I open my eyes and am greeted by a bright light.

I'm alive? Huh.

An overwhelming amount of bittersweet pleasantness surrounds me.

I can't bring Emily back and just thinking about her tears me apart, but I do know Saul won't hurt anyone ever again and that brings an overwhelming peace of mind.

"My queen!" I hear Leeza somewhere to the left of me. "You're awake."

I'm filled with relief that Leeza is there. I missed that sylph.

My head hurts. In fact, everything hurts. A strangled out groan escapes my lips as I try to sit up. Down to my bones aches, and my body screams at me as I move.

"Where is Alvar?" I ask through grit teeth.

"Lucy, I was so worried," Mom's voice is near, "If it wasn't for Alvar giving you his Cursed blood again you wouldn't be here."

Alvar gave me his blood?

Just as he gave me his blood long ago when I was dying in my mother's womb and it healed me.

"Mom, where is Alvar?" I ask, my eyes are starting to adjust to the light. I'm in my room at the palace.

"The people of Underland are returning now that the threat is gone," Mom say, refusing to answer the urgency of my question. "They are here to celebrate you. Their queen and the savior of Axus."

"They think I saved Axus?" My voice almost squeaks.

Damn. This is going to be incredibly difficult, I'm not the type of person who is comfortable with hero worship.

"Without you Underland and Axus would be lost," Leeza says, as if she's read the embarrassment in my face. "You may not feel it, but you are the hero of our world, and the hero of Earth too." Leeza chuckles. "How does that make you feel?"

"Terrified," I mutter, "now where is my husband?" I search my room.

"Lucy, there's something you need to know," Mom says, her face twisted in a cringe of sorts as if she doesn't want to talk about this, "Alvar is leaving."

"What?" I scramble out of the warmth and softness of my bed and realize I'm wearing only a silky nightdress, but I don't care. Let them think their queen has gone mad, running down the halls in her nightdress, I need to get to my husband!

"Lucy, stop." Mom grabs my hand. "He's a monster," Mom says, "many of his people don't want him to be king anymore. Don't you see? I don't want you to be with him either!"

So she'd learned she'd sold her daughter off to be married to a beast instead of a man and was uncomfortable with it? How silly it was that only after that knowledge she doesn't want me to be with Alvar?

"Had I known—" Mom begins, trying to place her arms around me.

I pull myself away from her, my body rigid and cold. How dare she?

"He's a hero," I state, glaring at her. "He saved his world and ours too."

"A world that wouldn't have been in jeopardy if he didn't exist," Mom mutters and she narrows her eyes at me suspiciously. "You're not in love with him, are you?"

"Mom, I am in love with that man. If he's leaving, I'm leaving." How can she be upset at me about my being in love with the man she set me up with?

Mom rolls her eyes. "Lucy, think sensibly. You don't have to lower yourself like that. You're being crazy!"

I'm the one who is crazy now? How ironic life is...

"I'll do what I please, I'm the queen after all. You insured that," I say to her.

"A queen whose best interest politically is to remove herself from her Cursed husband," Leeza objects, her feathers are ruffled with annoyance.

My jaw could drop to the ground. I can't believe both Leeza and Mom are in agreement on this. It makes sense though. I remember when Leeza first told me about the Cursed and how much she'd feared him.

"Where is the king?" I demand.

"In the ruins that were his chambers," Leeza says, her voice short. "But I'd think long and hard about what I just said."

I dismiss her curtness and hurry from my quarters, brushing past Grey as I do so.

"Your Majesty, where are you going?" Grey calls out after me, but I can't stop.

Fletch is outside the door of Alvar's quarters. He's wearing a traveling pack over his shoulder. He must be going with Alvar.

"How are you, Queen Lucy?" he asks me warmly.

"Is Alvar inside?" I ask.

"Why, yes, he is, but, my queen, I don't think you should go in." Fletch stares at the ground suddenly.

"What do you mean?"

"He's not dressed," Fletch states.

"I'm his wife and don't care if he's stark naked in there! I'm going in!" I say, stomping my foot and giving an ironic laugh, probably sounding like a crazy person and looking like one too. There is a rage burning in me, I feel over how these people whom had been loyal to Alvar for years suddenly weren't because he was a Cursed.

I push past Fletch and throw open the door. Instead of a man I'm in the presence of Alvar's beast form.

"Alvar, you can't be serious about leaving." My words are an accusation more than a request, but I don't care. He's going to stay with me or I'm going with him. It's that simple.

Grey, who is still behind me catches sight of Alvar's beast and evacuates the room. Fletch had meant those words more for Grey's benefit than mine, I realize. Even Grey is afraid of him.

"Lucy," his voice is dark and deep as a beast. He turns his magnificent head to face me and he lays it down near me. "It is pleasing to see you're awake, my love."

"Yes, and I was expecting you to be there when I woke up," I say, "What are you doing in here in this form?"

Alvar changes back into his human self, but keeps his distance from me and this makes me scared. What's going on?

"I'm sorry, it's taking more and more effort to remain human," he admits.

"What does that mean?" I ask, and a knot forms in my gut. Does he mean what I think he means?

"Lucy, you're going to make a wonderful queen," Alvar says with a pained smile. "All you need to do is distance yourself from me. You are Queen Lucy the Fireblood, slayer of the tyrant, and rescuer of Axus. That's what your people are saying about you."

"I'm tired of people not answering my questions like I don't have the emotional ability to take it," I say, ignoring the silly title, but then I pause for a moment thoughtfully before saying, "And maybe I will cry when I hear the truth, but that damned sure doesn't mean you need put off telling me it. I'm ready to be hurt. So tell me the truth. What is going to happen to you? Are you giving up?"

Alvar eyes glow dark red and he closes them as if keeping his monster at bay. I know when he stressed it is harder to stay human, and that is what is happening.

"You're all I have, Lucy," Alvar says, "There are those in the kingdom willing to forgive me and understand, but most do not have that kind of compassion... and it's understandable."

"Alvar, I—I can't rule this place without—without you," I stammer, and fight back the tears. I bite my lip and shake my head at him. "You can't leave me alone here. You're my husband. You deserve to be the king. You can protect Underland. You're the only one I know who has that power. I don't have anywhere near the power you have."

"I won't ever leave you, Lucy, I'll fight for you when you need me to," Alvar says. "But I can't reign as king. I'm a Cursed and I can't live here with you. I've done too much. Killed to many people..."

I can't stop myself anymore. He's standing there ravaged in guilt and self-loathing and I want to empower him with my passion and love. I rush to him and wrap myself about him, kissing his neck, his strong jaw, and then the scar on his face before reaching his lips.

"I'm your wife, don't you dare leave me," I whisper between my kisses on his perfect lips. "Don't you dare!"

He gathers me up against the warmth of his hard chest and welcomes me in. "You drive me mad, woman!"

"Get used to it, because I'm not letting you go anywhere," I say dryly, before slipping off my dress. "And you better stay human, because I'm still mad at you for sending me over the Bridge without asking my permission, and we're not going to make things right unless we make love."

"Let's make things right then," Alvar growls with approval, effortlessly grasping me by the hips and pulling me up so I can wrap my legs around his waist.