Page 19 of Midnight Queen

Reading the ending is always a bittersweet moment. Part of you wishes that the story would continue forever so you can continue to escape into the world within the pages, but the other part of you longs for the characters to get their happy ending.

And as we know, happily ever afters are often only found in the pages of fairy tales.

My heart sinks when my eyes drag over those two final words.The end.

Unsure of how to feel about the ending, I slowly close the book, my mind replaying that final scene repeatedly in my head.

“So?” a voice asks. “What was their ending like? Did they get everything they deserve?”

Shielding my eyes from the sun, I look up into the face that instantly brings me so much comfort. Like always, his gold-framed glasses are as crooked as his infectious smile. Pondering his question for a moment, I answer, “I’m not sure. They seem content, but there’s so many unanswered questions. Their story doesn’t feel...finished.”

Ira sits down on the blanket next to me. “The best stories are the ones that never end, my dear. Just because they’re no longer the ones telling their story doesn’t mean it’s over. As long as someone is out there telling their tale, they’ll live on forever.” He opens the book I’d dropped and points to the last two words printed. “Those words mean nothing. They’re just a stopping point in the journey. There will always be another chapter to add.”

Resting my head on his shoulder, I close my eyes. “I will always tell your story, Ira.”

“And because of you, I will continue to live on, Quin.” Ira’s wrinkled and sunspot-covered hand reaches for mine. His grip feels stronger than I remember it ever being. The look of pain I’m accustomed to seeing on his face is gone.

I gesture to the book beside me. “Are you content like them?” The last chapter in his story didn’t end the way it was supposed to.

“I will be,” Ira offers vaguely with a soft pat on my hand. He falls silent and when I lift my head to check on him, I find him staring at the red roses that had been planted for him. “You’ll take care of my roses, won’t you?”

“Always.”

In comfortable silence, we sit together on the picnic blanket, just enjoying the sun and the sweet scent of flowers. I don’t know how long I sit with him before he turns and kisses me on the forehead. “He’s here.”

Confused, I tilt my head at him. “Who’s here?”

Looking over my shoulder, Ira’s smile grows. “It’s not very often the sun and moon cross paths, but when they do, it’s a sight to behold.”

Following Ira’s gaze, I see the silhouette in the open doorway of the house. Even though he’s concealed in shadows, I would recognize his form anywhere. “Silas,” I breathe, elation filling my chest. The joy I feel is short lived when I’m reminded of the sun beating down on my skin. “What is he doing?”

Ira stands to his feet, and I quickly follow. Grabbing my face between his two hands, Ira places one last kiss on my forehead. “I believe he made you a promise. I always told you Silas was a man of his word.” Turning on his heels, he begins to leave but pauses a couple feet away. Looking over his shoulder, he says, “The princesses in fairy tales have to fight for their happily ever afters, Quincey. Fight for yours.”

I turn to check that Silas is still there, but when I look back to Ira, he’s gone. I’m about to search for him when Silas’s voice washes over me like soothing balm.

“Mon Soleil.”

I shiver at the nickname, every inch of my body growing warm. Incapable of ignoring it, all worry of Ira diminishes, and I find myself turning back to where Silas stands in the shadows. “Silas, what are you doing? The sun will burn you.”

My heart skips a beat and icy cold fear dumps over me when Silas steps out from where he’s concealed. The bright afternoon shines down over his perfect face. I hold my breath when he tilts his face up toward it, as if he’s greeting an old friend.

When his face, too handsome for this world, breaks into a smile, the air I hold in my lungs is knocked out of me at the sight. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen something as beautiful as Silas basking in the sun.

Stunned in place, Silas closes the distance between us. Acting on their own accord; my hands reach out for him. Trembling fingers run over his perfect bone structure, the neatly trimmed facial hair brushing against my fingertips. “How is this possible?”

He ignores my question, instead his hands gather mine up and he lifts them to his mouth. His deep midnight eyes hold me hostage as he places a kiss to the inside of my wrist, right where my pulse beats erratically. “Open your eyes, my love,” he rasps against my skin.

“I don’t understand.” I can feel panic start to form in my chest. “What’s happening?”

Dropping my hand, he reaches for my face. Thumbs soothe over my cheeks as he says, “You are so beautiful in the sunlight.”

The courtyard disappears. Ira’s roses melt away and the warmth of the sun turns frigid, my skin instantly breaking out in goose bumps.My heart longs to be back in the courtyard when I open my eyes and find myself still trapped in the freezing cold room.

My head and vision are still cloudy from the drugs Gideon had injected into my arm in his fit of anger. I’d begged him not to do it, the idea of being unconscious and vulnerable making me panic, but now I’m not convinced it wasn’t the ideal option.

I would take the warm dreamland I’d escaped to over the coldness of this room any day. At least while I’m asleep, I’m blissfully unaware of the damaged state my body is in or that there is a ticking stopwatch on my life.

There wasn’t any fear or dread, only peace. Right now, I’m longing for the peace I found in my dream.

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