The evening sunlight felt different this time. Magical, almost—like it knew we'd survived the storm.
A new dusk. A new kingdom. And finally, a last name to call my own.
"Veravos Spade has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?" I said, still holding Scarlette's hand like I never wanted to let go.
She smirked. "Yeah. There's a kind of finality in that. Like you're done running."
We both laughed.
A moment passed. Then, more quietly, she asked, "Do you think we'll end up like the monarchs we overthrew?"
"The fact that you're asking means you won't," I said with soft certainty. "You're going to be a great queen, Scar."
And I meant it—because I believed it with all my heart.
"Judorah wanted to snuff out the light," I said. "To rewrite the truth in her image—as the Dark Fairy Queen."
"And Baltimore," Scarlette added, her voice tightening. "He twisted devotion into obedience. Turned love into blind allegiance. Made an emerald to rewrite reality—and erased me from the memories of everyone I ever knew."
I pulled her closer. "Love isn't supposed to be erasure. What he did to you… you didn't deserve that. None of it."
She nodded slowly. "I know. It's just—hard to forget."
"Then there was Luxeron," she continued. "King of Illusions. Used light to blind, to hide the truth behind glitter and gold. Arrested anyone who disrupted the peace—even when the peace was fake."
"His kingdom's 'progressive' stance on mixed fairy couples? A tragedy," I scoffed. "That's how the Dark Fairies got in, remember?"
Scarlette snorted. "Right. 'Ravos,' was it? Sun Full of Love?"
I doubled over laughing. "They actually bought that. Ravos! I should've been arrested just for the name."
"But we're really allowing mixed fairy couples in this kingdom, right?" she asked, hope blooming in her voice.
"We are," I said, more gently now. "And we'll lead by example."
Scarlette blushed, nudging me with her elbow. "You know, you still haven't asked me to be your girlfriend."
"Ha. I just didn't want you to feel tied to me," I teased, though the ache in my chest betrayed more than humor. "Shoot me with a love arrow if you must, Scar, but we both know you're too good for me."
"And why's that, exactly?" she asked, raising an eyebrow, those olive eyes gleaming.
"You're smart. Brave. Unapologetic. You challenge everything—monarchs, gods, fate. You've come so far from who you were. And I'm just—"
"Just a handsome Dark Fairy?" she interrupted. "One who absorbed a kingdom's worth of darkness to protect someone he loves?"
"Scarlette—"
"No. Don't 'Scarlette' me—I'm not finished." She jabbed a finger into my chest. "You chose to feed on villains, not innocents. You exposed broken ideals. You taught me strategy. You're a manipulator, a drama king, a big dumb idiot… and you've got the biggest heart I've ever seen in someone who swears they're a monster."
Was she scolding me? Then why did my ribs feel like they were melting?
"You think I'm handsome?" I grinned, turning toward a reflective window like I'd just discovered something new.
"Seriously? That's what you took from all that?" Her expression was priceless—mock outrage, pure Scarlette.
And then I said it.
"Be my queen, Scarlette. Let's be happy. Not as curses. Just… people. A fresh start. Free from how we began."
She blinked—just once—before breaking into a wicked grin.
"Now that's more like my partner in chaos." She leaned in and kissed my cheek.
"My stars! The Queen of Hearts kissed me!" I gasped, throwing my hands in the air like a lovestruck bard. "Oh no! She's looking at me! I'm going to faint!"
I twirled dramatically and struck a pose, then stared into her eyes with a deliberately exaggerated eyebrow raise.
She cracked up.
"Stop ogling me!" she laughed, stepping forward to smack my arm.
"You called me handsome. That's legally binding. I shall ogle for eternity." I stuck out my tongue.
And she laughed—really laughed. That rare, unguarded sound I only ever got to hear when she was with me.
She tried to compose herself, wiped a tear from her cheek, then giggled again.
"You're impossible," she murmured.
I pulled her into my arms, resting my chin on her head.
"Yeah. But I'm yours."
Time passed. Scarlette and I built a life—one neither of us could have imagined. It wasn't perfect, but it was real. Not something crafted by a spell or forged in battle, but shaped by patience, bickering, late-night talks, shared burdens, and stolen kisses.
Our love story wasn't scripted. It wasn't fate.
It was choice.
And somewhere along the way, I became a man with a partner, a job, and a golden retriever.
Correction: I have a lifelong partner in chaos—a Kitsune—and two kids who may or may not already be better than both of us combined.
They're stunning, of course—that's my genes. Ethereal, too. That's all her.
Gacanagh and Azendian—named for our lands—were born of two fairies who once thought they were monsters. They don't quite fit in, and honestly? That's perfect. They weren't meant to. They're meant to change things. Just like we did.
Yes, they inherited our powers, our cunning, our chaos, and our fire—but more than that, they inherited a world better than the one we started in.
I'm a Dark Fairy. I feel deeply. I protect fiercely. I love wholly.
And for the first time… I'm truly happy.
Did I become human?You tell me.
If my kids ever ask how I met their mother, I probably won't tell them the full story.
Would they believe me?
So here's the record: I'll just say it was an arranged marriage.Whatever that means. I heard it from the humans. Sounded appropriately dramatic.
The End.