Page 145 of Crowned By Roses

“What’s next, Rosie?” Farron says, hands over his own mound of dirt.

“Now,” I say, “we help them grow. The roots of Castletree are touched by the magic of the Above, and they’ve grown deep, across all the surface realms and the Below. So too are these roses: touched by the Above. Now their roots must spread deep. Let them bring magic back to the Enchanted Vale.”

The others nod, closing their eyes, and I follow suit. My magic eases through me and into the earth, slow and gentle at first, probing, as if still nervous from the last time I tried to restore Castletree.

Before, I’d felt Castletree fighting to come back to me. But now there’s nothing. Are we too late?

Then—

An arrow of energy whistles out of me and goes taut, like it’s lodged somewhere sturdy, secure. My magic flows faster, through my heart and veins and into the soil. But it’s not draining me as before. I am a stream of magic, meeting an entire river. Together, we flow into the earth.

It all makes sense now. I thought only I could heal Castletree. But this power belongs to all the Vale. Every blade of grass, every mouse, every falcon. The circle of all living things.

Warmth spreads through me, and when I inhale, I smell salt and sense the sift of sand beneath my knees. I remember the sizzling heat of the hot springs, the first kiss that ever felt like it mattered.

A breeze tugs my hair, carrying the scent of apples and cinnamon; leaves rustle, and pages fly across my vision, filled with inky illustrations of my favorite place in the entire world.

A chill runs through me as cold drops of snow melt on my nose, and I remember how the coldest wing was the warmest place I’ve ever been because I was in his arms.

Something so soft it could only be a petal lands on my hand, and a tear courses down my cheek. Fresh cherry blossoms rained in a room that became my safe place in a strange land.

Brightness presses against my vision, the vibrant glow of what must be gems. I force myself to keep my eyes closed, concentrating on this connection, but I’m still astonished that a realm of darkness could hold so much light.

The last prickle is new. It skitters along my skin, singing of wild magic and open air.

I open my eyes to…

Life.

Everything spins around me: all the seasons, mixing with the bones of Castletree. Bright brown bark and gray stone twine with rushes of water, leaves, petals, and snow. The world is remaking itself.

“Castletree…” I breathe. My magic pulses bright in my heart. “Look!”

Wrenley gasps as a branch blooms above her head, dropping a glowing white fruit into her lap before spinning away. Bright orange and red leaves tangle in Farron’s hair, and a book falls open in his lap. Dayton lets out a triumphant laugh as he’s doused with a splash of water. He sticks a finger in his mouth, grinning. “Salty.”

My laugh joins his, all our magic entwining, stronger than I’ve ever felt it before. Caspian trails a hand over a cluster of fluorescent crystals that erupt from the ground. A tangle of pink, yellow, and white flowers forms a crown on Ezryn’s helm before the wind whips it away with what sounds like a giggle.

As I look at Keldarion, a tangle of bright red roses, petals and thorns tipped with frost, bursts forth around him. His gaze meets mine, so bright the rest of the world fades. Lady of Castletree, he whispers in my mind.

Lady of Castletree. Could it be?

The world still spins as the tree—the castle—grows and grows and grows around us, taking shape. Tree trunks form pillars, and stone grumbles, then collects itself, forming arches and buttresses, weaving with the wood.

Something knocks me on the side of the head before landing in my lap: a small round…bread roll.

I pick it up, and a bubbling, tearful laugh spills out of me. Keldarion notices a moment too late, and when I throw it, it smacks him right in the skull.

The rest of the princes erupt into laughter.

“You let me hit you,” I say weakly.

“Never.” Keldarion shakes his head. “Now I’ll do what I should have done the moment you first walked into Castletree.” He crawls out of his frosted rosebush and kisses me.

I taste stardust on his lips and beautiful magic, sparkling through us, and for a moment, I feel like I’m flying.

“Hey, you should see this,” Farron calls.

I pull back. Keldarion’s hair shines a million different colors, lit by the stained glass behind him. My heart lurches into my throat. I grab his face, smiling so wide I think my face might break with it.