Page 185 of Love & Heart Braking

I continued reading, my voice thick, “‘I was lucky enough to find my true love in life, daughter, but the second you took your first breath, you became the shared heart of your mother and me. The heart you gave us warms me as I take my last breaths in this world. Perhaps I wanted to watch you find love. To get your first job. To maybe have children of your own one day. I feel the loss of each of those moments in my soul. Yet though missing those moments in your life pains me, equally the thought of them brings me strength to stand in my last days. The strength to take this daemon with me to the grave. To protect you. To show you that we need never fear those who may come after our kind because a strong heart will always prevail over a lacking one.’ Maligni never said anything,” I hushed.

Devereaux rubbed my back.

There wasn’t much more, and part of me despaired at reading the last of my father’s words.

I took a steadying breath and spoke again, “‘If you cry for me, daughter, then don’t cry for too long, nor too frequently. I have had love. I have experienced love’s journey. I cherished those moments dearly. I am ready. Never doubt the love I had for you or your mother, my sweet Cerys. The two of you are my world, always. Because my heart is your heart. Your father.’”

39

“You may leave the stand,” the unicorn ordered, sliding a bead on its scale of justice across. The scale tipped, and by now, we’d watched enough of the trials of the twelve to know the scale tipping this way meant the earth guardian was innocent.

There weren’t many innocents amongst the twelve, but Tiqlig left his seat at the front of the room and was joined by Xix, who gripped his shoulder.

“Courtroom adjourned until tomorrow morning at seven sharp,” the unicorn announced. His horn appeared, not as magnificent as Bain’s, but close. There didn’t seem to be any logic to how the judges worked. A different unicorn came each day.

I stood and stretched, and Devereaux rose beside me.

Soleil took Bain’s hand, doing the same.

Austin joined us in the queue to get outside too.

We hadn’t come to every trial. They’d run all day and every day since the wedding.

Each member of Soleil’s family barring her youngest sibling had been sentenced to forevermore behind bars. Saedent would still serve a small term, and he’d agreed to a seal on my name to protect my identity too.

Part of me hoped that one day Soleil may find a connection with her brother. It didn’t seem fair for her to never know how family could feel.

There was no more Hucses’ estate to return to though. All the Hucses’ assets had passed to Soleil. She’d donated the Hucses’ estate to her inherited unicorn herd to live on, and she’d already given much of the money away. My friend had conquered the world in the end. Just not in the way she’d once envisioned.

For the most part, the twelve’s assets had been seized and money from selling them would be used to help the people they’d wronged. There wouldn’t be enough to truly make things right, but it was something for all the hurt and pain left behind by their corruption and greed.

“Miss Concordia,” a voice said.

I turned to find Tiqlig there with the ever-present sphinx. “Congrats on your release.”

“I’m not sure I deserved it.”

Soleil surprised me by saying, “Don’t beat yourself up. The unicorns are able to see your soul and worth. Doing the right thing is hard when everyone around you is trying to force you to do bad.”

The earth guardian exhaled. “Perhaps in time I’ll believe the truth of those words.”

“There’s something you need?” Devereaux asked, and I could tell he wasn’t about to be as understanding as Soleil.

Tiqlig reached into a leather case and pulled out a crisp sheet of parchment. “In taking up the mantel of my family estate, there are things I must make amends for. I thought I’d start with the most obvious. Some time ago, my family came into possession of a lovely home on Ceres Close.”

My insides froze.

He smiled. “Your grandparents’ home, I believe.” He handed over the parchment. “I would like to give it back to you. It may make you happy to know that the ground and trees there are joyful and filled with memories of your running feet and those of your parents chasing you through the garden.”

I’d been emotional since reading my father’s letter, and I had to blink several times at his words. “You’re giving me my grandparents’ house back?”

This was…

“If you will let me,” he said seriously.

Selling Myrtle Manor was one of the hardest things I’d ever done. Grandmother always told me to value people over things, and I’d listened. Yet my heart had yearned for the home of my childhood, never more since reading my father’s last words. “Thank you, Tiqlig.”

Devereaux hugged me into his side.

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