Page 213 of Cherish

My heart plummets, though I already know she’s right. Because of the Crone’s prejudice against paranormals and her determination to stomp us out of existence, there’s only one way to ensure the balance of chaos and order that the universe requires to thrive.

And so, with my entire Gargoyle Army and all my friends looking on, I turn to my mate, who has just returned and is on the outside of the Circle. But who, as gargoyle king, can pass through the force field in a way that almost no one else can.

Before I can even ask him if he’s got what I’m looking for, he reaches into his pocket and pulls out the beautiful stained glass vial the Curator gave me.

He hands it to the Bloodletter, who uncorks it before raising it to her lips. “Don’t look so sad, Grace,” she tells me. “This is how things were always meant to be. Chaos and order. Bitter and sweet.”

And then she tips the vial back and slowly drinks every last drop of honey.

122

Two Crowns Are

Better than One

The Crone snarls as the Bloodletter recorks the empty vial. And as the Gargoyle Army stands down, I half expect her to attack either my grandmother or me. But she must know when she’s beaten, because instead of coming for us, she just disappears.

“We need to go after her,” I say.

Mekhi and Lorelei step into the circle. Now that I’m seeing them up close, I realize just how much better they both are looking now that the Shadow Realm has been destroyed. Their eyes are bright, their skin lustrous with health, and both look so much stronger than they did even a few days ago.

“Don’t worry about her,” Mekhi tells me, flashing the smile I’ve missed so much these last few months. “We’re on it.”

“There’s nowhere to hide from the Prince of Shadows,” Lorelei says with a wink. “Mekhi will find her.”

Surprise rips through me at Mekhi’s new title, but I can’t say it doesn’t suit him. He looks better than he has in a long, long time. “Thank you,” I tell him, moving to give him a hug. “We appreciate your help.”

“Always,” he answers me before shifting his attention to Hudson. “Lorelei and I have a surprise for you,” he says.

“Yeah?” Hudson raises a brow. “Besides the fact that you’re a prince now?”

“Oh, I think this is a little better than that.” Mekhi pulls his backpack off and unzips it.

I can feel Hudson tense as he suddenly realizes what’s happening. “How—”

“Turns out you Vegas aren’t the only ones with really cool Descent powers,” he says with a grin. “Now that I’m healed, I realize I can do some pretty fancy shit. Most notably, turning shadows three-dimensional. Which means they can exist outside of the Shadow Realm. Or, at least, one particular umbra can.”

And then he pulls a sleeping Baby Smokey out of his backpack and lays her in Hudson’s waiting arms. Smokey looks the same as she always did—onlymore, now. She’s round and adorable, and her little nose is absolutely precious. As is the look on Hudson’s face.

Hudson looks back and forth from Smokey to Mekhi, and I’d swear that there are tears in his eyes as he does. It’s like that, sometimes, when all your dreams come true. The joy is so sharp that it hurts. I should know. Right now, I feel the exact same way.

“Thank you,” he says, his voice hoarse with the realization that we’ll get to take Smokey home. And that we’ll never have to leave her again.

“Anytime,” Mekhi answers, going in for a one-armed hug and then clapping him on the back. “Any time.”

“We need to get going,” the Shadow Queen says from her spot outside the circle. “We don’t want the Crone to get too far ahead.”

“And if I’m not mistaken,” the Bloodletter intones, “we still have an invocation to perform.”

I can’t believe I almost forgot in the rush of everything that’s happened in the last hour. “Yeah, we do,” I tell her as Hudson and I turn to make our way back to the dais.

It’s a much faster trip now that we’re no longer standing on ceremony. Even better, whatever lingering nerves I’d had are long gone. Nothing like beating down a god and her hunters with your mate, your best friends, and your grandparents to make you feel like maybe you’ve got this leader stuff on lock after all.

Still, I can’t help but think of Rodrigo, as well as the others who gave their lives in the frantic battle against the hunters, and feel a heavy sadness settle on my chest, right alongside the massive griefs of the last year. I guess that this sadness, this responsibility, will be a part of my life as a ruler as well.

Macy comes running up to me as we approach the stage. “Good job out there,” she says, and there’s an energy in her voice that I haven’t heard in way too long.

“Same to you. Don’t think I didn’t see you take down that hunter with the long hair and monocle.”

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