Page 101 of Stars May Fall

Annabelle flung her arms around him in a very unqueenlike gesture. “Oh, you brilliant, brilliant man!”

Sir Chase edged away awkwardly and turned to Kasten with a bow. “I will submit a full report tomorrow, Gen…Your Highness.”

Kasten clapped him on the shoulder. “Feel free to enjoy yourself, Chase. May that be the last time any of us have to go to Kollenstar for a very, very long time.”

Annabelle took Venerick’s hand and dragged him to a private corner before we could question him further. With him dressed in drab, dirty clothes and her in radiant silk, they could not have looked more different, yet they complemented each other perfectly. I couldn’t have been happier for them.

When Annabelle stole a kiss, I looked away. And she had teased us!

I turned back to Kasten, and my stomach dipped at the look of wonder on his face. He was smiling to himself, and he seemed lighter, his movements more free. His eyes shone, and it was as if I were seeing a new, younger version of him. His eyes focused on me, and he almost whispered, “It’s the end of the war, Sophie. It really is the end. We won’t have to fight anymore. I won’t be called away from you. It’s over!” Before I could respond, he picked me up at the waist and spun me around. All I could do was manage a breathless squeal and laugh.

He set me back down with a grin and took my hand instead. He didn’t seem to care that some of our guests were staring at us in shocked surprise. I didn’t either. I hoped everyone could eventually become acquainted with this joyful side of Kasten.

Peace. We had peace.

I surveyed the rest of the ballroom, finally free of dust sheets and filled with glittering, smiling people. I beamed with pure happiness at it all.

“I love it when you smile like that.” Kasten lifted my hand and kissed my fingers, but his dark eyes didn’t leave my lips. My stomach flipped. “I fell in love with your smile first, Sophie. It showed your joy. Your goodness. Your compassion. I would have been lost without that smile. And now, I hope it will be a constant in my life. You have no idea how happy that makes me.”

I could only stare at him, my mind replaying his words over and over.

Without warning, Callum popped up between us. He raised his glass before my husband could speak. “To Kasomere, kryalcomy, and a queen who is not trying to kill us.”

I laughed and raised my own, looking at each of them. “To true friends and true family.”

Kasten finally stopped glaring at Callum for his interruption and raised his own glass. “To peace. And my wife. And long, long lives.”

We drank and laughed, and everything was bathed in sparkling light.

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