She shakes her head. “You have a life in Davon, Alex. You have your father’s theater to run, and so many people depend on you.”
And what future is there for the queen of the Auvenridge Court and her illanté? I know I would be a hindrance to her.
“I’m going to find your troupe,” she promises. “And I’m going to send them home as well. Alaric agreed to help me.”
My voice breaks. “I’m grateful.”
“You’ll visit me, won’t you?” She pulls back to look up at me. Tears stream freely down her beautiful face now, destroying me. “I can’t leave Faerie, but you’ll come back occasionally, won’t you?”
“Every chance I get.” I brush away her tears. “This is only goodbye for now.”
“I love you, Alex,” she says. “I’m so glad we met.”
“And I love you.”
We cling to each other for a few more minutes, until the last of our seconds slip past. When I step back, I no longer stand before the princess of West Faerie, but its queen.
She is beautiful, regal, fair, and strong.
And though she belongs to no one, at one time, she was mine.