"Why didn't you fight back?" I asked quietly, staring down at my fingers that were now coated in frost.
"Because I didn't want him to take out his anger on his young, defenseless daughter. It was my most important job—keeping you safe. It still is. And because… some small part of me thought he was right—that I deserved it."
I choked back a sob. I felt simultaneously lighter and heavier. A sense of understanding and acceptance washed over me, while a heavy stone sat in my stomach, knowing what my mother and I had both gone through.
I wasn’t sure Ophelia had done me a favor, erasing him. She may have blocked out the memories, but the feelings had stayed. No wonder I'd spent so much of my life not believing in romantic love. If I'd remembered him and what he was, would I have been able to see Galen's true character sooner? Would I have made the same decisions?
"Please, don't be sorry. You sacrificed everything for me. I'm so glad you're free of him. And that we’re together again. I love you, Mama." I hugged her tightly, sinking into her embrace.
"I love you more than you'll ever know. A mother's love is endless.Youare the best part of me. And I'm so glad that you left Galen in Nymera—that you didn't marry him and tie yourself to an abuser. You've always been wiser than me," she said, wiping tears from my lashes with a handkerchief.
"I had a support system. I had Rafael. You were alone in the forest, raising a child with your husband. You did your best. And now you're free, Mama. We're both free."
"You're my hero, Goldie." Mama smiled with tears in her eyes.
"And you're mine."
fifty-nine
After my mother and I parted ways, I wandered to the bachelor’s wing, which women were strictly prohibited from entering,especiallyunwed women. But after everything we’d just faced, I was in no mood for useless rules. I followed Raf’s scent and found myself at his door.
Rafael opened the door quickly, making me startle. My jaw dropped as I drank him in. He was shirtless, and must've been wearing borrowed trousers, because they were too big, hanging low on his hips, yet comically short. I strolled in like a walking corpse and he closed the door behind me. He looked at me in my blood-soaked gown and motioned for me to turn around, so he could help take it off.
“You shouldn’t be here,” he said with hitched breath as my dress fell to the floor.
I grumbled at him, stepping out of my dress and kicking off my shoes. His eyes wandered as he stared at me in silky undergarments, selected by Galen, for his dungeon bride.
I sucked in a breath, feeling the unspoken tension between us, but I honestly couldn’t tell if he was staring at my body or the blood. I needed a bath. I also needed to tell him who he was…mydestiny.I swallowed hard. I was so tired. And so was he. It could wait.
“For gods sakes, can’t the savior of our people do what she wants?” I asked with feigned annoyance.
“Perhaps, but I’m pretty sure Princesses can’t… at least in Erador,” he teased.
“Good thing I’m not a Princess.” My smile died on my lips. “Actually, I think I just found out that I am, in fact, a Princess,” I groaned, leaning into his chest.
Rafael huffed a low laugh. “Finally, you’re worthy of my time.” He wrapped me in his arms and I let him hold me momentarily, before pushing away. He grinned down at me as I shot him a dirty look. His tone turned serious. “We both had close calls tonight. How are you feeling?”
“Like I’ve escaped death too many times since I met you.” I rested my cheek on his chest, listening to his solid heartbeat. “And… I’m grateful you’re here. I don’t want to exist inanyworld, if you aren’t in it.” I breathed in his scent, needing a temporary reprieve from trying to keep him at a distance. In this moment, I couldn’t deny that we fit like two puzzle pieces.
There was so much more I wanted to say. But the words wouldn’t come.
“Watching Sylvia drain you will be the image that haunts me for the rest of my days,” Raf confessed. “I should’ve ended her when I had the chance. I hope you killed her. That was a great shot, by the way. A ten out of ten as far as gorings go.” We both laughed.
“Let’s get some sleep,” Raf yawned. He took my hand and led me to the bed. He lifted the covers, scooped me up and placed me in, then crawled in beside me. We laid together nose to nose, breathing shared air.
Tomorrow we’d worry about breaking the blood-curse. Tomorrow, we’d find a way to unite both worlds and defeat the Elders. Tomorrow… everything would change. But today… today we’d sleep the day away in each other’s arms. Today we’d cherish the friendship we’d found. Today, good had prevailed over evil.
I snuggled into Rafael and he pulled me closer. “Goldie?” he whispered.
“Yes?” I yawned back, almost asleep.
“I’m glad you stumbled into my world.”
I grinned, eyes closed. “I’m glad you followed me back to mine.”
"Ours," he corrected.
"Ours."
