Page 49 of Mountains of Mist and Magic (A World of Sun and Shadow #4)

S elenia's eyes fluttered open, her mind swimming in a fog of disorientation. The sensation reminded her of a childhood mishap—when she was eight and had pilfered her father's fireale, drinking an entire dram. She'd emptied her stomach on the rug in his study and pinned the blame on Phillippe. That same confusion and uncertainty enveloped her now, but this time, a spark of recognition told her that what had transpired was no dream.

She pushed herself up, her palms sinking into soft, luminescent moss. The familiar glow of the fluorescent jungle they'd encountered before their separation bathed everything in an beautiful light. Selenia's heart thundered in her chest as her gaze darted around, searching for—there! Relief flooded through her as she spotted Renya and Phillippe stirring nearby.

“Did it work?” Renya's voice was thick with sleep and wonder. “Is magic back?”

Before Selenia could form a response, Phillippe bolted upright. His eyes, wide and wild, locked onto something beyond their immediate surroundings. Without a word, he sprang to his feet and launched himself towards a nearby tree, using it to propel himself towards the archway they'd first entered through.

“Phillippe, wait!” Selenia called, scrambling to follow. Her mind raced. Was he worried about Esmeralda? Had something gone wrong?

She heard Renya's footsteps behind her, slower and more measured. A glance back revealed her friend's hand resting protectively on her rounded belly. The sight sent a pang of worry through Selenia—they'd been through so much, but she hoped they had restored their world for future generations.

Ahead, Phillippe was charging full-tilt towards the barrier that had once separated the beach from the rest of the forest. Selenia's breath caught in her throat. Surely he wouldn't—

“Phillippe, careful—” The words had barely left her lips when he barreled through the barrier as if it were nothing more than a wisp of smoke. Selenia's stride faltered for just a moment before she pushed through after him, marveling at the lack of resistance.

The setting sun painted the beach in hues of gold and crimson, the fading light making it difficult to discern details. But there—a figure racing towards them with the same desperate energy that propelled Phillippe. Selenia's heart leapt as recognition dawned.

Esmeralda.

The two collided in a tangle of limbs and emotion, tumbling onto the sand. Their kisses were frantic, as if they were trying to make up for lost time in a single moment.

A lump formed in Selenia's throat as she watched their reunion. “Slow down there, you two—” she began, but the words died on her lips as a familiar scent—pine and cinnamon—wrapped around her.

Strong arms wrapped around her waist, spinning her around. Suddenly, she was staring into Sion's eyes, deep and dark as the night sky. His lips found hers, and the world fell away.

“I feel it, my Princess,” he murmured against her skin between kisses. “You belong to me and no one else.” His voice cracked with emotion, and Selenia felt the dampness of tears—his or hers, she couldn't tell—on her cheeks.

“Oh Sion!” The words came out as a half-sob, half-laugh. She clung to him, her fingers digging into the fabric of his shirt as if she could somehow pull him closer, make them one being.

Time lost all meaning. The world narrowed to just the two of them—the warmth of Sion's skin, the rhythm of his heartbeat, the gentle caress of his fingers through her hair. When they finally broke apart, breathless and giddy, Selenia realized they had sunk to their knees in the cool sand.

As her awareness expanded beyond Sion, Selenia noticed Renya approaching, Grayden's arm wrapped protectively around her waist. The sight of her friend's radiant smile sent a fresh wave of joy through Selenia.

Sion helped her to her feet, his fingers immediately intertwining with hers. The simple touch sent a thrill through her body—would she ever get used to this?

Grayden reached out, clapping Sion on the shoulder. “I'm so happy for you, both of you,” he said, his grin impossibly wide as he looked between Sion and Selenia.

“I can't believe we're all Fated now,” Renya added, her gaze drifting down the beach. Selenia followed her line of sight. Esmeralda and Phillippe sat before a crackling fire—Renya's handiwork, no doubt—lost in each other's eyes. On the opposite side, Triston and Julietta were deep in conversation, their heads bent close together. As Selenia watched, Triston cupped his hands, summoning water from thin air for Julietta to drink.

The reality of their success hit Selenia anew. “It really worked,” she breathed, awe coloring her voice. “Magic is back.”

“No kidding,” Renya muttered, an unexpected edge to her tone.

Sion frowned, concern etching lines around his eyes. “What's wrong?”

But Renya was already turning away, her steps unsteady as she headed towards the water's edge. Grayden watched her go, worry clear on his face. He turned back to Selenia and Sion, his voice dropping to a whisper.

“When the magic was restored, it restored all Fated bonds—all of them. Cyrus and Cressida are fated once more. You can imagine how Renya feels about that.”

Selenia's stomach dropped. Her gaze snapped to the ship anchored offshore, where two figures sat close together on the deck. Even at this distance, there was no mistaking the Sun King and the former Shadow Queen.

She looked up at Sion, anxiety gnawing at her. How would he react? His admiration for Cyrus, his view of the man as a father figure—surely this would affect him deeply.

But when their eyes met, Selenia saw only love and understanding in Sion's gaze. He leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.

“Who are we to break up true love?” he murmured, his breath warm against her skin.

Selenia relaxed into his embrace, marveling at the man she loved. As the last rays of sunlight painted the sky in breathtaking colors, she allowed herself to hope. Maybe, just maybe, they could all find their way to happiness.