Leena
When Yazmin died and Ocnolog returned to the beast realm, the war had come to a standstill. Without a leader to guide them, the Sentinels had ordered their respective brigades to stand down. We walked among them, hushed whispers floating around us, as they took in Noc’s shock-white hair and ice-blue eyes. Casting aside his armor, Noc peeled back the collar of his tunic to display the griffin emblem on his chest. The Sentinels close enough to get a glimpse of the mark fell to one knee and stared at the ground.
“My king,” they’d said, and one by one the rest of the opposing army followed suit.
Noc grabbed my hand and let his voice carry to those closest, knowing they’d pass the word along to their brethren. “Your queen, Leena Edenfrell.” Murmurs of assent passed through the troops, and Noc gave my fingers a squeeze.
“It’s really over, isn’t it?” I looked out over the bloodstained field. Many had died on both sides, and it would take time for our world to heal. But their sacrifices would not be forgotten.
“Yes,” Noc said. “It’s over.”
Everything after that was a blur. I’d gained immeasurable power by taming Ocnolog, but I’d spent it all just keeping my beasts in our world. After sending them back to the beast realm, I did what I could to help, arranging for healers to tend to the wounded and a small party to seek out the captured Charmers. But my body was useless and my brain mush. One moment I was sitting on the ground beside an injured soldier and the next I was lying in a bed I didn’t recognize.
Slowly, I pushed myself into a sitting position and reclined against the upholstered headboard. Bandages had been applied to my side where Ocnolog’s fire had scalded my skin, but there wasn’t any pain—just a bone-deep exhaustion I couldn’t seem to shake. My eyes felt like sandpaper, but I forced myself to blink. To get a sense of my surroundings. The room was entirely foreign to me. I must’ve been in Wilheim, though, because I recognized the same marble flooring from when I’d raced through the halls in search of Yazmin.
I glanced about the space, taking in the quiet hearth with an ornate stone mantel. A sky-blue settee was pushed up against the foot of the bed, and a row of floor-to-ceiling windows dominated the wall to my right. Sheer curtains were pulled tight over the panes, but a soft, pink light still filtered through them. Gently, I brought my hands to my bestiary. Then, I let my fingers wander to the scar just above my breast. It was smooth and pale, as if the injury had happened years ago, and a sense of panic raced through me. Just how long had I been asleep?
“The healers tried their best, as did Kost and Felicks, but they couldn’t completely get rid of the scar.”
My gaze snapped to the doorway where Noc leaned against the wall, one ankle crossed over the other. A light smile toyed with his lips.
“How long have I been out?” I yanked back the silk sheets and went to stand, but the world tilted hard and I fell back into bed.
Noc was beside me in a flash, strong hand steady against my back. “A couple days. So like you to stick around for the thrill of battle, only to bail when the really fun process of rebuilding a city takes place.”
“Oh gods,” I mumbled, pressing a hand to my forehead. “I’m sorry.”
He only chuckled. “I’m teasing you. Besides, there isn’t really an expected recovery time for someone losing their heart.”
That made my back straighten. Slowly, I raised my gaze to his, only to find that all semblance of humor had fled. Concern and worry filled his eyes, and I reached up to smooth the wrinkles lining his forehead.
“Ocnolog has it.”
He raised a brow, waiting for me to explain further. I let out a sigh.
“It was necessary to tame him. I had to sacrifice my heart and tie my life force to him. Yazmin did the same thing, but…” I shook my head and dropped my gaze to the floor. “She only wanted to control him. Not set him free.”
“So, what does that mean for you?” Timid fingers grazed the space where my heart used to be.
Placing my hand over his, I forced him to feel the warmth of my skin. The flush of heat his touch brought on. “It means that so long as Ocnolog lives, so will I. And since he’s an immortal beast destined to remain by Celeste’s side, that means I’ve got quite a few years ahead of me.”
It’d been a risk, driving that blade through my heart on the battlefield. And falling into a pit of darkness, saying goodbye to Noc and my beasts, had been terrifying. But once I’d taken my last breath, an incredible sense of peace had settled deep within me. It was as if my tie to Ocnolog had chased away all my doubts. I would still get to live, and so would he. There’d just be a ball of light in my chest where my heart used to be. The connection point between me and Ocnolog.
At that thought, my skin glowed faintly beneath Noc’s touch. Just enough to illuminate his fingers briefly before fading away. He stared at the space where his hand rested, and then he met my gaze with pure, unbridled joy in his eyes.
“Forever?”
I grinned. “Forever.”
He crushed me with a hug and pressed kisses to my cheeks. “Good. Because I couldn’t have turned you, anyway.”
“I know, I made you promise.”
“It’s more than that.” Pulling away a fraction, he took a blade from his inner coat pocket—which was odd, given he’d always used his nails—and slit open his palm. Blood pooled along his heartline and waited there, unmoving. After a moment, he reached around me with his free hand to grab a spare cloth next to a stack of bandages on the nightstand. Likely what’d been used to patch me up. He wiped away the blood, revealing healed skin, and I frowned.
“What are you showing me?” I held his hand and studied the reddish smear lingering there.
“I can’t control it anymore. Which also means, I can’t raise the dead.”
I blinked. “What?”
He scrubbed at his palm a bit more until the smear was gone, then set the rag on the nightstand. “I think when I announced you as queen and we entered into Wilheim together, we reversed the curse that started with Zane and Mavis all those years ago. Here.” He stood and offered his hand. Easing me up from the bed, he wrapped his arm around my waist so I could lean against him. Together, we shuffled toward the windows. He peeled back one of the curtains, displaying the courtyard outside of Wilheim’s castle.
A giant chasm had split the statue of the First King in half. And out of its center, a beautiful tree had grown tall against the sky. Queen’s Heart. I recognized the smooth white bark and full pink leaves. Its roots had crawled over the broken stone to drink from the water of the fountain. Noc pushed open the window, and a lukewarm spring breeze tickled my face.
He took a deep breath, savoring the sweet air that coursed around us. “Everything here feels lighter than I remember. More at ease.”
“And your shadows?” I asked.
He smirked and summoned a single tendril that darted around me before disappearing. “I still have those. I just can’t create any more undead. I don’t think there will be new Sentinels in Wilheim’s future, either.”
I stared out over the quiet city. Fortunately, Ocnolog’s fires hadn’t reached the wondrous salmon, daffodil, and tangerine-colored buildings. Or the rooftop gardens dotted with blooming white rosebushes. The crystal waterways still flowed freely, cutting through the capital and running alongside the marble pathways. It was utterly tranquil.
Noc leaned forward and pressed his forearms against the windowsill. “Oslo had said we could rewrite history. When the descendant of the First King and a Charmer reconciled the wrongs of the First War.”
Reconciled the wrongs. A bolt of lightning hit my spine, and I turned in place to grip Noc with both my hands. “What happened to the sedated Charmers? My parents?”
He smiled. “They’re fine. Would you like to see them?”
“Please,” I said, my answer barely a whisper.
“Can you walk? Or would you like me to have them sent up?”
“No. I–I want to go to them.” For years now I’d had nothing but memories of who they were. Stories my aunt had shared and that solitary, rose-gold ring I’d given to Onyx when I tamed him. Seeing both of them asleep in the bowels of Wilheim had made me realize how little I’d actually remembered. How much of them I’d suppressed to hide from the pain. I only hoped they’d forgive me for not seeking them out sooner.
With Noc’s help, I dressed in a simple, loose gown and ran a comb through my hair. I’d spent several minutes in front of the mirror fussing about flyaways and frayed ends, leaving Noc to roll his eyes.
“They’re your parents,” he’d said. “They’ll understand.”
Even so, I felt like I should have at least dressed up a bit more. But my body was already protesting at the length of the walk, so anything more restrictive probably would’ve only caused more issues. Comfortable would have to do.
As we strolled hand in hand, I let my eyes wander to our surroundings. To the high ceilings adorned with crystal chandeliers, the endless stretch of windows overlooking the city. Being that we were several flights of stairs up, I could glimpse out over the diamond and marble walls surrounding our kingdom to the endless grasslands. Ocnolog’s fires were extinguished, but there were still scorched patterns in the grass. A testament to what had happened.
But it was spring. New grass would bud and our world would keep turning. Peacefully, now, thanks to our efforts. My gaze drifted to the dark skyline on the horizon. The edge of Kitska Forest. And inevitably, what laid beyond.
My hand tightened in Noc’s. “Does anyone know what happened to Hireath?”
He grimaced. “It’s mostly gone. When Ocnolog rose out of the belly of the keep, he’d destroyed nearly everything. There are a few buildings that survived, but it will take time to rebuild it. Kaori and Raven plan on returning there soon to further assess the damage and determine the best path forward.”
A deep pang splintered through my heart. Gone. My first home, wiped clean off the map. The place where I’d tamed my first beast, where I’d lived happily with Mother, Father, and my aunt. Where I’d eventually risen to Crown of the Council. There were so many memories there. Not just for me, but for every Charmer who considered Hireath a sacred place. What would they do now? Where would they go?
“Fortunately, Cruor was unaffected, which means the Charmers who’d elected to stay there instead of participate in the war are unharmed.” Noc glanced at me through the corner of his eye. “We will send aid. Hireath is part of Lendria, and our people won’t be left to suffer.”
A single tear slid down my cheek, and I nodded. “Of course.”
We hit an ornate spiral staircase with a platinum railing, and together descended to the bottom floor of the castle. The receiving hall was empty, save a few attendants crossing from one side of the room to the other. Which took them a considerable amount of time, considering it was massive in size and could easily house at least two Cruor manors. All along the stone walls were polished, white oak tables, stalls, and vibrant canopies of every shade under the sun.
“The Royal Bazaar,” Noc said. “It’s only open in the mornings. We can go tomorrow if you’d like.” He nodded to our right, where the wide-open archway of the castle led to a smooth landing and series of steps. Beyond, the courtyard with the now-split statue of the First King.
There, a small group of people lingered around the fountain, their light conversation carrying through the air. I recognized Oz, Kost, and Calem first. They were reclining on one of the benches, Kost and Calem obviously locked in one of their playful arguments, while Oz stood by with his arms folded across his chest. A few feet away, Kaori, Raven, and Gaige were also engaged in conversation, though far less animatedly.
But their beasts stole my focus and warmed my heart. Lounging on the edge of the fountain, Okean had one paw draped in the water and was batting at the trickling stream darting through the roots of the tree. Beside him, Felicks sat and licked at his fur, ears standing tall. A trilling birdcall sounded from above, and Effie, Calem’s beast, soared over the tree. She darted between branches and showered the twigs with magic from her wings, encouraging more leaves to sprout. Even Noc’s Gyss, Winnow, was there. Mischief glinting in her eyes, she floated across the surface of the fountain and splashed Felicks’s freshly cleaned hide. And then there was Jax, sound asleep and baking in the sun.
The closer we got, the wider my smile grew. My family was alive. Safe. And so were our allies. Madeline and Isla were chatting with soldiers stationed near the exit of the castle, and they nodded politely as we passed. Rhyne had upheld their end of the alliance without fault, and soon we’d be expected to reopen trade routes with our once enemies, as well as employ Harlow as one of our principal captains. I wasn’t sure Noc was overly keen on the idea, but working with her would be nothing compared to the challenges we’d already overcome.
When I stepped off the last stair, my stomach began to flutter. There, with their backs to me and faces upturned toward the magnificent tree, stood my parents. My father had his palm on the small of my mother’s back, the ends of her long hair teasing his fingers. She’d leaned her head against his shoulder and was laughing about something. The sound rooted me in place. I knew that laugh. My heart pounded in my throat. Would they even recognize me? Would they remember me at all? What if their coma had wiped their minds?
Noc urged me forward. “Come on. They’re eager to see you.”
I swallowed thickly. “They are?”
“Of course.” He frowned. “Why wouldn’t they be?”
“I don’t know, it’s just been so long. What if—”
“Hey, Leena!” Calem shouted, million-bit grin on display. “Glad to see you’re up and moving.”
Both of my parents turned in place. My mother gasped, then covered her mouth with shaking fingers. Her wide eyes turned glassy. My father took a careful step forward. Then another. Then he was rushing toward me and wrapping me in a hug so tight my bones creaked. But I didn’t care. I let out a sob and buried my head in the collar of his tunic. I heard my mother rush to our side and then felt the warmth of her arms around us. The splash of her hot tears against my neck. When I looked up at my father, I saw red-rimmed hazel eyes staring back at me. My eyes.
“Leena,” he managed to choke out.
“Hey, Dad.” I gave him another squeeze and then turned so I could see my mother. She cupped my face between her hands and trailed her thumbs over my cheeks. She studied every inch of my expression, as if she were committing it to memory. Gently, she placed a soft kiss on my forehead.
“You’ve grown so big.”
I let out a laugh and wrapped her in a tight hug. “I missed you.”
“We missed you, too,” she said.
Sniffing, I took a step back and steadied myself with a long breath. I glanced around to see that we’d gained an audience. Everyone was grinning. Kaori even had a tear at the corner of her eye. My new family and my old, all in one place. Extending my hand to Noc, I pulled him over to us. His smile was kind, and he tipped his head in a polite hello.
“Mother, Father, this is Noc. He’s my anam-cara.”
They beamed at him, and my mother nodded. “So we’ve been told.”
“I’m so happy for you, Leena.” My dad looked between Noc and me. “All we ever wanted was for you to be happy.”
“I am. And I always will be.” Tipping my head upward, I stole a glance at my love. Noc grinned back down at me, a lightness to his expression that I’d hardly seen in our days together: Ease. Peace. We were finally done. Done fighting against curses, prophecies, and armies. We’d faced the impossible and somehow come out the other side still intact. Still together. Still in love. And even though there were things to take care of—rebuilding Hireath, maintaining an alliance with Rhyne, ruling over Lendria—I couldn’t help but welcome it all. Because this new life we were embarking on, this new future of ours, was incredibly full. And as I looked at each one of my family members’ beaming faces, I knew that even if life took an unexpected turn, we’d all be here for each other. Fighting curses, and prophecies, and armies, because we were a family.
And nothing could tear us apart.