Aprilynne Pike: Destined

“No,” Yasmine said, rising to her feet.

“Excuse me?” Marion said, turning to face the young faerie whose head barely reached her shoulder.

Yasmine raised one eyebrow and stepped up on to the stone bench so her eyes were even with the Queen’s. “I said no,” Yasmine repeated, but loud enough that the legions of ‘lower’ fae who had gathered could hear her. “If you want them stopped, you will have to do it yourself — and somehow, I don’t think that will win you any supporters here today.”

“Tam,” Jamison said, stepping forwards. “Let me do you this final kindness. I don’t mind dying, not for someone as noble as any one of you, much less all four.”

“No,” Tamani said firmly. “You’ve done enough. More than enough.” He raised his voice and addressed the entire crowd. “There has been far too much death here in Avalon already. No one else is dying for me.” He glared at Marion. “Not today.”

“You are preserving Jamison’s life in exchange for your freedom?” Marion said, but she sounded suspicious.

Before Jamison could respond, Tamani bent at the waist in front of the elderly Winter faerie. “I think it’s time I fully take up my role as Laurel’s Fear-gleidhidh and resign my station at the gate and as a sentry.”

Jamison nodded, but he was eyeing Tamani warily.

Tamani returned Jamison’s probing gaze for several seconds before gathering the old faerie up in his arms. “I know this is likely goodbye,” Tamani said. “So thank you, for everything.”

Chelsea was still holding on to David’s arm on one side and Laurel’s on the other, but Laurel pulled away to step forwards and wrap her arms around Jamison too, beginning to believe she really might never see him again — whatever trick Tamani had up his sleeve, he seemed pretty sure of himself. She tried to speak, but words wouldn’t come. It didn’t matter. Jamison understood.

“As for you,” Tamani said, looking up at Marion, who stood with venom in her eyes, “I suspect your days as Queen are numbered.”

Marion opened her mouth, but Tamani spun away, leading Laurel, David, and Chelsea to the gate.

“I wasn’t finished,” Marion said shrilly, her tight control broken.

“Oh, yes, you are,” Tamani said without turning round.

They had taken three steps when they heard Marion’s growl of rage and Laurel turned to see enormous branches flying at them like deadly spears.

“Tam!” Laurel yelled, and he threw his arms over both her and Chelsea as they ducked to the ground.

Dull thuds sounded all around Laurel, and after a few seconds she raised her head. Every gate sentry had raised their shield and stepped in front of the limbs, bearing the brunt of the attack. If it was possible, the cheering from the crowd roared even louder as Tamani stood tall, glaring at Marion, her hands still raised, ready to command nature.

After a moment her hands fell to her sides.

But they hadn’t won yet.

“Can you really get us through without help?” Chelsea asked when they reached the ornate golden gate and eyed the blackness within.

Tamani nodded. “I believe so.”

“Why didn’t you tell us sooner?” David asked.

Tamani unflinchingly met David’s eyes. “I wanted to see you refuse to destroy the gates — knowing what it would cost you.”

David swallowed. “Did you doubt me?”

Tamani shook his head. “Not for a second . Gather round,” he said quietly. “I don’t want anyone else to see this part.”

Laurel, David, and Chelsea made a semicircle around Tamani, who closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out a heavy golden key, studded with minuscule diamonds like those at the centre of the flowers adorning the gates. As he extended it towards the glittering golden bars that stood between them and California, the latch shimmered and shifted like a mirage.

And where there had never been a keyhole before, one appeared.

Laurel watched in wonder as Tamani inserted the key and turned it. With hands that were visibly shaking, he pulled on the golden gate.

It swung open and the entire population of the Garden gasped as one.

“Where did you get that?” Laurel breathed.

“Yuki made it for me,” Tamani said simply, pocketing it again and holding the gate open for them all. “Come on. Let’s go home.”

Laurel paused. Then she took David’s hand and wrapped it round Chelsea’s. After a long moment he nodded and led Chelsea through the gateway and out of Avalon. Laurel took one look back before following. She saw Marion, her face the picture of shock; Jamison, his fist raised in triumph, a roar of cheers and applause surrounding him; Yasmine, still standing on the bench, looking every bit the queen Laurel had no doubt she would one day be.

Grinning, she twined her fingers through Tamani’s and together they walked out into the glittering starlight of California. Laurel considered the words Tamani had just spoken. They were technically true; soon they would be in David’s car, headed towards the house where she lived. But she knew the truth now. With Tamani beside her — his hand in hers — she was already home.

Despite this being a series about faeries, ultimately the question that has always driven the story is, How would a regular human react to discovering real magic in the world? And even more than Chelsea, this question was embodied in David’s character. In some ways, the whole Wings story is about him. And at the end of such an epic adventure, what really does the rejected member of any supernatural love triangle have to look forward to? Especially a human.

What follows is the real and final end — the way I decided to conclude the series before the first book was even written. But because it’s very realistic, it is also unavoidably bittersweet. So if you prefer your endings happy and without blemish, or if you simply love David as much as I do, maybe you should stop reading here.

You’ve been warned.

Dear Chelsea,

Congratulations! I’m so excited for you and Jason. I can’t believe you’re already a mother; it feels like the wedding was just last week. And even though you hated them, I hope little Sophie gets your curls. I always thought they were beautiful. I’ve included a little gift for her. But it probably bears explaining.

Once upon a time, a faerie stole my heart.

What I didn’t know at the time was that she hadn’t stolen it from me. You’d had it on credit for years. But before you could make the final payment, she carried it off. And something I never did understand was how easily you forgave her for that.

But of course, there were a lot of things I didn’t understand about you back then. I treasure the time we spent together at Harvard — you were amazing, every single day, pulling my thoughts away from that faraway island and reminding me to just breathe. I needed that reminder. I still need it. I don’t think you have any idea — especially on those hard nights, when I was afraid to go to sleep, afraid to face the nightmares, and you would just lie there with me, talking into the wee hours of the morning — how often you literally saved my life.

When you moved on — perhaps it’s more accurate to say, when I drove you away — I didn’t know how I was going to keep myself together. I tried to stay busy, buried myself in schoolwork… med school has been good for that! But I came to understand why you left, and eventually I had to face the things that were holding me back. I know how you worried about my attachment to Laurel, but in the end, it wasn’t Laurel I couldn’t get over.