“You know, it’s almost a shame we don’t love each other,” Tove said, with his arm around my shoulders. “We make an awfully good team.”
“I don’t know about that.” I looked around the room, at all the Trylle and even the Vittra hobgoblins that had been hurt.
“Wars have casualties,” Tove said, understanding what I meant. “And that’s not to say I’m not sad about the lives we lost tonight, but we managed to stop a centuries-old war. Imagine how many lives that will save in the future.”
I realized he was right. I mean, I had known it—that was why I’d wanted to go to war in the first place—but the devastation of it all had a way of blocking that out.
But now, standing there with Tove, I felt good. Despite the losses and the damage, we had done what we had set out to do. We’d freed ourselves, and the Vittra people, from Oren’s oppressive rule. We were free.
“We did the right thing.” I looked up at him, and his mossy eyes looked unusually light.
“We did.” He squeezed my shoulder and kissed me gently on the temple. “I’m proud of what we accomplished.”
“Me too.”
“But what do you say we get out of here?” Tove asked. “Let’s get our people fixed up as best we can and get them back home.”
“That sounds fantastic.”
“I’m going to go see if my mother needs any help.” Tove let go of me and started stepping back toward his mother.
I managed to stand by myself, but Loki was only a few feet away, helping Willa set another tracker’s broken leg, if I needed him.
“Hey, Tove,” I said as he walked away, and he paused, turning back to me. “Just because we won’t be married anymore doesn’t mean we can’t still be a team. I still expect you to work with me back at the palace.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Tove grinned. “And trust me, I have plenty of ideas on how to run things.”
I helped as much as I could with our people, but I really didn’t have the strength to do much. Fortunately, Loki was working at 110 percent, and he managed to help out quite a bit. Aurora healed as much as she could, focusing on the worst cases, and the rest of the injuries were wrapped and set until we could get back to the palace and enlist more help.
As soon as we were able, we started to load up the vehicles, and began sending the caravan of Trylle back to Förening. We were careful to take those we’d lost with us, since they deserved a proper burial back home.
Even though I was hurt, I insisted on waiting to be last to leave. I wanted to make sure we saw everyone off.
I talked with Sara briefly before we departed, and she assured me that there would be no more attacks on the Trylle, not by any of the Vittra. We would convene in a few days to sign a new peace treaty, but for now, we both needed to rest up and get our communities in order.
Willa drove us home to Förening, with Duncan sitting in front beside her, sleeping soundly. Tove had decided to ride home in Bain’s car, and they left right before we did. Tove had stayed until the end with us, making sure we’d gotten everyone out safely.
The sun was just beginning to rise as we made the trek back home, and the sky above the horizon looked more pink and purple than blue.
I curled up in the back next to Loki, his arm around me, and my head resting on his shoulder. My body ached all over, but it felt good being with him. He kissed the top of my head, and I snuggled up closer to him. He’d been helping me at the palace, but we’d waited until we were alone in the car to be affectionate. Willa had raised an eyebrow at us, but she said nothing. Later on, back in Förening, I’d have a thousand questions from her. But for now, she let us have our moment together.
“I can’t wait until we get home,” I said.
“Home,” Loki said and laughed a little.
“What?” I lifted my head to look up at him. “What’s funny about that?”
“Nothing.” He shook his head. “I just . . . I don’t think I’ve ever really felt like I had a home before.” He smiled down at me. “Not until I met you.”
Loki leaned down, kissing me gently on the mouth. I’m sure he wanted to kiss me more deeply, but he was afraid of hurting me. He continued to kiss me tenderly, and I clung to him as tightly as I could as heat swirled through me.
When he stopped, he rested his forehead against mine and breathed in deeply. “I cannot wait to get home with you, Princess.”
“I’m the Queen now, you know,” I teased, and he laughed and kissed me again.
epilogue:
four months later
The first few weeks after the battle were rough. I’d broken several ribs and dislocated my shoulder. So many of our people needed Aurora and Sara’s healing powers that I refused to use any on myself. I had to heal the old-fashioned way.
Everyone was quick to point out that I healed much more quickly because of my Vittra blood, but it was still a rough couple of weeks. Some good things came out of it, though. Like Loki waiting on me hand and foot. Truth be told, he barely left my side.
As soon as I was well enough to attend, we had my mother’s funeral. The entire kingdom turned out, and to my surprise, the King and Queen of the Kanin came, as well as the Queen of the Omte. They came to pay their respects but also to thank us for ending the tyranny of the Vittra.
Oren had set his sights most fervently on the Trylle, but we weren’t the only ones. It wasn’t until the funeral, when so many people came that the crowd over owed into the street, that I realized what exactly we’d accomplished.
I also got to hear from other Trylle and even other tribes what my mother had done to protect them. The deals she had made, the things she gave up, and all the work she put into keeping the peace. Elora had given so much to the people, and it was deeply moving to see how much they appreciated it.
Losing Elora made me understand even more the importance of having a mother, and what had been taken from Rhys. Despite the way my “host” mother, Kim, had treated me, I knew she’d done everything out of love, love for a child she’d never even met.
Matt took Rhys to see Kim, where she’s still locked up in an asylum. Matt’s still resistant to the idea of repairing his relationship with her, but being willing to see her at all is a huge step.
Rhys plans to go to college near the asylum in the fall, so he can begin getting to know her. Matt says that Kim is doing a bit better, and if she continues on the road to recovery, she might be released one day.
Matt came back to Förening, though. He says his home is here, and for that I’m grateful. I know I’m an adult with my own kingdom now, but I don’t think I’m ready to live that far away from my brother.
Oslinna is still rebuilding, and Matt has spent a great deal of time helping them with the process. His designs are gorgeous, and it’s been really good for the Trylle people to see a mänks do something so well.
We’re still working against prejudice, and I know it will be a while before they completely give in to the idea that it’s okay for people to marry whoever they love, no matter if they’re Trylle or not. But we’re on the right road.
Before I hang up my crown as Queen, I’m certain we’ll make it legal for anyone to marry whoever they love. Willa’s hoping that it’s sooner rather than later, of course, but she’s been shopping around for a wedding dress since she was eight.
She’s taken a much more active role in our society. Since I was on bed rest when we first came back, she stepped up to handle a lot of the day-to-day work with Tove. He is still one of my smartest and most trusted confidants, and he works alongside me all the time.
Shortly after the funeral, Tove and I had our marriage annulled. He insisted on it, because he said my and Loki’s auras were blinding him. It turned out to be a rather complicated process, but thanks to our recent defeat of a major enemy, the Trylle people were much more willing to go along with our ideas.
Tove seems to be taking our annulment better than our marriage. Thanks to his efforts on the campaign, he managed to
get Bain elected as Chancellor, which is a drastic improvement from our last Chancellor. Both Tove and Bain are working hard to improve the entire Trylle community.
Tove’s met someone, although he’s been very tight-lipped about who it is. Though he won’t name names, I have an idea who the special someone might be. He’s still afraid of how the community will react to him being gay, but I don’t think it will be long before he’s able to be open about it.
After we defeated the Vittra, Thomas left, joining his family in the Kanin tribe, and I don’t think he’ll be coming back. Finn stayed behind, taking over his father’s duties as head tracker.
It’s still a bit strange seeing Finn around the palace. I don’t love him anymore, not like I did, although I don’t think I can ever truly stop caring for him. He was my first love, and he was immensely important to me becoming the Queen I am today.
At first he was cold and distant, but the ice between us seems to be melting. We’re on the path to becoming friends again, and that’s something.
I’ve seen Finn talking with Mia, spending time with her and her small daughter. When he’s around them, he seems relaxed in a way that he never was around me. Even though he did care for me, I don’t think he was ever able to really relax or be himself with me. But when he’s holding Hanna and laughing with Mia, I’ve never seen him happier.
She’s giving him something that I never could, and for that I’m forever grateful. Finn deserves to be happy and to truly love someone who can love him back.
And Loki . . . well, Loki has hardly left my side since we came back, but I wouldn’t let him into my bed again until he made an honest woman of me. So he did.
Two weeks ago in the garden, beneath the spring owers, we had a small wedding, much different from my first one. This time, it was only my closest friends in attendance, including my aunt Maggie. I actually had a hand in planning it, and it was exactly as I wanted it.
But its greatest difference was that I wanted this wedding, and I married a man I desperately love.
Maggie’s been staying with us for a few weeks, and it’s mostly been wonderful. She still hasn’t completely wrapped her mind around everything that’s going on here, but she took to Rhys immediately. Thankfully, he’s spent the last week keeping her entertained so Loki and I can have a little bit of time to ourselves.
Unfortunately, there’s never enough time. The nights seem too short, and the sun always seems to come up too early when I’m still snuggled in bed with him. Usually he wants to sleep in as much as I do, but not today.
He opens the shades, so the morning light shines in too brightly, and I squeeze my eyes shut and bury my face in the pillow.
“Aw, Wendy.” Loki kneels down on the floor next to the bed and brushes the hair back from my eyes. “You knew today was coming.”
“I know, but I didn’t want it to come.” I open my eyes so I can look at him, smiling at me even though his eyes are pained. “I shouldn’t have let you agree to this.”
Loki laughs. “You don’t ‘let’ me. I’m the King. Nobody tells me what to do.”
“That’s what you think,” I scoff, making him laugh harder.
“But seriously, my love, are you going to get up and see me off today?” Loki asks. He takes my hand in his, kissing it. “You don’t have to, of course. I can do the ceremony myself, and I know how mornings have been for you lately.”
“No, if you’re going to leave, I want to say good-bye.” I sigh. “But you better hurry back.”
“As quickly as I can.” He smiles. “Nothing in the world will keep me from my Queen.”
I throw off the covers and go into the closet to get dressed. We’re having a ceremony to see Loki off, so I have to choose a nice gown, and I even have to wear my crown. I avoid it for the most part, since it makes me feel silly, but I have to put it on for formal occasions.
Loki is already dressed for the day. I’d felt him get up about an hour ago. I kept sleeping, though, since I’ve been so tired lately. I’d like to say it’s because of how worn out Loki had left me after our honeymoon, and while that is definitely part of the reason, it isn’t all of it.
“How are you feeling this morning?” Loki asks. He leans against the closet door, watching me as I pull on a dark emerald gown.
“Other than being sad, I’m okay.” I slip the dress on, but I can’t zip it up myself, so I turn my back to him. “A little help, please.”
“You really ought to get a lady-in-waiting or something,” Loki says as he struggles with the zipper. “These things are impossible to get on.”
“That’s what husbands are for,” I tease.
He continues to yank at the zipper, and it finally goes up. But I know what the problem is, why my dresses are so hard to get on anymore.
From behind me, Loki reaches around, holding his hand against the snugness in my middle, and he kisses my shoulder.
“We’re going to have to tell them soon,” Loki says, hugging me.
“I know.” I sigh. “But not until you get back, okay? I don’t want to have to deal with all the talking and questions unless you’re with me.” I turn around so I’m facing him. “That means you’ll have to hurry back soon.”
“As if I need another reason to do that.” He smiles and playfully tugs at my silver curl, the lock of hair that always refuses to stay in place.
Loki kisses me deeply, holding me to him, and he still makes my knees go weak. I keep expecting that feeling to fade, but every time he touches me, I feel it all the same.
We go down to the throne room for the ceremony. Sara is already waiting for us, along with Finn working as head guard and Bain working as the Chancellor. Tove is there too, mostly for moral support. Sara has been here since last night, so she can ride with Loki in a gesture of solidarity.
Loki and I sit on our thrones, waiting until everyone else arrives before beginning the ceremony. I had met with Chancellor Bain last night, and he had gone over all the right words I should say. Uniting kingdoms happens so rarely in our history, but apparently there is still a script I should follow.
Once everyone is here, Loki and Sara take their places in front of me. I stand up and do my best to recite the words that Bain taught me. I think I muddle up the middle part, but the basic idea is that we are uniting the Vittra and Trylle, pledging to work together and all that.
As part of the deal, Loki is going back to the Vittra to help them rebuild. Their society has begun to crumble since I killed the King. Sara has been doing her best to hold it together, but without intervention, it will soon fall apart.
“Since you both agree to work together in peace and respect, I say this union is complete,” I say, finishing up the ceremony. “You may now. . . work together.”
“Thank you.” Sara gathers her skirts and curtseys to me.
“Thank you.” Loki bows with a smile on his face.
“And you’ll only be gone for two weeks?” I ask him.
“Two weeks is the absolute maximum, and then I’ll be right back at your side,” Loki assures me.
“I promise not to keep him any longer than I need him,” Sara adds.
Her eyes are warm when she smiles at me. I didn’t want to lend my husband out to her, but she had saved his life. And it’s better if the Vittra work to become our allies instead of our enemies.
Loki kisses me, even though it isn’t polite. A King and Queen are never supposed to show public affection, but Loki breaks that rule as often as he can. Although, to be honest, I don’t do much to enforce it.
“Hurry back to me,” I whisper.
Loki smiles. “As you wish.”
As he turns to leave, I feel that familiar utter in my stomach. Not the one out of love for Loki, but something different, something alive inside of me. I put my hand on my stomach, holding it as if to calm the baby.
The night Loki and I had spent together while I was still married to Tove had resulted in a small surprise. I’d told Loki weeks ago, and even though we were both fri
ghtened, we were both really excited. We’re first-time parents, but we will also be the first royal Trylle parents. My child won’t be a changeling.
I know that the idea of changelings can’t go away overnight. Our society still needs a lot of restructuring before things are different and we can stop being dependent on the money the changelings bring in.
But we are working on it every day, Loki and I, and Willa, Tove, and even Finn. We are going to turn the Trylle community into something it should’ve been all along. A great people with a great appreciation for each other and for life.
I will make this world a better place, whether they like it or not. That’s the fun of being Queen.
GLOSSARY OF TRYLLE TERMINOLOGY
aura—A field of subtle, luminous radiation surrounding a person or object. Different-colored auras denote different emotional qualities.
changeling—A child secretly exchanged for another.
Förening—The capital and largest city of Trylle society. A compound in the bluffs along the Mississippi River in Minnesota where the palace is located.
hobgoblin—An ugly, misshapen troll that stands no more than three feet tall.
host family—The family that the changeling is left with. They are chosen based on their ranking in human society, with their wealth being the primary consideration. The higher-ranked the member of Trylle society, the more powerful and affluent the host family their changeling is left with.
Kanin—One of the more powerful tribes of trolls left. They are considered quiet and peaceful. They are known for their ability to blend in, and, like chameleons, their skin can change color to help them blend into their surroundings. Like the Trylle, they still follow the practice of using changelings, but not nearly as frequently. Only one in ten of their offspring are left as changelings.
mänsklig (often shortened to mänks)—The literal translation for the word mänsklig is “human,” but it has come to describe the human child that is taken when the Trylle offspring is left behind.
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