Page 86 of The Lord of the Labyrinth

Roan cupped her face and stared deeply into her eyes, recognizing the sacrifice she had made to be with him. That was the moment he’d gotten down on one knee and asked her to be his wife. His queen. Hisforever.

She never would have considered getting married so young in her world, but in this world she truly knew herself and believed in her fate and her future. It was easy to say yes. Yes to love, yes to the man she’d claimed as her own. Love made that single word so easy to say.

Behind her, Babbitt finished arranging the long train of Kate’s gown. “You look magnificent, Mistress Kate.”

The train was a fine chiffon of purple embroidered with silver stars in the shapes of constellations she was still learning. Roan had thought of the idea himself, wanting her to wear the night sky. She blushed at the memory of how he’d explained all of his plans while they lay in their vast bed, bodies entwined and sheets tangled. His deep voice had shared all his hopes and dreams with her and what he believed their future together would hold. He had drawn the constellations on her skin with a fingertip, tickling her and making her breathless before he’d rolled her beneath him and claimed her yet again. She had felttreasuredbeyond words.

Now she was facing the moment they had talked about, planned for, and it didn’t ease her nerves in the slightest.

“I’m still not used to wearing dresses,” Kate grumbled. She missed her jeans and sweaters, but Babbitt had assured her that once today was over, she could change back into whatever she felt like. It had amused Kate to learn that several of the Fae ladies were adopting a more human approach to fashion when not in their court dress.

“Oh, Babbitt, she looks perfect!” Eudora exclaimed. She joined them just outside the towering doors. “But you’re missing one thing.” Her future sister-in-law lifted up a crescent moon necklace.

“I can’t take that. It’s yours.” Kate had learned that the crescent moon necklace she’d worn the night of the ball had belonged to Roan and Eudora’s mother, and she had given it to Eudora before she’d left the Twilight Court long ago.

“I must insist.” Eudora helped put the necklace around Kate’s throat. “It belongs to you now. Its magic matches your own.” Eudora touched the chain, settling it against Kate’s neck. She smiled. “It was made for my mother by her mother under the light of a newborn star.”

“The light of a newborn star?” Kate stroked the crescent moon pendant, and a bright vision flashed across her eyes. It felt as though she’d seen far back into space and time, to the moment when that star had been born.

“Just as making weapons and objects under a black moon can infuse an object with a curse, creating something under a newborn star blesses it. And you have indeed been blessed.”

Kate’s throat tightened with a dozen emotions, and she took hold of Eudora’s hands in her own.Hope. That word held more power for her than any other... except perhapslove.

“Thank you,” Kate whispered.

“For what?”

“For everything. You’ve been the sister I always wished I had. You made me feel loved, and you made this place my home. You didn’t let me give up.”

Kate glimpsed what she thought just might be tears in the Fae princess’s eyes. Could Fae cry? She didn’t dare ask.

“When our mother left, it was Roan who taught me not to give up, to carry hope within me, to believe that all would be well someday,” Eudora said. “When I saw how my brother held you, how he looked at you... I knew you were the one who would have the power to change an unchanging Fae king. I couldn’t give up on you, not knowing what you could mean for Roan. What you could mean for all of us.”

The little brownie stared between the two women in concern. “Please no crying, Mistress Kate. We must keep your face from getting splotchy.”

Kate burst out laughing as she wiped her eyes. Babbitt was right. She was still human in this world and still had some very human qualities, like puffy eyes and red skin when she cried.

But she didn’t mind. Shewashuman, and she wasn’t going to ignore that part of herself. Being human was what had made her strong enough to save Roan. She also knew that now when she cried, they were going to be tears of joy, not sorrow. And tears held magic,wonderousmagic. Magic that could save a life.

“Has your mother arrived yet?” Kate asked Eudora.

“She should already be inside with the others.”

Kate let out a sigh of relief. Ever since Thalia had taken the Seelie throne, the two factions of theSidhewere once again in harmony, just as the sun and moon were. With luck, the new treaty between the two courts would keep the peace for another thousand years. The families of the warriors who had perished a century ago in the battle had been honored by both courts. It would take time to heal the wounds from the battles and the losses, but Roan and Thalia were determined to make it work.

Despite the role she’d played in this peace, Kate was worried that Roan’s people would not accept her as Roan’s queen. She was a human, an outsider. However, she’d heard whispers in the halls, whispers of respect and admiration rather than scorn and derision. It seemed the pixies had spread the story of Kate of the Winslows far and wide. Champion of the labyrinth, some called her. It had embarrassed her at first, but she had to admit, it was true. She had conquered the labyrinth, taking on every challenge, every fight, and not backing down.

Yet she still couldn’t believe that the Unseelie would want her as their queen.

Rath had explained to her the true reason she was held in such esteem. It was because of her power. It was believed that nothing was strong enough to break a black moon curse. The hope for Roan to wake had been utterly lost by most of the court. Even Rath had resigned himself to spend eternity by his king’s side.

Yet Kate had saved the king with a kiss and human tears.

It was a magic so powerful that she’d earned the respect of all the Fae who lived in the Unseelie lands. She had conquered death itself with her love for Roan, and among the Fae there was no greater accomplishment.

Trumpets heralded, and the two silver doors opened in front of Kate. She squared her shoulders as she entered the throne room. Roan sat on his tall obsidian throne, waiting for her. Rows ofSidhelined the path that led to the man she loved.

She kept her head high until she stopped at last in front of Roan. He stood from his throne, towering over her. She felt a shiver of excitement and desire that this beautiful king was hers, now and forever.

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