Page 70 of To Steal the Sun

Distantly, the sound of grating stone drifted through the night air, making Henry turn back to the window. But there was nothing to see in the gray dimness of early night.

Within a minute, both girls relaxed, grinning at each other.

“A small change like that won’t do any harm to the mountains or their environment,” Gwen said, letting go of the scepter.

“But it will do us a lot of good.” Charlotte smiled.

Once again gripping the scepter’s length in two hands, she raised it up and brought it down hard on her knee. It snapped in half with a sound like brittle wood.

She looked down at the two lifeless shards she held in each hand and nodded. No one could touch the mountains now.

Gwen nodded approvingly, and Charlotte let the pieces fall to the ground, overwhelmed by a rush of exhaustion. Henry’s arms slid around her from behind, and he guided her back against his chest. She collapsed against him with a sigh of gratitude, letting her eyes drift shut.

“What did you do?” Henry asked. “At the end there?”

Charlotte didn’t open her eyes although a smile curved up her lips. “Nothing too significant.”

“We just made sure we’ll always be able to visit each other from now on,” Gwen said.

“You made a permanent pass?” Easton asked eagerly. “One that doesn’t require bear form?”

“The mountain kingdom isn’t cut off from the other kingdoms any longer.” Gwen sounded satisfied. “And I won’t have to fly the captives home one or two at a time. We can set up proper trading routes too.”

“An excellent first act as ruler,” Easton said, sounding a little awed.

“I thought so,” Gwen said smugly before sighing, her voice turning rueful. “I’ll have to explore the rest of these objects later. I think there are some wedding guests who are waiting to see us.”

Charlotte’s eyes flew open, taking in her friend’s appearance for a second time.

“Your wedding!” she cried. “Did it succeed? Are you married?”

Gwen nodded almost shyly before looking up into the face of her new husband and beaming. “Celandine tried to stop it, but she was too late. And I exposed her as a usurper before everyone.”

“We broke the enchantment, too,” Easton said.

Charlotte gasped. “Of course you did! You’re not a bear, Gwen!”

Gwen gave a relieved laugh. “I’m very pleased to know I never will be again. I’m quite happy to keep my normal human body from now on, even if I can’t break down doors with my hands.”

“I’m so happy for you both.” Charlotte wasn’t sure if the tears in her eyes were from joy, relief, or exhaustion. “I just wish I could have been there.”

“It was beautiful,” Gwen said. “The captives outdid themselves.”

“You look beautiful,” Charlotte said.

“We weren’t able to be there for Gwen and Easton’s wedding,” Henry said, “but I hope Queen Gwendolyn and King Easton will grace our wedding with their presence.”

Charlotte pulled away, twisting to look up at him. “What are you talking about? We’ve been married for months.”

“In the valleys,” he said. “But Celandine pointed out to me that it might be more than a year before Master Harold registers it officially with the Rangmeran authorities. And in the meantime, she was convinced I could register a different marriage elsewhere. So as soon as possible, we will be married again and officially registered here in the mountain kingdom. I don’t want anyone to ever question that you’re my wife again.”

Charlotte laughed. “Are you expecting a steady stream of people trying to force you into unwanted marriages?”

“Maybe I just want to give my beautiful bride the wedding she always deserved.” He smiled down at her.

Charlotte had only one answer to that. She reached up on her tiptoes and kissed him.

EPILOGUE

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