76 | ACT V, SCENE III

P R E V I O U S L Y

I was finally home.

[TRIGGER WARNING: READERS MAY HAVE EMOTIONALLY DISTRESSING REACTIONS TO THE CHAPTER, BEAR WITH ME. LET'S HOPE THESE ARE TEARS OF JOY FOR ONCE.]

ARCTON FORTRESS, RIMEBAY, VERTGATE.

EDWINA

"ALL RIGHT," ROSALVA GAVE ME a last once over, gently pressing down on my side. I winced slightly, for the flesh was still tender. She had been trying to wean me off the morphine, but it wasn't easy - not when I had copious amounts of it in my system for more than a week. It had been an ordeal to bathe and dress, even with help from the attendants; for my movements were still clumsy and my senses still disoriented.

"Keep away from any sort of... physical exertion for the next couple of days. You still have a limp," Vivian warned, clicking his tongue.

"I'm not limping," I argued hotly as Rosalva encouragingly nudged a gilded cane to me, its head topped with obsidian. "And I don't need a stick to help me walk."

"You will take that stick to help you walk, else I will keep you here for another week," he let out a low growl of anger loosed with annoyance. "I spent seven days and seven nights to piece you back together, Edwina. I will not let you ruin that work by tripping from that limp and breaking your bones again. Take the stick," Vivian gritted out.

That was that, then.

This man had sewn me back together when I was little more than a pile of bones and bleeding flesh. After all that power he had used up to heal me... well, he knew what was best.

"Give me the damned thing," I sullenly muttered, holding out a hand for it. The walking cane felt foreign and strange under my fingers. Yet as I put my weight on it and braced myself, I realized that it helped.

"Are you going to tell him?" his voice made me turn around.

"Tell who what, exactly?"

"You love him, don't you?" Rosalva said softly. I became stiller than the wind.

"It's none of your business."

"That man had a nervous breakdown while you lay here, blazing with fever. He never left your side, not even once. I see it in his eyes. How long will you torture him like this, Edwina?" Vivian asked quietly.

I could not answer, not for the life of me. I said nothing for a moment, only clutched the object in my hand - the object I'd asked Ava to retrieve from my desk at home.

"Not for long," I answered at last, breaking the silence as my voice reeled with emotion.

• • • • •

I finally stepped out of the room.

Nearly half the city stood outside the doors.

"Edwina-" my father reached out for me, his face drawn and tired from a long wait. I immediately stepped out of his grasp.

"Leave me be, father," my voice was cold and detached.

"Listen to me-" he echoed hollowly, now Llewelyn tugged me from one side, Celinette and Vanessa from another, all their eyes filled with tears.

"Leave," I hissed again, a single, dangerous word.

"Please," this time it was Helios and Nyx, Irina with her babe in her arms.

"Get out," I snapped, rounding on them with white hot fury.

I wrenched my arm out of Amphitrite's as she tugged at me, her eyes a silent, begging plea. Eric's face was bloodless and guilt stricken, ridden with grief, and I walked right out of his desperate embrace.

"Please," he whispered. "I'm sorry - try to forgive me, if only for the sake of your sister."

"I have no sister."

Cold, brutal truth.

It took me another quarter of an hour to walk my way out of the crowd - to walk past my sister's pleading cries. Past Deimos's callous demands to get his children back. Past Therese's echoing sobs as she wept over her dead son and missing daughter. I walked past them all, past each and every one of them.

The worst thing about betrayal was that it never came from strangers.

And the ones who did this to me, who hurt me like this... I didn't think I had it in me to ever forgive them

My heels clicked on the floor along with the resounding clank of the walking stick as I made it to the grand, sweeping staircase where Miriel bounced up and down with a bunch of dewy lotuses in hand, blushing a faint pink. Beside her, Tristan sat on the stairs waiting for me, finally having changed into a fresh set of clothes. His dark blue shirt matched the joy that returned to his eyes when he got up, beaming along with Miriel. His gaze lingered on the stick as a bemused smile curled up his lips.

"Doctor's orders," I muttered with a sulk, as he pressed a sweeping kiss on my brow.

"That's fine by me as long as you don't go whacking me in the nuts with that thing," he grinned. I burst into a peal of rich laughter as he chuckled with me, affectionately patting Miriel on the head. She tugged at the hem of my cloak as I sunk to my knees, eye level with her.

"For you," she merrily sung out in a little voice, handing me the bunch of lotuses. "I went out to get these at four in the morning."

"Alone?" I worriedly asked, carefully tucking a lock of her pale golden hair behind the ear. I inhaled the flowers and beamed at her, a smile that was warm and genuine.

"The stubborn little monster wanted to go alone," Tristan muttered with a scoff.

"These are lovely," I told Miriel. Her purple eyes lit up in excitement as I inhaled the heavy, warm scent of the fresh lotus. "Interesting choice."

She blushed a deep pink and broke out into a proud smile, then suddenly picked up her skirts and ran off down the stairs with the white kitten mewling at her heels.

I stared after her, speechless.

"Why - why did... was it something I said?"

"She often tends to do that," Tristan muttered with a raised eyebrow, looking down the stairs, concerned. "Children," he muttered under his breath. Then he gallantly offered me his hand.

"Ever the charming gentleman, Valmont," I chimed, taking his hand. He let out a sly smile as we descended the stairs.

"I need to get something off my chest."

"Is it your shirt?" I chuckled, as he threw back his head and laughed a mighty laugh that chilled like thunder in my veins.

"All in time, you cruel woman," Tristan smirked, cocking his head to the gates of the drive and the forests beyond.  "Walk with me?" Tristan asked, turning to the direction of the forest under Cheviot Mountains, the sunlight softening the greens to soft gold.

"Okay."

We laced our fingers together, walking slowly through the trees in the golden light. I could smell both wine and blood on him, and wondered what could be the reason.

Tell him - I had to tell him - I had to tell him.

Because me being tortured - and me nearly dying - it had taught me one thing.

We think we have time.

We think we have time, we think we have forever. I thought we'd have always - that some time in that always, I'd carve out a slice of a fine day and tell him how much I loved him. But we didn't have time. I didn't have time.

And I wasn't going to waste what little time I had.

No.

I was going to tell him, and I was going to let him know. Because this man - this god - he had been there for me. He had been my friend, and he'd held me in his arms even when I wasted away. He had a heart large enough to hold the entire universe in it. I'd unconsciously fallen in love with him - with his darkness, his grief, his everything.

And I knew that if someone parted me from him again, I would break past the point of no return.

"Tristan - I -" my voice caught in my throat, tangling in a bundle of nerves at the same time he began to speak.

"Edwina-" he began.

We both stopped and looked into each other's eyes, nervousness and hesitation shining in both our gazes.

"You first," I whispered.

"Ladies first," he shot back.

"That's not fair," I sulked. "I'm injured."

He rolled his eyes with a sigh, letting out a string of curses.

"You were saying something, Valmont?" I purred sweetly. Tristan curled his fists and hissed something under his breath, his gaze unreadable and his eyes very, very blue.

"Well, I'm fucking trying to. If it weren't for you making me so damn nervous," he muttered, ruffling a hand through his silky black hair. A smile curled up my lips as I patted a nearby boulder and sat down beside him, chucking the stick aside.

He sucked in a deep breath, shaking slightly before I wrapped my arms around him and pecked a kiss on his cheek. I relaxed visibly as he tightly held me, and a single tear escaped his eyes.

"Tristan," I whispered softly, brushing it off with my finger. "I'm alive. I'm not going anywhere."

He shook again and I felt his heartbeat, frantic with worry. I placed a hand on his chest and rested my head in the crook of his neck, slowly hearing it return to normal.

"I was scared, Edwina," he rasped. "I was so, so scared-"

"You came for me," I gently touched his pale cheek.

"Of course I came for you. Of course I came. Did you imagine - even for one single second - that I'd leave you to die, Edwina?"

My words got stuck in my throat.

"No matter how broken I am, I'll always come back for you, Edwina Tremayne. We'll make it out. We'll fight our way out together, the way we always do. Because that's what we do, woman. We fight. We fight and we fight and we fight until we can't fight anymore. And then we stand up and fight back again," he promised, hugging me to his chest and burying his face in my neck. I inhaled his scent like I was drowning, and he was my air.

And then he pulled back at last, with determination and joy dancing in those lively blue eyes I knew and loved so well.

"So..." he began slowly, "...you know how lonely I used to be, right? I mean, I had family. Friends. But after El died I had this hole in my chest. I felt so lost. I kept on downing drink after drink hoping I could drown in something other than my thoughts. I stayed up at night, thinking about all those things I couldn't tell anyone... because I was so, so lonely. I had no one to talk to. No one at all."

And when he looked at me, that look in his eyes... it broke my heart.

"And then... the Trials came," he continued. "So much work. I thought it would keep me busy. I thought  everything would be the same again. But that day Cosmo called out my name in the hall... I saw it. I saw how empty my life would be, just me and the crown. And then, people forced me into marrying you-"

"-Valmont-"

"-shh," he said firmly with a smug smile, pressing a finger to my lips. "You shut up. And let me speak before I lose my head and run off into the woods."

I chuckled and he glared at me.

"And then - they told me to marry you," Tristan said. He closed his eyes. "It was the most terrifying moment of my life. It was terrifying, but for one tiny bit - gods, it fulfilled my only wish. Something I'd wanted ever since I was old enough to want anything. And that was to claim you as mine. There, at the altar, when I got to hold you for the first time in my arms, touch you for the first time in my arms - I nearly lost it. The cold, cruel Edwina Tremayne, the woman who crushed men under her boots and walked over them. Desirous, wicked Edwina Tremayne, with a tongue harsher than a man's and with a smile sweeter than sin and eyes like knives, eyes that could drown galaxies and stars. You drowned me in your spells. What hope could I ever have? The first time I wrapped my arms around that long neck of yours, the first time I pulled your hair and drove you close to me, the first time I pressed my lips to yours - gods - I remember it like it were yesterday. It was fire, it burnt me inside out and consumed me like a drug. That day - you made me feel something I hadn't felt in a very, very long time. Alive. And I hated myself. I hated you-"

"Hated?" I echoed.

"I said hated, didn't I? Yes, woman. I hated you. I wanted to kill you and kiss you. Wrap my hands around that pretty white throat and choke the life out of you. And you - fuck - you. You drove me insane. You stopped crossing my mind. You started living in it. I thought it was lust at first. Just some immortal desire of mine to take you. All I could think of was how your lips curled around the rim of your wineglass. How your eyes lit up ever so slightly whenever you smiled. How the sweep of your lashes upturned when you snapped at me."

He sighed.

"I thought it was lust at first. Just some immortal desire of mine to take you under the stars and make love to you. But it was more than that - it always was. I saw, suddenly, that I could scrape away some of the coldness and ice from the goddess of fire. Your feelings, your loyalty - you threw me back with your sincerity. And being the nosy devil you are, you began poking and prodding my heart. Inching in, pushing deeper. Soon, I told myself. Soon, I'll leave. Before it hurts. But then - that night you held me as I fell asleep - the way you picked pieces of my soul, left it bare and loved it for what it was. When you slept beside me that night - it was the first time I did not have nightmares in over two centuries. And I began to hope - just a little bit. Perhaps you didn't hate me. Because my hatred for you was slowly melting away with your fire. You were cold. In my hands, you melted. You give me more happiness than I could ever fathom, Edwina Tremayne. You are a volcano, a raging inferno, a nightmare and a daydream. You are everything I could ever ask for, and more than I deserved. When the murders happened, you still went your way. That night at the Ball, you held your head high. And I saw how hard it was to touch a woman who wore pain like the grandest diamonds around her neck. You've been through hell, and I know that. But I'm here for it. I'm here for all of it. And when I tried to tell myself I wasn't in love with you - that was the moment I realized I am truly, madly, deeply in love with you, woman."

And then, the knot of butterflies in my stomach took off.

"Tristan-" I whispered, clamping my hand over his lips. "Let me speak," I said. He gave me a hesitant look and nodded and I slowly lifted my hand and dragged it down, letting it rest over his heart. Tristan took it and softly kissed my knuckles.

"You know how I was brought up? Don't answer back to men, they told me. Don't raise a voice against men. Stop playing with your swords and come learn how to sew and sing and play the harp. You are a goddess, not a fighter, they told me. Your power, your influence, it will always be less than a man's, they told me. Don't even think about trying to level up to a man, they told me. You know how terrified I used to be of being married off one day? I would have faced death rather than being some male's plaything," I gritted my teeth, voice badly shaken as emotions welled up inside me.

He gently squeezed my hand, nudging me to go on. I gulped.

"It took my father quite a while to realise that I would never become the person they were trying to mold me into. So the next day, he ordered me to come down to the courtyard where he'd train Aidon everyday. Then he tossed a sword at my feet and ordered me to pick it up. If you're going to fight, you might as well do it properly, he told me. My father - he was a good man. And when Cosmo started the Monarch Trials, I tried harder and harder. I wanted to be Queen, Tristan. I wanted to be Queen - and I no longer wanted to answer to the chauvinistic bastards who thought they were better than me. People knew I would win and secure their spot. But I had so many haters. Half of them wanted their own to ascend. Their sons. Their brothers. Their husbands. Their males. And when my name was called out, I sang. Because my greatest desire had been fulfilled. But I learned that life never went the way we want. I would get the crown on my head, but a cut on my wrist. The mark of a man who I hated, who I despised so terribly. I shouted. I screamed. Because marrying you, Valmont - it was the last thing I had ever wanted."

"Is it now?"  he purred, cocking his head with a smug smile.

"It was then," I muttered. "I didn't want a man to start interfering in my life. Not when I had spent three centuries working to avoid the exact same thing. I was so angry - I nearly thought of killing you on our wedding night. Tristan Valmont. Scornful, dark, scowling, powerful bastard. You pissed me off. Devastatingly handsome, smug man. You pissed me off with those annoying smirks. You pissed me off because my body craved your touch so badly. You pissed me off that afternoon in the Citadel when you grabbed me by the hair and kissed the fucking daylights out of me. You branded me with your thunder. I tried to ignore it so badly, Valmont. But that was the one time of my life I failed. Miserably. I was struck by how much you respected me. Hated me, yes. But with a grudging respect. I had half expected you asking me to hand over my river and my crown. But you didn't. I saw the way you behaved with me. With a woman who handled the same amount of power as you, a man. Not your inferior, not your submissive. Your equal. I saw the way it didn't affect you even a little bit, the fact that I was as powerful as you. You seemed content with it. Your eyes lit up with admiration at it."

I leaned in and placed a quiet kiss on his lips, and his gaze shone with adoration.

"Sometimes, I was your Queen first, and your wife second. I wondered if you ever felt threatened. I wondered if my power made you feel like less of a man. I wondered if I had to be less of a woman. But you, Tristan Valmont. You. You taught me that the biggest mistake I could do was making myself lesser so that it easier for you to put up with my power. You taught me that a woman like me didn't need to make myself smaller. You taught me that a woman like me needed a man with bigger hands."

Our fingers laced tighter than ever, and I lovingly cupped his cheek as he traced a finger down my jaw, sincerity shining in both our eyes.

"I love the fact that you have such faith in me. I love the fact that you let me fight my own battles, go to my own wars. I love the way you're always there, at my side, ready to help if I need, but never trying to push me me. I love you, Tristan Valmont, because you treat me as your equal. Because you have always, always given me a choice. Not as a gift, but as my fucking right. You loved me when I was a quiet ocean that loved you back. You loved me when I was an inferno that razed you down. You loved me when I was a wasted hurricane that was dying in misery. You loved me when I was a wrecked storm," I said, "even when there was nothing left of me to love you back."

He pulled me closer and wrapped his hand around me, and we held each other as if the world was burning around us.

"I'm going to love you till my heart bursts and my lips are raw and my throat is hoarse," Tristan whispered. "But I'll never stop telling you how much I love you. I want your anger and your madness. I want your sunshine and your darkness. I will take all of you or none at all, woman. I want you. I need you. Like air. Because you make me shiver even from a distance with that wicked smile of yours. And when you pull me close... gods. You make me sense it in every single drop of my blood."

The last word was barely a whisper as he laid bare his feelings, looking at me like the moon and stars shone out my eyes, an amused smile lurking on his lips.

"It's wrong to feel this."

"It is. But it feels so goddamn fucking right that I'm too tired to care," I answered, tugging him to me.

Our lips met in a symphony of love and endless affection, till we both were gasping and out of breath.

"Edwina Tremayne. You have no idea how happy you have made me right now, you beautiful woman. Your opinion of me means more than the sun and stars to me," Tristan said gently, cupping my chin. His expression turned hesitant now, suddenly nervous, making me laugh as he combed his fingers through my hair.

"Yes?"

"Er - there's something else," he said nervously. "I... intended to do this on the night of the Ball - but..." he said softly, wringing his hands. I gave him a teasing smile and then feigned a scowl, crossing my arms. He looked at me with a disbelieving frown, then sighed and reached into his cloak, and pulled out a bunch of Osiria roses, the tips of his ears turning pink. The flowers were still fresh and lovely, dew still clinging to them. I saw that he had picked out the thorns painstakingly.

"Gods, Valmont. They're beautiful," I whispered, taking the bunch of roses and smelling their lovely fragrance of the roses. The gesture made my heart melt. He took a slender rose from the bunch and turned me around to fix it in my hair.

"I love you so much, I wonder how my heart will hold the weight," he whispered, touching my hair lightly as I grinned. "You're my goddess, my religion, my home. You're my Queen. And today, I stand before you, not as a god, but as a man in love."

He dropped to his knees.

"But you would make me feel like a King, Edwina, if-"

He took out a velvet box and pulled it open and I gasped loudly.

"-you married me again. This time for real," he said, his eyes shining as mine glazed over.

The ring was set in aquamarine in a rose gold band. At the top, a crowned phoenix and crowned lion were entwined together in gold, with diamonds sparkling around the band. It was beautiful, breathtaking and absolutely unique. I was hardly aware of the moisture down my cheeks as I pulled Tristan up to me and he stared at me in bewilderment.

"Hells, Valmont. Do you want to ruin me?"

"Yes," he whispered. "I want to ruin you in the most beautiful way possible."

"Good," I said softly. "Because I want that too. Yes, Valmont. I will marry you again," I grinned, and he pulled me into his arms and kissed me right on my lips.

"Look upon each and say the words," said a voice from the trees.

I gasped as Eros appeared on cue, swinging his blue sleeves with a smile on his face. I looked at Tristan with tearful eyes as he gave me a disarming smile in response, and we both turned to each other, grinning from ear to ear.

"I make this solemn promise to you," we began, eyes locked, "to be your lover when you need to be loved, to be your healer when you are ill, to be your army when you go to war, to be your shield when you need defense, to be your ear when no one will listen, to be your comfort when you feel pain."

"I pledge to you that yours will be the name I cry out in the night, and the eyes which I smile into in the morning," I whispered.

"I pledge to you the first bite from my meat, and the first drink from my cup. I pledge to you my living and dying, both equally in your care," he said.

"Do you, Tristan Valmont, take Edwina Tremayne to be your lawfully wedded wife?" Eros asked softly, eyes gleaming as a knowing smile played on his lips.

"By the same blood that flows in both our veins, yes, I take this woman to be my lawfully wedded wife," Tristan swore, unable to control his smile.

"Do you, Edwina Tremayne, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

"By the same blood that flows in both our veins, yes, I take this man to be my lawfully wedded husband," I said eagerly. My husband pulled out two more rings from my pocket and I nearly cried out. It was his first wedding ring, and my mother's signet ring as well.

He went back and got them!

"I went back to retrieve them after I paid my prisoners a visit in the dungeons," he grinned, as I watched the rings in wonder, seeing the light glint on them. He warmly placed his hand on mine "From this day I promise, you shall never walk alone. May my heart be your shelter, may my hands be your home." Tristan looked into my eyes as they sparkled with joy and he slid the first two rings, and then the new one, the third one, onto my finger. I smiled at him through my tears and took the small box out of my pocket. I'd meant to give him the ring for days, but... things happened. He gasped, seeing the box in my hand and the implications, as I opened it and placed the ring on his finger, right above the first one I had placed there, nearly a year ago.

"Moments ago, I was queen of my castle, my servants, myself - but with this ring, myself and what is mine to you and yours... is now converted."

It was slashed diagonally, solid platinum, and the slim accent was filled with sapphires the exact colour of his dark blue eyes. Both the men's eyes widened at seeing it and I chuckled.

"Gods, woman. Thank you," Tristan whispered.

"You may now kiss the bride," Eros laughed, and we flung into each other's arms as I kissed him senseless. We broke apart a few minutes later, flushed and breathless and laughing.

"Edwina Tremayne and Tristan Valmont, I now declare you man and wife. Cursed be he who tear you asunder," Eros smiled.

"I love you, lady," Tristan said finally, words which sent shivers up my skin. "And I'll have you know I practiced that in front of a mirror."

I whacked him on the ear and caught hold of him.

"I love you too, mister."

• • • • •

HARTINGTON CASTLE, ALNWICK, STORMHOLT.

"Put me down. I'm not made of glass," I sulked as Tristan picked me up in his arms, my feet dangling in the air.

"Am I not allowed to spoil you?" he asked innocently, but his eyes sparkled roguishly and he licked his lips as he put me down gently. I gripped the cane in my hands as he slid a hand around my waist, leading me up the stairs to our bedroom.

"Oh. Is it? I was under the impression that... you want to do a lot more than just spoil me," I smirked, words heavy with meaning. He shot me a smug smile of his own as I clutched the bannister tightly in my other hand.

"Ah, yes. There are... quite a lot of things I'd like to do to you, woman," Tristan whispered. "I hope you're not too fond of this dress," he said, leaning into me as I tensed in anticipation.

Before I could shoot back a sarcastic retort of my own, Daniel appeared out of nowhere, a letter in his hand.

"Your Graces," he bowed deeply. "It is good to see you in full health again, my Queen," he smiled warmly. "This came for you after you left Vertgate."

I held out my hand for the letter, curiosity lingering in me. Tristan looked over my shoulder as I tore off the seal. I paused for a moment, raising an eyebrow.

The letter was stamped with the imperial seal of Calchester Citadel. The very symbol of the thirteen gods of the Elder Council led by Thanatos.

I unrolled the parchment, annoyance beginning to take over as I took in the cold, cruel letters scribbled on it.

Lady Edwina Valmont Tremayne,

You are hereby commanded to be present in the Jury Hall of Calchester Citadel, Steffith, tomorrow on the twenty first of this month as the clock strikes midday.

This summon is in reference to your murder of three immortal children of Eric LeVane, as well as your alleged murder of Halette Rotavelle and breaking the sacred guest right under which you assured her safety in your home.

You have failed to appear on the date scheduled for your Trial one week ago. You have not answered a single one of the summons. If you fail to respond to this letter, I will be obligated to take any necessary action that I deem fit, which may as well result in your immediate imprisonment and a consequent public execution.

Sleep well, Lady Tremayne.

The letter concluded with the signature of Thanatos affixed with his title, Lord Paramount and Head of the Elder Council.

"A summons to court tomorrow," I swore, paling as I gripped the cane tightly.

"It's a death warrant," Tristan growled, his voice deepened by anger. "He won't let you leave alive if you enter that hall."

I crushed the paper between my fingers, watching it crumple and turn into ash as I loosed a bit of flame and tossed it to the floor.

"If you go - if he so much as touches you -"

"You don't want me to go," I said quietly, clenching my fists.

"I'll kill him," his voice was deadly steel.

I took hold of his hand, letting my warmth seep into the frost that had settled over his features, into the fury which the sight of the letter had driven him into.

"We'll figure it out," he said softly, letting me rest my weight on him. "Come on."

I put the stick against the wall, and fumbled for a moment with the hem of my dress which had gotten stuck to the wood carvings.

Suddenly, I stumbled, tripping over my foot and knocking an ancient vase and a wine barrel as I fell.

"Uranus, woman! Are you alright?" Tristan dropped to his knees to untangle the bit of thread that clung to the wood carving, but I flitted his hand away.

"Tristan-"

"Come, I'll help you up. Let's get you into bed-"

"Tristan," I said again, my finger shaking.

His head followed the direction in which I pointed, right at the enormous barrel of wine which someone had conveniently placed against the wall. It had suffered a crack with my fall, and dark red liquid seeped out of it.

It wasn't wine.

No, it was darker and more sluggish, and the smell made a wave of nausea hit me right in the gut.

Blood. It was blood.

Tristan slid the barrel from the wall and it left more crimson imprints on the floor as he broke the lids open and let it fall to the side.

She was bleeding, and very barely breathing.

Someone had hunted her down. Someone had found and tracked her down. Someone had ridden her stealthy, wicked hide with holes from a thin dagger, a dagger coated with poison. Someone had heard my prayers for vengeance and delivered my prey right at my doorstep.

It was Celestina.

• • • • •

I wonder who managed to go back and find Celestina from wherever she was hiding. She could be disguised as anyone and yet someone was able to drag her back here. Any guesses who it could be?

And now... coming to the chapter.

IT TOOK EDWINA AND TRISTAN 76 CHAPTERS TO CONFESS THEIR LOVE TO EACH OTHER!!

I must admit I cried a bit, because it took them so fucking long!! But I really hope this time was worth it because they really are a messy relationship - one that needs time to happen. I still laugh reading all the comments from as early as 10 chapters when everyone was like 'please confess your love!!' and internally I was like 'nah bitch not happening anytime soon lol' Btw, credits to Michael E. Reid for inspiring a paragraph in this chapter with her poem, 'Dear Woman!'

And as for the trial, do you think Edwina will attend it? If she does, Thanatos will kill her and if she doesn't, Thanatos will kill her. But then she has Celestina as proof, but making her confess what she did...

...let's just say that the next chapter is boom. It took me literal weeks to write it because it's just explosive and filled with all kinds of expletives too (lol when is it not?) ❤