Zoe couldn’t stand the oppressive despair in the room. “So what if they’ve figured out a way in? The second a portal forms, I’m roast every single one of them.”
Meryn blinked. “Oh yeah. That was amazingly badass. I wish someone had recorded it.”
“And we saved more of the captured fae,” Anne added. “We’re getting closer and closer every time we shut them down.”
“You girls are right, but some days are harder than most,” the queen said, looking at where her door now hung slightly off its hinges.
“Then we should have a party,” Meryn suggested.
“A party?” the queen asked.
“Yeah, I mean y’all are focusing on the shitty stuff, but we’ve had a lot of good stuff happen too. We found more people alive. Ari, Oron, and now Gage have found mates. Brie and Zoe are badass, and Izzy has become our Coffee Goddess.” She grinned. “Not to mention I found out about my mom and dad, and Oron got adopted, and the twins and Pip were able to get here,” she continued rattling off things.
“And I caught two of our enemies in a box, and I may even have an idea on how to get them out,” Kincaid said.
“And we just received the support of nearly everyone in Noctem Falls to find our missing warriors,” Brennus said, rubbing the queen’s back.
“My dad found his mate,” Brie added.
“And we got Yuki and Ame,” Zoe said proudly.
The queen sat a bit straighter. “You all are right. What could we do to celebrate?”
Zoe was struck by a moment of inspiration. “What about a Festival of Lights? People release lanterns into the sky with a message of what they’re grateful for. I think in times like this, with the lights not working and people getting depressed, maybe that could help.”
“Yeah, and since this is Éire Danu, we don’t have to worry about the lanterns fucking up the environment,” Meryn clarified.
Amelia looked up from Darian’s chest, her expression brighter. “We can borrow Kari when she visits to help plan.”
“Food. We need lots and lots of food,” Meryn said, licking her lips.
“Dav’s fish,” Brie suggested.
“Peter’s brownies,” Neil said.
“Oh! And Leo’s meat dishes. Maybe we could get a boar, like the goblins serve,” Meryn said, reaching for her laptop. “I’ll make a list.”
Under the table, Zoe reached for Gage. He took her hand and kissed it. “You really are like a living flame, like a beacon of light and hope.”
“If I’m a living flame, then you are the one that makes me burn hotter,” she whispered.
He kept the neutral smile on his face, but she noticed a flush working up the back of his neck.
She sat back and watched as her idea for a festival began to take shape. Each suggestion was borne out of love and the desire for those around them to feel better. She knew that things were dangerous, that they had an enemy that shook the foundation of their world, but they also had each other, and that is what made them stronger and able to face each day with a smile.
EPILOGUE
Priest walked stiffly back to the warrior villa alone. Gage and Zoe stayed to help plan the festival. Ari and Brie had left to update the Lionharts on all that had taken place, and Kincaid was working with Kendrick to see if his idea about that clay box worked.
Ari’s nightmare meant that Brie was a deputy. Gage’s nightmare of seeing Zoe engulfed in flames meant she was an amazing fire witch. But what good could possibly come from seeing your mate ripped apart by dozens of grasping hands?
Shuddering at the memory, he kept walking. It was better to stay alone.