Sewn & Scarred (The Fated Creations Trilogy #3)

Epilogue

Maddox

I n the year that had passed since the Final War, much of the world had changed.

Rominia wasn’t the same island it had once been. We’d grieved the Kova, the Sorcerers, we’d lost. We’d built monuments to them, on the beaches where the main dock sat. Large Rominium pillars stood on either side of the base of the dock, welcoming anyone who wanted to come here. And written up and down, etched into the Rominium carefully, were the names of everyone we’d lost.

And in my father’s study, a new paperweight sat on his desk. Rominium so that it could never be broken, and forged with some of the ashes collected after the pyres had burned out. Engraved across it, Vasier Vicor.

My father chose to remember—to mourn—the man he lost eight hundred years ago. The best friend, the protector, the twin. Not the man in the end, but the one who my father had drawn his first breath with. It’d taken him a long time to heal, just as it had all those who lost someone that day. But in his healing, in his remembrance of that day—of Cora’s battle instincts and Evaline’s words—he’d grown from more than just his pain. My father didn’t want to be the First anymore. He didn’t want to be the Keeper of Rominia, not like how he was before. Now, he wanted help. My mother’s, mine, Evaline’s, Cora’s, Wyott’s, and several other trusted friends and advisors.

Even the Arch Sorceress.

My father learned from the Sorcerers, who had a Council, and chose to create his own. One that ruled over Rominia, where every member had an equal say. One where we voted on what steps to take to protect our kingdom. One where we didn’t rely on the word of one man and any blind spots he may have.

Rominia’s rulers weren’t the only change, though. The makeup of our island was different. Now, Vasi lived here. They walked the streets, peacefully. Some chose to change back to being a Kova, and for those Vasi, I worked with them. The dormitories had finally finished construction just behind the training center, and I spent most of my days there, helping them to heal. Helping them to forgive themselves for what they’d done, and to help them come back. To remember why they wanted to.

Others chose to turn into Silvers, like Evaline. Dozens of Kova had, too.

Like me.

I wanted to be with Evaline forever, and I never wanted to drain another human again. She’d taken a chance once, to turn, and it only felt right that I do the same for her.

In the end, it worked out beautifully, because we discovered that Silvers had bonds without limits. No matter how far apart, Evaline and I could speak down the bond, as if we were in the same room.

And these days, we were apart nearly all day.

While I spent my days here, helping the Vasi, Evaline spent hers in the Kromean Kingdoms. With the help of Sage to portal her every day, and bring her back to me every night, Evaline had helped to make the Kromean Kingdoms better, safer, places for women, children, everyone. She worked to help the kingdoms vote for who they wanted to lead them. No more ruling families, no more marrying off daughters in political marriages.

Only the will of the people.

The kingdoms had changed, I had changed, and today, my life changed.

A coastal breeze blew through the glass lanterns that crossed back and forth over the ballroom just outside my family’s manor. The sun still lit the sky, so the lanterns were empty, but when the time came, Evaline would send fire through them all.

But for now, she stood across from me. Down an aisle, on the opposite side of the ballroom. All our family and friends sat in chairs between us, but all I could see was her.

Her, with her silver hair down, untethered. Out of the barbed braid, and swaying in waves past her shoulders.

Her, with a simple ivory silk dress that clung to her curves before flaring out by her knees.

Her, striding toward me, flowers in hand, alone. No one to make this decision for her. No one to give her away. Only her, and this decision she made.

She smiled at me, and my heart nearly gave out. She was halfway up the aisle now, and looked past me to where Wyott stood at my side, and Dean on his. To the front row of seating nearest me, to my mother, who was sobbing, and my father, who had tears in his eyes.

To her side of the altar, where Aurora, Jaqueline, Cora, and Sage stood. To the empty seats that she insisted we keep for her parents, in the front row of her side of the seating.

And I knew what I’d find, before I ever pushed down the bond to see. I knew who would be standing there, in front of their seats, turned to look at the bride, before she showed me through her eyes.

Alannah and Wallace Manor, with tears falling down their cheeks.

She looked back to me, and for a moment before I pulled back down the bond, I saw myself through her eyes. It was when I realized that my emotions had gotten the best of me, contorting my face until everything I felt was evident.

Disbelief.

Disbelief that this was my life, and in only moments, after waiting so, so , long, Evaline would be my wife.

I pulled back down the bond, so I could see her, and as she stopped in front of me, as she handed her flowers off to her friends, and turned to face me, I saw the locket that swung against her chest.

She wore her mother’s locket. The one that I’d made sure to steal from Kembertus for her, and gave to her on her first wedding day.

My father officiated, and words were said. In truth, though, I could hardly focus on anything but her eyes, her face, her lips. I couldn’t think of anything besides this kiss, this kiss that would seal our vow. Unite us as one.

And when the time finally came, when I was allowed, I slipped my hands around her waist, pulled her into my chest as she raised on her toes, and I kissed my wife.

Hours later, we finally got a moment alone. We were still at the reception, in the middle of the dance floor, but I’d take it.

No one could hear the words in our head.

How do you feel? Evaline asked me, tilting her head up to meet my eyes as we swayed to the violins.

I couldn’t help the smile that grew on my face as I tugged her closer.

Like a man who just married the woman he spent two hundred years praying for.

A blush erupted on her cheeks because even after so long together, she still flushed at every flirt.

How do you feel? I asked her.

She cocked her head. Like a woman who finally got to marry the man she wanted.

I tried to blink away the tears that formed at that, and raised my hand to her neck, to her jaw, and brought her lips to mine.

When we pulled apart, I caught sight of Sage and Dean dancing across the floor, and I couldn’t help the knot of worry I felt every time I saw them. She was different, after the war, and more than once I’d wondered if it had to do with Vasier’s death.

I knew it must’ve, but she never came to Evaline and me with it, and we didn’t want to pry.

She still lived in the loft, but now she mostly kept to herself, even after my father asked her to be Arch Sorceress. Dean was still there most nights, I knew because I’d always catch him leaving when I went to training in the morning, but I couldn’t tell if they were together, or if they were only friends.

My thoughts were cut off when I heard giggling to our left, and Evaline and I both looked to see Aurora and Jacqueline dancing, erupted into a fit of laughter over what, I wasn’t sure.

Evaline’s face lit as she watched them, and I knew she was so thankful they were here. They’d moved back to Neomaeros, but now were working to build a new boutique in Merwinan, close enough that they could visit Rominia often. And I knew Evaline hoped they’d build one here, eventually.

“Oh, shit,” Wyott gasped and our attention was torn to the right, where Wyott ran after Cora, who made a beeline for the edge of the dance floor to a potted plant at the base of one of the pillars that stood around us.

Cora bent at the waist, bracing her hands against the rim of the ceramic planter, and heaved into the soil. Wyott was quick to grab her hair, and Evaline and I paused our dancing and turned to help, but before we could take a step, Cora was straightening, wiping her mouth, and looking up at Wyott with wide eyes.

His eyes were wide and on hers, and I heard Evaline hold her breath as Cora lowered her hands to her belly.

Wyott’s face burst into a smile before he lowered a hand over it, too, and at the same moment as if they could feel our eyes, they turned to look at us.

Evaline threw a hand over her mouth, tears in her eyes, and I could only smile at my brother, happy that their family could begin, after waiting so long.

When they curled into each other, Evaline and I turned away to give them privacy.

I pulled her back into my arms, and we continued to dance as the song changed.

Remember the first time we danced? She asked down the bond, looking up at me.

I could never forget it , I whispered back.

I remember that you wanted to know what was beneath my dress.

I snorted. That has not changed. But at the mention of the memory, of what had been under her dress that night, my brows furrowed as I looked down toward her thighs. Why? Are you wearing a dagger?

She smirked. Wouldn’t you like to know?

Sweetheart, a thousand years can pass, and you can count on the answer to that question always being a resounding yes.

She shook her head, her eyes alight. I’m not wearing my dagger, she responded, then placed her head on my chest and looked out over the Madierian sea. I don’t need it.

The End