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The bride danced in the arms of her dark king. The curse that had haunted him was washed away by the power of the bride’s love for him. The bleak future that she had sought to prevent never came to pass. All was well in the land of Faerie after many long years.

“I knew the moment I first saw you that you would be mine... mine to love, mine to worship,” the king whispered against the lips of his bride.

She smiled up at him, trembling with joy. “We fought so much darkness to be together. Now even the stars cannot match the light of our love.”

And thus, as this tale began once upon a time, it now must end as the bride and the king of the dark woods lived happily ever after...

—Anon., Tales from the Twilight Court

K ate plucked nervously at her silver-and-purple gown as she waited to enter the throne room. She could scarcely believe it had been a month since she’d woken Roan from his deathlike sleep.

So much had happened since then. Her head was still spinning.

The palace had thrown parties every night for an entire week upon Roan’s return.

Then there had been countless meetings between Roan and his mother as the Seelie and Unseelie forged new treaties, better ones.

Ones that promised someone like Culan could not sound the horns of war so easily ever again.

The labyrinth was no longer a barrier against the Seelie.

The enchantments that had kept everyone unable to travel over it had vanished the moment Roan had woken up, and the dark and dangerous creatures within had disappeared as if they’d never been there.

Kate believed that the labyrinth had been created by the most powerful of Roan’s magic after his father died because he wanted to protect his lands and his people.

He just hadn’t been aware of it. It was why he alone had the power to travel across it and why no creatures within dared to defy him.

But now that peace reigned, the labyrinth was still there, but it was a beautiful endless garden full of delights and treasures rather than danger and fear.

Lady Kyma had claimed the ruins of the most crumbled parts of the labyrinth to build a new forest for her kin, and soon new dryads were born from the tiny seedlings she planted in the ground

Andvari, the king of the dwarfs, had new gates to the labyrinth built, ones that would remain open, a beautiful passageway between the two Fae kingdoms rather than a barrier.

Perhaps the biggest change came a few nights ago, when Roan had asked her to be his queen. Queen. It still didn’t seem quite real to her. She’d gone from worrying about finals for her business course to running a kingdom side by side with Roan.

Kate smiled. Her mother would have loved that her daughter had dared to leave her own world behind to find love and a life in another. To find the life she was meant to have all along.

After she’d told Roan about how she’d returned to his world and how she’d searched for him, she told him that she had a choice when she’d met his mother deep in the cave. She’d chosen him, rather than return to a time when her mother had been alive.

Roan cupped her face and stared deeply into her eyes, recognizing the sacrifice she had made to be with him. That was the moment he’d gotten down on one knee and asked her to be his wife. His queen. His forever .

She never would have considered getting married so young in her world, but in this world she truly knew herself and believed in her fate and her future. It was easy to say yes. Yes to love, yes to the man she’d claimed as her own. Love made that single word so easy to say.

Behind her, Babbitt finished arranging the long train of Kate’s gown. “You look magnificent, Mistress Kate.”

The train was a fine chiffon of purple embroidered with silver stars in the shapes of constellations she was still learning.

Roan had thought of the idea himself, wanting her to wear the night sky.

She blushed at the memory of how he’d explained all of his plans while they lay in their vast bed, bodies entwined and sheets tangled.

His deep voice had shared all his hopes and dreams with her and what he believed their future together would hold.

He had drawn the constellations on her skin with a fingertip, tickling her and making her breathless before he’d rolled her beneath him and claimed her yet again. She had felt treasured beyond words.

Now she was facing the moment they had talked about, planned for, and it didn’t ease her nerves in the slightest.

“I’m still not used to wearing dresses,” Kate grumbled.

She missed her jeans and sweaters, but Babbitt had assured her that once today was over, she could change back into whatever she felt like.

It had amused Kate to learn that several of the Fae ladies were adopting a more human approach to fashion when not in their court dress.

“Oh, Babbitt, she looks perfect!” Eudora exclaimed. She joined them just outside the towering doors. “But you’re missing one thing.” Her future sister-in-law lifted up a crescent moon necklace.

“I can’t take that. It’s yours.” Kate had learned that the crescent moon necklace she’d worn the night of the ball had belonged to Roan and Eudora’s mother, and she had given it to Eudora before she’d left the Twilight Court long ago.

“I must insist.” Eudora helped put the necklace around Kate’s throat. “It belongs to you now. Its magic matches your own.” Eudora touched the chain, settling it against Kate’s neck. She smiled. “It was made for my mother by her mother under the light of a newborn star.”

“The light of a newborn star?” Kate stroked the crescent moon pendant, and a bright vision flashed across her eyes. It felt as though she’d seen far back into space and time, to the moment when that star had been born.

“Just as making weapons and objects under a black moon can infuse an object with a curse, creating something under a newborn star blesses it. And you have indeed been blessed.”

Kate’s throat tightened with a dozen emotions, and she took hold of Eudora’s hands in her own. Hope . That word held more power for her than any other... except perhaps love .

“Thank you,” Kate whispered.

“For what?”

“For everything. You’ve been the sister I always wished I had. You made me feel loved, and you made this place my home. You didn’t let me give up.”

Kate glimpsed what she thought just might be tears in the Fae princess’s eyes. Could Fae cry? She didn’t dare ask.

“When our mother left, it was Roan who taught me not to give up, to carry hope within me, to believe that all would be well someday,” Eudora said.

“When I saw how my brother held you, how he looked at you... I knew you were the one who would have the power to change an unchanging Fae king. I couldn’t give up on you, not knowing what you could mean for Roan. What you could mean for all of us.”

The little brownie stared between the two women in concern. “Please no crying, Mistress Kate. We must keep your face from getting splotchy.”

Kate burst out laughing as she wiped her eyes. Babbitt was right. She was still human in this world and still had some very human qualities, like puffy eyes and red skin when she cried.

But she didn’t mind. She was human, and she wasn’t going to ignore that part of herself.

Being human was what had made her strong enough to save Roan.

She also knew that now when she cried, they were going to be tears of joy, not sorrow.

And tears held magic, wonderous magic. Magic that could save a life.

“Has your mother arrived yet?” Kate asked Eudora.

“She should already be inside with the others.”

Kate let out a sigh of relief. Ever since Thalia had taken the Seelie throne, the two factions of the Sidhe were once again in harmony, just as the sun and moon were.

With luck, the new treaty between the two courts would keep the peace for another thousand years.

The families of the warriors who had perished a century ago in the battle had been honored by both courts.

It would take time to heal the wounds from the battles and the losses, but Roan and Thalia were determined to make it work.

Despite the role she’d played in this peace, Kate was worried that Roan’s people would not accept her as Roan’s queen.

She was a human, an outsider. However, she’d heard whispers in the halls, whispers of respect and admiration rather than scorn and derision.

It seemed the pixies had spread the story of Kate of the Winslows far and wide.

Champion of the labyrinth, some called her.

It had embarrassed her at first, but she had to admit, it was true.

She had conquered the labyrinth, taking on every challenge, every fight, and not backing down.

Yet she still couldn’t believe that the Unseelie would want her as their queen.

Rath had explained to her the true reason she was held in such esteem.

It was because of her power. It was believed that nothing was strong enough to break a black moon curse.

The hope for Roan to wake had been utterly lost by most of the court.

Even Rath had resigned himself to spend eternity by his king’s side.

Yet Kate had saved the king with a kiss and human tears.

It was a magic so powerful that she’d earned the respect of all the Fae who lived in the Unseelie lands. She had conquered death itself with her love for Roan, and among the Fae there was no greater accomplishment.

Trumpets heralded, and the two silver doors opened in front of Kate. She squared her shoulders as she entered the throne room. Roan sat on his tall obsidian throne, waiting for her. Rows of Sidhe lined the path that led to the man she loved.

She kept her head high until she stopped at last in front of Roan. He stood from his throne, towering over her. She felt a shiver of excitement and desire that this beautiful king was hers, now and forever.

She admired the black trousers and the gold waistcoat that tucked in at his narrow waist. He wore a few pieces of ceremonial armor across his chest, the silver glinting as though he was still prepared for war. But Kate knew that they would have peace for many long years to come.

“My queen,” Roan announced to the room. He flourished his fingers in the air and conjured a silver circlet, patterned with clusters of diamonds and pearls. As he held the crown above her head, his eyes twinkled with mischief.

“I stole the moon and stars for you, my love,” he whispered as he placed the diadem upon her head.

Kate’s gaze never wavered from his as he took her hands, raised them to his lips, and guided her to his side so she could face the crowd.

“Welcome my Queen of Starlight,” Roan commanded, and the crowd burst into a cheer that nearly deafened Kate.

Among the throng of Fae she spotted Lady Kyma, the beautiful dryad Roan spoke of so fondly.

Next to the towering dryad was Andvari, king of the Black Hills dwarves.

And at last, Thalia Moondove, whose shining presence in the back of the room made this moment perfect.

As Roan led Kate out of the throne room, her arm tucked in his, Kate saw the Seelie queen smile, making her shine as bright as the sun.

Live long and live well, Kate of the Winslows, Thalia’s voice said inside her head.

Thank you, Queen Thalia, Kate replied.

She and Roan left the Twilight Court behind, which struck her as curious. She had expected a party or celebration to be next.

“Where are we going?”

“Somewhere I can have you all to myself, little one. The others can wait.”

Roan shot her a wink, and Kate laughed. This Roan, the smiling and teasing male, was the one that filled her with sheer joy.

“Take me away from here, my lord.”

“With pleasure.” Roan turned and scooped her up into his arms. “You are mine, now and forever. My Queen of Starlight.”

Then he kissed her, showing her the stars and the universes beyond their own. And in each and every one, his love for her was endless.

* * *

Caden stared at the glowing orb that hovered just a few inches above the carpet on his bedroom floor. He watched his sister turn to face a crowd of courtiers with a glittering crown upon her head.

“So cool,” he said. “My sister is a queen .”

A grumble came from behind Caden. “I suppose, if you like all that silly pomp and circumstance.”

He turned to look at the creature who called himself Patch, who had conjured the orb for him. He had shown up in Caden’s bedroom just a minute or so after Kate had left.

“So you see, your sister is fine, lad,” said the kobold. “Now, it’s off to bed with you. Otherwise, the Holly King won’t be able to sneak into your house to leave you Christmas presents.” He waved at the bed, and Caden got up with a sigh and jumped in.

“Wait... the Holly King? You mean like Santa Claus?”

Patch scratched his black-bearded chin. “Aye, I forgot that’s what you mortals call him.”

“Santa Claus is a fairy?” Caden asked.

“Course he is. He’d be dead by now if he wasn’t, wouldn’t he? Now, in bed with you.”

The kobold hopped up beside Caden on the bed and tucked him under the covers.

Caden tried to fight off a yawn. “Will you tell me a story, Patch?”

“Tell you a story? Hmm...” Patch’s funny wrinkled face turned pensive. His lips twitched, making his beard quiver as he almost smiled. “How about ‘The Ballad of the Bride of the Dark Woods’?”

Caden nestled deeper under the covers. “Does it have adventure in it?”

“Aye, of course, but even better, it has the strongest sort of magic in it—love.”

“Love?” Caden blinked drowsily. “Love is magic?”

The kobold tucked up the covers to Caden’s chin in a most fatherly way. “It is. And everyone deserves a little bit of magic .”

Thank you so much for reading The Lord of the Labyrinth !