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niara

Hand in hand, we made our way back to the lake’s shore. My flames had died down, and I wondered why we weren’t being greeted by an attack. But the reason soon became clear.

The caravan of Water Mages making their way through the land had not gone unnoticed by the locals.

A group of Fireforged Fae had come to investigate.

It would have been amusing to watch Amal and Ylena try to talk their way out of an international incident, but Keeran, now curse-free, approached and identified himself as the Prince of Emberglade, then began negotiations for extradition.

While the wardens under Amal’s command had merely been following orders, he and Ylena bore the responsibility and were quickly arrested. The penalty for treason was death in both Ember Fae and Water Mage societies, and Keeran was going to make sure he was there to enact the final sentence himself.

I asked after Safina and found that she had been imprisoned for helping Keeran escape.

It hurt my heart to hear it. The wardens didn’t know if she had been sent back to Tidehaven or was still with the flotilla.

Finding and freeing my friend was high on my list. But first, Keeran and I had to escort these high-value prisoners back to Ashcrest. And then a tear-filled reunion would no doubt come with his family.

I stood on the lake’s shore, peering out at the sparkling waters. Chunks of obsidian and shards of magefrost, which would take months to thaw naturally, littered the sand. The evidence of the conflict here was ugly.

Raising my hand toward the lake, I was able to easily connect with Morros’s power now and pushed the waters up and across the beach, causing them to wash the remnants of the battle away. I could feel them floating into the deeper waters, then sinking down to the bottom.

Within my chest, Keeran’s satisfaction bloomed. I turned to find him striding toward me. Even dressed in a borrowed cloak and pair of trousers, he looked regal. He smiled, his dark eyes alight with inner fire, and wrapped his arms around me as soon as he was close enough.

“We’re going to commandeer the Water Mage vessel and sail home to Ashcrest.”

His happiness at going home bled into me, warming me. “You’ll get to see your family,” I said.

“Yes.”

“What do you think they’ll think of me?” I tilted my head up, resting it on his chest.

His fingers played with the gems on the ends of my braids, which had shifted to a color somewhere between blue and purplish black—part seaglass, part obsidian.

“I think that the newest princess of Emberglade will be loved by my family nearly as much as I love her.”

My throat clogged, and I blinked back the sudden tears that had filled my eyes.

“You chose me and you saved me,” he said, gazing intently into my eyes. “And you accepted the twining, so you aren’t going to be able to get rid of me.”

“I don’t want to,” I said, squeezing him tighter. “I love you, Keeran. And I don’t want to be anywhere else.”

His lips descended toward mine, and I closed my eyes, getting lost in his kiss.

I wasn’t ready to think about more than this yet.

His smoky flavor on my tongue, his strong arms wrapped around me protectively.

.. it all made the prospect of being a princess, living among Ember Fae, and learning more about my heritage—plus freeing my best friend—not quite so daunting.

The flame of his presence in my heart grew stronger and stronger. He kissed me until I was breathless, and I knew I had finally found the place where I was meant to be. Keeran was home, and with him, I could always be exactly myself.

don’t want the magic to end?