"It's never too late to live happily ever after."

Chapter 73

Happily Ever After

River's POV

It had been nearly three days since Sam had left the house, taking my letter along with him. All I could think about since his leaving were thoughts of Alastair. How he was doing. What he was doing. I had spent this entire year by his side, always knowing where and what he was doing and when he'd be back to spend time with me. Now here I was, in a home far away from the palace with no contact with him but the single letter he had sent me.

I almost felt like an abandoned housewife and the thought brought a bitter taste to my mouth.

It wasn't his fault; I was aware of that. He was merely trying to keep me safe. Alive. Yet, being so far from him was causing more anxiety than I ever felt in that previously cold cell.

My fingers dug into the dirt as Noah handed me a small plant, its roots sweeping gently passed my wrist as I took it in my palm.

"Put this next to other plant but make sure there's an inch or two between them."

I nodded, placing it gently into the hole I had just dug out. I began covering over with dirt before Noah let out a strange sound of distress.

"Ah, River!" He placed his hand on top of mine to stop my hands from moving, "you're completely burying the poor thing."

He handed me a shovel and put me to digging the holes as he fixed up my mess, brushing off the excess dirt drowning the baby plant. I shook my head and got to work.

Can't mess up digging a hole.

At least, I hoped.

"So tell me more about Alastair," Noah turned to face me as his fingers lightly padded the dirt around another baby plant. "All I really know about the guy is from the folk around here. Is he as intimidating and frightening as they claim?"

I rose a brow at that.

Alastair frightening?

I shook my head at that. "Alastair is anything but frightening," I shoved the shovel into the loose dirt, "intimidating, perhaps. But he's not frightening in the least."

"Hmm," Noah hummed. "Then what's he like?"

I tilted my head at that, brows furring. 

Where do I start?

"Well," I started, "he's incredibly sweet. He's been nothing but kind to me since the moment I met him." My mind wandered to the moment we had first met. How he did nothing but absolutely spoil me for the first few days with pillows and pastries. How he was the one who had first introduced me to chai tea.

I smiled softly to myself.

"He is more than I could ever ask for," I breathed out. More than I could ever dream of.

"I'm happy for you," Noah's eyes softened. "You deserve a man who treats you well."

"And you."

Noah laughed lightly. "Oh, Matthew treats me quite alright."

"Alright?" I quirked a brow.

Noah lowered his head, sucking in a smile.

"More than alright."

I nodded my head at that. "Good, because if he wasn't...oh, he would get it from me."

"Oh?" Noah lifted his head, humor lacing his lips. "Would he now?"

I tilted my head with a drawled look, "yes," before I broke out into laughter, nudging his shoulder.

He laughed along with me as he reached up to pet my head.

"Did we switch roles in our sleep?" He cocked a brow, "since when have you been the overprotective sister?"

I dropped my head into his lap as his fingers continued to lace through my blond locks.

I pressed a finger to his nose with a chuckle. "Since you married the silent killer."

"The silent killer?" Noah pulled my finger from his nose with a tilt to his head.

"You know, like how he silently watches you from the shadows, no words spoken before he attacks you from behind and rips your spinal cord right out of you."

Noah shuddered, his face pulled to a scowl.

"Ew, you're quite morbid, River."

I shrugged. "Well, he kind of is. Not that he actually kills people but he gives off quite a mysterious aura."

"Does he?"

"You can't say you haven't noticed."

Noah cupped his chin and leaned on his knee, nearly toppling on top of me.

"Hm," was all that escaped him.

My head tilted to the side as I heard a pair of footsteps approach us from behind. My head rested against Noah's leg, head turning before my head shot up.

A familiar dark-haired prince met my eyes with a soft smile.

"Alastair," I squeaked, nearly tripping over myself as I jumped from Noah's lap and ran across the garden.

His hazel eyes shone against the bright sun, his lips pulling to a soft smile as he bent down and opened his arms to me. A choked sob escaped my throat as I jumped into his arms, my nose brushing lightly against his neck. I soaked in his scent, his warmth. His arms wrapped securely around my waist as he lifted me off the ground and whispered softly against my ear.

"Hey, beautiful." His voice was so gentle, calming me immediately as I rested my head against his shoulder, nose pressing against his neck.

I choked on another sob and hugged him tightly around the neck, probably strangling him yet he made no move to stop me. My legs wrapped around his torso and his arms dropped to cradle me against him.

After a few minutes of hushed cries and gentle words, I pulled my face from his neck to peer up at him.

"Why are you here?" I asked, confusion lacing my words.

"I got your letter," his thumb swept lightly beneath my eyes, catching my tears on the pads of his fingers. "How could I not come and see you after reading such sweet words?" He leaned forward and brushed his lips against my cheek, igniting flames that nearly shook me as my fingers dug into his shoulders. "I realized something while reading your letter," I tilted my head, "long ago I promised you something."

He balanced me on one arm as he brought his hand to cup my face. I leaned into his touch with a soft breath. Oh, how I missed his gentle touch.

"Recently, I haven't kept to that promise." He continued, "to rule a kingdom together we must have equal roles and me, alone, choosing the royal council. Well, that defies it all, doesn't it?"

Where is he going with this?

"I want you to come back with me," he declared. My eyes widened. "I want you to be beside me, on a throne of your own, choosing our royal council together."

"Alastair, it's too dangerous." My eyes searched his, confusion plaguing my mind. "The whole reason why I am here is because of that. The council-"

"Will not touch you," Alastair interrupted, "while choosing a new council, the old is on hiatus until replaced. They hold no power. They can't touch you. No one can."

"And your father?"

"My father will make himself invisible if he knows what's good for him." Alastair's voice hardened, "he already appears guilty before the court. Any word of him attacking you again and he'll grant himself a trial."

I breathed out a shaky breath. I was in complete disbelief.

"Then...I can come back?"

"Yes, River." His voice softened as he brought my lips to his. "I'm taking you home," he whispered against my lips before tilting my head back and molding my lips gently to his. It was like a mere whisper, barely long enough before he pulled his lips from mine, drawing an annoyed whimper from me.

A bright smile painted his lips as he bent down for a light kiss between my brows.

A voice cleared and I shifted myself in Alastair's arms, turning and facing a seemingly happy blonde. Noah quirked a smile as he peered up at me in Alastair's arms.

"How cute," he cooed and I pouted. His eyes set on Alastair's and his smile dropped a bit. "I'm Noah," Noah stuck out his hand to which Alastair adjusted me in his arms to shake his hand.

"Sam's brother-in-law?" Alastair asked.

"Yes and a friend of River's."

Alastair's eyes narrowed quizzically.

"Alice," I whispered to him.

His head tilted before his eyes widened briefly in realization.

"Aah," Alastair breathed, "the she-he."

Noah gasped and I nearly choked in embarrassment.

"Alastair," I hissed.

"It was needed at the time," Noah spoke, "I'd appreciate if you referred to me as the gender I now claim."

Alastair seemed momentarily stunned before nodding.

"I understand."

That was all Noah seemed to need as his serious expression melted to a more relaxed form.

"Why don't you come inside? It's becoming a bit chilly."

Alastair nodded and followed him inside. Noah led us to the kitchen table and I had expected him to place me in the chair beside him as he began to take his seat but instead he placed me in his lap. His arms wrapped loosely around my waist as his lips skimmed behind my ear.

"I take it that you're treating River well?" Noah crossed his arms as he sat across from us.

"Of course."

His words held a strong sincerity to them that Noah immediately caught onto. Noah flashed a smile and leaned forward in his chair.

"He's such a sweet soul," Noah spoke softly as I blushed and nearly disappeared in Alastair's lap. "He deserves to be treated well."

"And he is," Alastair's thumbs brushed lightly against my hips "he deserves the world and I intend to give it to him."

Noah nodded at that, satisfied with Alastair's response.

We spent the next few hours chattering. Noah and I retold stories of our time together. Though a pretty dark time in both our lives, there was still a time of humor and insanity. Noah laughed and giggled with each hilarious memory, nearly doubling over before he could manage the punch line. I then told Noah of my time with the rebels and how I met his sister. He nearly cried when I spoke of her and near the middle of telling him about her, we had to change the subject. Alastair went to telling him about our mating ceremony. Immediately, his face lit up and he demanded every detail, gushing as Alastair retold everything he could.

I began to slowly drift to sleep in Alastair's arms, my face pressed against his warm chest. His arms tightened around me as he nuzzled behind my ear and whispered something to Noah. Through my drowsiness, I could barely make out a word but watched as Noah got up from his chair and left the room.

"Where's he going?" I mumbled through half-lidded eyes.

"To get you a blanket, love." Alastair leaned down to kiss me on the cheek, "then we're taking a carriage back to the palace."

"Now?" I rubbed my eyes as Noah rounded the corner back into the kitchen.

Noah handed the blanket to Alastair who took to lifting me so he could wrap the blanket around me before enveloping me in his arms and standing up.

"Yes," was all he said as he cradled me to his chest and followed Noah to the front door.

Noah opened the door for us and I leaned down to hug him before Alastair bid his farewell and carried me to the carriage waiting for us in front of the small cottage home. The rider up front stepped off the horse to open the carriage door for us. Alastair nodded his thanks and dipped into the carriage. The door closed behind us and Alastair positioned me carefully in his lap, cradling my head as I blinked at my own fatigue.

"Sleep, love." Alastair coaxed me as he pressed a gentle kiss to my cheek.

I shook my head with a whine.

"No, I want to talk more. We haven't seen each other in so long," I tilted my head back to peck him lightly on the chin. My fingers pulled from in the blanket to wrap around his neck as I turned myself in his lap to face him.

A low growl pulled from his throat, his fingers sinking into my curls as his lips captured mine in a passionate kiss. A moan pulled from my throat, an almost purr-like sound, as his tongue dipped into my mouth and teased me sensually. His fingers dug into my scalp, lightly pulling at my hair as his lips stole my very breath. I could barely think, barely breathe, all I could think about was how perfectly soft his lips felt against mine.

And when he pulled away and his soft hazel eyes laid on mine all I could think of was truly breath-taking he was. My heart pumped hard against my chest, tears nearly collecting along the edges of my eyes as rays of sunlight streamed in from the carriage windows and shone against his olive skin.

Like an angel.

"You're so beautiful."

His eyes softened as the word fell past my lips with no thought. I couldn't even feel embarrassed for stating it. It was the truth and no matter how long we were together I would always wonder why a beautiful prince like him had been chosen for a man like me. I was blessed. Truly blessed.

Alastair's lips pulled into a soft smile as he peered down at me tenderly. His fingers pulled from my locks to brush lightly against my cheeks.

"If only there was a word far greater to describe your own beauty," Alastair's eyes shone against the sun rays leaking in through the windows. His fingers moved oh so gently against my pale skin as I leaned into his touch. "For in all the world, there is no one quite as stunning as you. Both in appearance and soul, you surpass them all. I don't know what I did to deserve you but now that I have you, I'll never let you go." His eyes flashed, tone hardening as if remembering a bitter memory.

"And I to you," I promised. "I'll never leave your side again if I can help it."

Alastair quirked a smile at that and bent down to capture my lips in his once more.

Forever. 

Aww, how sweet! xD My babies are the cutest. The epilogue should be out hopefully tomorrow if not maybe Sunday worst case scenario. The epilogue will take place years later. Just to give you guys a little more closure. I really enjoyed writing this book and it's so sad that it's over but now get excited for the new! More info on my next projects will be in the next chapter. Whelps, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and this rocky roller coaster I took you all on. Love you guys tunzzz!! *blows kisses* <3