Page 60 of Grimoire Omens

To which Cedric added, “Especially not someone as mentally strong as a shadow prince.”

“Really?” Yeah, I wanted to be sure.

Ulseere wrapped me in his arms. “My emotions and my desires are my own. And while it is surprising to me, I do feel a strong affection for you. Why else would I stay, instead of making a bid for the throne?”

I gaped. “You’d give up a kingdom for me?”

“I don’t need a crown to fulfill me. Just my queen.”

Yeah, with that kind of declaration I dragged him back in bed, where we spent the day mostly. We obviously made snack runs because we both needed to keep up our strength to consummate our love.

Epilogue

Living with a shadow prince had its challenges, boredom being the biggest for Ulseere. While he did enjoy the occasional Netflix and Chill, he was a dude used to being active. He also didn’t grasp why I needed to go to work. Even after explaining the concept of bills and the fact I had to earn money to pay them, his alpha solution ended up being, “I shall provide. It is my duty.”

“And exactly what will you do to earn a paycheck?”

Which led to the issue of there not really being any jobs for a prince from another dimension. It was Cedric who ended up suggesting the perfect solution to a few problems.

“The prince should fight crime.” AKA become a vigilante.

It actually worked on several levels because, one, it allowed Ulseere to feel useful and keep his skills as a fighter honed. Two, confiscating the wealth from criminals meant he could contribute to the household. And three, after a successful night of hunting bad guys, he came home energized, which meant I reaped the sexual rewards.

However, while he seemed content for now, I did worry if it would be enough. After all, I’d seen where he lived. Understood a bit better what he’d given up. What he could have become…

The regret would eventually hit him, and when it did, I knew I had to be ready to open that door and set him free, even if it killed me.

To distract myself, I’d been working on the spell forcing Cedric to remain a cat. Alas, I’d not had any luck. As powerful as I was, nothing I did turned him back into his old shape. My most recent attempt had Cedric hissing in horror as he went from menacing black tom to an orange striped, fluffy, long-haired feline.

“Change me back!” he screeched.

“I’m trying,” I yelled back as I tried to fix my mistake. And failed. Thankfully, the doorbell saved me.

“I’ll be right back,” I stated, hustling out of the living room, where Cedric—who actually looked kind of adorable in his new fur—simmered in annoyance.

I opened the door expecting a package—because I loved online shopping—only to blink in surprise at who stood there. “You’re not dead.”

My daddy, still very much alive, shook his head. “No, but it was close. The healers aren’t sure how I survived, but I know why. It’s because of unresolved business.”

I arched a brow and crossed my arms. “Come to finish me off?”

“No,” he hastened to say. “I came here, with great difficulty I might add, to apologize.”

“And what are you sorry for?”

“For many things,” he sighed. “Firstly, for letting your mother go without an attempt to find her and thinking the fact I cared for her deeply made me weak. For allowing myself to almost kill my only daughter because of some vague prophecy. But most of all, I regret not getting the opportunity to know the fiercest child of my loins.”

I grimaced. “Ew. Can you not use the word loins?”

His lips twitched. “I shall avoid it since it’s repulsive to you.”

“You’re truly not going to try and murder me anymore?”

He shook his head. “No. As I said, I regret even thinking it.”

“What about the prophecy that says I’m going take your throne?”

The reminder had him clearing his throat. “Interesting thing about that… Upon studying it more in depth, the seer’s prediction only states that your arrival will end my reign. However, it doesn’t mention you killing me to make that happen.”