Page 121 of Prince of the Northwest Forest
Justice stops in the middle of the sidewalk and kisses me. “Ask me,” he whispers against my lips. “See what happens.”
I swallow. It’s hard to believe it could be this easy, but he wouldn’t have invited me to ask if he intended to turn me down. “Justice,” I say, “would you do me the honor of considering moving with me to Huckleberry Castle? I would make sure you were taken care of, and we’d be able to see each other every day, and?—”
“Yes, Kalle,” Justice says. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
EPILOGUE
Justice
ONE YEAR LATER
Kalle holds my hand as we stroll past a babbling brook near Wakerobin Village. The sun is shining bright—a rare thing in Oregon—so we’re out enjoying it.
I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of being near him. It’s not just that I love to look at him, although I do. I especially love it when he gets all royal and puts on his velvet cloak and we wander around like we’re in some storybook—or Jails and Jackals. I love how patient he is with the animals and how he wants to do the right thing all the time. I love how he was humble enough to take a service job at the hotel when he was looking for Mats.
I can keep going, listing the reasons why Kalle is the one for me, but I think it comes down to the fact that everything feels better when I’m with him. I feel safe and listened to, and I also feel challenged. Like it’s okay for me to be me exactly who I am, and at the same time, like I can improve. He makes me want to grow.
He also makes me hornier than I’ve ever been in my entire life. I understand why Roy is the way he is. I’m the same way alot of the time—when I’m anywhere near Kalle, I want to strip off his clothes and do very naughty things to him.
As a result, I can’t help sympathizing with Roy, even though yeah, I’ve learned that Kalle was very right when he said that some of the animals overshare.
Right now, we’re headed to the little village cemetery. When we walk through the gates, we find a small headstone that reads “Horace Laurel, royal cook and loving father.” I place wildflowers on his grave.
“Do you miss him?” Kalle asks.
“Yes. And I hate that the fae took me away from him in what turned out to be his final days. But having my memories of him is something.”
He puts an arm around my shoulder, and I lean into his warmth.
Kalle wanders around while I hang out with my father’s grave, then rejoins me when I’m ready to go. “Want to go on a little trip?” he asks. “I haven’t been to Ninebark Village in a while. It’s up in our territory in Washington. What do you say?”
“Absolutely. Another adventure?”
“Yes. But here’s hoping it’s a more comfortable one than the last quest we were on together.”
We return to the castle and pack. It doesn’t take long, since we’re both pretty minimalist travelers, plus we’ll be staying in our own realm and can rely on the wood nymphs. We head out with Hazel and Martin alongside us.
In the common room of the Ninebark Village inn, the ceiling is so low that Kalle has to duck. Behind the old wooden bar, a rickety stairway leads up to several bedrooms, one of which is ours for the next week. Hazel and Martin are curled up warm and comfortable by the fireplace.
The room is full of quiet talk, and Kalle and I are cuddling in a booth, finishing our dinner of ale and savory pie.
“So,” Kalle says conversationally, and then he slides out of the booth and goes down on one knee before me, holding out what looks like a signet ring. “How would you like to officially be a forest prince? Do you want to marry me?”
I gasp, and my hands fly to my face.
“Shall we rule together, gorgeous?” he asks.
“Are you talking to me?” I ask, teasing, pointing at the other people and animals in the room.
“Of course. Who else would I want by my side?”
“You have a lot of animal friends.”
“But there is only one Justice Laurel.” He kisses my hand. “Come, join me. We will ensure there is peace here and in the neighboring realms.”
“I always wanted to get married in the forest,” I say dreamily. “I liked the romance of the misty woods.”
