Freed

by Samantha Britt

  Lassandra lifted her hands, looking as if she wanted to reach out and touch me, but she pulled back.

  I swallowed the lump in my throat. “So… you and Arthur are the cursed lovers.”

  “We are cursed no more.”

  “If you don’t plan to return to Avelin forever, where will you go?”

  She sighed. “Only the Mother knows. For now, your father and I will be content to simply be together with no rebel agenda. It’s been a long ten years.”

  Suddenly, Lassandra’s eyes filled with a different kind of sadness. She took a hesitant step towards me. Again, she looked like she wanted to touch me.

  “Amelissa,” she gulped. Tears shined in her eyes. “You must know… I must tell you… I did not ever want to leave you three behind.”

  And just like that, the stone around my heart started to crack. I’d been holding back feeling any sort of emotion for my parents. But that simple admission destroyed my resolve.

  She continued, “There wasn’t a single day, Amelissa, where your father and I did not think of you and your brother and sister. All we’d ever wanted was to raise a family. It was awful when we realized that could never happen, not with the way things were in the world. We needed to change it, if only so our children would not live in fear for being who they are.”

  I watched two tears roll down her beautiful face. “I do not regret our decision to raise a rebellion, but I do regret the fact our decision meant I couldn’t be a mother to my three, lovely children.” The tears flowed freely now, both down her cheeks and mine.

  The stone dissolved completely. I closed the distance and finally embraced my mother, something we should have done the moment we’d laid eyes on each other all those days ago.

  Her hands trembled as they settled on my back. “Forgive us, Amelissa. Forgive me.”

  I closed my eyes, realizing that was all I really wanted. Holding a grudge was cruel, but forgiveness was divine.

  “I forgive you,” I said against her cheek. “And please… call me Lissa.”

  Epilogue

  Two years later.

  “Amelissa, it’s a blasted garden box. What do you want from me?” Jem huffed, exasperated. He’d built me a box for my herbs in the castle gardens, but I’d pictured something more… pretty.

  “Can’t you add decoration to it? Carve some vines or leaves into the wood?”

  “What do I look like, a carpenter?”

  “Yes, actually.” I eyed the trousers with several pockets and the tool belt strapped around his waist.

  “Wrong. I’m a handyman, not your personal carpenter.”

  “What’s the difference?” Julie chimed in from the other side of the herb plot. I grinned conspiratorially with my best friend’s younger sister. Even after all these years, she still liked to gang up on her brother with me.

  Jem and Julie had moved to Draek shortly after Brion’s coronation, a little more than a year ago. I would’ve liked it to have been sooner, but I’d been wary during those first few months after King Roderick’s death. Most draekon had not objected to Brion’s announcement that there would be a treaty with the rebellion and that the crown would no longer recruit humans to come work in the capital, but there were always dissenters. It wasn’t until Brion, with the help of his army and team of loyal nobles, had successfully defeated the worst of the protestors that I’d advised my friend to finally move to Draek.

  Jem had arrived in the capital and was promptly hired as a handyman for the castle. His diverse work experience in Caldiri more than qualified him for the position, and I’d been ecstatic to have my best friend with me once more.

  “Pipe down, Julie, or I might find a reason to keep a certain suitor from knocking on your door,” Jem warned. The threat was empty, but Julie didn’t know that.

  “You wouldn’t!” She cried, indignant.

  “Wouldn’t I?” Jem raised a brow. I stifled my laugh.

  “There you are, Amelissa.” I turned around and saw Master Errol walking towards me. I smiled brightly at the master healer.

  “Master Errol,” I greeted warmly. I reached out and he took my hand. “What are you doing here?” The last I’d heard, he and Lord Meck were still in Avelin.

  The noble from Villam had been thrilled to receive King Lerick’s invitation to come to his land and work with elven scholars. Their goal was to find a cure for the elven infertility curse, and I’d informed my cousin of Lord Meck’s dedication to the healing arts and his support of scientists in his home region. Lerick needed no more encouragement to welcome the draekon on his team, requesting Master Errol to join shortly after. In my brother’s last letter, Lin wrote that he believed the team was close to success. Could the master’s return have something to do with curing the dreaded curse?

  Master Errol kissed my knuckles. “I’m here for the wedding. I know I’m a few days early, but I figured I could spend the time visiting old friends. Avelin is a beautiful country, but I miss my homeland.”

  Of course.

  I shook my head, chastising myself for getting my hopes up. I should have realized Master Errol would return for Cienna’s wedding. He’d been a part of her life for decades as her healer. Some might say he even acted like a father to her.

  If Brion and Finn hadn’t investigated King Roderick’s claim about his mother’s affair and already confirmed the Cienna’s true father had died long ago, I might’ve wondered if Errol could be that male.

  Once they’d confirmed their father’s allegation was true, the princes had been afraid to share the information with their sister. I’d understood their anxiety. I knew, all too well, how horrible it could be to learn your birth was taboo, and the prejudices you could face because of it. The brothers loathed the idea of causing their sister pain, but they knew they had to tell her the truth.

  Alas, Cienna had taken the news in stride. In fact, she’d seemed relieved. There was no love lost between the princess and King Roderick, and no one outside the royal family knew the truth of Cienna’s paternity. Well... no one except Cienna’s husband to be.

  Petre was half-draekon, and he and the princess had been in love since they were children, but fear of the king had kept their feelings a secret. Now, all had changed. I couldn’t be happier for Cienna, Petre and the rest of Draekon.

  The past two years had progressed with very little strife considering Brion overthrew the society so many had been accustomed to. Now, I could honestly say humans were being treated with the dignity and respect every creature deserved, as were the goblins. The reclusive green creatures had allied with the rebellion in order to secure the safety of their hovels and villages dispersed throughout the Royal Forest. That’d been an easy treaty for Brion to sign. Every now and then I would see a goblin roaming the streets of Draek, but for the most part they liked to stay in their own communities, and they caused no trouble.

  The capital had continued to thrive despite no longer importing forced labor year after year. As it turned out, Remi hadn’t been an anomaly. There were plenty of humans willing to move to Draek to work, and even some who came here to try and secure a draekon companion. Only, instead of being selected by someone you might not fancy, the draekon and humans were forced to go about their relationships the old-fashioned way: courting. Just like Julie and her latest draekon suitor.

  “Lissy,” Lorie’s voice called. I looked up, shielding my eyes from the sun. My sister was hanging out a window on the third floor. Leith stood behind her, and my draekon sight revealed his worry. I almost felt sorry for him. Keeping up with my sister was no easy task, but Leith had seemed to manage it well enough these past years. And it seemed like the wait was worth it. Lorie had turned eighteen two months ago, and their relationship had flourished now that they were officially a couple.

  “Is that Alorie?” Master Errol asked.

  “It is,” I confirmed.

  The master healer shook his head. “You know, I should’ve realized who your mother was all those years ago. The resemblance betwee
n Lassandra and Alorie is remarkable.”

  I smiled and bobbed my head. I remembered how Errol used to stare at Alorie. I’d thought it was because she was beautiful. Now, I knew the truth. He’d been a member of the peace delegation to Avelin, and he’d seen my mother back when she was still a princess.

  “Don’t be too hard on yourself,” I consoled him with a grin. “We didn’t even know who our mother was.” We shared a laugh, and I spared a thought for my parents.

  Lassandra and Arthur had decided to settle in Caldiri shortly after King Aquin’s funeral. The region was hardly desirable, but my parents had happy memories there. I believe some part of them, also, wanted to surround themselves with those who knew Lin, Lorie, and me while we were growing up. They could never get back all the time they’d missed, but they could try to fill in some of the blanks.

  It’d been a bonus when Brion transferred the ruling of the region from Lord Stanley to my father. Arthur might have the official title, but we all knew he and my mother worked together to run the region. I felt confident that, in time, they would make Caldiri a much better place to live.

  “Lissy!” Lorie called again. “Brion is looking for you in your rooms.”

  I sighed, then gave the master an apologetic smile. “Please excuse me, Master Errol. It seems I’m being summoned.” I sounded resigned, but happy anticipation filled my heart. It was always that way with Brion. “I hope you enjoy your time back home. You have been missed.”

  “I will.” Errol kissed my hand, again. “And thank you, Your Majesty.”

  I walked through the courtyard and made my way to the north wing of the castle. After Brion and I were wed, Finn had graciously moved out of the apartments he shared with his twin, letting us have the space to ourselves.

  Many wondered why we hadn’t moved into the king’s suite. Neither Brion nor I bothered to tell them there were too many memories of King Roderick to ever let us find comfort there. Finn didn’t share the same aversion. He’d moved in with Brion’s blessing. Though, he had remolded the rooms extensively.

  I ascend the wide, curving staircase. I kept my hand on the elegantly carved railing to make sure I didn’t trip. I’d become excessively clumsy as of late. I blamed the inability to see my feet over my protruding stomach.

  I reached the second landing and had to stop to catch my breath. I trio of draekon females walked into view. The moment they saw me, they fell into deep curtsies and stayed there. I recognized the group. They were the ones who’d beaten me. One might think I’d harbor resentment for their crimes against me, but I didn’t. Life was too short, and the world was too beautiful, to let your soul be tainted with anger.

  “Ladies,” I greeted them as I continued on my way.

  “Your Majesty,” they chorused, keeping their eyes lowered. Perhaps, one day, the females would believe me when I said they had my forgiveness. Until then, I’d let them avoid my gaze and curtsy with regret, but I’d be glad the moment they were free of their lingering guilt and fear.

  I made it to the apartment without another break. Once inside, I leaned against the thick oak door and tried to catch my breath. I couldn’t wait for this child to be born. I was getting more easily fatigued by the day.

  “Lissa! What’s wrong? Is it the baby?” Brion appeared from nowhere and rushed to my side. His hands landed on my belly, as if his touch could cure whatever ailment I suffered.

  “Everything’s fine. The baby’s fine,” I reassured him. My hands cupped his face. “I was only winded from climbing the stairs.”

  Worry remained in my draekon’s eyes, and I wished more than anything that I could erase it completely.

  Infertility continued to plague draekon mating pairs, but it seemed my elven blood made me immune to the curse levied by my ancestors. Brion and I hadn’t been married a year before I learned I was with child. Brion had been shocked, naturally, but happiness immediately overcame that emotion. Unfortunately, his happiness was accompanied by fear.

  Brion worried the lingering curse would harm my pregnancy. He’d feared that our luck was too good to be true. I was, after all, half-draekon and zero-part human.

  Thankfully, I was nearing the end of my pregnancy and there hadn’t been a single complication. Soon, Brion would have no cause to worry. Soon, he’d be holding his son or daughter in his arms.

  The child in my belly kicked out. That always happened when Brion touched my belly. It was like the baby knew him as their father.

  Brion sucked in a breath and then burst into a beaming smile. His joy sent my heart soaring with love. “This never gets old,” he breathed, moving his hands to continue to feel the gentle kicks.

  “No,” I agreed, soaking in his happy expression. “It doesn’t.”

  Sensing my gaze, Brion looked up. His eyes softened with love and devotion. “Have I told you how much I love you?”

  “Hmm.” I tilted my head to the side and pretended to think. “I’m not sure.”

  Brion straightened and wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me as close as my swollen stomach would allow. “Well, let me rectify that right now.” His lips lowered to mine and drew me into a toe-curling kiss. Our mouths moved together passionately. My hands slid into his thick, dark hair and held tight to deepen the kiss.

  After all this time, Brion and I continued to feel and cherish the deep connection gifted to us by our gliminee bond. We could never get enough of each other, and we loathed whenever we were apart. Which was part of the reason I ended up pregnant so soon after our marriage.

  Brion leaned back and rested his forehead against mine. His breath tickled my skin, and I shivered. “I love you, Amelissa of Caldiri, Queen of Draekon, holder of my heart, and mother of our unborn child. Without you, I never could have righted the wrongs in this land. Your strength, intelligence, beauty, and bravery saved me. I will never be able to express the depth of the love I hold for you, but I vow to spend the rest of our lives trying.”

  I smiled. Happy and grateful tears shimmered in my eyes. “And I love you, Brion of Draek, King of Draekon, keeper of my soul, and father of our child. For the rest of our days, I will cherish you, our family, and our kingdom. And I will also give thanks to the gods. For without them and their divine intervention, I might never have been recruited.”

  The End.

  Acknowledgments

  Thank you to every reader who reached out asking when Freed would be finished. This book took so long to write. There were times I felt convinced Lissa simply didn’t want her story to end! But your enthusiasm and eagerness kept me motivated, and I am so happy to finally share this book with you.

  I loved writing The Curse of the Draekon series so much, but what I loved most was seeing YOUR enjoyment. Thank you all for loving Lissa and her broody, but swoon-worthy, draekon prince. It means the world to me.

  - Samantha

  About the Author

  Samantha Britt is an avid reader and enthusiastic writer of new adult and young adult paranormal and fantasy novels. When not lost in the fictional world, you can find her in Texas. More often than not, she will be busy making memories with her precious family which includes Sam, her husband, Dan, and their mini-goldendoodles, Bailey and Bella.

  Also by Samantha Britt

  THE DARK FAE TRILOGY

  Running From Darkness - Prequel

  Stolen by Darkness

  Marked by Darkness

  CURSE OF THE DRAEKON

  Chosen

  Possession

  Freed

  THE IMMORTAL CHRONICLES

  Enlightened

  Ensnared

  Envisioned

  Enraptured

  Enticed: An Immortal Chronicles Story

  Endured: Thane’s Story

  Envied: Gregory’s Story

  DUAL COURT SERIES

  Will of Fate

  Work of Fate

  Waiting for Fate

  THE FALLEN HAREM

  Claimed by the Fallen

  Hunted by the Fallen />
  Protected by the Fallen