Page 146 of Ecliptic

Rowen cradled my face in his hands, tilting my head back to fully take him in. He swiped his thumb over my lip. “Spirits, I can’t wait to make you my wife,” he said as he gently popped out my lower lip and took it into his mouth. My breath caught in my throat as he branded me with his smoldering kiss. His tongue stroked mine deliberately, slowly, and my mind went haywire as every bone in my body liquified.

Keeli squawked, but I was so lost in Rowen’s kiss that I completely forgot what we were supposed to be doing.

“I can’t wait to make you my husband,” I murmured betweenkisses, my hands trailing up the defined muscles of his back. “And I can’t wait to fuck you as my husband.” Our bodies melded closer together as my tongue curled into Rowen’s mouth, and I tasted his moan on my lips.

“What’s this, I hear?” Nepta said, coming up behind us on the path, and Rowen and I jumped apart.

So that was why Keeli was chirping.

Nepta may not be able to see what we were doing, but she definitely didn’t need tohearit.

“I can understand now why everyone knows you two are soul flames. You certainly aren’t hiding it,” the Elven-head said with a huge grin on her face.

“I plan on making my soul flame my wife,” Rowen proudly said, sliding his palm to the small of my back. “As well as the Lady of Viltarran.”

If Nepta was shocked, she didn’t show it. She just continued to smile.

Rowen cleared his throat and continued. “The queen of Hara’dune found a scroll bequeathing the citydom to me. We will leave once things have settled here, but I wanted to thank you for everything. For taking me in when I was broken with nothing but the clothes on my back. For protecting the love of my life within your village and fighting alongside her during the war.”

“You are welcome, Rowen Damascus,” she replied, taking his left hand in hers. “Go to Viltarran with my blessing. Your people need you. Both of you.” She grabbed my left hand as well and placed our palms together.

She spoke in a language I couldn’t understand but could feel deep within my bones. The flame in my chest thrummed and flicked in time with Rowen’s. Energy moved around us as heat, flames, and Light coursed through our bodies like an infinity symbol.

“The Spirits bless this union,” Nepta said, her voice thick with emotion. I looked down at our joined hands, where our vine-wrapped rings slowly hardened into silver. The earthy details and tiny leaves remained as the rings became everlasting symbols of our love. The final change was the moonlit diamond forming on the top of my band.

Happy tears pooled in my lash line as my gaze met Rowen’s. “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” he said as his eyes glistened with tears and choked emotion. “My sky was dark, void, and without meaning, but then you appeared to me, and I recognized you immediately, even in my utter darkness. You filled my night with stars, galaxies, and purpose. It was as if you’d found me in a thousand different realities and worlds and lit my sky in every one. I knew I never wanted to be parted from you.”

“Before I met you, I felt you everywhere. You were in my pulse, my heart, and my soul long before I knew you. Time and space couldn’t keep us apart, ”

“Go on, Rowen,” Nepta said with tears in her eyes. “Kiss your wife.”

Rowen palmed the back of my skull and pulled me toward his soft but firm lips. We kissed and sealed our forever on a simple village pathway with a starwing as our witness. It was perfect, and Keeli cooed in approval.

Nepta’s face beamed. “You both stood as pillars of light and strength when my village needed you most, but I have always known you were meant for more. Go forth in love and nourish your sacred soul flame bond. Use it as a guide to rule with kindness and wisdom.”

“Thank you, Nepta,” I said, throwing my arms around her small frame. “Thank you for always sensing something more within me and believing in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself.”

“Of course, child. I look forward to witnessing the prosperity you two will bring to Viltarran, Luneth, and beyond.”

“What of the dark crystals?” I asked, making eye contact with Rowen. Keeli barreled into my arms as if the mere mention of the Dark Spirit terrified her. I clutched her close as her long tail cascaded down my arm.

“Driskell and I have returned them to the Sacred Vale,” Nepta replied, offering the starwing a gentle pat to calm her. “They could not remain out in the open where anyone could find them. They must never fall into the wrong hands, for I believe Erovos’ power can be accessed through the stones.”

“Are you sure?” I asked. “We can take them or find a way to hide them in the Crypts where no one will ever find them.”

Nepta shook her head. “The Wyn once guarded the Light that needed to be protected from the world. But it is you who guards that Light now, and we must protect the world from the dark crystals. It is our duty.”

“You have Viltarran’s aid in whatever you need,” Rowen said, his voice steady yet sincere as he held me and Keeli.

“Always,” I agreed, knowing the dark crystals were safest with Nepta.

“It is settled then,” Nepta said, continuing to walk the path to the Sacred Vale alone. “I shall see you at tonight’s ceremony. Make sure to bring a luminorb.”

A memorial service was held at the beach for all the warriors, animals, and elves who had succumbed to Erovos’ darkness. And for Maddock, the Synodic Son who’d sacrificed himself to save us all.

It was a beautiful evening. The stars and comets reflected on the calm ocean as the forest flourished behind us. Rowen stoodby my side, his strong presence grounding as Keeli hovered nearby.

I wished we could’ve held the service near the Sylvan Mother Tree, but the valley was still recovering. The land had sustained extensive damage and needed time to heal. Though it gave me peace knowing Indrasyl was whole and complete, and that her healing roots already stretched to the Wyn village, I still missed being near Maddock.

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