Page 202 of Cherish

Taking compliments—or thank-yous—has never been my strong suit, so I duck my head and shuffle my feet back and forth as I wait for the awkward feeling inside me to pass.

But in true Mekhi fashion, he’s not about to let me off the hook that easily. Instead, he grabs me and pulls me into a bear hug so huge that he lifts me several feet off the ground. And whispers in my ear, “‘The rest is silence.’”

It’s a reference to that long-ago Brit Lit class where we got to be friends, and it shatters the last of the awkwardness I’m feeling. “Uh, no,” I tell him when he puts me back on my feet. “You’ve already done the death scene once today. You don’t get a redo.”

We all laugh, then, relief and joy coursing through the air around us.

“‘There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than can be dreamt of in your philosophy,’” Jaxon comments slyly.

I lift a brow. “Don’t you mean heaven and hell?”

“Not today I don’t.” Jaxon and Flint smile ridiculously at each other while Hudson makes a slight gagging sound.

“Seriously? You couldn’t let Mekhi have this one?” Hudson asks.

Flint snickers. “Always the attention hog.” But I notice he still has a hand on Jaxon’s shoulder.

Besides, Jaxon just grins and asks, “‘Et tu, Brute?’”

At which point Heather demands, “What the fuck is happening here?”

When we all just look at her, she throws her hands up in exasperation and continues. “When did we go from saving the Shadow Realm to a Shakespearean throwdown? Because if you want to go there, I’ve got some great Shakespearean insults I can add to the mix.”

“I bet you do,” Eden says, wrapping an arm around her waist. “Maybe you can share a few of them with me later.”

“Umm, sure.” Heather looks happy, if a little confused. “Though I have to be honest. That’s not the kind of dirty talk I’m used to.”

“And on that note,” Mekhi says with a giant grin. “I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m ready to blow this purple popsicle stand. I’ve been a little in and out recently, but if I’m not mistaken, we’ve got an important day to prepare for.”

For a second, I’m so caught up in memories, I don’t remember what he’s talking about. And then it hits me. “Oh my God! What day is it?”

Hudson runs a fond hand over my curls. “We still have four days.”

I sigh. Hard. “Thank God. But we have to go! There’s so much to do!” I turn to the Shadow Queen. “I’m sorry to break and run, but I’ve got an investiture to attend.”

“Attend?” Heather snorts. “I’m pretty sure you and Hudson are the headliners.”

“As long as I don’t have to put on a concert ever again,” Hudson comments dryly.

“You’re about to be king,” Eden says. “Pretty sure that means you can do—or not do—whatever you want.”

“That’s not what being a ruler’s all about, is it, Grace?” the Shadow Queen asks, holding my gaze. “We can do better.”

It’s an olive branch, and I don’t hesitate to take it. “Yeswecan.”

She gives a tiny nod, and I know we’re ready to try to heal, to find a path forward. And so I suggest, “All rulers have been invited to my investiture ceremony. If you’ve misplaced yours, I can have the invitation resent.”

“I need to see to rebuilding for my people,” she says, waving her hand to encompass the new Shadow Realm. “But I could maybe slip away for something so important. If you’re sure?”

“The more the merrier,” I tell her as I reach for my platinum string. “Besides, I’m all about building alliances.”

“Then an alliance—and my gratitude—you shall always have,” she says, and I feel the bargain tattoo on my arm slowly change shape, a beautiful purple crown appearing from the remnants of the tree that used to mark my wrist.

“Umm, anyone know how to get home?” Flint asks, rubbing his chest absently as he looks around the brightly colored Shadow Realm. “I really don’t want to go well-jumping again.”

“I think we can do better than that,” the Shadow Queen says as she waves a hand once more, drawing a shadow from a nearby tree to us. “This shadow will take you where you wish to go.”

And I know exactly where that is, because we’ve got one more journey to make, and this one has been a long time coming.

---