Page 131 of The Mage and His Stolen Prince
Followed by Kit’s, “When did we—weren’t wejust—I’m confused.”
Piece by piece, the world Wilde created for us—for me—fell apart, but we were still together. I ignored the noise and the chaos as I locked eyes with Wilde. “I love you.”
He stared at me blankly, taking a few seconds to register the words. Once he did, his face crumpled into relief so profound it looked like heartbreak. He wrapped his arms around my neck, half-crying as he gasped, “I love you.” Whispering the same words over and over again while he clung to me.
“It’s a good thing I didn’t try to lock you up with the cuffs this time,” I said dryly.
He pulled far enough away to give me a confused look.
“‘I love you’ is the new command phrase. You’d have unlocked yourself a dozen times by now.”
A burning red flushed over his pale skin as he realized what he must have said while we’d been in bed. How he’d already revealed the darkest parts of his evil plot to me.
I laughed and pulled him into a kiss, knowing it would be far from our last.
Chapter Forty-One: Wilde
Present Day, For Real This Time
The Lord of Grimnight’s Evil Lair in the Primary Dimension
In Love
I clung to Treasure, allowing him to control our kiss and for a moment just enjoyed the facts of him. He was alive, he loved me, and that was everything.
“Ahem.”
The rude, phlegmy cough repeated itself two more times before Treasure finally released me to snap, “What?”
We both turned to look at the man standing behind us, and I paled as I saw his face.
The Good Wizard had returned to his former appearance—mostly. The beard was still growing back, and I took some satisfaction in that. He wore a bright blue, wide-sleeved robe covered in gold stars, and a matching pointy hat. Now that he had our attention, he beamed at Treasure and said, “Congratulations on defeating a Great and Terrible Evil!”
Trey stared at him in disbelief.
Even though the Good Wizard didn’t receive the response he expected, he forged bravely ahead. “Your quest is officially complete. The Kingdom Defense Spell protecting the Desolated Lands is renewed for anothergeneration.” He waited a beat, then leaned forward and said, “You should all be proud of this accomplishment. Now, onto more important matters.”
He turned narrow eyes on me. “Wilde, Supposed Lord of Grimnight, Great and Terrible Evil, you are under arrest for violating regulations agreed upon by the Good Wizard’s Council and the Council of Evil—”
“No, the fuck he’s not.” Trey stepped between me and the Good Wizard. “I defeated him, you said so yourself. It’s done.”
“Yes,” the Good Wizard said, contorting his face into a benevolent expression tainted with condescension. “He’s defeatedfor now. I need to take him into custody to prevent him from causing any other chaos.”
“You’re not taking him anywhere.”
I couldn’t escape the Good Wizard. Even if I took the ring off, I didn’t have the strength to teleport again, and he’d just follow me anyway. “Trey,” I murmured. “It’s alright.”
“Shut up, Wilde.”
Perhaps I should have been insulted, but I only laughed and leaned against him for support.
The Good Wizard’s patience thinned as he tried to reason with Trey. “Evil thrives like weeds in the soil. It will return if you don’t uproot it properly. I’m the gardener, allow me to do my job.”
“What is he being charged with?” a new voice asked. Fitz stepped out of the crowd, a book already open in his hands.
The Good Wizard sighed. “Creating an unregulated pocket dimension. Kidnapping citizens to populate it. Time manipulation—”
“Time manipulation is allowed in extenuating circumstances,” Fitz interrupted, “including an un-fated death or to save one’s true love.” He glanced down at me, and I knew he remembered everything—falling in love with me, and that I hadn’t loved him back. He smiled softly and adjusted his glasses, using the motion to hide his own sorrow.
