by Shane Morgan
I shook my head and sniffed. “You loved her. You only wanted to be with her. But it’s all right now. Her soul is at peace.”
Bejo smiled. “She will join me, as will you. But not now.” He grazed my cheek. “Return to your new life and love. Be happy, my daughter, for you deserve it.”
“Thank you,” I muttered, holding his warm hand.
“I am always with you, in Gargouille, and wherever you go.”
He nodded in the way gargoyles showed respect to others and touched our foreheads.
Incredible light blinded my vision once more, and I blinked profusely until regaining focus.
Lars’s concerned human face came into view. We were back in his room in the Gargouille kingdom.
Ignoring the slight pain in my stomach, I shot up and threw my arms around him, breathing in his remarkable presence, thankful for a second chance.
He cuddled me securely while kissing the side of my head. “I thought I had lost you,” he said in his relief.
When I eased back, Sarayas and Ezio came up to the bed. They beamed at me.
Sarayas squeezed my hand. “Well done, Calissa. You’ve overpowered the dark.”
“I couldn’t have done it without you guys,” I said, peering around at their faces.
“How are you feeling?” Obel asked from the other side of the room. He wandered over and motioned to my stomach. “You haven’t healed completely, but it has started.”
I glanced down and touched the bandage wrapped around my stomach under my blouse. “How come I didn’t heal right away like the other times?”
He sighed. “Perhaps using so much energy in the dark world slowed the process. But you will in time.” He lightly touched my shoulder. “You did well for a human.” He chortled after.
Lars brushed my cheek. “You stopped breathing for a moment then started mumbling to someone while I was bringing you back. Who did you see?”
A smile reached my lips. “My father. Bejo. He said he’s proud of me, and that he and my mother will rejoin now that her soul is free.”
Everyone relaxed their shoulders.
“Bejo,” Sarayas murmured. “How lucky. He was a great guardian.”
Ezio added, “Yes, no wonder his daughter is so strong.”
Feeling shy from their praises, I lowered my eyes.
Obel cleared his throat. “The king and queen have been waiting outside to see you.”
“Really?” My head shot up. I swallowed hard. “Do they still want to throw me to my death?”
Lars snorted. “Silly.” He kissed my cheek. “They are moved by your valor.”
Obel went to the door, opening it. My body tensed when King Deo and Queen Vaira entered.
Luuk and Ilris walked in behind them.
Sarayas and Ezio moved aside, giving us space.
Lars straightened from the bed and greeted his parents, “Father. Mother.”
They nodded in return and steered their gaze to me.
Queen Vaira spoke first. “I hear you are to thank for destroying the demon master. Guardians said you showed great strength. You conquered the dark in you.”
I picked at my nails modestly. “I only wanted to protect Lars and everyone. I didn’t want your world or mine to suffer.”
“How did you conjure such power?” asked King Deo, inching forward.
“Honestly…” I looked at Lars. “It was my love for your son. It gave me the strength I needed.”
He reached for my hand, gently squeezing it.
“Perhaps it is time to make adjustments to old rules, father?” Luuk chimed in. Ilris looped her arm around his and smiled at me while touching her baby bump.
King Deo cleared his throat. He passed a glance between Lars and me, then twisted to Queen Vaira. She grasped his hand and nodded once.
Carrying his gaze back to us, King Deo squared his shoulders and said, “You are welcome in our kingdom, Calissa, daughter of Bejo. We offer our consent for your joining ceremony to Lars.”
Surprised, I glanced at Lars.
He swept aside a curl from my cheek and smiled. “Only if you still want to,” he said softly. “I will accept whatever decision you—”
“Yes,” I muttered and took his hand. “I’ll go through with the ceremony. Silly, we can’t have you dying.”
His smile stretched wider. He breathed an air of relief then looked at his parents.
“Gargouille welcomes you home, Calissa,” Ilris cheered.
“Home,” I repeated, resting my eyes. “That sounds really good.”
I couldn’t help feeling guilty as I wandered through the field of neatly arranged stones, noting the new ones that were recently added.
I’d spent another few days in bed before I was strong enough to move around. There were a few gargoyles who avoided me like the plague, while most were friendly and conveyed how impressed they were by what I’d done.
Obel had repaired the magical barriers, but something Ren said in the dark world still troubled me.
Someone helped the demons enter the Gargouille kingdom.
Truthfully, Anya had crossed my mind as the main suspect. But the look in her eyes atop the stairs, and seeing how she changed her mind and tried to stop me from leaving, gave me doubts. Anya treasured her kingdom and would do anything to protect her kind. I couldn’t see her betraying the gargoyles.
She was keeping her distance too and hadn’t thrown me any nasty glances.
So, who else could have done such a thing?
Who would want to weaken their defenses so the demons could take me?
“This place will only make you sad,” Lars remarked, landing in the field. He walked closer and took my hand.
“I know, but I wanted to pay my respects. Your father said it was all right.”
He nodded, understanding. Then he looked around at his fallen comrades and sighed.
“Lars, what Ren said…”
“The demon master was lying,” he assured, knowing my thoughts without me finishing. “Gargoyles would never betray one another. It is not in our nature.”
“Hm.”
Drawing me into his arms, a sly smile emerged as he asked, “Would you like to go to the waterfall?”
I giggled and wrapped my arms around his neck for him to lift me from the ground.
“In a matter of months, you will be mine forever, Calissa. Does that frighten you?”
I shook my head. “Nothing scares me anymore, especially when I have you watching over me.”
“My sweet, Calissa.” He planted a sensual kiss on my lips as he carried me into the sky, and somehow, my heart felt more complete than it’d ever been.
Not only had I finally found a home, but I’d also unexpectedly received that happily ever after.
Acknowledgments
Thanks to my family for their love and support. Special thanks to my little sis, Shari, for her great feedback and allowing me to use her name (despite the outcome of the character).
Tim, words fail me because none can truly convey how much I love you and appreciate you.
Laurie Treacy, thank you so much for always being willing to offer your thoughtful critique and inspiring me to push myself as a writer.
Thank you, reader, for taking the time to give my stories a chance. Out of so many books, you selected mine as well. For that, I am beyond grateful and forever will be.
About the Author
Shane Morgan is the author of several novels in the genres of contemporary romance, suspense, and fantasy. Shane currently lives in Rhode Island with her amazing husband. She spends her days writing, listening to music, and escaping in stories.
www.shanemorganwrites.com
facebook.com/authorshanemorgan
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