Page 11 of Their Princess

ChapterFive

The crowd erupted in cheers and screams as I fell to my knees, my magic beyond expended. I started to fall to my back, but Jol caught me with an arm around my upper back.

“Well done, Goddess,” he whispered.

“Not so bad yourself, King Jolmach,” I whispered back, smiling as much as I could. It had been a long time since I’d felt so utterly exhausted and weak. In fact, I couldn’t feel my magic … at all. “Why aren’t you exhausted?” I asked, trying to distract myself.

“Because you simply took magic from me and others. I was just a conduit,” he explained.

Mom scooped me out of Jol’s arms, hugged me to her chest, and sobbed loudly. “Lily! You did it! I’m so proud of you!”

Dad patted my head and smiled wide as he said, “I always knew you would accomplish great things. Becoming a goddess is totally a dramatic flair that fits you.”

Kayden took me from Mom’s arms and rested a hand against my cheek. “You scared ten years off my life.”

Mason and Trey knelt on either side of me. Mason set his head against my shoulder and exhaled harshly. “I think twenty off of mine.”

Trey smiled and patted my other shoulder. “You never cease to amaze me, my beautiful mate.”

“Glad to keep you all on your toes,” I teased.

Dhun whined and I pushed away my mates to hug him, being careful of his spines. “Thank you, friend. You helped win this war and ensure casualties were minimal.”

He vibrated his spines and yipped happily. Once I released him, he walked over and sniffed at the silver lily that had grown and looked back at me.

Jol walked to it, knelt, and gently touched one petal. “You really were the prophesized one.”

Mom and Dad knelt to examine the flower as well.

“It’s full of magical power,” Dad commented.

“You think it’s safe to leave here?” Mom asked.

Dad tried to pull the flower from the ground and was thrown back by a powerful magical explosion.

I gasped and started to stand to go to him, but he hopped to his feet and shook his entire body, like a dog shaking off water. “Yeah, no one’s going to be able to move that.” His hair stood on end, looking like he’d been electrocuted.

Laughter bubbled out of me until I was on my hands and knees laughing so hard tears streamed down my face.

Nana Jolie, Great Aunt Leona, and all of their mates joined us, joining my laughter soon after hearing what happened to Dad.

Wiping my eyes, I turned to Mom and requested, “Mom, can you create a portal?”

“Where are you going?” Mason demanded and hovered at my shoulder as I stood, his hands moving erratically, like he was worried I was going to fall.

To be fair, I did wobble a little as I straightened, so the worry was not unfounded.

“The demons here need to return to their world and Jol and I need to go check on things,” I explained. “With the Grand Advisor gone, we need to assess the world with fresh eyes. To see where things stand. Where the people stand. To see what’s actually real.”

“You need rest,” Talrinir said as she approached us. “The females will assist King Jolmach in assessing the status of our world.”

Azgon joined us, nodding. “You’re not in any shape to face any further challenges. You have done more than enough today.”

Mom created a portal to the castle. “Use the stone to communicate when you are ready to meet,” she told Jol. “We will begin the steps to draft a peace treaty agreement so we can figure out a trade agreement and develop identification for your people to be able to visit here without issue.”

Jol’s eyes widened. “You will allow us to visit here?”

Nana Jolie and her mates had joined us at my back and Nana said, “Of course we will.” I turned to look at her and she smiled softly as she added, “You are my granddaughter’s people, after all.”

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