Telling Trixle about her father had been the hardest thing Mara had ever had to do. Trixle hadn't believed her as first; it couldn't have been true after all, her father was always supposed to be there with her. Marx and Emmett had been there for support for Trixle, as well as Mara, knowing full well both girls would need it.

Trixle had found it hard to look into the eyes of Marx and Emmett after they had refused to let her go with them. She had thought if she could have been there that maybe she would have been able to save her father. Mara shared Trixle's feelings with her own guilt of going after Zander instead of staying. 

Clarisse had already known what had happened through her bond to Torlak before anyone told her, but she had still found it impossible to believe. Feeling the emptiness in the absence of her husband had put her into a catatonic state. 

Even when the entire kingdom as well as family and friends had gathered for the funeral within the walls of the fae kingdom, Clarisse still kept to herself. Trixle and Mara had found it difficult to get her to do anything. The sight of Clarisse had broken the hearts of Trixle and Mara, seeing her in a state that was so different from her usual self.

She had seemed frail and broken, her outside appearance had been far from its usual put-together state, and she barely talked to anyone. Days that Trixle and Mara had gotten her to leave their house had only proved torturous for Clarisse when all she had wanted was the silence and comfort of her sanctuary. 

Mara had caught herself wondering what it would have been like if Marx had died. In their newly formed bond, she had been able to feel his pain, and he had felt hers. What would it have been like if she would have felt him die, felt the emptiness that his death would have left behind. It had helped her to grasp what Clarisse had been feeling, and she didn't blame the woman for her state. In fact, Mara had thought Clarisse brave for how she kept going, Mara wasn't sure she would have been able to do the same if she were in Clarisse's place. 

Clarisse knew that in the coming months, after Trixle's graduation, she would have taken over as queen of the fae per Torlak's word. However, Clarisse wasn't sure she would be fit to handle the duties in the time remaining. Faced with a decision to make, Clarisse had stepped down from her own position and named Trixle as queen. 

A week had passed since Trixle's mother had presented her with the title, and Mara sat among a crowd of millions, watching as her best friend took her first steps to become Trixle, Queen of the Fae. 

Mara squeezed Marx's hand, which was interlocked with her own, and she looked to her other side where Emmett was staring up at Trixle in adoration. A small smile crept onto her face as she saw the look on Emmett's. He had really been there for Trixle through everything following her father's death and she couldn't have been happier that Trixle had someone like him. 

Music sounded as Trixle and Clarisse stood center stage, Clarisse had insisted she be present with her daughter, and she be the one to crown Trixle. Mara looked up at her friend and their eyes met. Mara could see Trixle felt the same as she did in that moment, that it was bittersweet. It was the moment she had been looking forward to as a child, the one thing she had learned everything about. But Trixle never imagined it would happen under these circumstances. 

Trixle was the image of perfection and elegance in a floor length aqua gown with full length shimmering sleeves and her long magenta hair pulled into a partial braid down her back. 

As the ceremony went on, Mara couldn't help but focus in on certain words and questions that were asked of the soon to be queen. 

"Do you solemnly promise to uphold the ideals and act in the best interest of those under your rule?" Though Mara had heard variations of the same question, and had even been asked the question herself, the words seemed to hold new meaning in the aftermath of the battle. It made Mara wonder about her decision back in the forest. 

She had made the decision to run after Zander instead of staying by Torlak, had that decision to chase Zander led to Torlak's demise? The decision she had made had been in the best interest for their Realm, but she had found it hard to face Trixle and the rest of the Scantlen family afterwards. She realized that what was in the best interest of the whole, was not necessarily in the best interest for the individuals, and that's where the question, and answer, became a loaded gun.

Would they be able to put their own emotional thoughts to the side and act in the best interest of their people, even if that meant sacrificing something themselves? Would Mara have been able to make the same decision if it had meant leaving Marx there to chase after Zander? Would Trixle be able to make the same decision if she had been in Mara's place and it still been her father, or even Emmett that she would have had to leave behind. 

Mara was just starting to understand the personal sacrifices they all had to endure in order to maintain their positions. Marx, Trixle, even Emmett in his role all had to give up certain parts of themselves in order to selflessly hold their positions. 

"Do you swear to regard your people and this land with the upmost respect?" This time she could feel Marx squeezing her hand, feel his muscles tense up, and she knew what he was thinking. The code only slightly changed for each kingdom, and her mind wandered to his parents and the one time she had been just inside the gates. The way they had regarded their own people, those poor and suffering at the edge of their land, and the promises they must have made when they first took their rule.

They would have promised the same as Trixle now did, the only difference was Mara was sure Trixle would uphold her promise. She wouldn't brush off those below her - those who were struggling; it wasn't in her nature to abandon anyone.

Mara watched as Clarisse stepped forward, pulling herself together for her daughter’s moment and looking as she had when Mara first met her. To look from the outside in, one would never guess the emotional battle going on inside of Clarisse. She held out the crown to present it to her daughter, it was the same crown she had worn since the day she had married Torlak. Tears glistening slightly on Clarisse's cheeks, as she nestled the crown gently on top of Trixle's head before stepping back with a grand gesture towards the crowd, giving them their new queen. 

The crowd rose, a sea or colorful heads flowing upwards before sweeping back down in a bow before their new queen. Trixle's eyes met Mara's and Marx's again, the only eyes still looking up. They hadn't bowed with the rest of the crowd, as they were equals. Mara had seen a small, nervous smile tug at Trixle's lips. Marx gave her his trademark wink, letting her know that everything would be alright. 

The High Council wanted to move quickly with Trixle, if they could have worked around their laws, they would have initiated her sooner. The Council had been on edge ever since Torlak had passed and they felt incomplete with a vital part of their organization gone. However, their laws required all members - save the witch - be crowned king or queen in order to become a full member. 

They had allowed twenty-four hours to pass before they held the ceremony for Trixle in which Mara had acted in place of Torlak. She had presented Trixle with the dagger as well as capturing the flowing blood that Trixle shed for the ceremony. As they had during Trixle's coronation, the words held a deeper meaning and Mara listed closely, taking each of them in again reaffirming the vows she had taken just months ago.

At the end, when she placed the cloak around Trixle's shoulders, Mara had to bite back tears remembering the way Torlak had placed it around her. When the lights were turned back on, Mara had pulled her friend in for a hug. 

"He would be so proud of you. He is proud of you." Mara whispered into Trixle's ears. 

She heard a mix between a laugh and a sob that shook them both and neither wanted to pull away. The embrace had only been broken up when Mara felt a hand on her shoulder, and she had turned to see Makortax standing just behind her.

"He's proud of both of you." Makortax whispered to them. 

Mara nodded her head, she still wasn't used to Makortax's kindness towards her, but ever since the battle when she had saved him, it was like he had become a whole different person. 

Not completely different, from what she could tell he still ran his kingdom as usual, despite her detest of how his people were treated, but he had regarded her differently. He no longer resented Mara or the relationship she had with his son, in fact, he had welcomed it. Even if he had little choice in the matter after she and Marx had taken their steps into solidifying the bond, it had still been nice to get his approval and to start mending their strained relationship. 

Just over a month had passed since their crazy life had begun, and Trixle, Mara, Marx, and Emmett were craving normalcy, though that proved to be another difficult adventure. Not many knew of the real danger their world had been in, but all knew of the death of the Fae King and that Trixle was the new queen.

There wasn't a dull moment, that was for sure, but finally all was quiet again, and they were ready to face whatever lay ahead. No matter what happened, they knew their backs were always covered; there would always be someone there to help them no matter what.

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Thank you once again for choosing to read this story. I'm sorry this last chapter is so short, but at the moment when I don't know what the future of the story will be, this is all I have. 

I am looking to possibly do a third story, but it won't be for a while yet. My plans are to look at Shadow's Edge again and do some editing and hopefully in the middle of that I can think up a basis for a third book. I promise whatever I decide I will post in a separate part in here as well as announce it on my page, so if you are curious to know about another story then either add me if you haven't or add this story to one of your reading lists. If you do that, then you will be one of the firsts to know what's up. Chances are if I make a third I will be adjusting this last chapter and I will let you know about that as well. So just keep your eyes out for anything from me! :)

As always, don't forget to leave your comments below, and if you liked the chapter please consider leaving a vote.

Thank you for everything you have done throughout this series so far! You are all awesome readers. :)