Page 76 of Ash and Roses

There have been changes in Lunae. From what I could gather, when Jade returned with Teagan, he’d told my father that she and I ran on our own. There was no reason to question her since she’d lost the ability to speak, so Jade’s word was taken at face value and with the Commander dead, the role needed filling. I know in the past, a Commander was chosen by winning a duel against any other Guardian who wanted to challenge for the spot, but I didn’t bother to ask if that’s how Jade secured his place. It seems his promotion changed—or at least delayed—the Markeds’ plans of returning to Marein. I doubt even Jade would tell me of their plans now.

All I’ve done since returning is flip through that useless book of dragons and wait for nightfall. Once the moon was visible over the horizon, I would plant myself in this chair by the window and stare out in the direction of Rosewood. In the direction ofhome.

Each and every night, I’ve called out to Quinn through our bond, desperate for an answer. Quinn should be dead, but until I know for sure, I’m going to keep calling out for him. Until I feel the same pain and loss as Tess, I’m not going to give up, even if I have to keep enduring the same heartbreak over and over when my only answer is agonizing silence.

I pull in a deep breath and brace myself for the pain before thinking his name—feelinghis name with every cell of my body and hoping beyond hope that this will be the night he answers.‘Quinn?’

‘Hey, Stabby.’

EPILOGUE

QUINN

She missed.

I was prepared to choose death over a life without her, but there was one more gamble we could make. Her huntsman would have stopped at nothing until I was dead. Bargaining with her freedom had meant nothing to him, and when she finally saw that, I showed her the memory of teaching her the difference between man and wolf.

The ridges of the new scar on my chest feel rough directly above my heart. Myhumanheart. She’d missed the wolf’s entirely, but still I’m lucky I didn’t bleed to death right there and then. For once, it seems, fate was on my side.

I couldn’t shift back into my human form until the wound had closed, and when I was ready to try, the change wouldn’t come. I had to embrace the monster to survive and rely on the dark magic that cursed me. When the full moon finally made its appearance, the monster relinquished.

I’m standing on the balcony now in the same spot where I’d once stood with Abby on that last incredible night we shared together. The night she made me feel more man than monster and allowed me to love every part of her with every part of me. I squeeze at the crown in my hand—the crown I’d once sworn I would never wear—and bring it to my head.

The gathered wolves below me howl in approval. They’re not wild now, not like they were before I accepted the curse and what it made me. They obey me in this form as much as they do while human. The fire had nearly destroyed Rosewood, and much of what remains will forever be blackened by the attack. We all lost someone that day, and we all have something to fight for now.

Abby sacrificed the one thing she wanted more than anything to save Rosewood, and I know she’d gladly live out the rest of her days in Lunae if it meant our people were safe. She’s a better person than I am, though. I once swore that I would never lead my people to war, but I’d sacrifice everything to free her from that prison.

‘I’ll see you soon,’I tell her—and when I do, I’ll bring Lunae to its knees.

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