The palace of Vondur was scarred beyond measure. Not even the crystals infused in the walls had saved it from the fire plains. Keir picked through the blackened ruins, reminders of the life he’d lived before. He wasn’t the only fae mourning what was lost. Most of the villages of Vondur and Grima would need to be rebuilt, brought back from destruction.
Friends were gone.
He hadn’t known Logan well or even Veren, but their losses sat heavily on his mind, as did the losses of so many men, women, and children of his realm.
“We were here just days ago.” Eavha walked up behind him, her voice wavering. “I was sitting right in this room.”
They stood in the throne room, where marks of the fire stretched up the walls and the furniture had turned to ash. “We’ve lost everything.”
“Not everything.” Eavha slid her arm into his. “We saved our fae, and that’s what truly matters.”
She was right. Homes and possessions weren’t the true value of Vondur. Those who occupied the homes were. In the two days since they’d destroyed the fire plains, fae trickled out of the mountains. In the weeks and months to come, more of them would return home to build new lives.
“We’re going to have to rebuild.” His mind worked through so many plans. The palace could be even grander than it was before now that they had a practically unlimited supply of magic. The war with Grima was through, meaning he could create more of a home than a fortress meant to withstand battle.
“Keir.” Eavha stepped away from him as she sighed. “We need to talk.”
“Nothing good ever begins with that phrase.” He crouched down to brush ash from a painting that had somehow survived the heat. It was protected by glass made from crystal and depicted their father sitting atop his horse prepared to ride into battle.
“All the documents in the palace have been destroyed.” She paused. “Including the ones only Lord Robert and I knew about.”
Keir didn’t have to ask what she meant, but he didn’t have an answer for her unasked question.
“Talk to me, brother.”
He closed his eyes for a brief moment and stood, turning away from his father’s portrait, the image of the man he’d never wanted to be, the one he was scared of becoming. “I never wanted this.” He gestured around the room, not exactly meaning the destruction.
“I know.” She did. More than anything, more than anyone. Eavha had always known. “But I don’t want it either. You left me in charge against my will, and that’s not me. I don’t want to be a leader. I want adventure, to explore this new world that has opened to us. The crown was never meant to fit my head.”
“Nor mine.” Both children of a king who wanted nothing but power, both wishing it hadn’t fallen to them.
“Yes, but I’m not the one who called for the Comhrac.”
“If I hadn’t, we’d all be dead by now.” His father never would have allowed a mission to seek Iskalt.
“I know. I didn’t mean you were wrong.” She touched his arm. “But the duty fell to you. Vondur needs you.”
Did they?
Eavha gave him a tight smile. “Think carefully of your next decision. It will define our kingdom.” With that, she turned and left him in the throne room that had never felt so empty, so forsaken.
He walked from the room, down the hall where tapestries once adorned the walls and now lay scattered along the floor, ashes under his feet. When he entered the courtyard, his eyes went past where the heavy wooden gate once stood to the top of the wall and the two figures sitting there.
Toby had returned the day after the final fight with the fire plains, but he’d barely spoken to anyone except Tierney. Even his parents couldn’t get anything out of him. They would have to return to Iskalt soon, but for now, they camped outside the gates of the palace, offering any assistance to his fae they could.
He’d forever be grateful to them.
Declan walked toward him, a grim expression on his face. It had been there since they first discussed how much work there was to be done. “The King of Iskalt would like to speak with you.”
“Are you his messenger boy now?” Keir attempted the joke, but they’d all found it hard to smile once their relief and celebration died down and reality set in. They may have succeeded in saving their fae, but the work had just begun.
Keir followed Declan from the palace to a sea of tents that housed what was left of Vondur and the contingents from Eldur, Iskalt, and Grima. Bronagh planned to leave within hours, but the rest would stay for a few days longer at least.
He found Lochlan seated next to his wife, along with Finn and Alona of Eldur and Bronagh. Deep circles lined Finn’s eyes, as if he hadn’t slept since his son died. Alona’s face was stoic, her jaw clenched, her brows drawn tightly together.
Lochlan nodded to Keir as he entered their circle around the fire. Since the destruction of the plains, a chill wound through Vondur for the first time. “Have a seat, Keir.”
It would always strike him as odd, the familiarity the royals had with each other. If the Fargelsians were here, he knew they’d call everyone by their given names as well. Keir sat next to Bronagh on the ground. None of them seemed uncomfortable by the lack of accommodations. Another surprise. If anyone had asked his father to sit on the ground, even in an army camp, he’d have thrown a fit.
“We have suffered too many losses.” Brea looked at Alona in sympathy and reached out to grip Finn’s hand next to her. “Precious losses we can never get back, but each of us here also has a duty.”
Finn swallowed heavily. “We will return to Eldur and begin mining for more opals. We’ll send word to Hector in Myrkur to do the same. Lenya will need them for rebuilding.”
Bronagh attempted to offer him a smile, but it never quite reached her eyes. “Thank you. Lenya will forever be in your debt.”
“We do not do debts.” Lochlan leaned forward, looking at them each in turn. “When our worlds are threatened, we come to the aid of our allies without expectation of payment. We are all fae, and fae take care of each other.”
Brea sent her husband the most glorious smile.
Lochlan continued, “Iskalt may soon see a major change, one I’ve been waiting for, but whatever we look like, we will be your allies.”
“That’s …” Keir cleared his throat. “We are eternally grateful.” If Tierney had never accidentally portalled to Lenya, he never would have found the other fae kingdoms.
Bronagh lifted her chin to speak, her voice clear. “Grima and Vondur will no longer war with one another. We will be as one in Lenya, tied together by our common heritage.” She looked to Keir. “We’ve never been different, after all. We’re all of Lenya, all after the same thing. We want to survive, to thrive. And our fae finally get to experience peace with full bellies and safe homes. No more lost family to battle. No more grief.”
Keir’s eyes drifted to the walls, where he knew Tierney and Toby were hidden. No more grief. No more loss. Thrive.
He looked to Lochlan, one of the few fae aware of the documents that were destroyed in the palace by the fire plains, and the king gave him a subtle nod.
“Tradition in Vondur does not pass the crown from father to son. For so long, bloodshed and death won the throne. Cruelty and war kept it. If we are to enter peace, we cannot have a king who did not come to power through such peace.”
No one seemed to understand, but only Bronagh spoke. “Keir, if you’re talking about holding some kind of election for the throne, I’m not sure now is the time. Our fae are displaced. We have so much work to do.”
Keir shook his head. He knew this was the right thing, but it was difficult to get the words out. “You said Lenya is to become one. I do not think we can accomplish such a feat as separate kingdoms.”
“What—”
“You, Bron. You should rule the Vondurian fae.” It seemed so simple now, such an obvious decision. He never should have expected Eavha to want the throne. “Vondur and Grima cannot thrive unless it is done together.”
Lochlan gave him an approving smile, and he knew he’d said the right thing, the kingly thing.
“Only a true king gives up his power when he knows it will better serve his kingdom,” Brea said the words to Keir, but her eyes flicked to her husband and softened.
Bronagh was silent for a moment before turning to Keir and meeting his gaze. “I, Bronagh Agnew, queen of Grima, promise to count all Lenyans as my own. There will be no more division under me, no more war. All of Lenya will prosper.”
As Keir heard the sincerity in her words, he knew he’d done the right thing, the only thing.
Darkness enveloped the world by the time Keir walked toward the palace. He would never sleep within its walls again, but he couldn’t find his bed without walking through one more time.
Movement across the courtyard caught his eye. He’d thought everyone was back at camp, but a small glow illuminated that perfect smile.
“Thought I’d see you here.” Tierney walked toward him, the light emanating from her palm growing larger.
“Comes in handy.” He gestured to her magic.
“Oh.” She closed her palm, and the light winked out. “Just a Fargelsian spell. It draws starlight from the sky.”
“You’re incredible.” The words tumbled past his lips before he realized it, but they were true. This woman was fascinating, stubborn, strong, and beautiful.
He could barely see her in the dark, but the soft smile that curved her lips was unmistakable. “Today has been a long day.”
“How is Toby?”
Her shoulders sagged. “He loved Logan. The two of them … I think they’ve been in love since before any of us knew what love truly was. I miss Logan too, but my heart is shattered for my brother. Through our connection, I can feel a part of his pain, but it’s more than that. Looking at him … I don’t know if he’ll ever recover from this.”
“I’m sorry.” It was the only thing he could think to say. He was sorry for what happened to Logan, sorry that her people had to sacrifice themselves for his.
To his surprise, she stepped closer and wound her arms around his waist, pressing the side of her head to his chest. Neither of them spoke as he held her to him, not wanting to let go.
He rested his chin on her head, closing his eyes. “I’m giving up my throne.”
She stepped back so suddenly his arms reached for her. “You can’t do that.”
“It’s my throne.” He crossed his arms. “I can do whatever I want.”
Her eyes narrowed, and he recognized it as her fighting stance. “Keir, Vondur needs you.”
“No, Vondur needs a united Lenya. Bronagh is going to rule both kingdoms.”
She opened her mouth to speak before shutting it, unable to refute his claim. Finally, her voice came out small. “Did you do this out of some misguided allegiance to me? Keir, just because I helped save Lenya doesn’t mean you owe me anything. What we have is—”
“Love.” He stepped toward her. “What we have is love.” His hand lifted to caress her cheek, and she didn’t pull away. He’d have sworn she wasn’t breathing if he didn’t feel a small puff of air leave her mouth. “I love you, Tierney, and I know you feel the same.”
“You don’t know anything,” she whispered.
“I know I have no misguided allegiances because of what happened in the fire plains.” His eyes met her gaze in challenge. “I abdicated before we boarded the ship bound for Iskalt.”
Her mouth popped open, and he wrapped his hand around the back of her head, digging his fingers into her hair. “You …”
“I fell in love with you the first time I kissed you.” He leaned in. “I tried to stop it, to remind myself we were from different worlds and that one day we’d go our separate ways. But what if we didn’t have to?”
“What are you saying?”
“I don’t want to be apart from you, Tierney O’Shea.” His lips were only a breath away from hers now. “I couldn’t bear it.”
Her kiss was soft at first, testing, tasting. His lips traveled from the corner of her mouth, arching over her cheek to the sensitive spot below her ear. “I love you,” he whispered, trailing kisses down her neck. “I love it when you argue with me.” He kissed the underside of her jaw. “I love it when you best me in sparring or with magic. You’re so much more than I ever imagined, so much more than I deserve.”
Tierney put a finger under his chin and brought his face up so their eyes met. “There is nothing you don’t deserve, Keir.” She pressed her lips to his, and this time, there was nothing soft about it. Her body molded to his in the dark, seeking out connection wherever it could find it.
“I love you too,” she whispered against his lips.
In the coming days and weeks, he knew he’d wonder if it was right to leave Vondur, to make a new home in Iskalt. But he’d never question this, her. Tierney O’Shea saved his kingdom, saved his life, and she saved his soul.