Page 44 of Finding Closure

“Yeah, Tams, everyone is gonna when they see you wet in that damn lingerie slip thing,” he drawled. “Have a normal—one of those dresses that’s longer over a shorter one. That way you can kneel in the pool and be blessed, but with a fucking bra and…” He threw his hands up and stormed out of the room mumbling that he couldn’t focus.

“You’re blushing, Your Highness,” Taeral teased me.

“You’re lucky we’re live and I won’t flick you off on camera, Commander,” I purred.

“She gonna flatten you later though,” someone teased, and they weren’t wrong.

“He’s right though and that’s smart,” Stefanie cut back in. “Have a mid-thigh sleeveless dress—”

“Black,” I whispered. I smiled as I looked over what was in front of me. “A black dress for the dark realm. It should be black to represent the dark realm when it’s a light fairy who is queen. A white dress if it’s a dark fairy. The coat can be white for me—a mix of all of it. Yin and yang as the gods wanted instead of at odds.”

“I think that perfect, Your Highness,” Talila agreed. “Yes. And given Stefanie is the oldest of us and a noble—she should be the one to bless you for that part. A dark fairy blessing a light fairy to lead and shield us all.”

I smiled at her. “Yeah, I like that.”

We worked for hours and hours, all live, but in the end, we had something that made everyone in the room pretty happy. It had the essence of the intention but without all of the unnecessary rambling.

“Post it,” I told them when we were done. “Let every fairy and hobgoblin sign their name to it if they agree. Give them an option to write in something if they think it’s missing and we’ll try and read all the ideas, but I think it’s all pretty well covered.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” they all said sounding as tired as I felt.

I sighed when I was outside and looked at Ara. “I have the weirdest idea ever, but honestly I’ve been pacing all around and standing for hours and I don’t want to stand much more.”

“And you missed your day for cleansing,” she surmised. “Can I push you around in a stroller or something?”

“I was thinking more a cart and not a stroller like I was a baby, you smartass, but yeah.”

So that was what we did. I lay in the back of a golf cart and focused on cleansing while she slowly drove around. I was handed food, but I mostly rested my eyes and just enjoyed how it all made me feel.

“People agree,” Iolas told me as he brought food at one point. “People have come out in droves to magically sign the agreement, and many watched at least part of the live changing. The overwhelming majority feel the intent is what the gods wanted and even more so now that the realms will be combined. Well done, Tamsin.”

“Well done on them for finally thinking for themselves and not just doing what they’re told or accepting the way things were,” I muttered as I took the tacos.

“That’s a bit harsh.” He sighed when I snorted. “Yeah, but not unfair.” He leaned in and kissed my hair. “I’m sorry you have a new power from your stupid dad, but maybe next year we could spend some time looking for my mate?” He cleared his throat when I almost dropped the container. “I was holding onto the past too long as well. I want to move forward and be happy one day too.”

“That sounds great,” I whispered. “Maybe start with just dating, Iolas. You got stuck in a lot from being childhood sweethearts and then watching her move on. Even Katrina said you were always fair and warned people you were in love, so it was just flings, but you set yourself up to fail. Just go date.”

“I have no idea how to even start to think of doing that,” he mumbled.

“None of us do. It just happens. And no one said you had to do it today. Just heal and stop setting yourself up to fail.”

“I guess I have to listen to you if you have five relationships I would love to have,” he teased, kissing my hair again before getting out of range.

I was exhausted and still hungry after all the cleansing. I went home and was about to just plop down on my bed… Only to realize all of my stuff was gone.

I swore under my breath and went back downstairs.

“You forgot it was moving day, right?” Izzy checked as she brought in food.

“There’s been a lot going on.”

“There always is. What would you like me to tell your security to bring you to your new suite where your mates are probably waiting?”

“Think they’ll be mad that I forgot and I’m too exhausted to be excited?” I worried.

“No, I think they’ll just be thrilled it’s happening and they can help and Faerie is finally being good to you as they really, really should,” she said gently. “Food?”

I snickered. Yeah, what she brought in for them wouldn’t be enough to include me, and since I was supposed to be at the castle, that wasn’t my food. “I think I’m too tired to decide. It’s like I can’t think of what food options are even options.”

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