodded yes. At first, I couldn’t picture Cal as a mother.

She was crass, sharp, violent, and angry.

But then I focused on how protective Cal was of Anna, who now sat beside me.

I recalled everything Cal did day and night, giving all of herself for her family, and I felt a warmth grow inside of me.

“Cal, you’re going to be an amazing mother.”

Anna covered her mouth with her hand, unsure of what to say as she smiled and grabbed my leg. “Tell her I said congratulations. I can’t wait to be an aunt.”

I paused for a second, scanning Anna’s face. The gentle familiarity of her words struck a chord, making me feel warm and fuzzy.

‘Anna says congratulations. She can’t wait to be an aunt.’ I relayed the message to Cal and felt another burst of happiness surge through, along with a large brick of relief.

‘Eli, I’m petrified, she said, her tone serious. I don’t know what I’m doing. The only example I’ve really had for a mother after mine passed was not great; look how that turned out.’

‘It didn’t turn out that bad,’ I tried to reassure her.

‘Eli, I killed her,’ she said bluntly.

I flinched, not needing the reminder. ‘Look at me—I turned out all right. She raised me.’

“Tell her that sometimes motherly instincts aren’t learned— they’re created. She’s the most determined person out there. I have no doubt she’ll be the best mother.” Anna giggled. “No harm will ever come to that child with her and Mendax around.”

“It’s a good thing I’ll be…” My voice trailed off as the realization hit me: I wouldn’t be there as the baby’s uncle.

I wouldn’t be a part of the baby’s life.

The baby would never know I existed. “What does the king think about his upcoming offspring?” I asked, leaving my feelings open to the bond, wanting to know how she truly felt.

I needed to know that Mendax would be there for her, supporting her every step of the way.

If not, I would have a lot more work to do to get out of here than I had thought.

‘Oh my Suns, Eli,’ she mumbled. ‘He’s so excited.’

My surprise drifted over the bond. ‘He’s excited?’

‘Beyond excited,’ she answered. ‘He’s been a pain in my ass since we found out. ’

‘Is he taking care of you?’ I asked.

‘I don’t know how or when it happened, but imagine an angry, smoky mother hen that won’t let me fight or eat anything I’m not supposed to. He even moved a doctor into the castle—back in the old left wing where you used to…’ She trailed off.

I tipped my head in confusion. ‘I didn’t do anything in the Unseelie castle.’

‘That’s the other thing,’ Cal said. ‘We’re in the Seelie castle.’

‘What do you mean you’re in the Seelie castle?

Where’s Tarani? Is she there with you?’ I sat up, worried and confused.

Though I believed Tarani and Cal liked each other, two queens could not coexist in one castle.

With Tarani ruling the Fallen and acting as their queen, it was a situation neither of them would survive based on their personalities alone.

‘No, Tarani’s at the Unseelie castle. Remember what it used to be.’

‘What?’ I said, shaking my head.

‘Eli, I didn’t want to tell you now. I wanted to tell you earlier, but I couldn’t figure out how. Then we kept getting into it…’ She trailed off again.

‘Is Tarani okay?’ I asked, the coordinates not making any sense. If Mendax was king of the Unseelie and Cal was Queen of the Seelie, how was that going to work? ‘How are you and Mendax staying in the same realm? He’s king of the Unseelie still, is he not?’

‘He is,’ Cal said, and I nodded, speaking aloud and in my mind so Anna could be part of the conversation.

“Then were you not granted Seelie Queen and ruler of the Seelie in my absence?” I asked.

‘I am,’ she said proudly.

Hearing her speak with pride about the Seelie people sent goose bumps over me. I hadn’t realized how worried I’d been about my realm.

“How are you staying together?” I asked.

‘Well, we’re staying in Aurelius,’ she said.

“What are you talking about?” I said with surprise.

She let out an excited giggle. ‘When we came back and you didn’t come back with me, I knew we needed to make some changes,’ Cal said. ‘For everybody.’

“Okay…” I said, still not understanding.

‘Eli, Mendax and I merged the Seelie and Unseelie realms. It’s inclusive for everyone now. All fae are in one realm together.’

My heart paused, as if it forgot how to beat, hearing the words I’d always hoped for. “Cal, are you serious?”

Cal knew this had been something I’d dreamed about for ages: a world where Seelie and Unseelie could intermingle with other realms. A realm where no one was kept out and everyone was treated equally. I knew better than anyone that not all Unseelie were bad, and not all Seelie were good.

“How on earth could you…?” I trailed off, unable to wrap my head around the monumental achievement.

‘I had help. Tarani has been amazing. The Fallen currently have their own castle in Unseelie.’

“Are they happy? Are they at peace?” I asked, remembering how hostile the Fallen Fae had become, rightfully so, after everything that had happened to them. I knew them not having a castle of their own had been a huge issue.

‘Yes, Eli,’ she giggled again. ‘Everyone’s happy—well, mostly. It’s still a work in progress, but for the most part, it’s been seamless. Tarani and Mendax have been instrumental to the project.’

“That’s amazing,” I said.

‘Eli,’ she laughed, ‘I named it after you.’

“You what?”I burst out laughing. “You named what after me?”

She laughed again. ‘It sounds so silly now, but this was your plan, your dream. You should have been the one to rule. The two realms combined are now called Aurelius. So, when the elves come to visit, they take the portal to Aurelius.’

I nearly shouted with laughter. “That’s hilarious, hearing my name spoken with such glorious authority!”

‘Are you proud of me? she asked softly, almost childlike.’

Water collected at the corners of my eyes, and I had to blink it away. “Cal, you have no idea how proud I am of you.”

‘Were you worried I would destroy it, Seelie? ’

“I’m not going to lie—I was a little worried. You’ve done some pretty violent things.”

‘I know,’ she said. ‘But everything’s different now. I’m so happy, Eli. It feels like I was meant to do this all along. I can hardly believe the things I get to work on in the lab. Mendax is the most amazing, shockingly kind husband you could imagine.’

“To you, I’m sure,” I teased.

‘I owe it all to you, she said. I’ll support whatever you decide with my sister. Though I can’t help but think, if she doesn’t want to go to Moirai, what harm could she do in Tartarus?’

I watched Anna as Cal said this. Her sweet, innocent face waited expectantly as if she were listening to a storyteller give the next line.

‘I think she’s more dangerous than you realize,’ I said, ‘but I don’t think that’s why I’m keeping the pendant from her—not anymore.’ I sighed.

‘What are you going to do? Are you willing to separate and leave her if you’re tied to her?’

“I can’t stay here, Cal,” I said, still staring at Anna. Anna looked down, understanding my meaning.

‘Yeah,’ Cal said.

“I just can’t stay here, Cal. It’s not for me,” I said, clearing my throat. There was an uncomfortable tension between Anna and me. “So, when’s the baby due?” I asked, needing something tangible to hold onto.

‘She’s due in two months,’ Cal said, and I felt absolute joy and gentleness pour through.

I cleared my throat again, struggling with the emotions. “You’re having a girl,” I said, getting choked up.

Anna slapped her hands over her mouth excitedly. It was foolish how we were acting, knowing neither of us would ever get to see her. We were dead.

“Do you have a name picked out?” I asked.

‘No, not yet. Mendax says none of the names are good enough.’

I snorted, imagining Mendax as a girl dad. “Do you think he’ll be gentle with her?” I asked, genuinely concerned .

Cal shrugged. ‘I don’t know if he’ll be gentle, but she’ll be protected. I know that much. You should see him, Eli. He hardly lets anyone near me—it’s funny, really.’

“It doesn’t sound funny. It sounds annoying.”

‘It would be, if I weren’t as stubborn as I am. You know I don’t let him push me around,’ she said with a giggle, and I had the sudden feeling Mendax was tickling her. It was amazing how gentle he could be with Cal, even if he couldn’t be that way with anyone else.

‘Where are you now?’ Cal asked.

“We’re in the fourth tier. Greed,” I said. “But, Cal, it looks like I might not be leaving for a while.”

‘What do you mean?’ she asked.

I struggled to explain. “Out of our group, we all have to agree on one person to continue, and we can’t choose ourselves.”

‘So who’s everyone voting for?’ Cal asked.

“I’m not sure, but it’s not me. And I think I’m okay with that,” I said, looking at Anna again. “I’ll get out of here eventually. It might not be so bad if I have to stay a little longer. Some of us might need to get out more than others,” I said, glancing at Bexley in the distance.

‘Ooh, this is so exciting!’ Cal said.’ It feels like I’m watching a soap opera in the human realm.’

I frowned. “It’s a little more serious than that.”

‘I know, I know,’ she said. ‘It’s just…it’s kind of boring here. Mendax handles all the exciting things. He wants me to stay calm until after the baby’s born.’

“I’ll keep you updated,” I said.

‘Okay. Are you good?’ she asked. ‘Are we good? I know it’s been a long time since we fought, but…’

“We’re good,” I said. A long time? It had been hours. “Cal?” I added.

‘Yeah?’ she replied.

“I’m so proud of you,” There was a moment of silence between us, too many emotions swirling to hear anything else .

“I’ll keep you updated,” I said, then closed the bond.

“You didn’t tell her I said goodbye,” Anna said with a pout that, for some reason, made me laugh.