Page 99 of Mountains of Mist and Magic

“Phillippe, careful—” The words had barely left her lips when he barreled through the barrier as if it were nothing more than a wisp of smoke. Selenia's stride faltered for just a moment before she pushed through after him, marveling at the lack of resistance.

The setting sun painted the beach in hues of gold and crimson, the fading light making it difficult to discern details. But there—a figure racing towards them with the same desperate energy that propelled Phillippe. Selenia's heart leapt as recognition dawned.

Esmeralda.

The two collided in a tangle of limbs and emotion, tumbling onto the sand. Their kisses were frantic, as if they were trying to make up for lost time in a single moment.

A lump formed in Selenia's throat as she watched their reunion. “Slow down there, you two—” she began, but the words died on her lips as a familiar scent—pine and cinnamon—wrapped around her.

Strong arms wrapped around her waist, spinning her around. Suddenly, she was staring into Sion's eyes, deep and dark as the night sky. His lips found hers, and the world fell away.

“I feel it, my Princess,” he murmured against her skin between kisses. “You belong to me and no one else.” His voice cracked with emotion, and Selenia felt the dampness of tears—his or hers, she couldn't tell—on her cheeks.

“Oh Sion!” The words came out as a half-sob, half-laugh. She clung to him, her fingers digging into the fabric of his shirt as if she could somehow pull him closer, make them one being.

Time lost all meaning. The world narrowed to just the two of them—the warmth of Sion's skin, the rhythm of his heartbeat, the gentle caress of his fingers through her hair. When they finally broke apart, breathless and giddy, Selenia realized they had sunk to their knees in the cool sand.

As her awareness expanded beyond Sion, Selenia noticed Renya approaching, Grayden's arm wrapped protectively around her waist. The sight of her friend's radiant smile sent a fresh wave of joy through Selenia.

Sion helped her to her feet, his fingers immediately intertwining with hers. The simple touch sent a thrill through her body—would she ever get used to this?

Grayden reached out, clapping Sion on the shoulder. “I'm so happy for you, both of you,” he said, his grin impossibly wide as he looked between Sion and Selenia.

“I can't believe we're all Fated now,” Renya added, her gaze drifting down the beach. Selenia followed her line of sight. Esmeralda and Phillippe sat before a crackling fire—Renya's handiwork, no doubt—lost in each other's eyes. On the opposite side, Triston and Julietta were deep in conversation, their heads bent close together. As Selenia watched, Triston cupped his hands, summoning water from thin air for Julietta to drink.

The reality of their success hit Selenia anew. “It really worked,” she breathed, awe coloring her voice. “Magic is back.”

“No kidding,” Renya muttered, an unexpected edge to her tone.

Sion frowned, concern etching lines around his eyes. “What's wrong?”

But Renya was already turning away, her steps unsteady as she headed towards the water's edge. Grayden watched her go, worry clear on his face. He turned back to Selenia and Sion, his voice dropping to a whisper.

“When the magic was restored, it restored all Fated bonds—all of them. Cyrus and Cressida are fated once more. You can imagine how Renya feels about that.”

Selenia's stomach dropped. Her gaze snapped to the ship anchored offshore, where two figures sat close together on the deck. Even at this distance, there was no mistaking the Sun King and the former Shadow Queen.

She looked up at Sion, anxiety gnawing at her. How would he react? His admiration for Cyrus, his view of the man as a father figure—surely this would affect him deeply.

But when their eyes met, Selenia saw only love and understanding in Sion's gaze. He leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.

“Who are we to break up true love?” he murmured, his breath warm against her skin.

Selenia relaxed into his embrace, marveling at the man she loved. As the last rays of sunlight painted the sky in breathtaking colors, she allowed herself to hope. Maybe, just maybe, they could all find their way to happiness.

Epilogue

“Do you finally feel properly claimed?” Sion asked, rolling over and gazing at the ceiling. Selenia clutched the sheet to her chest, her breath unsteady. Thoughts raced through her mind, each one slipping away like wisps of smoke. They'd waited only a few hours after returning to get married. Selenia had put her foot down, insisting they had waited long enough.

The ceremony had been simple, conducted at the Tidal Kingdom as soon as Triston's ship had sailed into the harbor. She'd worn a silky white dress borrowed from Esmeralda and Renya's aragonite necklace. After their vows, they'd mounted horses gifted by Triston and ridden to a little cabin north of the lodge, now Sion's by inheritance. He'd scarcely removed his boots before shucking her clothing and pressing her into the mattress.

“I feel...so happy,” she said, rolling to face him. “I was worried that it might be hard on you—”

He silenced her with a soft kiss. “When you were on that mountain, I kicked myself for all I hadn't done, fearing I'd never see you again. I realized my fear was holding me back from fully loving you—fear that you'd see the dark parts of me, the pieces of my soul I thought irreparable. Yet you've proven me wrong, time and again.”

She snuggled against his warm, inviting chest. “So, how does it feel to be all-powerful?”

He grinned, and she felt her own power respond to his. Like their mating bond, their powers seemed to work in perfect harmony. “I'm enjoying them, but I'd give them all up if I had to. Finally feeling fully mated to you was all I ever wanted.”

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