Page 103 of The Kingdom of Flames and Ash

“Don’t blasting look at her, ashbreath,” Tavish seethed.

“Fine,” Pyralis said and faced Tavish. “There’s been too much death on both sides. I can end the fighting. This arrangement was my parents’ doing, not mine. And they paid the ultimate price with their lives.” His eyes glistened, but he straightened his shoulders.

“Yet you tried to kidnap my mate and bring her here.” Tavish grimaced. “It wasn’t all your parents.”

Pyralis’s scales reappeared on his face. “I never wanted to marry her. I agreed only to help our people. When I brought Eiric back instead of Lira, everything changed. However, my parents wouldn’t listen to me. Maybe if they had, things would be different right now.” He growled, “I will return after I call off the fighting.”

“Pyralis, you’re hurt.” Eiric’s face twisted in worry.

Mom kissed her forehead and said, “Your dad and I will go with him.”

It wasn’t just to keep watch over the prince but to make sure he didn’t betray us.

Pyralis flew away, blood still seeping from the wound on his arm, and Tavish rushed to me. When he reached my side, he placed an arm gently around me.

I was so worried about you,Tavish linked, kissing my forehead.

“Uh…” Finnian’s head tilted back. “Who killed the queen? I’ve never seen anything so barbaric.”

“That would be me.” I raised my hand. “I didn’t have a sword or dagger, so I had to improvise.”

He grinned and placed both hands on his hips. “Why am I not surprised? You’ve always managed to find a way out of a tough situation. If you weren’t fated to Tavish—”

Tavish snarled, “Stop speaking,” as Sorcha smacked him on the back of the head.

“We should go and make sure the fighting stops.” Caelan pursed his lips. “They may need our help.”

“And the princess should really pull her dress down.” Lorne cleared his throat uncomfortably.

“Don’t look or try to help her.” Finnian fluttered his wings. “Otherwise, Tavish will kill you.”

Tavish stood and gathered me into his arms, and I yanked my gown back down where it should be. Still, we both flinched at Finnian’s choice of words right now. Pyralis was right. There were way too many deaths; even kidding about it right now seemed insensitive.

“Finnian, please, for once, be careful how you speak,” I said gently, knowing that he hadn’t meant it so inconsiderately. “We’ve lost a lot of people today.” In fact, I feared the numbers.

Sadness flooded into me from Tavish, and he said, “Yes. Let’s not make light of all those we lost.”

There was no telling how many graves we’d need to dig. My heart grew heavy.

Caelan moved to pick up Eiric, but she shook her head. “I’m good right here.”

“Finnian and I can stay here with her,” Sorcha offered.

A dragon roared louder than I’d ever heard before.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Tavish took to the air. Now that the battle was over, I began to notice every ache in my body.

As we continued upward, I glanced all around at the fae and dragons. Flames weren’t flashing anymore, and the sound of swords and screams had calmed. The dragons that had beenfighting over the water were flying back toward the island, leaving the fae with their weapons raised.

Pyralis had come through. The fighting had stopped.

And with that realization, I nestled into the arms of my mate and let darkness overtake me.

EPILOGUE

TAVISH

After my parents died, I thought I’d never find happiness again. Now, each day that I woke with Lira by my side—as my queen, fated mate, and wife—I felt happier and more fulfilled than I could have dreamed.

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