I glance longingly at my bed. I can have a quick nap, and then I can go down to the stables and wait for Edward to meet me.
I lean back against the wall of the stable, with Luna's head on my lap. She seems content now the full moon has passed. I stroke her mane, offering her all the comfort I can in my still tired state. I'd slept deeply, but don't feel rested. I suspect that'll be the case for at least a week or so, and then I can move on.
Firefly's head shoots up at the sound of the stable door, and I know who is going to be there even before I see him. Edward strides in, looking a lot better than he did earlier now he isn't exhausted.
His eyes lock with mine and a smile lights up his face. "I thought you might be here."
He lets himself into Luna's stall and comes to sit beside me.
Firefly neighs at us, clearly put out that he hasn't had any fuss from his master.
"You'll get your turn," he tells his horse, before putting his arm around me.
I rest my head on his shoulders and the two of us sit there in silence, neither wanting to break the spell.
"I can't believe it's over," I whisper eventually.
"How are you feeling about it?" he asks.
"Tired."
He chuckles, the sound vibrating through me.
"I sent a letter to Father asking if you could visit, though," I say. "I'm sure he'll agree. But we should know by the end of the week."
"Thank you. I didn't realise you were going to send that so quickly."
"I don't want to waste any time," I admit. "And it seems like the quicker we get this moving, the better."
He hugs me tighter and kisses the top of my head. "Are you alright with me asking your Father if I can marry you?"
"Yes."
"You weren't just agreeing to it because of the prophecy?"
I pull away from him so I can see his face properly. "Why ever would you think that? There's no prince in my prophecy. Certainly no marriage. Agreeing to marry you is nothing to do with it."
He cups my cheek in his hand and gazes into my eyes, filling me with a sense of belonging and comfort.
"I'm sorry, I just got nervous."
"I know what that's like." Even this conversation is putting me a little on edge, though I don't tell him that. He understands it in his own way. "But my feelings for you are one of the only things I've ever been this certain about. I know deep in my heart that I want to be with you. I want to be by your side as we figure out where we fit in life, even if neither of us has a kingdom to run."
"That almost sounds like you're proposing to me," he jokes.
I touch the pendant around my neck and a smirk lifts my lips. "I think it's too late for that."
He chuckles and leans in, pressing a gentle kiss against my lips.
It's like Luna has a sixth sense for intense moments like this, as she lifts her head up and starts to whinny.
The two of us break apart and start fussing the small unicorn.
"Do you think she wants a run?" I ask Edward. She's been cooped up in the stall since she arrived, and I can't imagine that's a nice place for her to be.
"We can see if she'll go out in the paddock with Firefly?"
The stallion's ears prick up as he hears his name.
I give him a stern look. "You can't run too fast if you have Luna trying to follow you." I waggle my finger at him as if trying to make sure he'll behave.
He bobs his head, though it might just be some kind of movement rather than an affirmation. I'm willing to take the risk.
"Do you want a leading rein for Luna?" Edward asks as he gets to his feet.
I glance at the unicorn and shake my head. My gaze catches on her horn and I remember one of the things I want to do today. I dig into my pocket and pull out the vial of unicorn tears.
"Please, drink this." I press it into Edward's hand.
His eyes widen as he realises what I'm asking him to go. "I can't, we don't want to waste them."
"There's no waste if it keeps you alive," I point out. "But in another month, the full moon will be here again and there's a chance Luna will cry again. And if she doesn't, then that's alright."
Indecision wars all over his face.
"Please," I repeat.
"But what if you want to be rid of me in ten years’ time?" he asks.
"You think I'll go with poison? I can just tell my brother and he'll execute you," I joke. I'm not certain my brother would do that, but it's worth saying it to see the expression on Edward's face.
He still looks unsure, but uncorks the vial and drinks it down.
"I don't feel any different," he says.
"Neither did I until I ate a poisoned apple and didn't die," I quip.
"Point taken." He passes the vial back to me and I slip it into Luna's care box. There's no reason to put it in my pocket again when it's empty.
Edward places the leading rein around Firefly's neck, and the four of us leave the stables. I've never been out to the paddock before, but it's exactly what I expect it to be. A huge field with a couple of the other horses out grazing. There are a few who belong to the academy, but most students who enjoy riding bring their own, Edward included.
The moment the gate is shut behind us, he slips the leading rein from Firefly's neck and pats the stallion on the rump.
He gallops off into the field with Luna following on his heels. She tries to copy all the things he does, but mostly fails. Every now and again, Firefly looks behind him to check she's following.
"He's good with her," I observe.
Edward chuckles. "That's because she's as charming as her bonded human, and everyone wants to do things that'll make her happy."
"I find that unlikely."
He slips an arm around me and pulls me close. "I'll rephrase, it makes people like me want to do everything they can."
"And you manage so well." I turn and kiss him on the cheek, before watching the horses in the field again. I feel calmer than I have in years. Possibly ever. This is how I always wanted my life to be.
Epilogue
Three Weeks Later
And here I was thinking nerves are a part of my past. But my stomach is wrapped up in knots as we step out of the carriage outside the palace I call home. Or my parents call home. I'm a bit confused about where I stand with not being the heir apparent.
"It's going to be alright," Edward assures me.
"You're just saying that."
"Your Father said he was looking forward to our visit," he points out.
"What else is he going to say?" I don't think they expect me to have come home from my first term at Grimm Academy with a potential fiancé in tow. To be fair, I didn't expect that either.
"He wants you to be happy, Snow. There's nothing wrong with that. And I'll win him over while we're visiting."
I nod. That's true. I have no doubt that Edward will win over my whole family with his charm, bravery, and in my Mother's case, his bloodline and a few carefully selected gifts from his kingdom.
The palace doors fling open and the guards play their trumpets. Heat rushes to my cheeks. I don't want this to be made into a big deal. Not when it's just me coming home for the holidays.
Father steps outside the doors and opens his arms. I rush into them.
"How are you?" he asks.
"Happy," I respond.
"And you think the prophecy is truly broken?"
I nod. I haven't explained the details of what happened, I don't feel the need to, but I have mentioned that it's over and I don't have to worry any longer.
"Edward helped," I say unnecessarily, and gesture towards him.
"Ah yes, the Prince you mentioned. "Step forward, lad, and let me see you properly."
Edward does as instructed and drops into a bow.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Your Majesty."
"We'll have none of that, young man. If my Snow is to be believed, you're my future son-in-law."
Edward startles and throws me a glance.
I shrug. "It seemed like something I should mention."
Father laughs loudly. "She has you on your toes as much as she has me there, I see," he muses. "You'll never get a moment's peace."
Edward is saved from answering when Luna trots up to us and nudges at my hand. I ruffle her mane.
"And who is this? You never mentioned a foal in your letter."
"This is Luna, she's my bonded unicorn." I fiddle with the sleeve of my dress as I speak. I don't know how he's going to react to the fact I brought a unicorn home with me. This is probably even more of a surprise than me bringing a prince home.
"A bonded unicorn? My my, you have been busy." Amusement dances on his face, no doubt he's thinking about how Mother will respond to all this. "We should get inside." He claps Edward on the back and draws him into the castle.
I follow behind with Luna at my side.
Edward and Father are talking about some kind of trade, which only makes a smile form on my lips. I like the idea of the two of them getting along.
We turn into one of the many banqueting halls and I see Mother and David seated at the far end. Their eyes are fixated on Edward, neither of them paying any attention to me and Luna. Maybe Father didn't tell them I caught a prince. That sounds like him.
I chuckle at the thought.
"This is Prince Edward," Father introduces. "Edward, this is my wife and son, Prince Elrick."
Edward dips into a small bow. "It's a pleasure to be here. Snow has told me a lot about you."
Mother's eyes widen. "Why is this the first I'm hearing of this?" She looks between me and Father, not knowing which of us she's blaming more.
I shrug. "I wrote a letter."
She narrows her eyes at me, probably realising that I addressed it to Father and not both of them, which is why she hasn't seen it.
"You're going to have to tell me what's in the letter," she insists.
I shrug, earning myself another scowl. She hates it when I do that. She sees it as unladylike behaviour that isn't befitting of a princess. "That I met Edward at the academy and he's intending to ask your permission to marry me."
Mother blinks a few times, a nervous tick I've noticed in myself from time to time when I'm thinking too hard.
"Why is no one questioning the horse?" Elrick asks, rising to his feet. He's curious more than demanding. If he wasn't destined to be the next King, then I'm sure my brother would be in a library somewhere.
"Unicorn," I correct. "I bonded with her during class."
"Is there any other news you've been keeping to yourself?" Mother demands.
I share a nervous glance with Father, who shakes his head. "No." She doesn't need to know about the prophecy.
"And you expect us to grant you permission to marry our daughter?" she asks Edward.
"I hope you will, Your Majesty," he answers evenly. "I've become very fond of her during our time together."
I can see from her face that she wants to ask if things have remained proper between us, but doesn't dare.
"I don't see any good reason why we shouldn't welcome him into the family," Father says jovially. "That is, if Snow is willing to accept it when he asks." He winks at me and I have to stifle a giggle.
"Of course I'm going to accept." It hasn't even crossed my mind not to. I want to keep Edward around for as long as I can.
"Come on, I want to show you my favourite place," I urge him.
"What are you up to?"
I pull him onto the only balcony that has a view of the entire gardens.
"The stars always seem to shine the brightest from here," I admit. "Or maybe it's just me that thinks that. No one comes up here but me." And for that reason, it's always been my haven. A chance to get away from the hectic life of the palace where no one seems to want to leave me alone for longer than five minutes.
"It's beautiful," he whispers.
I glance at him, only to find he's not looking at the sky, but at me. I raise an eyebrow.
"I stand by what I said."
"That's not why I brought you up here." I cross my arms, trying not to let the joy at his comment fill me.
"Isn't it?" He pulls me into his arms and touches his lips to mine.
I melt into him, grasping onto his shirt and pulling him closer. He's mine now. Father has all but approved our union, and that's even before we start talking about the trade advantages between the kingdoms that our wedding will bring.
There's not the most important thing to me, though. I'm just happy that I'm home, safe, and in the arms of someone I'm coming to love. When we return to the academy, we'll be doing it as an engaged couple.
Nothing could make me happier. No one can take this moment from me.
Under the stars, I embraced my future. I have everything I need and I'm not going to let it go.
The End
Thank you for reading Mirrors And Magic, I hope you enjoyed Snow’s story. If you want more from Grimm Academy, Briar’s story releases in February! You can find out more here: https://www.authorlauragreenwood.co.uk/p/after-mirrors-and-magic.html
About the Author
Laura is a USA Today Bestselling Author of paranormal, fantasy, and contemporary romance. When she's not writing, she can be found drinking ridiculous amounts of tea, trying to resist French Macaroons, and watching the Pitch Perfect trilogy for the hundredth time (at least!)
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Faust Academy by Laynie Bynum and M. Dalto
Foreword
Everyone always says their freshman year of college was difficult.
Mine was no different than most.
Well, except for the whole reincarnation of a famous wizard part.
Or the fighting a demon part.
And, maybe perhaps, the falling in love part.
But we’ll get to that.
Later.
Chapter One
Eve didn’t know who put it there, or how the golden envelope ended up in between the panes of glass in her bedroom window, but one thing was for sure, getting it out was going to be a challenge.
The windows of her family’s old brownstone had been painted shut many years ago and in all her years of living there, she’d never once tried to break the seals. But no matter how much she tried to ignore the envelope or even shut the curtains; the blinding glint distracted her every time she walked into the room.
Two days. It took two days before her curiosity took hold and she chipped away at the seal with an old kitchen knife. One way or another, she was determined to make the envelope give up its secrets.
It took hours and by the time she was done, she sat on the bed next to a three-inch high pile of paint chips, that, if Eve was honest with herself, probably contained high enough lead content in them to drive her mad if she was stupid enough to eat them.
Maybe she was already mad because normal people didn’t have golden envelops mysteriously appear within their windows.
She leaned up slightly, placing her fingertips gently on the grooved wood at the bottom of the window, and pushed up. Success. The window lifted with a terrible groan. It was only a few inches, but it was enough for her to get one arm between the panels of glass.
It took some twisting, squirming, and otherwise acrobatic-like maneuvers, but eventually she was able to snake her arm up just enough for her fingers to close around the very corner edge of the paper.
As she pulled it free, the embossed lettering on the front seemed to move of its own volition. Two worms (Or snakes? Legless dragons? She wasn’t sure.) swirled and shimmied in a serpentine-like fashion against the gold background until they formed into two encircled letters. An F and a U.
“Yeah, well fuck you too,” Eve mumbled as she turned the envelope over a
nd over again in her hands, searching for the seam.
It was envelope shaped and gave off every indication it could be opened. So where in the hell was the flap to open it?
She put the envelope beside her on the small twin bed and crossed the room to the old mahogany desk in the corner which had belonged to her grandfather.
Opening drawer one revealed stacks of notes, a few dried out ink-pens, Post-Its, several long-forgotten tea bags, and some Tic-Tacs. But no scissors, letter opener or other equally sharp-edged object. “I know I have something in here somewhere.”
Drawer two was no better, but Eve was not one to be dissuaded by inconvenience. Instead, she quietly snuck into the bathroom, careful not to disturb the Siamese cat sleeping in the doorway, and pulled a metal nail file out from under the sink.
She picked the golden paper up, lifting it into the sunlight streaming through the now open window, and tried to see through it to make sure she wasn’t going to puncture any of its contents. However, the envelope refused to cooperate, blacking out every piece of light rather than showing what could possibly be inside.
Eve took a deep breath and slipped the nail file behind the flap of the envelope, hoping to discover what awaited her inside. Instead, one of the scale-covered, reptilian figures on the front lashed out and caught the nail file in between its razor-sharp teeth before it touched the paper.
“That’ssssssss not necessssary,” one of the creatures hissed, its forked tongue tickling her fingers.
She shrieked as she threw the envelope to the floor and jammed the heel of one of her boot into it.
“She’ssss quite the ssssaucy one,” a higher pitched voice said from the ground.
Eve backed up until she hit the bed and sunk down into it, her head dropping into her hands.
Academy of Magic Collection Page 26
