Page 100 of The Endless One

The big man nearly dropped all the papers before he set them down and stared at her. “Well. Welcome back.”

“I should say the same to you.”

Alexander walked through the door next, his eyes on yet more paperwork. He dropped it immediately as soon as he looked up. “Jessamine?”

She laughed and gestured for both of them. Hugo came rather unwillingly. He wasn’t ever one for physical affection, but he was kind enough to give her a single squeeze. Alexander, in contrast, hugged her long enough that Elric stepped in and pulled the young man off her.

But then she looked at all the people who mattered to her and felt some last horrible worry ease. “It seems like you have everything covered.”

The others looked at each other with a rather suspicious glance before Agnes cleared her throat. “Are you intending to return to the throne, Jessamine?”

Oh. They were all nervous about that. She could feel it in the room, rising into the air like wisps of black smoke that rose off of each person.

“No,” Jessamine replied. “I am not.”

Everyone visibly relaxed, as though they were worried she would want the throne back. Or perhaps just that they had discovered a better way without her.

She tried not to take it to heart. Jessamine knew she would have made a damn good queen, but… the more she looked at the people around her, the more she realized there was a better way to lead this kingdom. One that might be better for all of them.

Agnes said, “If I may offer an opinion?”

“You have an idea of how to run this kingdom without me, I take it?”

Agnes nodded.

Jessamine waved her hand imperiously, just to give the impression that she was in control. But she already knew she wasn’t. Her coven was filled with far too many talented women for her to be the only one in charge.

“Each district should send representatives, chosen by the individuals who live there. We were thinking three from each area, and thus fill this table.” Agnes waved her hand. “We will all work together to bring this kingdom back to reason, and there will be diplomats from each area of the kingdom so that each district feels as though they are being listened to. It might not be the best at the start, but with a little time, we could make it happen. Perhaps even better than the monarchy.”

She looked at each person in the room, putting their faces to memory as she watched them all. These were her people. And she was so proud of them, even if her stare made them slightly uncomfortable.

Finally, Jessamine put her hands on the table and looked at the documents there. At all the buildings in each district that were getting attention. The names of people who needed help, and who was going to offer it. Food that they were gathering from nearby kingdoms. How Orenda was already trying to heal itself in the loss of a king, and how Alexander was returning regularly to address those concerns.

Then she looked up at them one more time. “You have no need of me, and I’ve never been prouder.”

“We do need you,” Elissa said. “You’re our goddess. We need you for peace, for a reminder that there are good things in this world. For all the sacrifices we make and the magic that burns in our veins.”

Jessamine smiled and nodded her head. “Yes, I suppose you do need that. But perhaps you would all grant me a few months away from all this? I think… I think Elric and I have earned an adventure together. I trust you with my kingdom, my people, and all the dreams I had for this place. I think you’ll do better at bringing them to life than I ever could.”

She filled her vision with all the people she loved and knew, deep down, this was how it was all supposed to work out.

Inverholm would heal itself.

And Jessamine was finally free.

Epilogue

Two years later

“Elric, would you keep up?” Jessamine said with a laugh.

The sea breeze tousled her hair, shoving the mess of it in front of her eyes before she shoved it back. The cliff’s edge was steep, and the wind that blew over it was stronger than any she’d experienced before. But it was wondrous and she didn’t fear death anymore. A goddess had no need to hold on to that fear.

Her dark lover crested the hill. “There are so many people making sacrifices these days, it’s almost impossible to keep up with it all. Do you know today there was a small boy who wanted me to raise his hamster from the dead?”

“Of course he did. He’s a child.”

“Well, I’m not taking the sacrifice. It can go back into the ether. A rodent is a waste of my time, energy, and magic.” Again he grumbled underneath his breath about the ridiculousness of mortals, and who had the time to listen to the wants of a child?