Page 34

Tari

Later that evening

M alvolia stood in front of her throne, that black crown of thorns upon her head, and to her credit, she wore a long black gown that actually concealed her legs. More surprising than her attire was her smile. I couldn’t remember seeing her smile before, at least not like this, a broad grin that reflected the happy gleam in her eyes. Malvolia had invited Wolfy to sit in front of her throne. She’d even scratched him behind the ears. Who was this Fae?

A lively quartet of musicians strummed their instruments while Fae laughed, drank, and danced. So many Fae had gathered with us, from shifters and satyrs, Ravini and Sidhe, hybrids and pure-bloods, no distinction between Terrae and Noble Fae as we celebrated together.

I eyed Helian every time a servant had offered him a goblet of wine. He didn’t seem affected as he waved them away with a smile. I was glad I’d left the rabbits with a big pile of fresh hay in our bedchamber, for it was much too noisy for them here.

“A toast!” my aunt called to the crowd of Fae who’d gathered in the great hall for a celebration.

The musicians stopped thrumming their instruments as servants handed everyone wine goblets and Wolfy let out a happy bark.

I leaned against Helian’s chest while holding Ash’s and Finn’s hands. The girls released their papas’ legs, beaming when servants handed them goblets of the same juice they’d served Helian and me.

Shiri stood opposite our mother, fathers, Teddy, and Adrean with her three mates. Arabella stood to the side of them, stealing surreptitious glances at Helian, who clung to my waist, pretending as if Arabella didn’t exist.

I was glad Shiri was speaking to Helian and Ash again, but my mates had to profusely apologize to her, and then to me, for their wild idea to let Aurora teleport into the demon’s den to save me. I supposed their idea hadn’t been so wild, since Aurora had saved me from being eaten by an Indus worm. Thank the Elements we were able to close the second portal without incident and we were all safe now. Hopefully, Aurora would be able to sleep without nightmares after all she’d been through. Ember, too, for I knew she had many more “friends” speaking to her.

Once everyone had been served, Malvolia raised her goblet, and the crowd went silent. “Friends and family,” she called, her sparkling gaze sweeping the room, “thank you for joining us on this eve, which will no doubt be considered the most momentous day in history. The day my amazing nieces, the most powerful white witches to ever live, liberated us from the demons’ clutches.” She tipped her goblet toward us, her smile widening. “I hereby proclaim this day to be known as Liberation Day, to be celebrated every year for as long as an Avias rules the throne of Delfi. Three cheers for the white witches, Princess Tarianya Avias.” She paused, visibly swallowing, her misty eyes focused on Shiri. “And my heir, Princess Shirina Avias.”

Shiri paled at that. My sister didn’t want the Delfian throne, and I didn’t blame her.

The crowd broke into cheers while clinking their goblets, but then Helian released me, and everyone collectively gasped before going suspiciously silent. I panicked, spinning around, shocked to see my handsome king down on one knee, a beautiful jeweled ring in the shape of a Cotulla flower in the palm of his hand.

His eyes filled with longing as he looked up at me with a slanted smile. “Now that this war is over, will you marry me, Tari?”

The girls let out happy squeals, jumping up and down.

“Here?” I clutched my throat, still trying to process what was happening. “Now?”

“Yes, here and now.” He laughed, motioning to the crowd. “Why not, when all our family is here?”

I choked back my emotion, my eyes misting when my three mates swiped tears from their eyes. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

The crowd broke into even more cheers as Helian jumped to his feet, twirling me. And then he kissed me, passionately, deeply, and I didn’t care that the world was watching. My heart and soul were full of love, and nothing could pull me down from this cloud of happiness.

My mother rushed us, pulling me out of Helian’s arms and grasping my hand to ogle the ring. She gasped, releasing my hand. “That was my mother’s ring!” she declared, accusation lacing her tone.

Malvolia shrugged. “The coffers below Peloponese are buried. The least I could do for my niece was give her our mother’s ring.”

Helian flushed. She offered after her servants told her I was searching for a jeweler , he projected to me. I hope you don’t mind.

I held the ring in front of me, admiring the diamonds surrounding the giant pearl in the center. “I love it, and knowing it belonged to my grandmother makes it even more special.” I bowed my head to Malvolia. “Thank you, Aunt.”

Malvolia smiled. “It would be my honor to officiate the wedding.”

Helian grasped my hand. Only if you want to , he projected to me.

I saw no malice in Malvolia’s eyes or black magic leaching from her pores as she clasped her hands in front of her. But did I want her to officiate our wedding?

My mother startled us with a cackling laugh. She jutted a finger toward her sister. “You?”

“Why not?” Malvolia’s eyes flashed with pain. “I officiated your wedding.”

My mother’s face flushed crimson. “That was before you tried to murder my babies.”

Malvolia crossed her arms, inky black magic creeping into her eyes. “I thought I’ve atoned for that.”

My mother brushed off Derrick and Marius when they tugged her arms, trying to pull her away. “You can never atone for what you did to this family, to this nation.” I tensed as my mother’s voice turned more shrill with each word. “And wasn’t it just a few days ago that you were trying to seduce the groom? Now you want to officiate his wedding?” She threw her hands in the air. “Of all the nerve!”

Wolfy let out a howl, his tail drooping between his legs, as if Mother had scolded him.

“Mother.” My voice broke on a plea, as I feared Malvolia would turn her to ash. “It’s fine.”

“No, it’s not fine.” She waved me away like she was swatting a fly, her heated gaze still focused on her sister. “You’ve never apologized to Tari for the way you treated her and Helian.”

The color drained from Malvolia’s face. “I-I thought I did.”

“You didn’t.” My mother made a splutter of disgust. “And Helian is less than half your age!”

“I wasn’t myself.” Malvolia gave me an apologetic look, her voice splintering like shattered glass. “Thorin poisoned my soul when he took my memories.”

My mother threw back her head with a laugh. “Thorin didn’t make you a horny old cow, a bloodthirsty, vindictive dictator who killed innocent green witches for misplaced grudges.” She jutted a finger at her twin. “That was all you!”

Ash and Finn crowded in front of me, ready to defend me should Malvolia turn on us.

“Very well. Then find someone else. See if I care.” Turning up her nose, Malvolia descended the dais and left the hall in a swirl of black skirts and smoke, heading toward the hall that led to her suite of rooms.

I breathed a sigh of relief while glancing between my mates.

That could’ve gone badly , Finn projected to us.

Very badly , Ash answered.

“Gadea should officiate the wedding.” Mother spotted Gadea in the crowd, motioning her forward. “You did such a nice job with Mortimus’s funeral.”

The crowd parted for Gadea, who gaped at my mother with a slackened jaw. Cassandra held her lover’s hand, pride reflecting in her luminous eyes.

Gadea’s ebony skin turned ashen. “I-I wouldn’t want to overstep my bounds.”

“After all you’ve done for our mother,” Helian said, “it would be an honor if you officiated our wedding.”

Gadea looked at Helian as if she was seeing him for the first time. I knew they’d had disagreements in the past, but I was hoping they’d put it behind them now. “I did it because I love her.”

“I know you do,” Helian said, swallowing as he turned a tender gaze on his mother, “and she loves you too. I consider you part of our family now.”

“Oh, Helian!” Cassandra ran to her son, kissing his cheek.

He kissed her back, laughing while beckoning Gadea forward.

While he and Gadea hugged, Cassandra clutched my arm, whispering in my ear. “Thank you for loving my sons.”

I gave her a gentle hug. “Thank you for doing such an amazing job raising them.”

Cassandra kissed Ash and Finn. “Are you two okay?” she whispered.

“More than okay,” Ash answered. “Our mate deserves to be queen.”

Words couldn’t express my relief at Ash’s support. I kissed his cheek and whispered in his ear. “Don’t worry. You and Finn will be there for the honeymoon.”

He flashed a wolfish grin. “Damn right, we will be.”

“Very well.” Helian swept me into his arms and called to the crowd. “Let’s have a wedding!”

Several cheers rang out, but I couldn’t help but notice the worry in Shiri’s eyes, her gaze darting to the hall where Malvolia had disappeared.

“Shiri,” Drae said, nudging her side. “What’s wrong?”

She gave me an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry, but I should go to our aunt.”

Our mother made a snort of disgust. “Why?”

Shiri’s expression turned accusatory. “Because she’s all alone and upset.”

Our mother waved away her concern. “No doubt she’s fucking those three young mages I saw her fondling earlier. I just saw them heading toward her suite.”

Derrick laughed out loud. “Back to her old ways, I see.”

Mother rolled her eyes. “Was there ever any doubt?”

* * *

Shiri

M Y SISTER’S WEDDING , though hastily arranged, had been nothing short of a fairy tale. We’d converged in the pretty garden beside the throne room. My nieces looked like little cherubs in ruffled gowns, dragging a reluctant Teddy down the aisle while throwing flowers.

Cassandra and I were my sister’s bridesmaids, while Finn and Ash stood beside Helian. Our fathers gave Tari away, and Gadea officiated. They switched out the ceremonial wine for juice and then ended the ceremony in a heartfelt kiss.

We returned to the throne room for a lively reception. My head was swimming from all the wine. My glass was never empty, thanks to Nikkos, who I realized was definitely trying to get me drunk. I let my mates lead me around, introducing me to various lords and ladies whose names I would most certainly forget. Occasionally, I’d catch my sister’s eye, raising my goblet to her while she curled up in her new husband’s lap. She raised a tart to me, then took a big bite.

I spun around when someone tapped my shoulder. Imagine my surprise and delight when I looked into the eyes of a familiar gray witch. I didn’t recognize her at first without the beehive wig, face paints, or feathered yoke. Her hair was pinned back in a simple braid, emphasizing her pretty, tapered eyes, and she wore gray riding leathers, of all things, tight trousers that emphasized her slender curves.

“Veronica!” I gave her a tight hug. “I’m so happy to see you again.”

Her smile was dazzling. “And I you.”

I pulled her into our circle, shocked to see her, considering Malvolia had banished her from court.

My mates offered her polite greetings, though Drae’s cheeks flushed as he quickly glanced away. I squeezed his hand, giving him a reassuring smile. He had nothing to worry about. She’d collected his feathers years before he’d met me, and I was already over it.

“How have you been?” I asked her.

She clasped her hands to her heart, beaming. “I have discovered my fated mates.”

“You have?” This was excellent news, though maybe not for her legion of lovers.

“Two handsome Sidhe dragon riders.” She batted her lashes, her cheeks flushing. “Can you believe it? All these years collecting feathers, when I should’ve been collecting scales.”

I laughed at that. I couldn’t imagine any dragon parting with a scale. “I’m so happy for you.” Grasping her elbow, I looked over her shoulder. “Where are your riders?”

“Waiting outside with their dragons.” She waved toward the swarm of dragons flying just outside the windows. I spotted Radnor, Isa, and Triss among them. “I’ve only come to see that you’re well.”

“I am, thank you.” I motioned toward the buffet of food big enough to feed ten armies. “You sure you don’t want to invite your mates inside and stay for some food and wine?”

There were plenty of other dragon riders here, including the green witch, Declan, who’d saved Nikkos. My mates and I had already thanked him profusely and extended him an invitation to Abyssus.

“No, thank you,” she said, her gaze darting about the room.

“I’m sure my aunt has forgotten about the banishment by now,” I said reassuringly. “If not, I’ll set her straight.”

“I’m not worried about her, Shiri.” Pity reflected in her tapered eyes as she took my hand. “I’ve come to offer you my condolences.”

My world came to a slow halt. Fae passed in a blur. Even my mates’ voices faded into white noise as I gaped at Veronica. “What?”

She squeezed my hand, her voice sounding hollow and distant as my vision tunneled. “For the past week, I’ve seen only one possible outcome for the queen.”

I thought I heard Drae swear as I clutched him for support, my knees turning to jelly. No, no, no!

A bloodcurdling scream rang throughout the hall, and in the next moment, my legs were propelling me toward my aunt’s suite of rooms, my mates flying after me.

A sobbing servant clung to her bedpost, pointing in the direction of the bathing room.

We found Malvolia in my great-grandmother’s claw-foot tub, the same tub she’d used to kill the mage Djall, resting in a pool of crimson water. Her slit wrists dripped blood onto the tile floor, her pallor a deathly gray as her eyes stared vacantly at the opposite wall.

Careful not to slip in the blood, Drae leaned over the tub and closed her eyes.

Two more servants clung to one another while sobbing as onlookers from the celebration crowded into the room, gasping and murmuring.

Me? I was too shocked and horrified to move or utter a word.

This can’t be happening. This can’t be happening.

Drae jutted a finger toward the door with a roar. “Everyone that’s not family, out!” He, Blaze, and Nikkos lifted her out of the tub and wrapped her nude body in a blanket, placing her on the bed.

I numbly followed, sitting by my aunt’s side, still too shocked to speak or even cry.

“She left a note,” Nikkos said, passing it to Blaze.

He unwrapped it, his eyes scanning the words. “That’s all she had to say?” he blurted before handing the note to Drae.

Drae held the note out for me to see. Only two words were scribbled on the page: I’m sorry.

He turned the note to ash in his hand. “That’s all she needed to say.”

I heaved a shuddering breath as the first tears came. Why would she do this to us?

“Shiri?”

I peered up through a sheen of tears to see my sister standing in the doorway, Ash and Helian behind her.

“Where are the girls?” I swiped tears from my eyes. “We can’t let them see this.”

She nodded toward the hall. “Outside with Finn.”

“Good,” I said, my voice thick with sorrow. “Keep them away.”

Tari sat beside me, feeling the side of Malvolia’s neck, though I knew there was no pulse.

My mother and fathers appeared next, standing at the threshold, as if they were at the gates of hell.

“What’s happened?” Mother demanded.

I swiped my eyes again and nodded toward my aunt resting peacefully on the bed. “She slit her wrists.”

Mother jerked forward with an agonized cry and wild eyes, falling on top of the bed and straddling her sister’s body. “Tari, heal her!”

Tari frowned down at our aunt. “I can’t, Mother.”

“Yes, you can!” Mother grasped her sister’s hands. “You healed Derrick and Helian!”

“Their spirits had just departed.” Tari sniffled while giving our mother an apologetic look. “Malvolia has been dead a while.”

Flora collapsed on top of Malvolia’s chest with a sob. “My sister! My twin! I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

Tari and I fell into each other’s arms as our mother’s gut-wrenching cries grew louder. Not even Marius and Derrick could pull her away.

I held my sister tight, so relieved I still had her after all we’d been through, and so grateful hateful demons never turned us on each other. But my relief was eclipsed by the sorrow of losing my aunt, at her cursed and lonely life swept up in a tide of tragedy. I looked at Drae over my sister’s shoulder, the grim set of his mouth as we shared a dark look. Malvolia had named me her heir, which meant our dream of returning to Abyssus was over.