Page 216 of Cherish

Our fingers brush as I do, and even in the middle of all this, I can’t help the way my heart skips a beat or twelve. But I don’t have time to think about that right this second—not when we have such serious work to do.

I lift the mic to my lips and stare out over these grounds that started it all for me, that changed my life and taught me not just who I am but who I want to be.

I came to Katmere a year ago, lost and damaged and desperate to escape the pain of my parents’ death. When I got here, I wanted nothing more than to be left alone to wither and cry. But Katmere Academy never gave me that option—and neither did the people I met here. I thought I had lost everything, but a lot has happened in the ensuing year, and as I stand here now, all I can think about is how grateful I am to this school. To these people. To this world that has taken me into its heart and helped me understand my place on the earth.

Both rock and seed. Protector and nurturer. It has given me friends to cherish and mourn, people to lead and learn from, and a mate to love forever.

I’ve found myself, and I’ve found a family.

I’ve made hard decisions, and I’ve faced the consequences.

And now I’m learning how to grow strong in all the broken places.

It is that strength—from my friends, from my family, from my mate—that gives me the courage and the conviction to stand on this stage right now and share the dream Hudson and I have for our people and our world.

“After thousands of years and countless setbacks and challenges to the Circle that brought hardship and fear into your lives, Hudson and I have decided that our first act as rulers of the Circle is to change the Circle from a body ruled by a select group of paranormals to one ruled by all of you.”

My words echo over the snow-covered fields as people stop talking and cheering and start tolisten.

“In the coming months, we will be establishing an elected body that represents the diverse and beautiful paranormal community in which we all live. One in which every paranormal group has a voice—not just the five factions that havealwayshad one, but every single one of you—from the giants to the mermaids to the chupacabras to the manticores. And if our plan works, if we all find a way to live and love and support one another, it will no longer be a circle at all, but a chain in which all of our links connect. And one in which we pool our strengths and our resources to ensure that there are no weak links. This is how Hudson and I want to rule, and this is how we believe that we can all grow a healthy, powerful, thriving community.”

“We ask you to join us on what will be a long and rewarding adventure that will culminate in a better future for all of us.” Hudson continues where I leave off. And then he gives the entire audience—including the other members of the former Circle—the mischievous grin that gets me every time. Judging by the way the audience responds, it gets them, too. Even before he says, “But there is time for all of that. For now, I want to thank our hosts, Imogen and Linden Choi. Personally, I think you should hold on to your horns, because I’ve heard witches really know how to party!”

And just like that, loud music fills the air. Fireworks explode, outdoor grills fire to life, and the aurora borealis dances across the sky.

I grab Hudson’s hand, and at this point there’s only one thing left to do. Shut Up and Dance With Him.

124

Shake, Rattle,

and Rule

Within seconds, my friends crowd around us. Congratulations fill the air as Macy flings her arms around me. “You did it!” she says as she hugs me so tightly she nearly cuts off my air supply.

“We did it!” I answer, hugging her back nearly as tightly.

I’m passed from friend to friend as the crowd continues to cheer around us. Eden gives me a fist bump and a “hell yeah.” Flint tosses me in the air like a rag doll and says, “Not bad, New Girl. Not bad at all.” And Jaxon—Jaxon just grins down at me and asks, “What shakes, rattles, and rules?”

“I have no idea.”

“A gargoyle who’s going to change the world.” And then he sweeps me into the biggest hug imaginable—one that goes on and on. “Looks like we both found the mate of our dreams,” he whispers to me.

I pull back, eyes wide. “You and Flint? You finally mated?”

“After the Chamber—” He breaks off, blows out a long breath before starting again. “After the Chamber, I begged him not to leave me. And because he’s a better person than I’ll ever be, he said yes.”

Thank God. “About damn time you came to your senses,” I tell him as the last tiny little cracks in my heart finally heal. “Although I hope he made you grovel.”

Flint gives his mate a big, goofy grin as he slings an arm over his shoulders. “So much groveling,” he says. “So, so much. It was a thing of beauty.”

Jaxon rolls his eyes, but he’s smiling just as wide. And I realize it’s the first time I’ve ever seen Flint look at Jaxon like that—really, truly happy without having to pretend he’s not dying inside. It’s a really great look—a really great grin—and I can’t wait to see it a lot more in the future.

Flint catches me looking and waggles his brows at me before sliding back into the laughing, dancing crowd.

“You did good,” I tell Jaxon when we’re alone again. “Though it took you and Hudson long enough to learn that you aren’t the only ones who have to sacrifice.”

“Maybe it’s just that we both knew we had a lot to make up for.”

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