Page 145 of Crown of Wrath

“Father.” I place my hand on his shoulder, grounding both him and myself. “You did what you thought was the only way for our House to survive. We... we aren’t the same as humans. And deep down, Maeve is still very human. We’ve both done what we had to do to survive.”

He looks past me, to Maeve, who hasn’t left her place. Her gaze lingers on us, warm and understanding.

“She’s changed us all, hasn’t she?” he murmurs.

I nod. “She has. She’s changed everything. I don’t know if Draenyth will ever be the same. She’s made us all a little more human. She’s taught us how to be more than Immortals.” I squeeze his shoulder, forcing him to look at me again. “And Father... I forgive you. For everything.”

His lips part. A tear slips down his face, but he says nothing.

“I wouldn’t have done anything differently before I met Maeve. Brenna didn’t. You may be to blame for my pain, but that pain made me who I am. The King of Flames must learn to embrace pain, and you taught me that. Thank you.”

I don’t wait for an answer. I pull him into an embrace. It’s not something High Fae do, but we aren’t just High Fae anymore. He stiffens for half a heartbeat before his arms come around me. And then he holds on as if he might never let go.

For the first time in my life, I feel truly close to my father.

I’d spent years fearing his wrath, hating his methods, resenting his choices. I thought he was unbreakable, but he isn’t. He’s carried more weight than I ever realized. How many times had he been tempted to give up? He’d convinced himself his actions were right because he had no other choice. I’d spent so much time thinking about my own scars, but how broken is his soul?

Flames lick at his sleeves, leaving little singe marks on the silk as he steps back and studies me. The firelight gleams off his salt-streaked hair, and for the first time, he looks tired.

“Son,” he says, voice thick, “you’re a better man than I’ve ever been. And you’ll be a better King than I could have become. I love you. My only regret is that I didn’t have more time with you like this.”

His voice breaks, and I don’t let go.

“You don’t have to carry the weight any longer, Father. You don’t have to worry about the future or your mistakes. You’ve done everything you could, and we will make it. Together, we kept the House of Flames alive. We kept Nyth alive. You’ve borne more than your fair share of the burdens of this world. It’s time to rest.”

His shoulders tremble.

“I wanted to go back to the void a month ago,” he admits. “Right after you died. I was so tired. But now... now we couldspend time together. We could talk as father and son, not as King and Prince. We could be a family.”

My smile wavers as my vision blurs. “We could. But there will be more trials. The gods have awoken. Everything will change. If you stay, you won’t be able to leave. You’ll find new burdens to carry. And you’re not the kind of man who lets another carry them.”

He studies me for a long time, then nods. “You’re right.”

He looks at the Throne he’s sat on for centuries. Then he looks at me and smiles. “I don’t envy you, having to tell Inni you’re going to war with the hunters they fled from.”

“That will be an interesting first conversation with a dragon,” I murmur.

One last time, I pull him close. “Goodbye, Father. And thank you.”

He steps back, his face lined with sorrow and pride. “Be safe, son. Don’t hurry to follow me into the void. You have a wife. I hope you have children, so you know the frustration of their rebellions and the pride of watching them surpass you.” His breath shudders. “Goodbye, son. You’re the best thing I’ve done in this world.”

Then he turns and walks to the Throne made of crystallized flames. He sits, spine straight, head high. A King to the end.

And then, slowly, he fades from the world.

I can’t stop the tears. For so many years, I hated him. For so long, I wanted him to die. And now... now, I only wish I had more time.

Maeve steps beside me. I wipe my cheeks, knowing all the most powerful people in the world are watching, but she just smiles.

“You’re allowed to have emotions, Cole,” she whispers. “And if anyone has a problem with that, they can take it up with me.”

I breathe out. “Everything is about to be hard again, isn’t it?”

She nods. “But this was right.”

I pull her close, grounding myself in her warmth. “I love you.”

“I love you too. But now... there’s one more thing you need to do.”

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