Page 63 of Wicked Vengeance

“I want to restore it back to what it was before King destroyed it,” I say. I’ve thought a lot about this over the last few days. “I want Shadow Forest to be a safe place for us to raise our daughter. I want her to be able to run and play in the forest, walk around town without the violence and fear I’ve known. I want the people of this town to be able to live without evil looming over their shoulders. I don’t know how to do it…yet. But with you all by my side, I know we can do it. Together.”

“We’ll be there every step of the way, Baby Girl.” Alek says, kissing the top of my head.

“Together,” Royal says. “Whatever it takes.”

“You’re our Queen, pretty girl. Whatever you need.”

Epilogue

Raena

Two Months Later

“The ceremony was beautiful. Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Sterling,” I say, giving them each a warm hug.

“Thank you for hosting us, Raena,” Helen says, squeezing me tightly before getting pulled away to other guests.

It was a simple, yet classy wedding. Ella’s mom fell in love with the view of Grimm River behind our home, so we offered to host the wedding and reception here for them. It made it so much easier to plan, since Helen also asked me and Ella to be her bridesmaids and Emera to be her flower girl.

“Come on, Rae,” Ella whispers through her forced smile as she nods to more guests on our way into the reception tent. She beelines straight to the open bar. “I need a fucking drink.”

“It’s a happy day, El. The wedding went smoothly, your mom is finally happy again,” I tell her. “And you're about to head off to college and start your life. Be happy, girl.”

“Oh no, girl. All of that is fine and wonderful. That’s not why I need a fucking drink,” she whisper yells, ordering two tequila shots from the bar before she turns back to me and pulls me close. “My new ‘step daddy’ just decided to drop the bomb of a lifetime on me, right before the ceremony, and I’ve been freaking the fuck out since.”

“What is it?” I ask.

“I overheard him telling my mother that he was sorry his sons weren’t going to be able to make it to the wedding.” She shoots the tequila back and slams the shot glass down on the wooden bar. “Two more!”

“Oh…. OH! Sons? As in more than one?” I ask as it hits me what she’s freaking out about.

“As in... I have brothers– I don’t know how many but more than fucking one. Who couldn’t even be bothered to attend our parents' wedding.”

“Well you’re going off to college anyway, babe. Plus, it sounds like they’re older, so I don’t think it’s something you’ll have to worry about. It’s not like you’re going to live in the same house and share a bathroom with them,” I say, trying to ease her worries.

“Yeah,” she shrugs, throwing back her next shot and relaxing against the bar, “but you don’t think it’s weird he never mentioned them? He’s been here for months and this is the first I’ve heard of him having children.”

“It is weird,” I agree. “But still, I wouldn’t worry too much about it. You’re leaving and you have four years away from everyone to get used to the idea of having a big family.”

“Maybe you’re right,” she says, finally relenting as my Shadows walk up with our daughter in her beautiful dress and flowers in her hair. She looks like a woodland princess, ready to run off into an enchanted forest and play with her animal friends.

“Hi, baby! You look so beautiful,” Ella gushes, squatting down and twirling her around. “You did so good!”

Emera gives her a toothy grin as she tugs on my dress. “Can we go outside now?”

“Sure, baby,” I say, taking her hand, letting her lead me outside.

“We’ll be right behind you, Angel,” Royal says when I look over my shoulder at them before slipping out of the tent.

Emera’s favorite place to be is by the water, so it’s no surprise when she leads me right down the flower littered isle and past the bridal archway to the edge of the river.

It’s dark outside, but the hanging lights from the trees twinkle around us, creating an ethereal glow on the water. Em splashes her little bare feet in the shallow water, laughing and dancing around. Taking her lead, I kick my heels off and join her.

I listen to her jabber about the fish and watch as she picks up rocks and tosses them into the water, giggling every time it makes a splash. She asks me for the 100th time this week when Nanny Laurie is coming back, breaking my heart with how much she misses her. I wish I could have met her, but Ella said she was too scared to return to Shadow Forest, choosing to stay with Snow in White Harbor for now. When I finally turn around to look for our guys, my knees go weak, and all the breath in my lungs whooshes out.

“Oh…” I gasp, my hand covering my mouth as tears fill my eyes. “What are you doing?” I ask, grabbing Emera’s hand and walking back to them. Each step feels like I’m floating on a cloud.

Royal, Alek, and Maddox are down on one knee under the twinkly lights, smiling at us. Royal’s in the middle, holding a small red velvet box out to me.

---