Page 140 of A Rising Hope

“Gods, Gideon, I told you to separate the water so your armies could walk through them. Not to completely scorch the river with your fire.”

“But incinerating the river just sent a better message, you know?” I reasoned, not hiding my smile as the sky shuddered with loud, thunderous roars.

“You wanted to see if you could do it, don’t pretend it was beyond that.” He shook his head, adjusting the lapels of his jacket.

“Iknew I could do it. I just wanted everyone else to know too.” I winked in his direction.

“Gods save us all.” Xentar sighed, looking up as the skies erupted with flames while two gigantic dragons soared over us. The wild current of winds from their massive wings whipped my cape.

“I see the princess is enjoying her new pets,” Xentar said, shielding his eyes from the gusts of air.

“She is no longer a princess, she is a motherfucking dragon queen.” My teeth scraped the bottom of my lip as I saw my love.I nodded, extending my arms. She slid down the large, lowered nose of the creature, leaping straight into my arms.

“Miss me?” She smiled, bopping my nose with her finger. Our hearts synced into one beat, reunited.

“More than anything in the world,” I confessed, landing a kiss on her perfect lips.

Xentar politely coughed, but I didn’t care, my tongue buried deep into her mouth as the tight hold of dread finally eased from my soul now that she was in my arms.

“Okay, cute, but I think I am going to throw up again.” He turned to the side, hurling his guts out again.

Finnleah’s flushed cheeks bunched up in a smile.

“Sorry.” She smiled, motioning for me to put her down, and I, begrudgingly, listened. “So, what do we do now?” Her emerald eyes sparkled in anticipation as she looked into mine, her gaze leaving me speechless. My Queen, my Empresses, my Goddess.

Free, victorious, and never yielding.

“Anything you wish.” I reached out, my hand finding hers, as I brought it closer to my lips, landing another kiss.

“I believe you promised me a few goats and chickens . . . amongst a few otherthings.”She winked at me with that devious smile on her lips.

“Have I ever told you I love you? Because I so fucking do.” I flicked her perfect little nose.

“Forever?”

“For eternity and even beyond.”

The End

EPILOGUE 1

FINNLEAH

Two years after the war.

“It feels odd to be here.” I glanced around the scorched fields. Even after so many years, the once luscious forest and green meadows were barren. Gideon stood near me, his comforting presence calming my racing heart.

My sight lingered on the seemingly unremarkable hill, just as burnt as the meadows where a small village used to be. Like a mirage, I could still see the outline of an old mill.

Gideon’s hand found mine, his thumb gently running circles.

“I am here for you,” he offered.

“It’s good that we are here,” I replied, lost deep in the memories of my life before. The truth I had long forgotten was now more prominent than ever, and I remembered how I burned, lost in grief after finding the lifeless body of Tuluma.

“They are here,” Gideon said as a group of tall stalky elves emerged from the large circles appearing in the air. “Fucking portals,” he spat quietly in disbelief. And though his face was blank and not a muscle out of place, I knew he loathed the factthat the Elf King could so freely transported between their lands and ours.

“Welcome, Elf King.” I gave a respectful nod.

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