She smiled softly. “Shade’s worried about me, isn’t he? He asked you to talk to me?”
I sputtered, but she shook her head and took my hand. “I know him—this has concerned fiancé written all over it. And it’s okay. Really. I’m glad he cares enough about me to worry. But I think . . . I think the little kitten who, when we first came Earthside, would have been terrified to face this day, has grown up now. I’m ready to face what life has to offer. This last bout of training, to gain a handle over seeing the dead and talking to them? Has made me aware of how many stages of life there are. And it made me see how fear can trap us. I don’t want to be like one of those ghosts—trapped because I’m afraid to face the fact that life is moving on.”
Relieved, and yet a little bit surprised, I squeezed her hand. “Yeah, I guess, me, too. I think it’s time we grew up. We need each other—we always will. Yet it’s like we woke up one day, looked around, and life stood there saying, Are you ready? Are you ready to face the next phase? We have to say yes, or we get stuck—like your ghosts.”
“Exactly. And Camille needs to know we’re okay with this. She’s been mother to us for so many years now, but it’s time we helped her realize she can let that job go now. She’s becoming a queen. She’ll have bigger things to worry about than us. So I’ll tell Shade that he doesn’t have to worry about me. Yes, I’m sad the three of us won’t be living together, but I’m ready to get married. I’m ready for whatever my destiny has in store for me. And you—you’re a princess now.” She grinned. “Are you going to wear pink, and a diamond tiara all the time?”
I smacked her playfully. “Dork.” Then, planting a kiss on her cheek, I shook my head. “Queens. Princesses. And a Death Maiden? Who would have thought it would come to this?”
At that moment, Camille entered the room, dressed for the journey to the Dragon Reaches. “I’m ready. Let’s head out and get those babies to safety.”
She kissed us, and then, tucking the spirit seals safely into her pocket, she stepped into Smoky’s embrace, and they shimmered out of sight, into the Ionyc Seas.
Chapter 19
Nothing ever seems to get back to normal after a major shift. You find the new normal and go from there. After Camille and Smoky headed to the Dragon Reaches, I took a long, well-deserved shower, and then we gathered in the living room and told everybody else what had happened. I called Roman to tell him the news, and by the time the evening was in full swing, Nerissa had crashed, asleep in the rocking chair, and Trillian and Vanzir were dozing in the parlor. Nobody wanted to leave, though. We all seemed to want to stick together for the moment, enjoying the sensation of safety.
Over the next few days, we were still sorting out the aftermath. Tanne and Iris shut down every rogue portal they could find. The dragons sent their Builders to Elqaneve and the rebuilding began in earnest. Y’Elestrial contacted us, stating that—in no uncertain terms—we were expected to come home for a celebration where we, along with the dragons, would be honored for defeating Telazhar. Camille was out at Talamh Lonrach Oll a lot, deciding on how to decorate the Barrow she would be living in. And Nerissa and I toured the suite we would be living in over at Roman’s and began making decisions on décor.
About a week after we had rescued Nerissa, Trytian reappeared and the three of us met him at Carter’s in the evening. The weather was starting to turn toward true spring, and the temperature was balmy. After the barrenness of the Sub-Realms, I would never again fail to appreciate how much I loved both Otherworld and Earthside.
Carter welcomed us in, with the usual array of refreshments. Trytian was wearing some bright shiny new medal, and this time he didn’t glom onto Camille. At least, not quite so much.
“My father sends you all his best. To be honest, he was put out with me for not latching onto the spirit seals myself, but I think even he realizes they’re far too dangerous in the hands of the likes of us. He’s grateful that Shadow Wing no longer has them, however, and not only did I get a promotion, but he sends you this.” He handed us a thin sheet of paper.
I stared at it. Spells could have a way of triggering if they were written on paper and then opened by the target. But Camille reached out and took it, opening it without hesitation. She scanned the paper, then let out a gentle sigh.
“Thank your father for us. We will keep this with gratitude.” She handed the paper to me.