19. Nineteen

On the morning of her wedding, Amara lies sleepless, missing her aunt and Jade and dreading the influx of unfamiliar fae. She recalls accidentally encountering the newly crowned, ruthless King of Irolyth the previous day, heightening her unease. Poppy wakes Amara early and steers her through crowded halls, calming her mounting anxiety.

In the preparation suite, Poppy introduces her sisters, Lily and Rose, who help ready Amara, speaking briefly of their scattered siblings and closed gates to Irolyth. Rose does Amara’s makeup while Lily curls her hair and weaves a flower crown, transforming Amara despite her grief that family from Pendril are absent.

A servant announces the king is ready, but the courtyard aisle is empty. Poppy instead brings Amara to a study where Ezra paces. There, the familiar seamstress appears as a human and reveals her true identity: Elara Mazzeo, the witch who cast the ancient curse. She admits she deceived Amara to test her feelings without Ezra’s influence.

Elara proposes a merciless bargain: she will end the curse only if Amara and Ezra never see each other again. Both refuse, choosing their bond over the demand. Ezra pleads not to be forced to abandon either his people or Amara; Amara confesses she loves Ezra and cannot imagine life without him.

Satisfied their love is genuine, Elara retracts the ultimatum and lifts the curse. Purple energy surges, the ground quakes, and she proclaims the end of the vox and restoration of all fae lost to it, naming them King Ezra and Queen Amara before vanishing. The chapter closes with the curse broken and their union affirmed.