Page 123 of Unleashing Chaos

My stomach flips and Jace’s grip tightens around my waist. I look up at him, and when my eyes meet his, there’s nothing but pure love reflected in them. No more fear, no more uncertainty, Jace Wilder is ready to open himself up to a life of being loved by me.

We file out of the atrium. My family is all smiles and boisterous recounting of what just happened as we make our way to our carriages. The driver holds the door open for us and before I climb in something urges me to look back. A lone figure walks with his hands in his pockets, heading in the opposite direction from us.

“Cannon,” I yell and run after him. “Cannon, wait.”

He turns toward me with a sad smile pulling at his lips. I reach him and we awkwardly stare at each other for a second, knowing it will be a long time before we see each other again.

“I didn’t want you to leave without me saying thank you.” I laugh, tears clogging my voice. Jace steps to my side and places his hand on my waist. “I know that may sound a little batshit after what you almost did by accident, but I want to thank you for showing me friendship. You didn’t have to do that.”

He clears his throat and blinks back tears. “I’m sorry I wasn’t up front with both of you. I really thought I could work this all out in your favor in the end. It looks like that’s the case, but not because of me. Just know that my friendship was sincere.”

Cannon holds out his hand to Jace. A moment passes before Jace finally wraps his fingers around Cannon’s and pulls him into a hug.

“I know what it’s like to have a parent betray you, man. Take the time to feel that hurt. You hear me? But once you’ve felt it, deal with it, and move forward. Don’t let it steal your joy for years, like I did,” Jace says against Cannon’s shoulder.

The tears Cannon had been blinking back slip down his cheeks and he doesn’t even bother to wipe them away as he pats Jace on the back and they separate. “Noted. I’m glad you came to your senses. Keep the queen happy and let up a little on all the cleanliness stuff.”

“No chance.”

The two laugh, and Cannon sobers as he turns to me. “Good luck ruling your Circle.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Good luck ruling all of Pax.”

“Maybe one day we can have a friendly wager . . .” Jace begins.

“No!” Cannon and I exclaim in unison.

Cannon grins and his eyes soften. “Goodbye, Desi.”

“Goodbye, Cannon.”

With one final nod, he starts down the road toward his realm.

“That was commendable, Desideria.”

I spin around and find my father watching us. He leans against one of the massive columns of the atrium, spinning his ax in front of him from its chain. Stress lines still mar his face, and his body isn’t as bulky as it once was, but he looks better than he did when I returned home.

“I’ll give you a minute,” Jace says, kissing my temple and walking away.

I close the distance to my father, and he lets his weapon fall to his side.

“Dad.” I don’t even know what to say because I feel like no matter what words I choose, they’ll never be enough. But I owe it to him to try. “I almost don’t want to go back and do all the things we need to do. Because that means it’s time for us all to step up . . . and I’m afraid you’re going to lea—” My voice cracks and I look down and chew my bottom lip. “I’m afraid you’re going to leave me right away. And I’m not ready.”

“If I’m telling the truth, this feels like my weakest moment as a ruler . . . as a father. I have to let go and trust that I’ve taught you and your brothers everything you need to know to rule. That’s hard for me to do when it’s been my job for centuries to protect you. I’m good at that, but now I’m feeding you to the wolves. Or the demons.”

“You’ve taught us everything you could. There are some things we’ll have to learn for ourselves, but you’ve prepared us to deal with that. And you’ve never been weak. Not as a ruler, and definitely not as a father.” I step forward and throw my arms around him, careful not to squeeze too tightly. “Thank you for letting me go to the human realm to find my partner—to find Jace. I can’t imagine what would’ve happened or who I’d have ended up with if you hadn’t loved me enough to give me that freedom.”

He hugs me tighter and inhales like he’s breathing me in for the final time. “You’re welcome. Letting you go might have been the best parenting moment of my life.” He pulls back and lifts an eyebrow, looking over my shoulder to where Fier and Mandis are in a brutal argument with my other brothers egging them on. “Your brothers could have benefited from living in a little less chaos for a minute.”

I turn and follow his stare, laughing through the tears. “They’re ridiculous.” I shake my head and look back up at my father. “Did Glen really end Angelo with a snack cake?”

He nods with a disgusted expression. “Not the way I would have done it, but it got the job done. No one will ever deny that my kids aren’t good at wreaking chaos. The same can be said for their partners. Except for yours.” He hooks his finger under my chin and lifts it. “Jace is good for you, Desideria.”

“I know.”

“I need you to do one more thing for me before I let you go rule your own Circle.”

My heart sinks with the finality of his request. “Anything.”

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