My Stepmother Poisoned Me Into a Monster — But Her Curse Unlocked a Hidden Kingdom’s Darkest Secret
Part 2
You tricked me, I spat, my voice shaking in the sudden silence of the crystal pavilion.
I demanded to speak to the Fay King immediately.
The man executed a perfect, mocking bow.
You’re looking at him, he said, his voice dropping its casual tone and taking on the weight of ancient power.
His name was Tyler, King of the Silverwood Court.
He had orchestrated this entire encounter just to trap me here.
I begged him to let the sisters go.
He claimed he couldn’t, that their eldest sister had bargained with him and lost.
I offered a new bargain.
I told him to give me a chance to earn their mercy.
Tyler’s eyes glinted with dark promise.
He offered me three trials.
If I completed them all, the sisters and I could return to the mortal realm.
If I failed, he would transform us all into trees to decorate his gardens for eternity.
I had no choice but to agree.
The pavilion instantly dissolved around us.
It was replaced by a grand banquet hall.
A long table sat in the center, bearing two elevated goblets.
One was crafted from blinding gold.
The other was battered, humble wood.
Tyler lounged in a chair at the head of the table.
He told me I had to choose a goblet to drink from.
Only one was safe and poison-free.
I knew Fay could not lie, but they were masters of deception.
I asked him if the golden cup contained poison.
He deflected, offering only riddles.
I asked if the poison in the cups was strong enough to kill even a Fay King.
Yes, he admitted carelessly.
My mind raced.
He had just confirmed there was poison in the cups, plural.
Both the gold and the wooden goblet were deadly.
But he had also sworn that I had a safe option.
Tyler smiled, warning me I had only thirty seconds left.
I thought about the illusions he cast so effortlessly.
I closed my eyes and ran my hands wildly across the empty center of the table.
My fingers brushed against something cold and rough.
An invisible stone goblet.
I grabbed it, raised it to my lips, and drained it completely.
Tyler’s look of profound annoyance was the only confirmation I needed.
I had guessed right.
But drinking from the Fay realm still carried a heavy price.
The banquet hall began to spin wildly around me.
The ground rushed up to meet my face, and everything faded to black.
When I finally opened my eyes, the dizzying scent of roses filled my lungs.
I was lying on the ground, trapped within towering walls of impenetrable thorns.
But as I stared down the endless, twisting corridors of the hedge maze, I had to wonder—how do you escape a trap designed by a King who controls every illusion?
Part 3
Megan pressed her bleeding palms against the impenetrable thorns of the towering hedge wall.
The dizzying scent of blooming roses hung thick in the cool twilight air, masking the metallic tang of her own blood.
She had been walking for hours, her boots dragging across the manicured grass of the sprawling labyrinth.
Every turn looked identical, an endless repetition of pristine leaves and razor-sharp briars stretching toward the amber sky.
Tyler had promised her freedom if she survived three trials, but he hadn’t explained the rules of this second game.
She threw her weight against the nearest barrier, hoping it was merely an illusion.
The thorns bit deep into her shoulder, tearing the coarse brown fur that covered her skin and drawing a sharp gasp.
The pain was vividly real, grounding her in the nightmare of her cursed existence.
What are you doing, child?
Megan spun around, her clawed fingers curling into fists as she searched for the source of the raspy voice.
A tiny old woman sat perfectly still on a weathered stone bench that hadn’t been there a moment before.
She was dressed in drab rags that stood in stark contrast to the vibrant beauty of the garden.
Her face was a roadmap of deep wrinkles, and her cloudy eyes held an expression of profound apathy.
I am trying to get out of this maze, Megan explained, gesturing vaguely at the towering walls.
You would need to find an exit for that, the old woman replied.
That is generally how mazes work.
Megan gritted her teeth, struggling to suppress a surge of helpless frustration.
Can you show me the way out?
Megan dropped to her knees, clutching the cold edge of the stone bench.
The old woman paused, turning slowly to fix Megan with a look of infinite boredom.
I would, but that sounds awfully tedious.
Please, I really need to get out.
Yes, yes, they always need to get out.
The old woman picked a stray leaf from her faded skirt.
Who are they?
A sea of faces, all identical in their panicked desperation.
Have you met many people in this maze?
I have met them all, because I am bound to this place.
You are stuck here?
Indeed, child.
And out of all these people, who managed to get out?
None.
The single syllable hung heavy in the damp air.
Megan swayed backward, grabbing the thorny wall to steady herself.
There has to be a way.
Oh, it is not so bad once you get used to it.
Why do you not simply leave, if you know the way?
I cannot.
The old woman let out a long, rattling breath.
The Fay King decreed that I must stay here until the end of my days.
Why?
Because he wants me to cry.
She stated it as simply as commenting on the weather.
He wants you to cry?
Indeed, he longs for my tears specifically.
And you will not just try to cry?
Of course I tried, but you have to actually feel something to cry.
And I have long since stopped feeling anything at all.
Megan realized this was her chance.
If Tyler wanted this woman to cry, making her cry was likely the key to breaking the binding.
She took a shaky breath, preparing to dig into the deepest wounds of her past.
I was seven years old when my mother died, Megan murmured.
She was everything good in my world, the only person who ever looked at me with true affection.
When she left me, I had no one else to turn to.
My father could not bear to look at me because my plain face reminded him too much of her.
So when he brought home his new wife, Brenda, and her perfect daughter, Heather, I thought my prayers were answered.
I thought, finally, I might have a family again.
She let her voice break slightly.
But I was completely wrong.
Brenda gave all of her love to Heather, treating the golden girl like a precious jewel.
I watched from dark doorways as they embraced, as Heather received every kindness I had ever dreamed of.
One day, a respected beta came to court me.
For the very first time, someone saw past my plain appearance to value my clever mind.
But Brenda could not bear the thought of my success overshadowing her precious daughter.
She brought me a cup of warm milk, smiling so sweetly as she offered it.
And I, so desperate for her maternal approval, drank every poisoned drop.
When I woke up the next morning, I was trapped permanently between forms, neither fully human nor fully wolf.
My own pack banished me immediately.
For three agonizing years, I have lived entirely alone in the deepest parts of the wilderness.
I have watched innocent children run from me in screaming terror.
I have been accused of horrific crimes I did not commit, hunted like the monster I have become.
By the time she finished her harrowing tale, hot tears were streaming steadily down her furry cheeks.
But Carol’s expression remained perfectly, maddeningly blank.
The old woman crossed her frail arms.
That is it?
That is your great, sweeping tragedy?
You do not understand, Megan protested, a spark of indignant anger flaring in her chest.
She pushed back her heavy hood, fully revealing the grotesque reality of her cursed face.
Carol’s cloudy eyes widened slowly, taking in the full extent of Megan’s monstrous appearance.
Then, incredibly, the old woman began to laugh.
She laughed and laughed, a rusty, wheezing sound that echoed loudly through the silent maze.
She pointed at Megan with one gnarled, trembling finger.
Oh, simply look at you, she wheezed between intense fits of laughter.
Crying so pathetically over a little bit of fur upon your face.
A little bit?
Megan protested, her cheeks burning with furious humiliation.
You say that like it is something truly tragic, you silly little thing.
Carol doubled over on the stone bench, her frail frame shaking violently as she gasped for air.
And then, finally, tears of pure, unadulterated laughter began to stream down her deeply wrinkled cheeks.
Tyler materialized beside the bench in a sudden swirl of silver mist, a delicate crystal vial already in his hand.
With practiced efficiency, the Fay King caught the sparkling tears as they fell from Carol’s cheeks.
Well, Tyler said, turning to Megan with an expression of grudging admiration.
You did manage to make her cry, I suppose.
Congratulations, you have passed the second trial.
The towering hedge maze dissolved around them instantly, melting away like sugar in hot water.
The old woman continued laughing at Tyler’s deeply annoyed expression.
Then, with a sound exactly like crackling flames, Carol burst into a cloud of thick, aromatic smoke.
From the ashes emerged a magnificent phoenix, its feathers blazing with vibrant gold and crimson light.
The magnificent bird locked its burning eyes onto Megan for one brief moment before taking flight into the twilight sky.
Over the next several weeks, the Fay King took it upon himself to show her the endless wonders of his hidden realm.
Every morning, Megan would ask him nervously if her final trial had begun.
And every morning, Tyler would distract her with a new, breathtaking marvel, waving her concerns away.
Time moves differently in the mortal realm, he assured her repeatedly, his silver-blue eyes holding her gaze.
By the following week, Megan found herself asking about the third trial less and less frequently.
She was given her own lavish chambers, decorated in soft silks and warm colors that made her feel safe.
A cheerful little sprite named Brian became her constant attendant, bringing her elaborate meals that tasted like childhood memories.
She and Tyler spent long, quiet afternoons exchanging clever riddles and intricate wordplay in the sunlit courtyards.
You think entirely differently than the others who have come to this realm seeking glory, he told her one evening.
I find you completely intriguing.
Megan felt a profound, unexpected warmth spread through her chest at his quiet admission.
She had lived so long believing she could inspire nothing but disgust and horror in others.
To be found intriguing, to be valued for her mind by a being of such immense power and beauty, felt intoxicating.
Perhaps that was exactly why she started feeling so dangerously at home in the Fay Court.
She began to forget the harshness of the mortal world, the cruel taunts of the villagers, the coldness of her father’s house.
Here, her furry face and red eyes did not matter.
Here, she was Megan, the clever human who could match wits with the Fay King himself.
But the comfortable illusion of her new life shattered completely the very next afternoon.
Megan was wandering near the great fountain in the Rose Court when she heard the high, musical voices of the pixies gossiping.
Poor mortal princesses, one pixie chimed with mocking sympathy.
Still dancing all alone in those dark woods, night after agonizing night.
Another pixie tilted her head.
How much longer do you think their fragile little human bodies will last?
Oh, not very long now, the first pixie giggled cruelly.
No one is ever coming back to save them.
The cruel words hit Megan like a bucket of freezing ice water, shocking her system.
The princesses.
The dancing, dying sisters she had sworn a solemn oath to save.
She pressed herself tightly against the cold marble pillar, deeply horrified by her own selfish complacency.
She fled the courtyard before she could hear any more, the pixies’ tinkling laughter following her like a physical blow.
She wandered the vast, twisting corridors of the palace in a blind daze, her chest tight with crushing guilt.
Eventually, she found herself in a secluded, quiet part of the garden she had never explored before.
Rows of magnificent golden trees lined a peaceful grove, their branches heavy with fruit that gleamed like captured sunlight.
They are the King’s collection of fallen champions, Brian stated matter-of-factly, appearing beside her.
You are looking at all the brave, foolish humans who came to save the dancing princesses before you arrived.
Megan stared at the golden trees in absolute, paralyzing shock.
Each trunk represented a failed hero, trapped forever in silent immobility.
That evening, when Tyler appeared in her chambers carrying his usual crystal chess set, she was completely ready for him.
I want to take my third trial, she demanded firmly.
And you will, he replied smoothly.
When it pleases me to administer it.
The princesses are actively dying, Megan snapped, her voice sharp with desperate urgency.
While I have been sitting here playing silly games, they are dancing themselves into the grave.
Though surely you will not refuse me one final dance before you begin your search, Tyler asked softly, extending his hand.
Megan shook her head vehemently, trying to ignore the magnetic pull of his presence.
I need to focus entirely on the trial, she attempted to refuse.
What harm could one simple dance do?
Tyler interrupted, taking a slow step closer.
Before you inevitably win and leave me here forever.
Despite her better judgment, she found herself allowing him to lead her onto the smooth crystal floor of the pavilion.
They began to move together, a complex dance that required absolutely no physical touching.
I have taught you very well, Tyler murmured, his intense gaze never leaving her face as they circled one another.
I should continue searching for the exit, she whispered, her resolve wavering dangerously.
For what, exactly, I wonder, he smiled, a sad, knowing expression crossing his perfect features.
What is it you truly need to return to that miserable home of yours?
Before she could formulate an answer, he waved his elegant hand, and the world shimmered violently around them.
The breathtaking crystal ballroom remained, but absolutely everything else changed in a heartbeat.
The harsh, rhythmic clanking of heavy iron armor brutally replaced the ethereal Fay music.
The pungent scent of nervous horses and unwashed bodies entirely overpowered the delicate perfume of night-blooming flowers.
Craig’s brutal, unforgiving court suddenly materialized around them like a suffocating nightmare.
This is exactly what awaits you in the mortal realm, Tyler said quietly.
Suspicion, hostility, a cruel world that sees you as absolutely nothing but a terrifying monster to be hunted.
The bleak vision slowly faded, returning them to the quiet safety of the crystal ballroom.
But you do not have to go back to them, Tyler continued, stepping into her line of sight.
You could choose to stay right here.
As your eternal prisoner, Megan snorted bitterly.
As my Queen, he replied, his voice dropping to a low, desperate register.
Megan stumbled backward slightly, staring at the incredibly powerful Fay King with wide, disbelieving eyes.
Rule this realm beside me.
Never again will you have to apologize for what you are.
You do not truly mean that, Megan whispered, her red eyes welling with fresh, stinging tears.
I know that in my many centuries of existence, no one has ever made me wish I were whole, he murmured.
Before she could press him to explain, he waved his hand one final time.
The world shimmered brightly, and suddenly Megan was standing before an enormous mirror framed in polished silver and starlight.
The reflection staring back at her was not the cursed, furry creature she had grown so accustomed to hating.
It was herself from before the curse, but wonderfully, impossibly perfected.
Her skin was smooth and entirely unmarked by coarse brown fur, glowing with radiant health.
She wore a breathtaking gown of spun gold scattered with tiny, brilliant diamonds.
This is exactly how I see you, Tyler said, appearing behind her beautiful reflection in the silver glass.
This is who you truly are underneath the magic.
Hot tears gathered and fell as Megan stared hungrily at the stunning vision of her true self.
You could look exactly like this forever, Tyler promised softly.
Never again would someone you love choose another person over you.
Stay with me, Megan.
Be my Queen, and be my absolute equal in all things.
Megan turned away from the intoxicating mirror to face the King directly.
The offer was absolutely everything she had ever dreamed of possessing since the day her mother died.
No more hiding in the deep woods.
No more shame burning in her chest.
No more crushing, solitary loneliness.
Her voice came out barely above a broken whisper.
And the six sisters?
What of them?
Tyler stepped closer, his brow furrowing in genuine confusion.
Why would you sacrifice your own happiness for complete strangers?
Do they truly matter to you more than I do?
She stared up at him, studying this impossibly beautiful creature who was offering her the world.
Looking deeply saddened by the thought that she might not truly care for him, Megan reached out with her trembling hand.
Tyler, she said.
Her fingers passed straight through his perfect cheek as if he were made of nothing but morning mist.
The profound shock of it hit her like a bucket of freezing water.
He was not physically standing in front of her at all.
He was just another clever, heartbreaking illusion.
You are not even real, she whispered, her hand falling numbly to her side.
A flash of genuine, devastating pain crossed his projected features.
I wish I had not had to do this, he said quietly, his illusion flickering slightly.
I wish things could be different for us.
She looked around the magnificent ballroom, seeing it now for exactly what it truly was.
Another agonizing test.
Another brilliant temptation specifically designed to make her abandon her righteous purpose.
This trial was never about finding a hidden object, was it?
It is about finding the internal will to leave.
Tyler said absolutely nothing, but his heavy, mournful silence was all the confirmation she needed.
I will not abandon those girls to die, she said, lifting her chin.
Not for beauty.
Not for unlimited power.
She swallowed hard, her throat burning with the effort of rejecting her own deepest desires.
Not even for you.
She thought those last words loudly, but she kept them locked safely inside her own mind.
Something massive shifted in the air around them, the atmosphere crackling with discharged magic.
The beautiful crystal ballroom began to fade rapidly.
You have succeeded, Tyler announced formally.
You have found exactly what you needed to return home.
My resolve, Megan guessed, swiping a stray tear from her furry cheek.
Yes, your unshakeable resolve.
You may return to your realm, Megan of the mortal world.
The six sisters will accompany you safely, and those who were transformed into golden trees will be restored to their true forms.
The desperate words escaped her lips.
Will I ever see you again?
Tyler’s final smile was breathtakingly beautiful and utterly heartbreaking.
In a way, he murmured.
The world began to spin violently around her, colors blending and reality shifting into a chaotic blur.
The very last thing she saw was his perfect face etched with deep longing and agonizing loss.
Megan found herself standing abruptly on the hard stone floor of Craig’s castle.
The familiar, drafty space felt incredibly alien and grim after the ethereal beauty of the Fay realm.
Around her stood the six sisters, no longer pale and exhausted, but flushed and radiant with restored health.
And behind them crowded dozens of people she had never seen before in her life.
They were the transformed champions, the brave souls who had been trapped as golden trees in the Fay garden.
She should have felt immense, soaring triumph, but a hollow ache filled her entire chest.
He never truly loved you, she told herself firmly.
What exactly happened?
Craig’s booming voice echoed forcefully across the great hall.
Where have you been?
We have been searching for you all morning.
Morning?
Megan’s voice sounded incredibly hollow to her own ears.
She had spent several weeks in the Fay realm, but apparently, here in the mortal world, it had not even been a single full day.
Mechanically, without any emotional inflection, Megan recited her harrowing story.
She told him about the hidden Fay court, the deadly dancing compulsion, and the three impossible trials she had faced.
Fay magic?
Craig snarled when she finally finished her tale.
You expect me to believe this ridiculous children’s story?
Prove it then, the King demanded.
Show me this incredible magic you claim to have witnessed.
Megan gestured vaguely toward the crowd of rescued people shifting nervously behind her.
They were all trapped as golden trees, and now they are not.
I see a group of filthy vagrants and criminals, absolutely nothing more, Craig scoffed loudly.
For all I know, you have orchestrated this entire charade.
The harsh accusation should have stung her pride, but instead, Megan found herself staring blankly past the King’s broad shoulder.
The great golden tree still stood magnificent and silent in the absolute center of the dark hall.
The eldest sister stepped forward, her voice ringing with newfound strength.
She is not a sorceress!
She bravely saved all of our lives when no one else could.
Megan barely heard any of them.
She was studying the massive tree intently, a deep frown creasing her furry brow.
Everyone who had been magically transformed was supposed to be fully restored to their true physical form by her victory.
But the golden tree remained standing exactly as it had always been, entirely unchanged.
Megan’s breath caught sharply in her throat as a realization struck her.
Trees like this simply did not grow anywhere in the mortal realm.
She had only ever seen their glowing like in one specific place: the Fay court.
Megan definitely deserves the promised reward, one of the younger sisters said firmly.
You owe her a great debt, brother.
I am the King, Craig growled, his face darkening with rage.
Fine, name your reward, cursed girl, but do not even think to expect me to give you my precious treasure tree.
Megan turned to face him directly, her heart beginning to pound a frantic rhythm against her ribs.
She pointed a clawed finger at the trunk.
Where exactly did it come from?
It has been in my family’s possession for many generations, he replied dismissively.
One of the sisters interrupted the argument.
What about the old fairy tales our nurses used to tell us when we were little?
Some ancient ancestor supposedly won it in a high-stakes contest with a magical Fay creature.
But that is completely impossible, Craig snarled.
The Fay are not real, and magic is just a myth for children.
What kind of contest was it?
Megan asked, stepping closer to the King.
Riddles, I think, or some sort of foolish magical wager, he muttered reluctantly.
The family legend says the Fay creature lost badly and had to send something magnificent to decorate my ancestor’s throne room.
The creature supposedly said that if he lost the wager, the tree would stay here forever.
Forever?
Megan gasped, her mind reeling with the implications.
Unless Altherra touched its leaves, or some such ridiculous nonsense, the King sighed, rolling his eyes.
Megan’s legs nearly gave out beneath her as the truth crashed into her like a physical blow.
Which is exactly why absolutely no one is ever allowed to touch the tree, a noble yelled from the back of the crowd.
Megan’s mind raced frantically, putting together every clue Tyler had inadvertently dropped.
She knew exactly what the word Altherra meant.
She had learned that specific word during her long studies in Tyler’s grand library.
I have made my choice, she announced loudly, her voice echoing off the stone walls.
For my promised reward, I want natural sunlight to shine directly onto this tree.
Craig stared at her as if she had suddenly sprouted a second head.
Sunlight, girl?
You could ask for vast lands, high titles, chests of gold!
I want sunlight on the tree, Megan repeated, her tone leaving absolutely no room for debate.
I want you to open the ceiling completely.
You promised me any reward I desired, Megan cut him off fiercely.
You swore it publicly before your entire court and your own sisters.
Fine, Craig bit out furiously, his face purple with suppressed rage.
Guards, open the main skylight above the tree.
Heavily armed guards moved quickly to the great rusted chains and massive pulleys that controlled the hall’s ceiling panels.
Megan held her breath, praying to whatever gods were listening that her translation was correct.
Because Altherra meant sunlight in the ancient tongue of the Fay.
The heavy wooden panels in the ceiling groaned and finally slid apart, revealing the bright morning sky.
And then, brilliant natural sunlight poured down like a waterfall of liquid fire, striking the golden leaves directly.
The entire massive tree began to shimmer violently, emitting a blinding, radiant light.
The hard golden bark flowed and shifted like melting water, reforming into flesh and bone.
And when the brilliant radiance finally faded away, Tyler stood exactly where the tree had been.
The entire assembled court fell completely, shockingly silent.
Even the arrogant Alpha King had gone completely pale, backing away until he hit his own throne.
It was you?
Megan breathed, tears spilling freely down her furry cheeks.
Tyler’s silver-blue eyes found hers instantly across the crowded hall, burning with intense emotion.
Yes, he said, his voice echoing with ancient power.
And after three agonizing centuries of silent imprisonment, you have finally given me back both my freedom and my true form.
Why did you not just ask me for help?
Megan cried, taking a step toward him.
Words have immense, binding power among my kind, Megan.
To speak of my terrible imprisonment directly to a mortal could have made the magical binding permanent forever.
Besides, I could not ever trust my own court with such dangerous knowledge.
You magnificent fool, Megan said, laughing through her flowing tears as the relief washed over her.
You were trapped silently as a tree for three hundred years.
Not anymore, he said, closing the distance between them with graceful strides.
He looked around the stunned room, his gaze sweeping over the terrified nobles.
For three centuries, I was forced to rule my entire realm as a mere projection.
I was completely unable to be fully present with you.
I would have helped you immediately, she murmured sadly, reaching out to touch his solid arm.
Later, we had already made a binding magical bargain.
If you succeeded in your trials, you had to leave my realm forever.
If you failed, you had to become a tree and suffer my exact fate.
I could not bear either outcome, Megan.
Megan stared at him, the full weight of his impossible situation finally crushing her.
You did not want me to win or lose, she whispered.
I just wanted you to stay, he admitted freely.
Nonsense!
Craig suddenly snarled, recovering his arrogant bravado.
Instead, you will leave here completely poor and still hideously cursed, having betrayed our entire kingdom for a demon.
Your miserable kingdom does not deserve her in the slightest, Tyler replied, his voice carrying a sudden, incredibly dangerous edge.
Megan is worth infinitely more than all your hoarded gold and stolen lands combined.
Come back to the Fay realm with me, Megan.
Be my Queen in absolute truth this time, not as part of some cruel trial.
Megan stared up at him, searching his perfect, unreadable face for any sign of his usual Fay deception.
Is this just another clever trick?
In answer, he reached out and gently, reverently cupped her furry face in his solid, warm hands.
No tricks, he said, his thumbs brushing away her tears.
Will I be your Queen forever?
Megan asked, her words carrying careful, deliberate precision.
Forever and always, until the very stars burn out and beyond, he replied solemnly.
And I shall not share you with any others.
You will be mine alone, she pressed, her heart hammering wildly against her ribs.
Yours alone in this life and whatever comes after, he promised without a single second of hesitation.
And you will love me, Megan continued.
Only me above all others.
Only you for all eternity, Tyler swore, his voice growing warmer and more powerful.
Megan smiled as she stepped closer, reaching out to grasp both of his hands in hers.
And we will always be equals, true partners in all things, she asked, lifting her chin proudly.
In all things, he promised.
My equal in power, in rule, and in love.
Megan squeezed his hands tightly, and the very moment their fingers intertwined completely, pure magic blazed violently through the hall.
Blinding white light surrounded her entire body, and she felt the heavy, suffocating weight of her curse dissolving instantly.
When the brilliant light finally faded away, shocked gasps echoed loudly through the silent hall.
She stood completely transformed, her skin smooth and unblemished, glowing with new confidence.
I do not understand, she said wonderingly, running a smooth, clawless hand over her own face.
Brenda said my curse would only break if someone chose to marry me willingly while seeing me as the monster I was.
Tyler’s triumphant grin was absolutely radiant.
You just made me solemnly promise to love you alone forever, to be yours exclusively, and to treat you as an equal partner in all things, he explained smoothly.
By the ancient laws of the Fay, those are binding marriage vows.
And the very moment I enthusiastically agreed to them, we were officially wed.
Megan gaped at him in absolute shock for a long moment before bursting into joyous laughter.
She laughed through her fresh tears.
You tricked me again!
Of course I did, he said warmly, pulling her flush against his chest.
And I shall trick you many more times over the centuries, just as you will undoubtedly trick me.
After all, you are now my Queen and my equal.
The six sisters began to cheer loudly, and the joyous sound spread rapidly through the hall.
And then Tyler finally kissed her, the kiss she had dreamed of through all their impossible courtship.
It was real, and warm, and full of endless promise for their future together.
Around them, the mortal hall erupted in loud, chaotic joy as the spell was broken.
But Megan heard absolutely none of it.
There was only Tyler, solid and present and entirely hers.
And the bright, natural sunlight streaming down from the open ceiling to bless their union.
THE END
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Disclaimer
This story is a work of fiction inspired by real events. Names, characters, and details have been altered. Any resemblance is coincidental. The author and publisher disclaim accuracy, liability, and responsibility for interpretations or reliance. If you would like to share your story, please send it to [email protected].
