“Meeting your daughter is its own reward,” Logan replied.
Dad's expression turned a little cold. “I expect you to treat her well. I am still the king after all.”
“Dad, don't worry. Logan is a very good person. In fact, I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him,” I said.
“Hmmm,” Dad muttered, but after that his cheerfulness returned.
There were a few more hugs, kisses, and tears of joy. Then Skylar and I retold the tales of our adventure for about an hour. After we were done, we started the journey back home.
ROSE
Chapter 39
The trip back to the kingdom only took a day and was much easier since the weather was warmer and there were no mountains to cross. But as we neared the city, my heart pounded.
We landed on the same street Skylar and I first stood on the day we came to Astella, and like last time, I didn't know what to expect. Would any faeries survive? Or would I find the roads piled with bodies of the dead? I must've been shaking a bit because Logan noticed.
“Whatever happens, know that you didn't fail,” he said.
I clung onto his words as we wandered the empty streets that were absent of live faeries but scattered with dead ones. With each lifeless faery I saw, I began to believe I didn't save the kingdom at all.
Our group turned a corner and reached the large road that led up the hill to the castle. All the tension drained out of me, and relief flooded in. Thousands of faeries were packed in front of the palace and all the way down the long road. The crowd was tense, still, and seemed to be waiting for something. But now that the something arrived, no one knew what to do.
Dad patted me on the shoulder. “Make the announcement, Savior.”
I walked forward. At first my footsteps were unsteady. Then they evened out.
With thousands of eyes staring at me, I spoke. “Two years ago, the world fell to darkness. Two long years later, the darkness was defeated. On this day, light has returned.”
The crowd of remaining faeries came alive, and thunderous applause filled the air.

The next few days were somber. We held a large funeral service for everybody that died and buried them in the newly expanded graveyard. That day many faces were wet with tears. I saw children mourning over their lost parents and vice versa. Seeing so many people miserable made me shed tears of my own. But after that Astella and its people started to heal, and things got better.
With a little help from the nature faeries, the land quickly repopulated with vegetation. Everybody assisted each other to rebuild houses and fix up the kingdom. Ms. Miranda got the academy renovated, and Ether had a grand reopening as an official orphanage and boarding school.
I learned that Jameson moved back in with his daughter and was doing well (I guess his diet of onion and garlic works.) Vendela was back to normal and free from Ash's control. The four brothers joined Ether. And I found out that the little boy who I gave a jacket to was also living at Ether and making a better life for himself.
Gramma and Gramp moved back to the kingdom when they heard we were still alive and succeeded in saving Astella. The minute they saw Skylar and me they smothered us in hugs and kisses. I decided to live in Astella, but I will make sure to keep in touch with Angelea through the internet. Though I do have to make up a cover story for my disappearance since she can't know about faeries.
With the help of Logan and Ariel, I learned a lot about the way faeries live. Some things were the same as the human world like the houses and roads, but a few things were different. Like some buildings don't have stairs, and elevators are just a hollow tube that goes up the structure. They must've assumed everyone had wings. However, I could do without algebra and geometry. Too bad I still have to learn those. I guess there is no escaping math whether you are a human or a faery. But thankfully Logan is also a great math tutor as well as a flying coach and a gentleman.
A few days after the mission, he showed up at the castle wearing a suit and carrying a bouquet of roses. Then to my delight, he officially asked me out. Of course, I said yes. My dad wasn't disappointed. Logan is an awesome boyfriend just like I know he will be. I will never forget how he saved my life multiple times, and I am forever grateful.
Over the next few weeks, I was happy. Everything worked out. I spent some quality time with my family, had fun with Logan and Ariel, and lived a regular life. (As regular as you can get being a faery.) There was only one thing that bothered me—Ash's last words.
I hope she was just bluffing. How could she really come back when she turned into sand? But thinking about it too much would just drive me crazy. Besides, during this adventure I made friends, saved the world, found my first love, and became stronger than I ever was before. I am no longer a normal sixteen-year-old girl. I am Rose Kristal, Savior of Astella.
If Ash does return, I will be ready.
ROSE
Chapter 40
Two months later.
I knocked on the door of Logan's dorm room at Ether. I needed help on some geometry homework, so Logan invited me over for a study session. A few minutes passed, but nobody answered. I didn't even hear a sound inside. Was it possible that I got the time wrong? I checked my watch. Nope. It was six o'clock—exactly when I am supposed to meet him.
I was about to knock again when I noticed the door was just slightly open. I cracked the door a bit more. Inside was dark and smelled a bit smoky like after you put out a candle.
“Logan, are you there?” I called, but there was no answer.
A shiver crawled down my spine, and the smell of smoke uncovered memories that didn't want to be unburied.
Something was wrong. Logan was usually punctual, and he never forgot a date before.
I opened the door all the way, letting in the hallway light. The light illuminated the dark room, and I did a double take. Logan's room looked like the aftereffects of a violent scuffle. Books were strewn on the ground, the clay lamp was shattered, and blood stained the bed sheets.
I carefully waded through the chaos and tried not to step on the glass from a broken mirror. I slipped on a book and placed my hand on the wall to catch myself. But instead of being smooth like I expected, the wall felt gritty, and my fingers came away coated in ash. A large section of the wall had been charred black, and the smoky smell radiated from it.
As soon as I saw the scorch marks, my breath turned rapid and shallow. No, this isn't happening. I frantically searched the dorm room. Images of Logan bruised and bloodied flooded my mind, and my hands started to shake as I scrambled around the room even faster. After a few futile minutes, I sank to my knees.
Logan was gone.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I could have never written this book without all the drama, craziness, and love my family gave me. Thank you so much Mom, Dad, and siblings.
Thank you to all my beta readers. All the advice have made this book 110% better.
Working with the team at Damonza had been a rewarding experience. Thank you for the gorgeous cover design and all the hard work.
Finally, I owe all my readers a huge thanks! Thank you guys for spreading the word about Fated Loss and for all your support.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Claudia Caren has a special love for YA fantasy/romance novels and enjoys getting lost in a good book. In the scarce moments when she is not writing her own YA novels or reading, Claudia can be found in the kitchen whipping up tasty desserts or running in the park. Her debut novel, Fated Loss, is the first book in the Red Rose & Black Ash series. To find out more about Claudia Caren and the Red Rose & Black Ash series, visit www.ClaudiaCaren.com.
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Fated Loss (Red Rose & Black Ash Book 1) Page 18
