Epilogue

The tree roots where he had curled up were deep, so deep he couldn’t seem to crawl out of them. But Gabriel knew he had to; it was the only way to rescue Sean, so he had to keep climbing and climbing.

“Sean!” he called, hoping Sean might hear him and know Gabriel was coming as fast as he could.

“Gabe, I’m here. You can wake up now. It’s okay, I’m here.”

Gabriel blinked, then blinked again until the familiar ceiling of his bedroom came into focus. Sean leaned over Gabriel, his bright green eyes concerned.

“A nightmare again? I’m so sorry, Gabe.”

“It’s not your fault,” Gabriel replied as firmly as he could. They had had this conversation so many times, and every time Sean still blamed himself for Gabriel’s nightmares. He never listened when Gabriel insisted it was Ambassador Jelkins’s fault, or it was Gabriel’s fault for having so little faith in Sean. After all, he had assumed Sean was dead instead of trusting in his strength.

Gabriel rolled over so he was half lying on Sean. He propped his chin on Sean’s chest so he could look up at him. The black circles were gone after four weeks of nothing but sleep. Sean had enough strength to take short walks, and he was doing his best to turn those walks into some sort of training, but he wasn’t anywhere close to his full strength yet. Gabriel was busy with the war council during the day, handling the reports his sister and the general sent back, as well as the day-to-day running of the country while Rory was away leading the army against the North. That only left the late night and early morning for them to spend together, except most mornings were spent making them both feel better after Gabriel had a nightmare.

It was time to change that negative cycle.

Gabriel grinned up at Sean, then tilted his neck so he could lick a long stripe down Sean’s chest, relishing the salty-sweet taste of Sean’s skin and the firm hardness of Sean’s muscles. He rolled a little more so they were pressed body-to-body and he could feel Sean’s entire length against his own. The move brought his head in line with Sean’s, and Sean was already there, his own head tilted perfectly to take Gabriel’s lips with his.

Heat flared between them, much like the magic Sean had barely begun to teach Gabriel, but this heat was so much more intense. Sean’s arms held Gabriel close as their lips pressed together. It was slow, leisurely, as they took the time to reintroduce their bodies to each other. The heat built as their bodies shifted, pressing close, then drawing away.

The intensity and focus in Sean’s eyes as he lovingly took in every inch of Gabriel eventually did Gabriel in. Sean didn’t take long to follow Gabriel’s lead, and they cuddled together under the blankets afterward.

Why would Gabriel worry about nightmares when he had this to wake up to? Sean’s slowing breaths in his ear reminded Gabriel he was still alive. Sean’s every touch, so gentle, yet firm enough to show he knew Gabriel was strong enough to take everything he could give, was full of love. A nightmare had no power against this.

Gabriel draped one arm over Sean, ready to take a nap and enjoy a lazy morning. Sean let out a soft, happy sigh and snuggled close.

The horns blowing outside were easy to ignore when he had Sean’s long, beautiful hair to play with. It was so easy to braid, and so silky between his fingers. Sean’s laughter as he happily let Gabriel play was the real reason Gabriel could be so carefree.

Until the moment was shattered by frantic banging on the door. “Prince Gabriel, Knight Protector Sean! The horns!”

The horns? Gabriel listened for a moment, hearing the particular cadence of the horns blowing outside, and then he fell out of bed at a sprint, scattering blankets everywhere as he rushed to the washbasin to clean off, before hurrying to the wardrobe to throw on some clothes. Somehow, he managed to not get in the way of Sean, who was getting ready as well. The door banged open, slamming against the wall as they dashed out together.

Footsteps of at least a dozen people ran with them as the courtiers rushed from their rooms in the public halls and servants followed behind. When Gabriel and Sean reached the front hall, the crowd that had beat them there made a path for them. They spilled out onto the front courtyard en masse just as the loudest horn blast sounded and the main gates were thrown open.

Rory rode in at the head of the army, resplendent in her armor. She looked like a queen, and everyone around Gabriel seemed to see it too. They all stood straighter for a brief moment, as awe of her brilliance settled on them, and then they bowed to her.

Gabriel strode across the courtyard as Rory dismounted. He waited while a hostler took her horse, and then he bowed to her as well.

“Welcome home, Queen Aurora!” he called loudly enough for everyone in the courtyard to hear. A roar erupted from the onlookers and from the soldiers that were still streaming in through the gates.

Rory held up her hands until silence slowly descended. “We, the soldiers of Monrath, are proud to bring home victory!” she yelled in her best parade voice. She was drowned out a moment later as cheers erupted again, so she didn’t try to say anything else to the crowd. “It’s still early morning, so I think planning a banquet for tonight wouldn’t be too difficult?” she said to the maid who had already come to her side. The maid nodded eagerly and ran off. Rory turned to Gabriel and Sean next, and her look said she had something to say to them in private. They fell into step with her as she headed into the castle.

It took much longer to return to the royal hall than it had to leave it not ten minutes prior. Everyone had to stop Rory to tell her something, and she took the time to listen to them all. When they did reach her rooms, Gabriel and Sean settled together into a love seat in her sitting room while she went with her maids into her bedroom to wash and change.

Gabriel was happily napping with his head resting on Sean’s shoulder, who was in turn resting with his head on top of Gabriel’s, when she emerged.

They waited until tea and a light breakfast was served and the maids had left before she started explaining.

“They all saw a bright-red rose in their minds and then forgot what they were doing there,” Rory said over her teacup.

“Who saw what?” Gabriel asked. He picked up a tea sandwich and bit into it, glad to assuage his growling stomach.

Rory grimaced. “Sorry. It’s all muddled weirdly in my head. I know the antidote to the poisoned needle I touched was brewed from rose petals, so maybe I’m mixing up my stories. All I know is we were encamped for the night, preparing for battle to begin at first light, when all of a sudden all of the scouts came running in. The entire northern army was wandering around aimlessly, and when we captured them to question them, none could remember why they were there. One or two with that story I could understand, but we found dozens. They all spoke about some sort of red rose vision, but that faded from their memories quickly too. I swear, it was the weirdest thing I have ever seen.”

Rory took a long sip of tea and then ate two of the sandwiches ravenously. Gabriel looked up at Sean, who shook his head slightly, so Gabriel kept his questions to himself for the moment.

“After seven days of talking to people who didn’t remember leaving their mother’s house, let alone joining an army, we broke camp and came home. I also sent scouts north, and the empire is gone. It’s as if it never existed.”

“Then we should celebrate our victory and mourn our dead,” Sean replied easily. “Let’s leave it up to the historians who will write down this victory to decide how it was won.”

Rory laughed. “They’ll decide that regardless, but you’re right. Let’s celebrate today, mourn tomorrow, and figure out the rest later. Finish your breakfast, and then go get dressed. Today’s going to be a busy day!”

Twenty minutes later, Gabriel and Sean headed back out into the hallway, walked two doors down, and entered their room. Only once the door was firmly closed behind them did Gabriel turn to Sean and fix him with a glare.

“Rory thinks she was poisoned by a needle?” he asked sharply.

Sean nodded. “It’s the forgetting spell. I think that’s what happened to the northern empire too. Zel and Ishiah must have broken whatever Jelkins did to keep the army of the North from forgetting about magic, and the soldiers immediately forgot the magic that had gathered them together.”

“So why didn’t I forget?” Gabriel asked.

Sean grinned. “How can you forget about something coursing through your blood? You remember how it goes? From your head, to your feet—”

“Back up to the head, and out,” Gabriel finished, throwing his hand outward to focus the magic. The bedroom door swung open a half second later. He grinned over at Sean, who laughed. “Shall we get ready for the day?” Gabriel asked him.

Sean walked over and pecked Gabriel on the lips. “Let’s.”