Page 54 of Finding Closure

“It’s time to store these at the castle even if you stick them all in an empty guest bedroom to go through later,agra,” Darby said under his breath. “You can teleport all the ones inside out here, and part of their penance can be getting it all to the castle through the portals. You can put magic on them so they can’t be opened, right?”

People seemed offended that he suggested that, but he didn’t brush it off or allow them to pressure him.

“This is basically my mate’s diary in picture form and with her magic,” he told them firmly. “Are you allowed access to the royal journals or anything in the castle now? Of course not. It’s not a statement of whether I trust you—the people who are complete strangers to us—but handling security appropriately.”

“Well, I feel like an idiot when you put it that way,” one guy chuckled, clearly accepting the chastising.

But Darby was right, so that was what we did. The major went and contacted the other fairies he knew who were using the place as their hangout spot. Word of it all reached Iolas and he showed up ready to pound some people.

I told him why I was upset and what I’d said. He promised he’d handle it and get the rest of the Guardians who had used my sanctuary as their clubhouse.

It was hard not to laugh when he put it that way. I made him also promise to handle getting it updated.

“Iolas, I don’t care if they use it as long as people know if I show up that they gotta leave,” I told him. “I barely—when was I even last here? Six months ago? A year?” I frowned. “No, not that long. Like six months when I did more paintings for auction.”

“Yes, but you want to use this place more again for your own emotional and mental health.” He gave me a kind look. “You’ll need it with what is coming.”

I swallowed loudly. Yeah, he was right. I would definitely need my studio after I set my mom free and my dad died too. “You’re right, and thank you for understanding that. So yeah, people can use it as long as they don’t cloak from the caretakers and will take off if I show up. It’s my place first.”

“I’ll handle it. Open a portal inside, and we’ll carry the crates out real quick and clear out. I know where to store these in the castle and protect them. I’ve got this.”

So that was what we did, but then I really wasn’t in the mood to paint or do much of anything. I felt… I wasn’t really sure.

14

“Let’s go get some ice cream,” Darby suggested when it was all done. “And then you can practice cleansing a place when we come back.” He gave me a look to please listen to him.

“I think it’s smart, and no one will take offense,” Iolas said under his breath.

Fair enough.

And it wasn’t that people had been hanging outside. It was the upset and… I needed to practice before it was the castle for the ceremonial everything after I became queen. It would be so much harder to do while grieving, and I needed to know it like the back of my hand. I’d had a lot of it down when I’d done the Craftsman estate, but it was like anything else.

If you didn’t use it, you lost it.

We went and sat to have a sundae, and I decided to handle something else that was weighing heavy on me. I pulled something out of my wallet and slid it over to him, not sure how to really bring it up or broach the topic.

He glanced down at it and studied it for several tense moments. “I have a few questions or things I’d like to make sure I’m clear on, but it’s for my own—I don’t want you to get offended or upset, okay?”

“Okay,” I accepted.

“You didn’t feel pressured to do this or someone told you something that led to this?”

“No, not at all,” I promised. “The opposite actually. A few advised it was too soon since we’re not married and your security can cover anything if there’s a problem and be reimbursed, but that’s ridiculous to me. It’s—why would I trust them more thanyou?I trust you with everything. If you want to go crazy, then fucking go ahead.”

He snorted and shot me a dry look, but I simply shrugged.

“I love you, and this is all very real for me, Darby,” I whispered. “This isn’t you living with me in a house that wasn’t really mine but we made it home. You’re now living with me for real in my family’s home. This is the happy ending for us even if there are more steps.” I swallowed loudly. “Or is it just me?”

“No.” The word was firm and definite, not open for discussion at all. He met my gaze, and his eyes were full of emotion. “You are my forever. I just… My mind works—I needed to know how you got here or what—” He blew out a harsh breath. “I’m ruining this amazing gesture just like I ruin so much.”

Tears filled his eyes which shocked me.

“I’ve done so much more wrong. I’ve doubted you at every turn because I wasn’t your fated mate instead of realizing how blessed I am because you picked me instead of the gods. I’m as emotionally abusive—no, it’s not a competition. I’ve emotionally abused you and—”

“What are you talking about?” I gasped, switching seats and moving next to him. I forced him to look at me. “Who the fuck told you such nonsense and…”

He’d gone to talk to someone. It was on his face, and I caught a few thoughts.

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