Dedicated to @HarleyLaroux her writing is honest to goodness GOALS.
Such an amazing skill, she makes me want to work that much harder.

We appeared in the hall of Julian's home. And as I looked at the surroundings, I felt a warm feeling in my chest.

No matter what, Skryen felt like home to me. I wasn't sure why, if it was the memories or just the distinct feeling of being safe.

I heard the familiar yapping bark and laughed as I saw Woof run down the hall towards us.

I knelt down, opening my arms. "Woof!"

The Pomeranian ran right past me and jumped at Julian's feet. He panted and barked at him until Julian picked him up and scratched his small head.

I frowned at the dog as I stood. "Traitor."

Julian laughed.

I crossed my arms as I looked at Julian with the small dog in his arms. "The look suits you."

He smiled as he scratched him behind the ears. "I don't know why he's taken such a liking to me."

I recognized the wave of laughter and squeals that carried through the house. "Well, it sounds like my parents are having fun."

Julian placed Woof on the floor. "I swear they've been worried about you."

I followed Julian through the house and was met with a large hug as soon as I walked through the kitchen.

"Gods," the young woman breathed. "You're safe!"

I hugged Naida back. I recognized her and the new energy within her immediately. "Yes, we're safe." It felt strange to say it.

Julian cleared his throat. "Her parents are outside?"

I looked at the closed door that led to the outside patio. "Are they all right? I hope I didn't burden you both with them, I didn't know where else to go-"

Naida nodded, pulling away. "Yes, of course! They're absolutely fine!"

Julian looked at his sister suspiciously. "Your voice is higher than usual, Naida, what did you do?"

"What?" She chirped.

I looked at her too. Since Julian did mention it, her voice was unusually raised a couple of octaves.

She gnawed on her lip. "Well, you see, your parents, Emmy, they were a little sad so I gave them a pick me up."

I looked at the table next to us and saw an opened bottle of wine with two empty glasses. "What is that?"

She shrugged sheepishly, still chewing on her bottom lip. "I gave them a special wine."

My eyes widened. "Special wine?"

Julian didn't move. "Naida, you didn't-"

Naida shook her head. "It's safe, I promise. It's really safe. They're fine, they've loosened up, you know, a bit, a lot."

I moved with Julian toward the closed patio door.

"They were saying they'd never been skinny dipping," Naida squeaked.

Julian opened the door widely towards the outside grounds. The sound of splashing and laughter became louder.

Naida continued. "And one thing led to another and-"

As soon as I met him in the threshold, Julian's large burly arm covered my eyes, pulling me away from the door. "Hey!"

"Emylin," Julian was holding back his laughter as he led me away with my eyes still covered. "Come with me to the study, won't you?"

I grabbed at his arm. "Julian, what are you doing?"

Julian spoke over his shoulder as he wrestled me away. "Naida, kindly wrangle up the naked humans and get them dressed."

Now my voice screeched, "What?"

All sound ceased and Julian released me. When I came back to my senses, I realized we weren't in the kitchen anymore, we were in the study. The same study Julian and I had spent countless nights reading our books digging for information that ultimately we did not need.

Julian laughed. "They'll be fine, they only need to sleep it off. They will have a massive headache afterward and think it was all a dream."

I laughed too, sitting heavily on the chair opposite him in the center of the room. "Thank you, I don't think I could handle seeing that."

He smiled, the one that showed his genuine joy. "You're welcome, Emylin."

I cleared my throat. "So what happened after I left here? You went to the dungeons?"

He nodded. "After your mother practically drowned me throwing water on me to wake me, Kymra and I went to the dungeons. Kymra exhausted herself breaking the seals and fighting the guards with me to release Asmo. That's where I found Azazeal. He was thrashing around in his chains frantically calling for you. I remembered him from the mansion and knew he would protect you since Robyn's magic was dead. When I released both of them, they led me to you."

"Where's Kymra? Is she with you?"

Julian shook his head. "She was for a time but now she's back home with her family."

I sighed as I leaned back in the black leather chair. The dying sunlight of the evening made the sconces of the study start to light up the room with their own warm glow. "It's over. It's actually over. We did it."

He shrugged. "Almost."

I rolled my eyes as I stood and walked over to him. "We had a victory, Julian. We defeated Robyn, he's gone. Damien is back. Your parents' murderer is dead."

A saw a small smile quirk his lip. "I suppose we do have a victory."

I smiled as I placed my hands on his shoulders. "He's gone, Julian. Truly gone. He can't come back."

Julian tilted his head. "How can you be so sure?"

I dropped my hands as I walked away. "I had his life in my hands. I could feel it pulsing, breathing as I pulled him from Damien. I felt his life force, I felt his grief, his anger and then he disappeared. He didn't move on, he didn't stay he was just ... gone." I looked at him. "As if he never existed in the first place." I shook my head. "I could have granted him his wish, I know I could have, I know I have that kind of power within me. But I didn't." I swallowed and looked at him. "Does that make me a bad person?"

Julian shook his head as he crossed the room. "Not at all. He didn't deserve your kindness, Emylin. Not after what he did to everyone. Especially to you."

I wiped a tear as it fell.

He growled, taking my hand and pulling me towards him in a massive hug. "Come here."

Instantly, I felt comforted. I breathed in his distinct scent of spice and sunshine. "Julian," I said into his chest. "I don't even know what I could do to thank you. For helping me, saving me like no one else could."

I felt his hand awkwardly reach for my hair then finally rest on my shoulder. "It was an honor, Emylin. I'm sorry I didn't believe you about Damien. If anyone should have, it should have been me."

I shook my head. "You didn't know."

"Regardless," he growled in anger. After a moment, he cleared his throat. "I know how you can thank me," I heard his deep voice reverberate through him. "Visit Skryen. Whenever you get bored up there in that fancy ebony tower of yours come visit us peasants."

I scoffed then sniffled. "You're ridiculous." I wiped another tear, not letting him go. "You mean so much more to me than that."

"You never answered my question from last night, Emylin." He paused. "What am I to you?"

I laughed. "You're my magic battery."

He laughed too. "What else?"

I still couldn't look at him but I didn't want to let him go, either. I was a moth to a very dangerous flame. "My teacher."

"Hmm, what else?"

My breath hitched when I met his eyes. "You're a shameless flirt."

He laughed out loud as he watched me.

I looked at his storm-grey eyes. "We're the last of our kind." I could feel the energy sizzle between us.

He nodded. "So it would seem."

I shook my head. "I won't tell anyone about you if you don't want me to."

He looked like he was deep in thought for a moment. "That might be best."

I swallowed. "You're my friend, Julian." I watched his eyes. "And I'm sorry if I ever led you to believe otherwise. I love Damien. It has always been Damien."

He gave a small laugh. "I know. You said it enough times." He stepped back and walked to a small cabinet near the wall. The electricity between us died. "I'm glad that my little lie the other night didn't dissuade you."

I frowned, following him. "What lie?"

He shrugged as he poured the gold liquid content of a bottle into two glasses. "The one I told you while we danced. I had to have you get upset enough to leave the party. It worked but I guess Robyn had plans of his own instead."

Oh. That lie. "That you're in love with me? That was a lie?"

He shrugged again. "I had to tell you something to upset you, to make you want to leave. Kymra and I were going to switch you back but by the time we made it to your room, Robyn dragged me out on a hunt for a group of fae causing a disturbance. I had to play along. By the time we made it back, you were already at the Keep."

I watched him as he took the drinks in his hands and handed one to me. "Did he ever mention why you had to hunt them?"

He shook his head. "I knew better than to question Robyn at the time. He alluded to my parents. I had to play along."

He didn't know what really happened on the balcony that night, why I was taken to the Keep. I shook my head, preferring not to think about it.

And that lie he mentioned ...

It wasn't a lie. I could tell that much from his energy. And despite everything, he wasn't sad or angry, he wasn't jealous - he understood.

I watched him, and slowly realized what he was trying to do, why he had to walk away and pour himself a drink. I understood why he needed to change the subject.

I took the small glass as he handed it to me, giving him the distraction he wanted.

"To our victory."

I smiled as I touched my glass with his. "To our victory."

"As short-lived as it may be."

I rolled my eyes. "We can worry about the fall out after the party." I looked at him over the glass as I placed it to my lips. "You're going to the party, right?"

He shrugged. "Court parties aren't really my thing."

I set my untouched glass down on the table next to me and crossed my arms. "You have to. I won't take no for an answer."

He scoffed a laugh. "I may have to listen to you. You'll knock me unconscious again."

I narrowed my eyes. "It was to protect you."

"Yeah," I could hear the sarcasm in his voice. "It wasn't revenge for lying to you."

I shook my head. "Come to the party and I will forgive you for lying to me."

He looked like he was weighing his options.

I clarified. "For lying to me the entire time we've known each other."

He chuckled and finished his drink in one large chug. "All right, fine. As long as I get one dance." He smiled. "And the promise you'll visit me. At least once a month."

"Why do I feel like this is going to turn into a bargain?"

He only laughed.

"Once every two weeks," I countered. "And to make sure I'm covered, just a friendly visit."

A mischievous smile played his lips. "How friendly?"

I groaned. "You faerie men - actual friendly visits- as friends, none of that other stuff."

"Are you sure?" he asked. "I've been told by many women I'm quite good at the 'other stuff'."

"Fine," I sighed. "Since you insist, I guess. I'll give in." I turned from his shocked expression and made my way out of the study. "I will go back to your original terms," I quipped. "Once a month. No 'other stuff'."

He laughed as I reached the doors. "As long as you can keep your hands off me."

I snorted. "Bite me, Lord of Skryen."

"You have yet to tell me where, Alteaza."

[A/N]:
Yes, your eyes do not deceive you, she is walking away. Yes, it actually happened. The decision was made. That being said, please, don't curse me out, no fighting.
*braces for the mob, anyway*
Not much left to go now. :)
Thank you again for your support! Love you all!