by Alexia Purdy
The two glared at each other for a tense moment before breaking out into laughter and running to one another, embracing like long lost siblings should. I couldn’t say I wasn’t holding my breath, but I inhaled sharply, relieved the moment they hugged. Things weren’t as bad as I’d thought. Now to fix other problems.
As the group of iron-blooded began to enter their new home beyond the gate, I turned to look at Soap and Dylan.
Soap winked as he held out his arms to me. “How about we go home and say hello to those two young ladies I know will be dying to see me?”
I melted into his arms and laughed, enjoying his scent more than ever. It felt unreal yet exhilarating. When I finally let him go, I turned to find Dylan watching us, an uncertain look in his eyes.
“Dylan?” I asked. “Are you okay?”
“Yes. I’m fine. I’m more than fine now. I was just thinking about how different things are now. It’s been a long road, and we’ve hurt each other in so many ways, Shade. How do we go forward from this? Do you even want to?”
A knot formed in my throat. “Yes, I do. And you?”
He held his position for a moment, pain flashing in his eyes. Could he learn to forgive me? I had fought to return to myself when the magic of Faerie had stifled me, choking out who I used to be in order to make me into an efficient but unfeeling ruler. What good was magic if there was no way to love anyone? I had fought it and knew that it could be done. At least, it was possible for a half-blood girl with nothing but heart.
“I do. I really want to fix this,” he finally said. Relieved, I ran right into his arms as he held them out. I held on to him more tightly than I ever thought I could.
“We will. We’ll go back and start again. Now I know we can.”
He nodded, not letting me go as he stroked my hair, kissing the top of my head. His heart beat hard beneath his chest, as loud as a drum. I hoped it beat for me, for our daughters, for everything we could be.
Finally releasing Dylan, I held him at arm’s length, my heart jumping with elation. The fae of Noruck had finally returned to their rightful home, and I knew I had to help them make it comfortable, repair the damage done, and restore it to its former beauty and prosperity.
“As soon as we’re done here, we’ll go home to our daughters,” I said.
I took my husbands by their hands, and together we walked through the gate and back into the Land of Faerie. As we passed beneath the arch, I swore upon every bit of magic within me that I would never be parted from them again.
About the Author
Alexia Purdy
Alexia is a USA Today Bestselling author who currently lives in Las Vegas and loves spending every free moment writing or hanging out with her four rambunctious kids. Writing is the ultimate getaway for her since she's always lost in her head. She is best known for her award-winning Reign of Blood series, and A Dark Faerie Tale Series.
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More books by Alexia Purdy:
Accursed Archangels:
The Unbreakable Curse
The Cursed Labyrinth
The Irredeemable Soul
The ArcKnight Chronicles:
ArcKnight
Sovereignty
Reign of Blood Series
Resonant
Reign of Blood
Disarming (Reign of Blood #2)
Elijah (The Miel Chronicles):
A Reign of Blood Companion Story
Amplified (Reign of Blood #3)
A Dark Faerie Tale Series
The Withering Palace (A Dark Faerie Tale #0.1)
Evangeline (A Dark Faerie Tale #0.5)
Ever Shade (A Dark Faerie Tale #1)
Ever Fire (A Dark Faerie Tale #2)
Ever Winter (A Dark Faerie Tale #3)
The Cursed (A Dark Faerie Tale #3.5)
Ever Wrath (A Dark Faerie Tale #4)
Without Armor (A Dark Faerie Tale #4.5)
History of Fire (A Dark Faerie Tale #5)
Ever Dead (A Dark Faerie Tale #6)
Legends of Fire (A Dark Faerie Tale #7)
Guardians of Fire (A Dark Faerie Tale #8)
Ever Fade (A Dark Faerie Tale #9)
Other Stories
The Fall of Sky
Wicked Grove
Anthologies
Soul Games
Faery Worlds
Faery Tales
Once Upon a Curse
The Shapeshifter Chronicles
It’s a Bird! It’s A Plane! A Superhero Anthology
Once Upon a Kiss
The Aching Darkness
Dark Waters: A Mermaid Anthology
Once Upon a Quest
Once Upon a Star
