Jazmin gasps, “You helped us! You were the little boy?” He ignores her questions.
“Humans are gifted with such beautiful emotions. If ever you should have need of me, Jazmin, call and I will come. You have protected the weak and destroyed the evil that was growing here. The protection of Heaven will be yours,” he says bowing to her.
“Thank you,” Jazmin says, stepping back to Bastian.
Next, the Angel takes the key and walks over to the floor. He pushes one of the inlaid tiles and the mosaic floor, turns into a staircase. The Angel steps down into the earth and returns carrying the body of a large blonde male.
“My King!” Bastian says, hurrying forward. He takes the body and places it on the floor, as the Angel turns, to go back beneath the tomb.
“Will he be okay, Bastian?” Jazmin asks.
The Angel returns carrying another body and places it on the ground next to the King. “You should back up, your King comes,” the Angel tells them.
An explosion rocks the fountain above, a brilliant star falls through the ceiling, ricocheting off the walls, causing Jazmin to scream out in alarm. With a swift motion, the Angel catches the star and whispers to it and then returns the Fae King’s soul to his body.
Drake begins to breathe, a strong, steady rhythm, but still, he does not wake. Bastian looks at the Angel, and he says, “Patience, my friend, he was gone a long time. His body will awaken when he is healed. I will meet you at the Vale,” the Angel says, and he takes the two male Fae and leaves.
Bastian looks at Jazmin and pulls her close, following the Angel. They land softly, both caught up in emotions they cannot define. Bastian feels fear for the first time.
“Jazmin, once you cross the Vale, you can’t return to your world. I will not force you. The Fae mate for life, an immortal lifetime is a true eternity.” Dropping to one knee, he looks up into her eyes, “Jazmin will you be mine for eternity?”
The Fae step up to the Vale and watch, waiting for her answer. The Angel softly steps through the mist, carrying the body of their King. He leaves the other male lying outside the Vale, on a bed of soft grass.
Jazmin looks behind Bastian and sees a world she does not know, but in his eyes, she sees forever. Her heart sighs, as she smiles and says, “I already am, Bastian.” He leaps up as the cheer echoes throughout the Vale. He kisses her in front of the Angel and all the Fae, swinging her up into his arms, and he carries her home.
A small hummingbird zips away from Caderyn and sees the Angel carrying the King. He dashes in front of him and flits away calling for him to follow. He leads him to Caderyn.
The Fae Queen is shattered, her soul fragmented from the pain of her failure. Caderyn wanted to save him, but she was too late. Alone with no will to return, she waits to fade.
Back in his body after five hundred years, Drake feels heavy. He struggles to return, his soul was close to fading, but she needs him, he thinks. “Caderyn?” He calls but gets no answer.
The Angel places Drakes body next to Caderyn and steps back with a frown.
“Perhaps if we work together?” Morgan rains down angel dust over the two bodies and the Fae healers join in adding the healing power of the sun.
The warmth seeps into his bones, healing his body from years of abuse. Strengthened by the power of the angel dust, Drake slowly opens his silver eyes. “Caderyn?” he calls.
“King Drake!” Bastian bows low. “I am Bastian your Master Guardsmen. Welcome home.” He looks at the woman standing beside him, and she smiles. “I am Ja...”
“Jazmin! Where is Caderyn?” He demands stronger this time.
Jasmine’s eyes flick away, and he turns his head slowly. The healers leave to spread the news of the King’s return, and Jazmin moves forward.
“She thinks she failed you, it was her greatest fear. I’ve tried talking to her, but…” she starts to cry. Bastian wraps her in his arms and pulls her back.
“Caderyn does not respond to us. When we try to get near her spirit, she flees. We are afraid to push her. Afraid that we will damage her soul. We will let you rest,” he says guiding Jazmin outside.
Drake sits up and reaches for Caderyn’s hand. The depth of her beauty stuns him. She is dressed in the way of his people, a long white dress, with her long dark hair free around her. He stops just short of touching her, and the Angel watches closely. Silver eyes snap to his, as he waits for the room to stop spinning.
“Why is an Angel helping the Fae? Are we not enemies?” he asks quietly.
“My name is Morgan. We are not enemies, Drake. Both our races were betrayed, yours by a Queen and mine by an Angel. I am here because of Caderyn. She fought for you, with no thought for her own safety. Her courage freed your soul and exposed the true depths of the betrayal. We have been betrayed, and I’m afraid the danger is not yet passed.”
“Walk with me, and tell me,” Drake says rising. He is tall and muscular as all Fae; his
