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I want to thank you all for coming along with me on this wild ride through Tir n’Aill with Abigail and Valroy. This series has been such a joy to write, and I am so honored that you’ve made it this far with me. I hope you enjoy the conclusion of Maze of Shadows.
Lifting his head, he winced at the burn of the strained muscles in his shoulders. “I see Titania set you f—” His words choked off. For Puck had not come alone. Nor was Puck the only reason the guards were scattering in panic. Abigail. He smiled. “Hello, little witch.”
“Truthfully, I think this was the old goat’s plan all along. Tell me, did you know?” “No! Of course not!” She shook her head vehemently. “Valroy, I—” “Shush.” He smiled. “I am merely teasing you, my love.” He sniffed and looked down at himself. “How bad is it? I cannot honestly tell.”
“I shall not stay here forever.” His smile widened just a little. “We have eternity, you and I.
“Puck, stay with Valroy.” Valroy groaned. “I thought you loved me.” Puck cackled in response. “Yes, ma’am!”
“Valroy, please. I do not know what to do. Help me.” He nuzzled into her touch. “You must choose, my love. You must choose whether to release me and begin my great wars…or find the way to kill me.” Valroy grinned. “In the end, it will be that simple.” Simple. Kill two worlds. Or kill the man she loved. Shite.
“Well! I know how you can distract him.” Puck slapped her ass. She yelped and smacked him in the chest in reply. Or rather, she tried. He vanished into thin air, and she heard him cackling. He reappeared in a blink standing next to Anfar, and he crouched down to check on the sea monster, his playful stunt already forgotten. She shook her head. Fae.
He turned his head to where Anfar still sat, slumped against the tree. “Oy, seaweed.” Anfar lifted his head, though barely. “You are not allowed to die.” Valroy grinned. “I still have use for you.”
Anfar spread his palm over Perin’s chest, over his heart. “Hello, insignificant selkie, whom I could eat as an afterthought. I am a great and terrible sea beast.” He lifted his head and brushed his lips over the stubble at Perin’s jaw. “I wish to kiss you.” And so…they did.
But Perin shot him a look that was all at once playful and rebuking. It was enough to inspire him to lie there, watching the selkie in awe. Yes. There would be a next time. And it would be soon. Because gods help him… He was in love.
After a pause, she spoke up. “How angry are you?” “With you? Hm.” He stepped down the stairs, taking his time as he approached. He snaked an arm around her, pulling her to him once more. “Nothing a good spanking won’t make up for.” She couldn’t help but smile up at him. “Really? I think my hand will get sore, however. Perhaps you should also let your wounds heal before you let me bend you over.” He howled in laughter, his arms circling her in a true embrace. His expression finally softened, revealing the tenderness he had been hiding.
“Come, my love. You and I shall rule this world, and the vermin shall run before our combined wrath.” With one word, she would unleash hell. Bracing herself, she lit the fuse that would ignite the powder keg. “No.”
Loving someone did not preclude wishing to punch them in the face.
“I am not the one who dies this night, husband.” Her fists clenched at her sides, and then slowly released, her stern expression cracking only for a second as sorrow broke through. “Forgive me.”
Panic filled her eyes as she realized she was trapped. “Valroy—” “No.” He was bleeding badly. The flowers were set upon their work. But he did not care. Tears fell from his cheeks as he summoned a small dagger to his hand. It would be enough to end her. “Goodbye, my love. Goodbye, my little witch.” He sat back, lifted the dagger over his head, and prepared to lose his heart in the same moment he destroyed hers.
“You are my friend, and you are my enemy. You are my hunter, and you are my lover. And I—” Her voice cracked, and she forced herself through it. “And if I were to watch you die, I would join you in the grave but a moment later.”
“My little witch…my Seelie Queen. No matter what we shall endure. No matter what becomes of us. My sunlight. My glowing blossoms. My living heart. I will not stop until I defeat you. And I will relish every moment I fail. I love you.”
She placed her palm over the symbol over his heart. “And I love you…my Maze of Shadows.”
