I felt his body relax but his mouth warned, “Farah.”

“Fine. Fine.” I snuggled deep. “I’ll sleep.”

Some time later, I was again close to slumber, when he whispered, “My True.”

My eyes opened again.

He said no more.

But something about the way he said that…

No.

No.

It was foolish to hope.

I had what I had.

And it was beautiful.

The life I’d led after my father’s ugly deed, even with Mama’s untimely passing, I knew I was lucky.

My bones could be in a pit.

But I had True as I could have him and he gave so much.

I was greedy to want more.

I’d have Doors.

And I’d have Lights.

I’d also have chocolate custard swirls, something I didn’t know what it was, but it sounded marvelous.

And eventually, if we defeated the Beast, I’d have children and grandchildren.

But I’d always have True as I could have him.

And even if it didn’t include his whole heart.

With all he gave me, I couldn’t ask for more.

48

The Splendor

Queen Ha-Lah

Deep Beneath the Triton Sea

OFF THE WEST COAST OF FIRENZE

Rotating my fin in a corkscrew movement, I coiled through the depths of the salty sea, eyes wide, schools of glinting fish racing me.

I was free.

Free.

I twirled up, through the deep blue-green, feeling my fin brushed by my fellow creatures. I undulated it, speeding toward the surface, and the moonlight, murky in the depths, brightened as I got closer.

I surged up, breaking the surface, throwing back my head, the gills under my jaw sealing to invisible instantaneously, and I drew in surface breath.

“Heaven,” I whispered.

I felt my darlings peck cheekily at my fin before they darted back toward the depths.

When they left me, I allowed my bottom half to float up and I drifted on the waves.

It was very late at night.

Under a guise of magic, I’d left Aramus and his men sleeping in their tents on the beach.

And I’d come home.

Home.

I did a twirl on the surface, a flip under it, pitched back up and coasted on the surf.

Aramus had been so adamant that we leave, we’d departed Fire City even before Sofia’s death ceremony.

We’d arrived at the shore three days prior.

The journey was long and hot, and it was only made less of the former because Mars and his father before him had been erecting roads across Firenze that were straight and maintained—and cutting over those dunes—they probably took weeks off the journey.

And three days of walking the beach and feeling the saltwater on my feet and legs was heartening, but it wasn’t what I needed.

This was what I needed.

Now I was restored.

Now I felt I could face anything.