Page 91 of Blood Marked

Her dress was stitched in shimmering dusk tones, half-cape trailing behind her like mist caught at dawn. Her skin was pale, cheekbones kissed with silver dust, and her eyes—though blind—missed nothing. Her hair was pulled into a sleek crown of black-braided coils, adorned with a single crystal tucked behind one ear.

“My apologies for the lateness,” Nyssa said, voice melodic but cool. “We don’t land where we’re not welcome.”

“You are welcome here,” Selene said, stepping forward. “Now and always.”

Nyssa looked her over once, a faint arch to her brow. “So you’re the human who shattered the prophecy,” she murmured.

Kael stiffened.

Selene didn’t. “I’m the woman who rewrote it.”

Nyssa’s mouth curved. And then, for the first time, she smiled—not politely, but with something closer to respect.

“Good,” she said. “We’ll need that kind of defiance where we’re going. Next time we have a summit meeting, expect my son, Malrik, to be representing the Bat Shifters for Sablewing. He was a little…preoccupied this time.” And with that, she gave a curt nod to Kael and Selene before flourishing away.

By sunset, the heirs stood at the high table with Selene and Kael. No court, no fanfare, no elaborate feast. Just them. War-scarred, hungry, watching each other over the bones of a shattered world.

Selene stood.

“Today isn’t a peace treaty,” she began, voice steady. “It’s astart.A start for a future none of us thought we’d live to see.”

They listened. Even Lucien.

“We come from clans that have warred over bloodlines, power, borders. We’ve killed and sacrificed and obeyed ancient truths written by dead hands.”

She glanced at Kael as he locked on to her as if she were a flame.

“I’m done obeying the dead.”

A murmur rippled through the space.

“I won’t pretend we trust each other,” she continued. “But I will promise this: if you stand with me—with us, if we build this together—there won’t be another Rising Flame. Another Varyn. Another prophecy hanging over the next generation’s neck.”

Silence.

Then Calder grunted, nodding once.

Seraphine raised a goblet.

Lucien… smiled.

Selene exhaled.

Kael rose beside her. And the world shifted again. Not because of fate. But because they chosethis.

Each other.

A new dawn.

After, they walked together through the ancient halls. Fingers laced. The stars high overhead, the Veil quieter now than it had ever been.

“I think you just saved the world,” Kael said.

“No,” Selene replied, glancing up at him with a soft smile. “Wedid.”

His eyes darkened with affection, his free hand brushing against her cheek. “You’re dangerous when you’re sure of yourself.”

“I’ve always been sure,” she whispered. “I just needed the space tobe.”

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