“Look around you, young one.” His voice penetrates through my mind, an ability beasts possess only when they shift. “Look into their eyes as the hope you gave them burns out along with your death. Even if I die, I still win because I broke the curse and stopped the prophecy. I changed fate. I am and always will be…King.”
Meeting the eyes of my mate, I see confidence and strength in her eyes. Placing her hand over her heart, which is smeared in blood, she pushes her thoughts and feelings through our bond.
Everything you need, Karzan, is inside you.
Through the chaos and danger, I can still make out the sweetness of her voice. The way it can soothe away my unease and anguish.
Prying my eyes away from her—even though I don’t want to—I take a deep breath. Shutting out the world, I search within and feel the strength and power of the jungle as it flows through my veins. Igniting my blood with the vitality of the gods.
Flicking my eyes open, I meet the tigers suddenly wary stare, feeling the vibration of my power rocking us both.
“It is time, King Karzan,” the god’s whisper.
“You are wrong, Kircheck,” I leer, beginning to shift again. My bones crack, and my fur changes. “You didn’t win, and you were never the true king.” Forced to take a shocking step back as I change from a wolf to a gorilla, I show my true abilities causing my uncle’s beast to cowers back. “This has always been your ending. The prophecy cannot be stopped.” Grabbing the animal by its fur, I lift its flailing and fighting body over my head for all those around to see. And no matter the paths we take and decisions we make, fate cannot be changed.” Slamming the beast onto my knee, I hear the bones in his back break. Laying before me unable to move, I meet my mate’s eyes.
Nodding her approval and ready for this to be over, I snatch the feline’s head and hold it between both hands, giving Kircheck my final words.
“I feel sorry for you, uncle. You will never know true peace or true love. May the gods have mercy on your soul. Though I will never forget what you have done, I must forgive, because I will not carry your darkness into the new dawn.”
And with a twist of my wrists, I break the curse.
They say that after the fall of the wicked King Kircheck, the sun—that had been hidden for centuries—broke through the darkness like a cloud rolling by. The people of Insula Sacra had finally been freed. After the shock of the broken curse and when the last bit of darkness left the clear skies, the people started to rebuild. For the last time, they gathered the dozens of bodies of those who had fallen during war and built them all pyres behind the castle walls. All, that is, except one.
“She saved me. She didn’t even know my name, and she gave her life for me.” The new queen says as she cries for the woman she never got to know. “Do you think she has found her peace with your father?”
Holding the torch to the dry wood, they watch as the pyre ignites. And through the flames, the rightful king sees his mother and father finally together again.
“Yes. I believe they finally have their eternity.”
It is said that the night the fires burned, the past gave way to the future, and the people began to rejoice. They say for months the echoes of their singing and cheering could be heard, not just throughout their island, but throughout the world…
“Do you hear that, my king?” Listening to the party of their people. “That is the sound of happiness.”
Grabbing his queen, the king pulls her in, kissing her deeply, he whispers, “It is the sound of peace.”
Both looking out over their kingdom from a tree high above, the queen asks, “So what happens now?”
Taking a deep breath, Karzan grabs his mate and reaches for a vine that hangs from a tree, before he jumps and gives his famous yell. He looks to his mate and answers, “We finally live.”
And that’s just what they did.
From the ashes of the past, King Karzan and Queen Janey rebuilt their kingdom. Beasts roamed free, able to shift alongside humans who were able to come out of hiding. Throughout time, it’s said that though the island was still protected by magic, if found, people could come and go as they pleased. For the king and queen did not fear the change; they embraced it. They encouraged it.
“But what is out there?”
“What if we are unwelcome?”
“How would we survive?”
“Can we not stay?”
The people of the island questioned, as they all gathered around the large ship that the king and queen had surprised them with.
“No one has to go.” The queen stated as she stepped forward. “We would never force any of you to leave. This is your home, and we are your family. And because of that, we wanted every single one of you to have the option to stay or go. The world out there is big, and so much has changed since the last time you roamed free. But just like here, while there are always those who stay blinded to change and reject those who are different from them, there are so many who rejoice it.”
“Would we be able to come back?”
“Always.”
And so, the story goes, many left that night in search of what the world had to offer. While the rest stayed and created a new island; a new kingdom, that was ruled and loved by the king and queen of the jungle.
“So, they all lived happily ever after? Did the other beasts make it to the island?” The little girl, with long red hair and golden glowing eyes, asks, bouncing on her grandfather’s lap.
“I think some reached their happily ever after,” he replies, setting the girl down. “While I believe others could still be searching.”
“What of the king and queen? Did they get their happy ending?”
Having heard the girl’s laughter, her mother comes in. Scooping the child into her arms, she causes her to let out a giggle.
“Are you telling stories again, Papa?” The mother asks her father, stars shining in her eyes. Coming to see what all the laughter is about, her husband wraps his arms around them both, ruffling his daughter’s hair.
Wiggling out of her loving parents hold, the little girl jumps back into her grandfather’s arms.
“So, is the story true, papa?”
Meeting the parent’s eyes over the little girl’s head, they all share a smile.
“It’s a legend, my love. And legends always ring with truth.”
I first have to thank my husband. Baby, I fucking did it!! You have been my shoulder to cry on and my biggest fucking fan. When I was ready to throw in the towel and give up, you were there to wipe my tears and remind me why I chose to do this in the first place. Because I love it. Thank you, baby, for taking over and being mom and dad when I was on a deadline. You’re my soul mate, and I’m so damn lucky to have you in my life.
Next, I have to thank my girls Dee Garcia and Hazel Grace. My soul sisters, every single time my crown fell, you ladies picked it backed up, polished it, fixed my hair and put that shit back on my head. And because of that I was able to finish this book. I love you both so much and I’m so thankful to have you both in my life.
To my editor, Cassia… girl, there are no words to express how much you mean to me. Thank you so much for everything you have done. Through pushed deadlines, late night edits, and pure exhaustion you believed and encouraged me the entire time. I’m so lucky to have you not only as the best editor in the whole damn world but as a friend. I love you, girl.