Page 30

Light at the End

The castle restoration went slowly, but since the mining stopped, the smog had filtered away, and the earth returned to rest. The potion was widely distributed to all the loamers, and those who’d left the kingdom returned in droves. Through the next few weeks, the healed loamers systematically collapsed caverns to separate the worms, spyrings, rats, and humans. The prince unveiled a new policy regarding mining, instituting a new team led by Uncle Koll, who would mine responsibly for the prosperity of the kingdom without harming any loamers, the earth, or the creatures within. The fire battles had ended, and washers began to rehydrate the dry earth around the castle, while loamers worked to recover the soil.

The village and the queen alike were thrilled with Shea’s new light source. The bacteria was easy to reproduce, and the cubes were a wonder to children and adults. People still walked cautiously around the Shade, uncertain if the dark lord would suddenly flip and kill them all, but they were softening to him bit by bit. It helped, I liked to think, to have me at his side, beaming—literally—and happy. No one had ever been afraid of me.

My bond with Shea and our glorious display of magic had intimidated some, but my newfound power—and my close association to the king regent and queen—had thrown me into the center of public attention. Everyone who had previously disregarded me, belittled me, or bullied me suddenly wanted me to be their best friend. I was the tamer of the darkness. The pinnacle of the kingdom of light. I was even dressed in fine gowns, much finer than I was comfortable with, but I hoped with time, I would get used to all the attention. Everyone watched me. Most whispered about me. But it didn’t feel like the harsh judgments I’d always received before. Not that I trusted flattery any more.

As for me, I just wanted to spend time with Shea and steal moments eating cookies with Chef in the kitchen. We split our time between the manor and the castle at first, needing our own quiet time at night, while we helped to reunify the kingdom and mollify the people during the day. My quiet moments with the queen were now limited to allotted tea times, as she flitted around with Jamison—making up for a decade of motionless bedrest by never ceasing her work. She was tireless and grew stronger by the hour. Between her and Jamison, the castle was whipped into shape.

My father seemed to recover some, the potion and the healing earth were both effective treatments, and he looked healthier than he had in years. It also helped that he had continued to avoid alcohol. We spent most days apart. He continued making potions using the new recipe Shea and I had created. But even that need would hopefully fade as the earth fully healed. I waited to see if he would prove himself trustworthy.

Prince Leon and Prince Shea held an uneasy truce, but I caught them playing a game of cards last evening and they had laughed like tentative friends.

I now stood on the edge of the ballroom, dressed in an enormous deep purple gown, like dusk just before twilight, with lines of silver that caught in the new shealights. Queen Gemaline and Jamison were bustling around the ballroom. He hung from her shoulder tassels, repeating her orders to the creatures, as they went about bossing and directing the servants and soldiers alike to prepare for a ball.

Our ball. Shea’s and my bonding ball.

Though the bond was complete, the rights and covenants had to be shared formally. I had about an hour before the room was filled with nobility and commoners.

Soldiers lined the newly finished balcony, and the courtyard beyond was strung with lights, ready to welcome the whole city in celebration of the return of a son, the saving of the kingdom, and the recovery of the queen. Owls hung lanterns, and the queen stepped around a pangolin that waddled awkwardly toward a lantern with a light cube. The castle was filled with many such helpful creatures. I wasn’t sure Chef was entirely thrilled by the raccoons yet. But she did like them better than the lords and ladies.

My shadowy prince was…well, he wasn’t entirely pleased by the nobles’ attention. I think he might have been happier as a menace than as a highly sought-after power player in the courtly games. While there had been discussion of having both Shea and Leon split certain royal duties, to his delight, the queen placed him in charge of the forests, creatures, and mountains and the defense of the lands. The queen had strongly limited the power of her husband as she recovered her full strength and political power. And while part of me wished there could be even more punishment for what had been a poisoned reign, I had confidence in the queen—and Shea—to keep things honest.

Tonight, Shea had mysteriously disappeared. Hiding, no doubt, from forced pleasantries. I tugged gently on the bond, which pointed somewhere near the garden. Happiness filtered through, and I suspected he was playing with Bertha. The best part about her was that when she walked at my side through the castle, no one approached the ugly cat. Shea and I both appreciated that kind of reluctant respect.

Someone stepped in front of me, snapping me back to the present. Prince Leon was bowing, much lower than I warranted.

Quietly, he spoke, “Aelia…I…I feel terrible about everything.”

I patted my dress with my fingers, waiting. “Define everything, please.”

He slowly rose, his hands fidgeting before him. “Oh, that whole business at the temple.”

“Where you tried to sacrifice my life, and had your men chase me down and shoot at me like a deer?”

His face flamed red, and his voice sounded stuck on the ball of guilt in his throat. I waited patiently. He scratched at his neck.

“That business?” I prompted.

“Yes, that.” He tugged his collar and fixed his cuff. “I am…sorry. Very sorry. I—There’s no excuse. I abused your friendship, and I placed a higher value on my bitter desperation than your life. I listened to Father and believed a version of the prophecy that…that was misapplied.” To his credit, his shoulders slumped in shame. His emotions fell from him in waves as I dipped quietly into his mind. He was being genuine. “I deserve no mercy.”

My eyebrow peaked and I squinted at him. “Maybe jailtime with the seers who manipulated the ceremony?” At least those crones were under investigation—a small victory.

His jaw worked. “Yes, maybe that.” He shifted, uncomfortable for a moment, then his shoulders slumped again. “If that feels like justice, then I will sit under your judgment.”

I mulled over his words for a moment, recalling that day in the temple in vivid detail. The pain was etched in my soul, even as the scars had faded. My mind raced to the present, flashes of my time with Shea, of our completed bond. “You designed my death to serve your own purpose. You and your father abused a prophecy to fit your goals.” He nodded slowly. “But even before that, you didn’t protect me, you used my friendship for your own comfort and not mine, and when others laughed at me, you never stopped them.” Shame burned his cheeks. “I always believed in you. So for now, I will withhold judgment.” I snorted. “We also know your father wouldn’t let you rot in jail. Leon, you have a choice before you—a choice about what kind of leader, and what kind of friend, you want to be. You were wrong. You deserve a consequence you will not receive, and you certainly do not deserve my mercy or friendship.” The line between his brows deepened as I scanned his face. “But I forgive you. I know who you once were, and I believe you can be better.”

He looked shocked.

“I forgive you.” I repeated. “I miss my friend, Leon. Do the right thing and show me who you can be. Discernment is rare, Leon, but more precious than luz. Fight for what is right, for the vulnerable, for the weak. That is how you become a good king.”

He nodded. “I will.” He bowed again. “Aelia, thank you. I can do this. And maybe one day, I can earn your trust again.”

I grasped his hand in mine. “I hope so.”

His face was determined, and as he walked away, his steps seemed a little lighter and his head held a little higher. I glanced over to see the queen watching us. Her proud smile warmed my soul. She brought her fist to her chest and bowed slightly. I returned the motion.

“ Dayspring, where are you?” Shea’s voice sounded agitated.

“Ballroom. Why? You’re supposed to be here too.”

“ Come outside.”

Winking at the queen, I gracefully swept to the stairwell. The door shut, blocking the ballroom light, but my magic shimmered, highlighting—oh my. Uncle Koll and Chef stood before me. In each other’s arms. Flushed and looking sheepish. They jumped away from one another like they’d been burned.

I stuttered, “Uh. Okay. That’s…yes. Bye.”

Rushing down the stairs, I heard giggling from both people behind me. I shook my head. If I was able to find happiness, I hoped that they would too. Several floors later, the door at the garden clanged open, and the late evening sunlight turned the world pink. Shadows tumbled at my feet. My glorious, thunderous Shade stood casually leaning against the wall. Bertha was rolling around with a knitted ball.

“Finally.” He paced forward, stalking me to the other side, where he backed me against the stones. “I don’t like sharing you. We’re leaving.” He ducked his head against mine and trailed kisses along my jaw.

I laughed, breathily, desperately trying to remember why we couldn’t just leave. “The ball.”

“Don’t care.”

“The bonding ceremony.”

“Don’t care.”

“Your mother will be there.”

His kisses paused. “Okay, I do care, but we leave at seven-fourteen.”

“It starts at seven.”

“Perfect.”

The kisses found their way to my lips, and my whole being glowed. A deep chuckle rumbled from his chest as I pulled his vest toward me, hungry for more.

“It’s not very easy to sneak away when you light up the night like a beacon,” he murmured, his breath hot against my face.

“Stop making me blissfully happy.”

He tilted his head back, his hands filtering through the light that beamed from my shoulders—cast out each side like wings, though intangible. Yet somehow, I could feel him—his touch, his shadows—like his whispers across my skin. Delicious goosebumps prickled down my arms and back.

“You are mine.” The world around us blackened to nothing as he encased us in a dome of shadow.

I grinned. “And you are mine, but I’m not sure a ball of blackness in the corner of a garden is more subtle. It’s sunset, not midnight.” The laugh escaped me, free and wild.

His fingertips caught my chin and tilted me toward him. “I’m going to kiss you now.” His green eyes sparked with desire.

“Not if I kiss you first.”

Our lips met. The light burst out between the arms of the shadows. Newly sprouted seedlings turned and rose, growing toward the light, while the garden below exploded with plump buds. I was fully and finally alive. I had looked Death in the face and…

I kissed him.

The End.