Page 79 of Undeniable

I squeal with joy and wrap my arms around his thick waist, holding him tight.

“How?” I ask. “How were you able to keep your memories?”

Boris gently rubs my hair. “It was all Emily’s doing. She made some sort of deal with Agatha.”

I raise my head and look at my grandmother. “How did you convince her to let Boris keep his memories?”

“She and I made a bargain,” she says with a small shrug. “In time, she’ll want to leave this place, and I promised to make her a body she can inhabit when that time comes. In exchange for that, she allowed Boris to keep his memories.”

“And Damon?” I ask breathlessly.

Emily’s smile falters. “I’m sorry, Ivy. She would only agree to allowing one person to keep their memories of you.”

Boris cups the sides of my face with his hands. “Don’t you worry. We’ll find Damon. The two of you are meant to be together. I’ll bet you anything that deep down he’ll remember you. His mind may not remember how you fell in love the first time, but his soul will.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I have faith in the power of love.” Boris grimaces. “Ooof, did I just say that? I sound like one of those cheesy romance novels you used to read when you were little.”

“I love that you remember that.” I hug him hard and lay my head on his chest. “I love that you remember me.”

“Even if Agatha had taken away my memories, I think I would have still remembered you. You’re my life. My daughter. My world.”

I start crying again, but this time they’re tears of joy.

Boris holds me like he’s done a hundred times before. With patience and love.

“Ahem.” A new voice in the room makes its presence known.

I step back from Boris to see Agatha.

I should feel animosity toward her for taking so much away from me, but all I feel is gratitude for bending her own rules.

“Thank you,” I tell her. “Thank you for giving me Boris.”

She bows her bald head at me in acknowledgement of my gratitude.

“Your subjects are upset,” she says with a stiff tilt of her head, like she’s trying to mimic a natural movement, “I suggest you address them soon and give them what comfort you can. They need you to lead them. That was our arrangement.”

“Of course.” I wipe away the tears on my face, knowing it’s my moment to stand up and help those in need. “I should probably get dressed first.”

“You will find a gown and your crown in there,” she says, making a gesture to the wardrobe against the wall. “If there is anything else you require, you can contact me by saying my name aloud. This is our world now, Ivy, for as long as those on the outside can keep it safe.”

Agatha looks pointedly at Emily.

“I will guard it with my life for all my days,” my grandmother promises.

Abruptly, Agatha disappears. Being a hologram seems to have its advantages.

Everyone leaves my room so I can get dressed. The gown Agatha left for me to wear on my first day as queen is more lovely than I expected. It’s made of black silk with a lace trim. The crown is simple and elegant with a crescent moon holding a star. Symbols of both Midnight and Dawn.

I suppose I’ll need to make my way to Dawn soon to ease the minds of the citizens there. My time will be busy and spent split between the two cities, but I’ve never been afraid of a little hard work.

Once I’m dressed, I leave my room to start my new life. Right as I step out into the hallway, I run into Anya, Damon’s one time lover and my archnemesis in the castle. I grab her by the arm to prevent her from falling. It was an automatic reaction on my part. I watch her closely to see how she reacts to my touch. Nothing happens. It seems Emily’s cure has worked, and I’m no longer a certain death sentence to those who touch me.

“I’m so sorry, Queen Ivy.” She immediately curtseys in deference to me. When Anya lifts her head, she looks confused. “Why is it that I only remember my name and who you are? Why can’t I remember anything else?”

I take Anya’s trembling hands with mine. “It’s all right. Everything will be fine. I promise you.”

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