Epilogue

"How is it?" Phoenix asked Roman. 

"Beautiful. Sadie would have loved it," Roman sighed, running his thumb over a rough sketch of Sadie. "There's an anniversary coming up, right, darling?" 

"Yes." 

 "What number?" 

"This will be the second year since they died," Phoenix frowned. 

"Two already? Are you visiting their graves with Cole?" 

"Yes. I'm bringing Talon and Cole is with Greyson." 

Even though she missed their burial, Pheonix was determined to never miss Daisy and Lucas' anniversary date. They were buried on the castle grounds, under the willows. 

"And the project?" Roman asked. 

"We're almost done planning everything," Phoenix shook out any memories. "We'll announce it to the public by the end of the week." 

"The hardest part will be mixing the Lowlands and the Highlands into one people, not just creating houses for people to move into. Are you prepared, darling?" 

Phoenix fiddled with her thumbs and thought about the mass preparation she had assumed after being added to the King and Queen's council a year back. 

"I'm prepared for the worst," Phoenix said. 

"No, you're not," Roman chuckled to himself. 

True.

Phoenix looked up to the ceiling. A heavy weight fell onto her shoulders. She never got over what Corton said, about his leader, and how the leader would be hunting for the Burning Stone. But even after all this time, nothing had come of it. Phoenix hoped it remained that way. 

"You still do that?" Roman asked. 

 Phoenix met his eyes. "Do what?" 

 "Fall silent in memories." 

She nodded; bit her lip. Tore a scrap of dead skin off with her teeth. 

"How's that child?" Roman asked. 

Just thinking about him made her lips perk ever so slightly, "Refuses to call me by my name, still. It's always Wrinkles or moat girl." 

"So Talon is the same as ever. Now, how about a different child?" Roman prompted with a smirk. 

"Not happening," Phoenix enunciated. 

"Not even-" 

"No," she shut down with a nervous laugh. 

Roman sighed in disappointment. There was a pregnant silence that sniffed about the air. 

"Hey, Roman?" Phoenix said. 

"Hmm?" 

Phoenix rubbed her hands together, as though she were standing over a sink and washing them clean. 

"Do you ever feel… touches?" she asked. 

Roman's eyes shot open. "I know I asked for a child but I really don't want to hear about you and him-" 

"No!" Phoenix shouted. "No, I meant feather guidance over your shoulder, soft whispers into the shell of your ear, a looming presence making light suggestions?" 

Roman hummed again while stroking his growing beard. There was a twinkle in his eyes that made Phoenix feel as though he were lying, "I'm afraid not, love." 

Liar. 

Phoenix's head ticked to the side as the strong feeling of disbelief poisoned her senses at Roman's answer. 

"And how are your court appearances going? Do you talk to them as much as you babble with me?" Roman teased to lighten the dampening mood. 

"Talon does the talking," Phoenix said. 

"I suppose that's for the best, you would just scare everyone away, darling," Roman smirked. 

"If the King would stop calling people in and if people would stop showing up, my job would be so much easier." 

Phoenix was beginning to appreciate Talon's fake smile, even if his real one was so much better. 

"It's too bad Cole refused to help out," Roman remarked. 

"You know he's busy." 

"I wouldn't count him going out with Greyson every year to 'explore' our destroyed world as work. It leaves me all lonely when everyone leaves, darling. Won't you leave some cute little ones for me to care for?" 

"I'm not having kids," Phoenix smiled despite herself. "I'll see you later." 

Roman chuckled and muttered something to himself. Phoenix stood to leave; it was time for her to eat dinner with her prince. 

"You really ought to clean down here," Phoenix joked to Roman as she left, gesturing to the piles of books and dust. 

"Don't worry, my rising Phoenix. I have an eternity to do so." 

— 

A letter found abandoned in the corner of a dusty room: 

Bird, 

I miss you. I want the kids back, and our times together. I want my siblings giggling and me hiding a smile.

But right now, in this dusty corner of my room, with the sun blazing down from the large windows, and the greenery stretching beyond, I just miss you, Bird. 

I don't know much about the people or things around me, but I do know this: 

I love you. 

-Cole