I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself. “I need to accept my fate and embrace it now so I can bring about change. I will embrace my dark power, but I will rule from a place of wanting to do good. I will keep the evil at bay, protect the souls, punish those who deserve it, and bring peace to those who have suffered.”
I pause, taking a deep breath. “I’ve always had a deep empathy for all creatures, something I didn’t fully understand until now. There are dark parts of me, and with this immense power, I sometimes feel a pull to use it for harm. But it’s aboutbalance. I was chosen for this because of my empathy and my ability to balance light and dark. I can embrace the darkness without becoming evil.”
I look at Nyx, willing him to understand. “This is my fate, Nyx. I have to embrace it to prevent more suffering. I hope you can see why this is the only way.”
His eyes furrow.
“I know you love me. I have felt it and still feel it now. There is a connection between us you cannot deny. Why not stay here and be with me? Let’s have a family together, and together we can fight the darkness and find a way to change fate,” Nyx says, tears welling in his eyes as he stops to stand in front of me, facing me. He reaches out and grasps my chin, coaxing me to meet his eyes.
“I love you, and I came here ready to fight for you and prove to you I am the one you are meant to be with. Don’t tell me it’s not possible—I can’t accept it,” he says. For the first time ever, I see tears stream down his face. My heart breaks in my chest, and I fight to maintain control over my own emotions.
“Nyx, of course I love you. A piece of me will always love you. You came into my life when I needed you most, and I learned so much from our time together. You shaped my destiny, helping me grow into who I am today.” He lowers to his knees in front of me, and I gently wipe his tears away.
“Trust me, the thought of staying in Eguina and starting a family is tempting. I know we could be happy, but that would be selfish of me. As hard as it is for you to hear, I do love Colton. He is fated to be my king, and together we can bring great change and peace to the underworld. I will not postpone this fate—I cannot. My heart will not allow it.” He starts to shake his head, not wanting to accept it, but I see the look of defeat on his face.
“Nyx, when I was beyond the gates, don’t thinkyou weren’t heavily on my mind. I spoke with the gods and saw your fate. It’s partly why I can leave Eguina in peace.” He moves to sit next to me on the bed, finally meeting my gaze again. “You will rule as the sole king of Eguina.”
He interrupts, “A fae cannot be the ruler of Cloudrum.”
I shake my head, taking his hand in mine. “Why not? Just because it hasn’t happened before? You dealt the final blow to Samael and killed the King of Cloudrum. You saved the people and earned their respect by placing your people in charge and rebuilding the Sorcerer Realm. You already earned Rhett’s respect, or he wouldn’t have joined the battle, and I know Drew cares for you. You are the best person for the job, and I have seen it. You will be the king of Eguina and unite the realms.”
He pulls his hand away, glancing out the window. “It means nothing to rule if I have a life of solitude. I already lost the one I loved once. I thought I would never recover after Z. I told myself I never loved her, and I forbid anyone from ever speaking about her because it was too much. I wanted her memory to be lost. Then you came along and made me feel things I thought were gone. You made me love again and healed my heart in ways I never told you.”
My chest squeezes as my emotions swell. “That’s because I was also a part of your destiny. I was put in your life to help you learn and heal, but I am not your fate. I’ve seen your fate, Nyx, and I promise you will not be ruling as king alone. You will have love and have a queen by your side. I promise that this is your fate.”
His features soften as he takes in everything I’m saying but then his eyes harden again. “Why can’t I rule below with you? If this is your purpose, your fate, then let me be a part of it instead of him,” he says. I hate having to tell it to him like this, but I know he needs me to be clear. He needs to hear me.
“Nyx, I love you, and I want you to be happy, but don’tmisinterpret my love for you as a lack of it for him. I am in love with Colton. I chose him long before it was ever revealed that he is my fated mate, which makes it all the more true. I connect with him on a level I can’t explain, and I don’t expect you to understand. My soul recognizes his soul, and my heart is already his. He makes me happy, and I want to be a better person every day because I love him that much.”
His eyes start to glisten again, but no tears fall as he clears his throat and sits up straighter. “I understand the love you speak of, and I have felt it before. You two are lucky to have each other. As much as I was ready to fight to the end, I see that this is your fate. I can accept it because it’s what you need from me right now.”
“Thank you. Now, I know I don’t deserve it, but I have to ask you one last favor,” I say, swallowing uncomfortably. Nyx is still in shock, his body a bit rigid, understandably so, but I don’t have time to let this information sink in. The ceremony is set to start soon, and I still have a few loose ends to wrap up.
“What do you need? You know I’ll do anything for you, even when you choose my brother over me and tear my heart out of my chest. I’m still here,” he says, his lips quirking up on one side.
“Oh, in a funny mood now, huh?” I giggle, the mood in here is anything but funny, but I’m glad he’s at least smiling now.
“I don’t know exactly what is going to happen when we complete the ceremony, but I do know we will be pulled back to the gates to start our roles in the underworld. The gods told me this can be a bit chaotic, and I don’t want anyone getting hurt. I will try to rid Eguina of whatever evil I can on my way out. Please look out for everyone. When the ceremony is over, get everyone inside to safety if needed,” I tell him, and hegets to his feet.
“You know I’ll always look out for my people. I’ll make sure no one gets hurt,” he says, and I let out a breath of relief.
There’s a knock at the door, and I jump to my feet, ready to answer, when Colton peeks his head in. He studies us for a moment before fully entering and closing the door behind him.
I squeal, “Stop looking at me! You’re not supposed to see me in my dress before the ceremony.”
He laughs, “Okay, okay, I’ll focus on your face. I wanted to check on you and make sure you’re not getting cold feet.”
I roll my eyes.
“You can look at me, you know,” Nyx says, and I’m surprised he’s still trying to make jokes given he was in tears moments ago.
“Yeah, that’ll be the day,” Colton mutters, his gaze still fixed on me with a smirk on his face and big emerald eyes so full of love it makes my heart swoon.
“It’s a good thing you came in now, because you should be here for this,” Nyx says, turning to face me.
“I want to say something to you, Lyra,” Nyx begins, his voice steady and warm. “You brought us back together. From friends to enemies and now to brothers.” He gives Colton a playful nudge before continuing. “Sure, we may clash, and yes, part of me may always envy him for winning your heart. But I love you both. He’s incredibly lucky to have you, and so am I. You’ve enriched our lives simply by being part of them. Thank you for being who you are—kind, generous, empathetic, and even stubborn as hell. It’s because of you that I not only gained a brother in Colton but also found a best friend in you.” As Nyx’s sincere words sink in, tears begin to well up in my eyes.
“Oh, look at you, turning us both into saps,” Colton says, his smile broadening as he watches a tear slide down my cheek. “Come on, bring it in,” he urges, draping an arm around me andbeckoning Nyx with the other. We come together in a tight embrace, the three of us. Forever bound not only by the love and heartache we’ve shared but because we truly are family—and honestly I wouldn’t have it any other way.
