Shadows Entwined (Shadows Descent #3)

Epilogue

Violet

One year later

The Ice Kingdom’s grand throne room sparkles like a frozen dream. Every surface is covered in intricate frost patterns that catch the light and scatter rainbow prisms across the vast chamber. I adjust my deep purple gown, chosen specifically to stand out against the endless white and blue of this realm, and try not to fidget as nobles from various supernatural kingdoms file in for Caine’s coronation.

“Stop fussing,” Thorne murmurs from beside me, his formal Dark Fae attire a void of blacks and silvers. “You look perfect.”

“Easy for you to say,” I whisper back. “You’re not fighting morning sickness while trying to look regal.”

His hand finds mine, our rings glowing softly at the contact. We haven’t told anyone about the pregnancy yet - well, except Flint and Caine, of course. It’s too early, and today is Caine’s day. But Magdeline’s prediction is coming true, and I can already feel the tiny spark of magick growing inside me.

Flint stands on my other side, resplendent in his Dragon ceremonial robes, white and burnt orange like his scales. His hand rests protectively at the small of my back, a warm presence that helps ground me.

The past year has been interesting, to say the least. We’ve all grown into our roles as best we can. Caine preparing to take the Ice Kingdom throne, Thorne establishing himself as an independent power in the shadow realm, Flint taking on more responsibilities with the Dragon council. Meanwhile, I’ve been learning to fully control my powers under Blackthorn’s guidance, all the while finishing our studies at MistHallow.

Speaking of my uncle, he stands near the front of the assembly, looking intrigued despite his attempt at maintaining his usual stern expression. Our relationship has deepened over the past year, and the stories he’s shared about my father have helped me understand both my heritage and my powers better. I know now that I can never reach my father where he is. Not for lack of trying. But even all the magick in the world cannot undo what has been done. His death is difficult to deal with, even though I never knew him, but Uncle Luke helps keep him alive for me.

A hush falls over the assembled crowd as Cryos steps forward, his ceremonial robes trailing frost in his wake. Despite abdicating his throne, he looks more at peace than I’ve seen him. The past year has changed him too - he’s become something of a mentor to Caine, though their relationship is still complicated.

Caine stands before the ice throne, looking every inch the king he’s about to become. His usual sarcastic attitude is replaced by regal bearing, though I can see the slight tremor in his hands as he grips his ice spear.

The ceremony itself is beautiful in its ancient simplicity. Cryos speaks in the old tongue of Frost giants, his words carrying power that makes the very air crystallise. Caine responds in kind, his voice steady and sure. When the crown of living ice settles on his head, the entire kingdom bows in acknowledgement.

The moment the power of the Ice Kingdom flows into him, merging with his god-like abilities, I feel it and gasp.

As Caine turns to face his subjects, his eyes find mine immediately. Despite the formal occasion, despite the hundreds of witnesses, his smile is just for me, for us. We’ve made this work, against all odds. Different species and duties haven’t weakened our bond; if anything, they’ve made it stronger.

I glance up at Flint and he smiles down at me, but I can see he is thinking about his father. Glacier, like my dad, has been lost in the realms and declared dead, and I know it hits Flint hard some days. Most days, he is apathetic due to the plotting against us, but sometimes, it hurts.

I get it.

The celebrations afterwards are exactly what you’d expect from the Ice Kingdom—elaborate, beautiful, and absolutely freezing. Fortunately, my men are there to keep me warm.

“Congratulations, Your Majesty,” I tease when we finally get a moment alone with Caine in a quiet corner of the grand ballroom.

He rolls his eyes, pulling me close. “Don’t you start. I’ve had enough of that from everyone else.”

“But you make such a pretty king,” Thorne smirks.

“He’s right,” Flint agrees, joining us. “Very regal. Very icy. Very... you.”

We all laugh, and for a moment, it’s just like being back in my room at MistHallow. Some things never change, even when everything else does.

“So,” Caine says, his hand drifting to rest on my stomach. “When do we announce the other big news?”

“Soon,” I promise. “But not today. This is your moment.”

“Our moment,” he corrects. “Everything I am, everything we’ve all become, is because we’re together.”

“A toast,” Blackthorn says, approaching our little group with glasses of ice. I giggle at it as he hands it to me with a crooked smile that makes him seem younger than his years.

“To family,” I add softly, thinking of the little one growing inside me, already so full of magick.

“To love,” Flint says, his eyes warm as he looks at each of us.

“To power,” Thorne adds with a wicked grin.

“To us,” Caine finishes. “All of us.”

As we stand there, surrounded by ice and magick and possibility, I smile. This isn’t the life I expected when I was first turned into a vampire, but it’s better than anything I could have imagined. I’m the daughter of all magick, bound to three gods, carrying the next generation of supernatural power, and more loved than I ever thought possible.

The rings on our fingers glow softly, showing everyone our commitment to each other. The future stretches out before us, full of challenges and changes, but we’ll face it together. Always together.

After all, that’s what family does.