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Epilogue

Four Months later

L ife in The Wastes is good. We have Summits every month with the other leaders, and what started out rough is now a full-fledged nation. The Cities deal with us often, our trade routes are always open to them. We have grown, we have killed, we have healed.

Just like me.

Clarissa and I walk every night, talking over the day’s problems and our emotions. She is quickly becoming very dear to me. When Piper is here, she joins us too—three queens ready to face battle every day, who let our guards down around each other.

I strangely miss Piper, but I have never been prouder. She is an incredible general out on the road, damning those souls who try to stop our world.

I have never been so happy, my heart overflows with it. We have had some issues with some not wanting to listen to the laws, but most seem to be embracing them with open arms. It seems everybody was ready for The Nations.

I don’t know what the future holds, but I know with my men behind me, I can tackle anything that is to come. A queen is nothing without her kings, after all.

Fingering my butterfly necklace, I stare at the tree as I bid my family there goodbye and go to join my people for tonight’s celebration.

When I get there, my men are waiting, all laughing and drinking.

I slip onto Maxen’s lap, and he wraps his arm around me, kissing me solidly in greeting, and it feels like coming home.

“Later, soulmate, I want you to try that new collar out on me,” Dray murmurs, making me wiggle with a grin.

“Hey, that’s mine,” Jax protests, nudging Dray, which ends up with them play fighting.

“Uh-uh, ignore them, sweet cheeks, you can collar me anytime,” Drax offers with a kiss.

“You are all animals. She will clearly be with me tonight, won’t you, baby girl?” Thorn asks, his teeth shining in a panty wetting smile.

“I think you forget she is on my lap. She’s mine, isn’t that right, Mi Alma ?”

“I’m all of yours, and you are mine,” I reply, which settles all the arguments and lets us relax and watch the people gathered here.

As I look around at the warriors, warriors from all four corners of The Wastes, I relax with my own smile. We started as enemies, everyone was out for themselves, but now, we are one. A community.

A new world.

A new North.

The Nations

This might be the end of my story, but I will always be here, leading, and ready to protect my lands and people…and my men. Together, we will stand in the sun’s rays that shine down on this new world with the sand under our feet, and we will stand tall.

Together.

Berserker, slave, champion, queen, wife. I am all and so much more.

I am Tazanna Worth, and this is my story.

This is my end.