Two days later, we sit at a pub in the Violet District. It’s the same one where we all gathered when Lor and I were trying to find the Heart Crown. Tristan is telling us a story about the Heart siblings’ childhood when someone covers my eyes with their hands.

“Lor,” I say, immediately recognizing her scent, my magic reacting to her presence. She loops her arms around my neck and kisses me on the cheek. “Miss me?”

“Every moment,” I say, looking up at her, and she smiles. Gods, she takes my breath away every fucking time. Sometimes I lay awake at night thinking of how close I came to losing her. But then I open my eyes and reach for her, feeling her soft skin and hearing her soft breaths, reminding myself that she’s mine forever.

Etienne and Rhiannon are with her, having all just arrived from Heart. They settle around the table, and we chat for hours, toasting every single thing we can think of until we’re finally kicked out.

We trek back to the Keep with the lights dancing overhead and Lor’s arm looped through mine. We pass the square where we danced that night during Frostfire, and we both stop, staring at the space still bustling with people out for an evening of drinks and dancing.

“I think that was the moment everything changed for me,” she says. “When I realized you weren’t the villain.” I look down at her and smile. “Even if it took me a little while to accept that.”

I lean over and kiss her on the cheek before we follow the others.

Once we arrive back at the Keep, we all say goodbye to Tristan, who’s leaving tomorrow for The Woodlands to get to know Cedar and Elswyth and to prepare for his inevitable future.

Rhiannon and Etienne are staying for a few days before returning to Heart to help continue with the rebuilding. They’ve been invaluable assets to Lor and me, and we’ve been dreaming up ways to thank them.

We also say goodnight to Mael, who’s taking some time off to be with his family.

Willow and Amya bid us all farewell, and I watch them disappear around the corner. Amya has been hinting at a bonding, and I’m sure it’s only a matter of time.

When they’re all gone, Lor and I stand together in the hall of the Keep.

“I have a surprise for you,” I say, and she breaks into a smile.

“What is it?”

“We’ll have to fly there.”

“I’m ready whenever you are.” Her expression is open and full of trust. I worked so hard to earn it, and I’ll never take it for granted.

We head back outside, and then I fly us across the frozen tundra. She wraps her arms around my neck and buries her face against me.