The others left Zero and me alone after saying their goodbyes, the dragons promising to be there when he woke again. It was calming for me to know that they’d be together even after I was gone.
“We’ll see each other again,” I told him.
Zero glanced at me. “You truly believe that?”
“Yeah, dude. I mean, we’re all the same, right? It might be a while, but we’ll be together again. I know it.”
“I’m going to hold you to that, wizard.”
“And hey, just think, when you wake up next, you’ll be fifteen.” I waggled my eyebrows. “Maybe find yourself a nice boy or girl and kiss them on the face.”
He blushed furiously while I laughed at him.
Nothing much was said after that. And when he gave a cracking yawn, jaws stretched wide, I knew it was time for him to go.
He pressed his snout against my hand. “I’ll miss you, Sam.”
My smile was a little wobbly. “Yeah, me too. And just remember something for me, okay?”
He nodded.
“You are beautiful. And your magic is a wonderful thing. The world knows it now. You no longer have to hide away.”
And then he slithered into his lair.
We waited in that forgotten city in the desert, just for a little while.
But then the dragons sighed as one, and I knew our friend was asleep.
As we flew from the desert, I looked back, just once, promising that I’d return as soon as I was able. He would be asleep, but I thought he’d know I was there while he dreamed.
So, yes. Much had changed.
Morgan was the King’s Wizard, and still my mentor. We’d decided that I would continue to work with Justin to prepare both of us for the day he’d assume the throne. I’d breathed a sigh of relief when it was agreed upon, not yet ready to take on the responsibilities of the job. I needed time to heal, time to gain better control of the magic that coursed through me. It was as strong as it’d ever been, but there was much I still needed to learn.
“Where are you?” Morgan asked, squeezing my hand again.
“What’s that?”
“You got lost in that head of yours.”
“Oh. Uh, I guess. I was just… thinking. About how grateful I am.”
“For?”
I shrugged. “Everything.”
He smiled at me, that same smile he’d given me for the first time as we stood in an alleyway in the slums. “That’s a very good thing to be grateful for. Now, we should put some haste in our steps. I’m told your knight was having bit of a meltdown when you couldn’t be located.”
“What a drama queen.”
“When one’s betrothed disappears on one’s wedding day, one tends to think the worst.”
“Well, crap. I didn’t think of it that way.”
“I thought not.”
“It’s a good thing I have you around, then. You know what? As a full-fledged wizard and the future King’s Wizard, I am going to make a royal decree.”
“I don’t think you can actually make a royal—”
“My royal decree is that you need to be around for a long time to make sure when I do stupid things, you are there to tell me said things are stupid. I will probably think you’re being overbearing, and we’ll most likely argue, but still.”
He looked away into the trees, but not before I saw the shine in his eyes. “That’s a good decree, Sam.”
“I think so too.”
And we walked on.
THE CITY was bustling as we entered the gates. A cheer went up at the sight of me, something I didn’t think I’d ever get used to.
I just waved and smiled.
The streets of Verania were decorated with streamers and flags in honor of our wedding day. It had been declared a holiday, and I was sure that at least sixty-four percent of the people had been drunk since nine that morning, but that was okay. If I’d been able to get drunk, I would have, but Mom and Dad had put a kibosh on apple wine, and for some reason Gary and Tiggy had agreed with them.
“There you are,” a shrill voice said.
I ground my teeth together.
“Lady Tina,” I said as Morgan dropped my hand. She stood before us, a frown on her face. Her hair was in perfectly perfect blonde ringlets, and her makeup was expertly applied. But gone were the days of the frilly dresses. Instead she wore the thin pink armor of the King’s Brigade, a newly formed faction of the Knights of Verania. She had argued for women’s equality in knighthood and had been granted her own unit, which was comprised of the former Foxy Lady Brigade. They had made themselves into a formidable bunch and had plans to start training other women to join their ranks starting next summer.
The King had gathered his heads of state and his closest advisors to approve such a group. All had voted aye until it reached me. I had glared at everyone in the room before mumbling my agreement.
I regretted everything about it.
“Do you just think you can mosey off into the woods on your wedding day?” she demanded. “Like this isn’t one of the most important days of my life?”
“Your life?” I snapped. “This has nothing to do with you.”
She rolled her eyes. “As if. If it weren’t for me, you and the Knight Commander probably wouldn’t even be together.”
“What? In what reality is that even a thing? You’re out of your godsdamn mind!”
“Please,” she sniffed delicately. “Never underestimate the power of a fangirl. Rystin, HaveHeart, whatever. We shipped you, therefore we made your love a real thing. You’re welcome.”
“I ship Sam and Ruv,” Gary whispered to Tiggy. “It’s my bad-touch ship.”
“Ruv’s dead,” Tiggy whispered back. “I ship Sam and broom. It called HaveBroom. Because I have a broom.”
“I love you so godsdamn much,” Gary said fiercely.
“I’m going to demand you are stripped of your rank,” I snarled at Lady Tina. “Just you wait. You will rue the day you took credit for my heart boner! Rue, you hear me? Rue.”
We continued to snark at each other as we made our way to the castle. I happened to glance back over my shoulder at one point to see Morgan trailing behind us, hands clasped behind his back, a serene smile on his face.
I couldn’t ask for anything more.
EVERY STORY has an ending.
And fairy tales tend to have the happiest of them all.
The ones where they lived happily ever after.
This, here, is my ending:
I stood outside the Great Doors leading to the throne room, breathing into a paper sack, trying not to hyperventilate, Mom and Dad rubbing my back, telling me that everything was going to be just fine.
“Honestly, Sam,” Mom said. “It’s going to be just fine.”
“I know,” I wheezed. “I’m just contemplating the fact that I’m only going to be with this one person for the rest of my life.”
Dad frowned. “Isn’t he your cornerstone? I thought that was already a thing.”
I blinked. “Huh. I hadn’t thought of it that way. I guess you’re right. Wow, how about that. Oh look! I’m perfectly fine now. Let’s do this!”
“I can’t help but feel that some of this is our fault,” Mom said to Dad.
“Hardly,” Dad said. “We’re good parents. It’s not our fault he turned out this way.”
“Are you guys still talking?” I demanded. “I need to go get married. You’re wasting my time!”
“Oh boy,” Dad said, but he leaned into the small side door, telling the Royal Announcer that we were ready.
Horns blew brightly.
I heard the Royal Announcer doing his job, and I took a deep breath.
“You ready?” Mom asked.
“So ready,” I said.
Dad was crying, but we didn’t point that out, because he was a strong Northern man, and Northern men didn’t cry (except for all the times they did).
They stood on either side of me, each of them taking me by the arm.
The Great Doors opened before us with a mighty groan.
“Sweet molasses,” I managed to say.
A thousand people stood as one and turned toward us.
I gulped but put one foot in front of another.
Off to my right were the King’s Brigade, all of them sighing and sobbing. Deidre had to be held back as she tried to lunge at me.