Page 56 of A Crown of Fates

I brush a strand of hair from her face then rest my hand against her cheek. “Good morning, Starlight.”

She leans into my touch, her trust in me clear. A quiet determination settles over me as I hold her gaze. My past will no longer define me. Each of my choices, whether right or wrong, will guide me, shaping me into someone better.

Because for the first time in years, I believe I can be better. And that belief starts with Estee.

“There’s something different about you. I saw it last night, but I was a bit distracted.” Estee’s cheeks flush. “Your presence is even stronger now. Did something happen while I was gone?”

I run the back of my fingers lightly down the side of her face and momentarily lose myself in her golden eyes. “Several things happened, actually. Some not so great, but others were better. I nearly lost my mind when I realized you were gone, but I knew I had to stay strong if I was going to find you.”

Her gaze hardens. “He took me from inside the castle. I was on my way to you, intent on spending the rest of the day with you, when Orix showed up. He took all my senses from me until I woke up in that cave.”

I rub a hand over the tension gathering in her shoulders. “He won’t ever hurt you again. I know what I need to do now.”

She sits up further in bed, her brow lifting. “And that would be…?”

“Taking my power back.” My wolf stirs at the reminder. “Elyn revealed several things the night I went to get you, including that Orix has been stealing god energy from me.”

Estee’s hand settles over my chest. “Did you get it back? Is that what I’m sensing now?”

“Just as I was ready to enter the shadow realm, Aurora showed up.”

The growl that escapes from her makes me smile almost as much as her jealousy. “She better not have touched you.”

I lean over to kiss her forehead. “No, Mate. She didn’t. At least not in that way. The goddess seems to have a thing for Asher, which I’m sure makes Isla react as you’ve just done.”

“If she hadn’t brought our mother back to us, I’d have been helping my sister plot Aurora’s death.” Estee grimaces then looks back at me. “What did she do to you?”

“It’s actually what Elyn said and what Aurora did that’s given me clarity.” I reach for her, intertwining our fingers. “Well, them and having you back. The elder wolf told me that I’m more god than wolf thanks to my ancestry. Because of that, I was able to become the alpha of my own pack before coming here, but that’s also what drew Orix to me.”

I explain his banishment and the conclusions I’ve come to based on what’s been revealed over the last few days, and ending with what Aurora said about Orix needing our heir to one day be free of his ties to the shadow realm.

She doesn’t seem as surprised as I expected. “I took a risk while I was there, trying to get him to reveal whatever his intentions might be. He brought up our future child and how he intended to claim him, but I didn’t realize…” Her eyes darken and she vibrates with determination. “That god won’t ever touch our child or any other.”

I brush my fingers over her cheek, my touch seeming to calm her slightly. “No, he won’t. Orix might still have my power, but he won’t ever be able to control me again. Aurora’s block seems to have made sure of that, and I’m going to find a way to get the energy he stole from me back. I won’t let him grow stronger or escape the prison he deserves to be in.”

Estee’s hold on me tightens as she nods. “We’regoing to find a way. You’re not alone anymore, Theo.”

“I know.” I pull her into a hug, holding her close as I breathe in her sweet scent. “And neither are you. We’ll do this together, starting with apologizing to the pack. I need to make some announcements, and I’d love it if you were by my side for them.”

She leans back until I can see her brilliant smile. “You won’t find me anywhere else.”

A promise I won’t ever take for granted. Not now or a thousand years from now.

CHAPTER THIRTY

ESTEE

Idon’t think I’ve ever been more at peace. Theo gets up to order us breakfast, and I take a few minutes to simply be in this moment. To soak up all that’s happened since I woke up yesterday, and even more so, since I arrived in Selaris nearly three weeks ago.

I went from disliking Theo—believing him lazy and cowardly—to knowing my heart will never belong to another. And now I see that most of his choices, even the questionable ones, were only for the benefit of others.

We spent all evening and well into the night wrapped in each other’s arms, exploring one another and enjoying the free flow of our bond—which I hope to have finalized today. I know that as king and future queen, there’s supposed to be a big ceremony. Nothing about our situation has been typical, though, and I don’t think either of us wants to wait.

Theo plans to address the pack, and I want our official mating to be one of the topics. While this is a private matter, it’s also symbolic. The people deserve to know that we’re making strides toward stability for Selaris.

Gods.I’m going to be queen.

I chuckle to myself. Oh, how things have changed. I arrived here hellbent on hating every second before my swift return to Polaris, and now, I don’t ever want to leave this island.

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