The Blackglass court lay in ruin.
The Queen was gone. Her throne cracked.
And Thessaly walked out, bloodied, tired, smiling.
She returned to the House of Memory.
Liss met her on the hill.
They didn't speak at first. Just held each other.
Then Thessaly whispered:
"She made me see a perfect world.
One where we had peace. Children. A garden."
"And?" Liss asked.
"I still chose this one. Because it's ours."
Liss nodded.
"Then let's build our garden. Right here."
They kissed beneath the cracked stars. And the House of Memory pulsed with life.