Page 210 of Wrath of the Fae

All except the Kingdom under the mountain, where those still loyal to The First Kingdoms’ twisted views now live in hiding, sealed away in a tomb of their own making.

The doors were sealed from within after Raven fixed the tear in the sky, and no one has been seen leaving the mountain since the soldiers took it.

No one knows what they are doing in there. And no one imagines it is good, whatever it is.

It’s known that there is a portal arch within its stone fortress.

But there is no portal wielder anymore.

No power to charge it.

It’s been three months.

Raven never came home.

I am determined to crack the mountain open soon and end the last of Ivan Walker’s influence over this Realm for good.

The remaining leviathans remain asleep.

I worry. We all do. That one day, they will wake. Surely, with no Queen to control them, it’s a matter of time.

But for now, the monsters are all but gone. She took so many with her in her fight. Any we find now either run, or are killed.

‘Rhea?’

I turn away from the view of the city below and see El smiling at me. My wife. She walks towards me and wraps her arms around my middle, joining me as we watch the bustling city below. The eternal red moon glows in the sky, and the thriving city of Midnight’s End twinkles like a million stars. The sound of laughter carries on the breeze as those below go about their day. It’s a place of art. Food. Creativity and prosperity.

The Fae rebuilt. And they rebuilt well.

‘What are you thinking about?’ El asks, nestling her chin onto my shoulder.

‘Raven,’ I reply. ‘She would be so proud of what she has made. Of all the good she has done.’

‘Hmm,’ she says softly with a sweet smile. ‘She definitely would. Lucca and the guys too.’

‘It’s not fair that they’re gone. They were the ones who set us all free. It’s wrong that we’re the ones still here.’

‘I miss them too.’ Her arms tighten around me. ‘What would they be doing right now if they were here?’

‘Raven and the guys? Probably fucking,’ I laugh. ‘Lucca would be drinking his body weight in wine and turning everything into an innuendo.’ My laugh falters. ‘Goddess, I miss them. I miss my sister so much it physically hurts. I hate that our last moments were so full of hate. I’ll never make up for what I did to her and Cyrus.’

I rest my hands on my belly. Losing the babies was hard. Losing everything I loved in one fell swoop made me want to pick up my sister's blade and end it with her.

I still wear it on my hip. Her eternity dagger. It’s all I have left.

‘The council is meeting now,’ El tells me. ‘They’re waiting for you.’

‘Okay. Can you tell them I’ll be there in a few minutes?’ I kiss her cheek and she heads to the door.

When the door closes, I face the long mirror ahead of me and take a deep breath, readying myself for another meeting.

Politics. I hate it.

From the balcony, I hear the unmistakable rustle of wings. Too quiet to be someone wanting to be heard.

I pull free the dagger and spin to face whoever has just landed.

But I drop it in shock when I see who it is.

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