“I could save Roth, yes,” she said. “But I won’t. You’ll have to do it...after you accept my offer.”
“How?”
“Do you know what’s more powerful than the toxin you fed him?”
“True love?”
“The antidote.”
My mind whirled. The Forest of Good and Evil. Or maybe Schrödinger’s Forest fit better. Here, you could both find yourself and get lost, find insects and herbs that killed and healed. You could be saved and damned. What Allura asked of me...it was both my salvation and my damnation.
She’d said I had to give up everything. Sacrifice everything. I’d have to say goodbye to Truly, though we’d only just reunited. I would save Roth and lose him. In essence, I would trade my future for his. Perhaps a fair trade. He hadn’t rejected me today. With my enemy vanquished at last, and my grief-colored glasses momentarily lifted, I saw the truth. Roth had protected me—from myself. He’d put my well-being above his own.
Could I do any less for him?
And really, this opportunity offered the safety and security I craved for so long. I could protect myself and my twin, and my sister’s tree. I could give the Evil Queen a good name, and overcome the stigma of her—my...our—fairy tale.
So why was I still hesitating?
“Why must I give up everything?” I demanded. “Why can’t I keep my loved ones?”
“Either you are loyal to the forest, or you are loyal to another. You must choose.”
“I need time.”
Anger flared in her dark eyes, my link to the forest evaporating as quickly as it formed. “I’ll give you an hour. If you cannot recognize the great honor I wish to bestow upon you, then you are not worthy to receive it, and I’ll need to find someone else.” A second later, she vanished.
Truly and Thor appeared in her place, the sight of them as welcome as it was agonizing.
Pale and trembling, she asked, “What happened?”
She hadn’t gotten to watch through the mist? I wondered how she would view me when she heard what I’d done. But I wouldn’t lie or hold back. I explained Roth’s predicament, as well as Farrah’s, and the part I’d played. The part everyone had played, even Queen Violet.
Truly hugged me, shocking me to the core. “I love you, Everly. Nothing will change that, I promise you. Thank you for showing mercy to Farrah.” She kissed my cheek, and my heart punched my ribs. Then she crossed to Violet, who remained in a tangle of vines. Oops. My bad. I hadn’t yet freed her. As she cut those vines, she demanded, “How could you do such vile things, Mother?”
“I hoped to stop Everly before she harmed you.” A tear tracked down Violet’s cheek. “I am sorry.”
Too little, too late. To me, she would always be the Queen of Betrayals. Once, I’d gone to her full of dreams, and she’d crushed every single one. I’d forged a life without her. Now I had no place for her.
So why did I feel like I was breaking down all over again?
Would I forever be torn in two?
“Everly,” she said, trying again. She stepped toward me.
Vikander and Saxon moved between us. To protect me?
Too little, too late, dang it. “You had your chance.” I turned my gaze to my twin. “Will you be returning to Sevón with Vikander and Saxon, or going home to Airaria with the queen?” And what about Roth? If I accepted Allura’s offer and got my hands on the antidote, would he want to stay with me in the forest or go home?
Could he stay with me? Just like his magic could not stop other people from negating his compulsion, I couldn’t stop him from staying if he wanted to stay. But his people needed him. He had to go back, no matter what.
Wait. I hadn’t sensed any kind of antidote when I’d been linked to the forest. Had Allura hidden it from me? Or did it not exist?
“Airaria,” Truly said. “I will escort the queen home and return here.”
I...didn’t know what to say.
At the edge of the campsite, tree limbs parted, revealing a scowling Ophelia. The witch stomped into the clearing, covered in muck. A scowling Noel and an infuriated Ty trailed her.
“I’m going to turn you into a toilet!” Ophelia bellowed, pointing at the ashen Violet.
“Forget her.” I stepped between the witch and the queen, telling Ophelia, “I need a favor. Can you—will you?—enchant the diamond coffin? I want Princess Farrah to see her crimes, again and again. And again.”
“Yes. I can, I will.” Satisfaction glowed in her eyes. For once, she didn’t demand payment. She simply waved her hand toward the coffin, an azure mist shimmering over the diamonds, and said, “Let remorse cut her heart and make it bleed... Only then will the curse be broken, and Farrah freed.”
Now, Farrah would live, as Roth had wanted, but she would suffer, as she deserved.
I expected my own rise of satisfaction. It was done, the war won. No satisfaction. Only more sadness. I’d gained much today, but I’d lost so much more.
When Noel took in the scene—namely, Hartly’s tree—she fell to her knees. “I saw so much, but not enough. I knew the trolls would protect her, but I didn’t know Violet would work with Nicolas, or how violently Farrah would react when she learned of Roth’s feeling for you. Now Nicolas will make a play to overtake Sevón, and Azul royals will help him. Farrah killed one of their favorite princes, and they seek revenge.”
I couldn’t castigate their choice. I’d sought the same only minutes ago.
Roth and Nicolas, at war. One would win, one would lose. Even die?
“What are we going to do, Everly?” she asked softly. “Months before you came to Enchantia, I saw you. So many visions. What happens when you do this, but not that. What happens when you do that, but not this. With you at his side, Roth can defeat Nicolas. But,if you do not control the forest, another will. You, at least, are the evil we know. I wish I had seen more, felt more, knew more. I wish I had seen the outcomes of the other fairy tales. They are occurring right now, in other kingdoms, and they will spill into ours. Now there’s something wrong with my magic. Shhh.” Her voice trembled. “Tell no one.”
Ty came over and squeezed my shoulder. “Nicolas never searched for your sister. He created the perfect altilium instead. I tried to warn you, the day I visited the palace, but I had vowed to serve my overlord, and I could not betray him.”
Pang. “Why are you telling me now, then?”
“Just before Queen Violet blew us away, Nicolas ordered me to tell you everything.” He dropped his chin and said, “What you love, he plans to take. What you protect, he hopes to destroy.”
I’d already pegged Nicolas as an Evil Queen, but I realized the analogy went deeper. He’d donned the disguise of a caring stepfather, a concerned uncle and a staunch ally. Like the foolish Snow White, I’d never suspected a thing.
I looked to Noel, to Ophelia. To Truly and Violet. To Saxon and Vikander. They all watched me expectantly.
I had to decide. No more waiting.
Take emotion out of the picture and... I couldn’t leave Roth in his unconscious state. Not because I loved him—I did—but because he was a good man, with a pure heart, responsible for the lives of millions. I had to do whatever proved necessary to ensure he awakened and saved his kingdom from Nicolas. Decision made.
“All right, guys. It’s time for you to leave,” I announced. “Each and every one of you. I’m going to stay.”
Truly set Thor down and walked over to hug me. “I meant what I said. I will return our mother to Airaria and come back. If Farrah is freed before then, please send me a message.”
Truly still loved the girl and hoped they could be together, didn’t she? I couldn’t help but admire her unwavering devotion. And I guess I understood. What wouldn’t I do for Roth? “I will,” I promised.
“Would you mind if I took Thor with me?”
No. Yes.
Maybe? “Whatever he wants.”
Thor bounded over and sat next to me, surprising me.
“Come on, boy,” she said, but he stayed put.
I petted him, and he let me.
She gave a little laugh. “Well. He prefers to stay.”
Violet inclined her head in my direction, acknowledging my existence. “One day, I hope you’ll forgive me,” she whispered.
“I will,” I said. Resentment would forever be poison. “That doesn’t mean I will ever want a relationship with you.”
Tears filled her eyes, but she nodded and led my twin away.
Tyler accompanied Noel and Ophelia. I heard him tell the oracle, “Earlier, you mentioned a desire to kiss me. Let’s explore this.”
“Changed my mind,” she replied.
“We will go,” Vikander told me, “but we will not go far.”
“Shout if you need us,” Saxon said.
They stalked past a line of trees, disappearing in the foliage.
As soon as I was alone with Roth and Thor, I rested my face in my upraised hands. Though I’d made my decision, doubts still plagued me. Could I really do this? Could I abandon Truly to save Roth? Should I have to? I’d endured tragedy after tragedy in Enchantia. I had strengthened, weakened, strengthened again, nearly died multiple times and overcome pain like I’d never known. I’d fallen in love, fought evil and both won and lost.
I was the Evil Queen. I’d accepted my role and lived my assigned fate. I shouldn’t have to kowtow to anyone, even the mighty Enchantian Forest. And...I wouldn’t.
Noel once said I would be happy if I strengthened. I realized now, as I lifted my head and peered at the sleeping Roth, that true strength sprang from love. Love was strength and power, which meant love was safety and security.
Love was everything.
I could have everything!
In the fairy tale, Prince Charming saved Snow White by knocking loose the bite of apple that had lodged in her throat. Here, now, I felt as if I’d just had good sense knocked into me.
I saw the truth so clearly now, a film of darkness peeled away from my mind. Time wasn’t what healed all wounds—love was. Love mended broken hearts.
My eyes widened. Love welded the two parts of me together, creating one super Everly who loved her family, her boyfriend and even her life.
I’d fought to preserve this life. Why shouldn’t I enjoy it?
I could never guarantee the happiness and well-being of the ones I loved, but I could make the most of the time we had together.
Still linked to Roth, I peered at Farrah’s diamond prison and waved my hand to summon Foreverly.
She looked as ragged as I felt, her eyes rimmed red and swollen, her skin splotchy with patches of pink. Like me, she’d cried for Hartly. “We have come full circle,” she said and sniffled. “From one loss to another.”
One loss had kicked off this adventure, and the other had ended it. “I want to create a new fairy tale with Roth. The Enchanting Queen and Her Charming King, perhaps.”
A new fairy tale, a new beginning.
“No one gets a happily-ever-after handed to them on a silver platter,” she said. “They have to fight for it.”
“So I will fight.” Allura would not dictate the conditions of our agreement. As the president and CEO of Forest Inc.—no! Everly International—I alone had access to the supply of Everly currently in demand.
“Allura,” I called, moving beside Foreverly. We were a team. “I have an answer for you.”
The forest nymph appeared in a blink, all but vibrating with eagerness.
I wasted no time. “I must refuse your offer. If there’s an antidote for Roth, I can find it. And I will. What I won’t do is show loyalty to you or the forest, while being disloyal to everyone I love. You watched me,” I continued without taking a breath. “You know how important family is to me. If I purposely cut Roth, Truly, Noel, Ophelia and Ty from my life, I will seriously suck.” And yeah, okay, I could see that one day I might include Saxon and Vikander in this list. “If I suck, you shouldn’t trust me to see to the forest’s well-being.”
I expected anger from her. Protests. Something! Instead, a slow grin curled the corners of her mouth. She brightened—literally!—sunlight seeming to seep from her pores. “Congratulations, Everly. You have passed another test.”
“Another test?” I squeaked. “How many others have you given me?”
“Every minute of every day is a test. With your actions, you prove who you are,” she said. “If you want it, the forest is yours. But I must warn you. The power will be limitless, but the responsibilities will be vast. I will remain—for a short time—to train you, and help you ease into your new life. But when I leave, you will face hardships. Do you still wish to rule the forest?”
Everyone faced hardships, whether they were rulers of forests or not. “I just want to be clear. I can accept your job offer without sacrificing my loved ones?”
“As long as you want them in your life, yes.”
When would I ever not want them in my life? “Then I accept your offer.” Limitless power and loved ones—yes, yes, a thousand times yes. Sign me up.
Allura smiled, the link to the forest clicking into place once more. A second later, she was gone...
Aubrey and Hartly stood in her place, both wearing gowns made of butterflies and roses, their golden skin shimmering.
I sucked in a breath, not daring to hope. “Allura?”
“No. Harts,” my sister corrected with a happy twinkle in her eyes.
“All hail the Queen of the Forest,” Mom said with a grin. A grin I’d missed. “And now you learn a new truth. Those who ate of the Tree of New Beginnings—and those who were born after the consumption of an apple—come here after physical death.”
They were here. They were here, and I would get to see them every day! Now I understood what Noel had meant when she’d said apple babies would be united forever.
With a groan, I darted over and threw my arms around them—only to ghost through them. We shared a laugh, though my humor didn’t last long. “I failed you both,” I said, “and I’m so sorry.”
“If you could see what we see, you wouldn’t be sorry, and you wouldn’t feel you’d failed us.” The wonder in Hartly’s voice... “Oh, Ever. The magnificence!” Then her shoulders rolled in. “I wish Warick were here. Thor, too.”
The little dog remained in place, watching me.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t save Warick,” I rasped. “Sorry I couldn’t save you.”
“My death isn’t your fault. You fought your hardest. What more could I ask for?”
Tremors shook me. “I’ll take good care of Thor.”
“I know you will.”
“Go on, my love,” Mom said, her gaze adoring. “Go awaken your Roth. We will talk again soon. We have time now.” She winked at me. “For now, just know that I’ve never been prouder of you.”
My chest squeezed with a cluster of happiness and uncertainty. “How do I awaken Roth?”
She glided to my boyfriend and crouched at his side. I followed and crouched at his other side. I still hadn’t severed our mystical link; I couldn’t bear to lose my connection to him.
“Place your hand on his heart,” she instructed.
I slipped my fingers beneath his shirt. The heat of his skin singed me. His heart thumped with life, wonderfully strong. My heart sang.
“The greatest sign of love...is giving,” Mom said. “Giving your time. Your energy. Your attention. Your possessions. You are a sorceress, and so often you have taken. Occasionally you’ve given, too. So do it again. Give.”
From Farrah’s diamond prison, Foreverly said, “Yes! Give what you once valued most. Give, asking nothing in return.”
“I love you, my darling,” Mom said. With another heart-warming smile, she vani
shed.
Across the way, Hartly told me, “I love you, Everly. I’m never far. When you need me, you have only to call my name, and I’ll come.” Then she vanished, as well. But I knew they remained nearby, watching over me.
I could take, and I could give. Schrödinger’s curse. That silly thought experiment had colored every step of my journey and proved the importance of choice.
What I’d most valued: strength. I could give Roth my strength.
I closed my eyes and focused on our link and pushed my power across the bond. Not just a minute amount, like before. I gave him so much, I weakened.
He sucked in a breath and jolted upright, his eyelids popping open.
Joy exploded inside me, propelling me against his body. I clung to him, amazed. In the fairy tale, Prince Charming awakened Snow White when he dropped her casket. Simple. Easy. This had been simple and easy, too.
The tension drained from him as he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me onto his lap. We held each other, clinging.
I heard cheering—barks, chirps, buzzes and hisses—and scanned our surroundings. Thor ran around us. My other pets had returned to encircle us.
“My sweetling,” Roth said, shuddering against me. “I knew you’d find a way.”
“I’m so sorry.” Tears swam to the corners of my eyes. “I should have believed in you, in us. You were right about Nicolas. If I’m not strong enough to be the sorcerian overlord, I will be. Soon. I will not allow him to lead anyone.”
“I am the one who’s sorry,” Roth said, squeezing me tighter. “I have done you so many wrongs. When I finally tried to do right, I only caused you more pain.”
“I caused myself pain. And okay, yes, your sister caused me pain, too.” Speaking of Farrah... “I need to tell you what happened after you ate the apple.” Would he still want me when he learned about the curse I had bestowed upon Farrah?
“No need. I remained aware. And I am so proud of you, of the decisions you made and the actions you took. You are wise, sweetling. No wonder you won my heart. I love you.”
“I love you, too. So much.” I lifted my head and smiled, so happy I could burst. “Guess what? I’m going to help you defend your kingdom against Nicolas.” And the wars Noel had promised? I would be here, running my forest empire and protecting my loved ones as I’d always wanted.
The Evil Queen (The Forest of Good and Evil) Page 49
