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Chapter 13: The End

Colin watched as Nyx took in the King's words. She cocked her head sideways and began to nod as if he was convincing her. Nyx glanced back at Colin and Freddie, but only for a moment. Her gaze quickly returned to the King.

He had offered a hand towards her now. "Come Nycole. Don't you think we'd be better off as a team. Marrying Travis will make you the most powerful woman in the kingdom. Soon of all the kingdoms. Together we could convince the others to give in to our power. Every king and prince a commoner under us." Colin could only see the side of Nyx's face, but from what he could see, he could tell she was smiling.

Nyx stepped forward towards the king and thrust her hand into his.

"You're right." She nodded. "Of course you are."

Colin's eyes grew wide. He knew the King's words were heavy and hard to shake off, but surely Nyx couldn't have fallen under their spell. She was the strongest of all of them. It was impossible. Wasn't it?

"Nyx, what are you doing?" Colin stepped forward in desperation, reaching out for her.

Nyx willingly allowed herself to be pulled behind King Mish. He bared his teeth at Colin in satisfaction.

"Lady Nycole is destined for great things. Great things she can only accomplish with me to aide her. Surely you can't expect her to give that up? You'd be an awful friend if you did." King Mish stepped closer to Colin. Colin felt as if the King's words were meant to convince him to leave, but he had no urge to do so. "She's just like me, there's no use trying to take her away from where she belongs."

Colin noticed that the King's words felt flat. They didn't convince him of anything and they didn't fog up his mind. He glanced at Nyx and watched as she was nodding her head.

At that moment Freddie leapt forward and tackled King Mish to the ground. Nyx sprang forward her self, appearing as if she was afraid of Freddie, and ended up bumping into Colin.

"Get out of here with Freddie." She whispered in his ear. He wanted to fight, to argue, but Freddie had leapt to his feet and grabbed Colin's arm. They ran now.

Colin was propelled forward by Freddie. The two sprinting down the hallways to where their horses awaited. They both mounted and rode.

Their horses flew out of the palace gates, which had awaited open, allowing guests in and out for the ball.

Colin glanced back to see King Mish running out of the palace, followed by Travis and Nyx. He was shouting something unintelligible at his knights, who stood and blinked at him in confusion. His face was a beet red and sweat dripped off of him. Nyx was grinning. She raised her hand and waved at Freddie and Colin.

Freddie only allowed them to stop their horses when they were hours away from Seagon. They stopped at an inn called Inn Again, Out Again and got a room with two beds.

Colin spoke for the first time once they reached their room. "We just left her?"

Freddie shrugged.

"Where is it?" He asked impatiently.

"Where is what?" Colin frowned. "How can you care about anything besides Nyx right now? We just left her!" Freddie rolled his eyes and charged forward. He reached into Colin's shirt pocket and pulled something out. He opened his fist and revealed what he held.

"The ring." Colin breathed out in confusion. "But how?"

"She's very good at what she does." Freddie shrugged. He pocketed the ring and pulled something else out. He thrust it into Colin's hands. "She told me to give you this."

Colin stared down at the necklace in his hands. His brother's necklace.

"I- Thank you."

"You can go back home if you'd like. You came through with your part of the deal she came through with hers." Freddie threw himself back on one of the beds, his hands behind his head.

"But she's still at the castle? She…" Colin sat down, distraught. He was worried for Nyx and

"She's fine." A woman's voice came from the door. Colin jumped to his feet. He gazed at Nyx's shape in the doorway for a moment. Then his feet threw him forward towards her.

"You're alive." He engulfed her in a large hug and squeezed her close to him.

"Yes." She giggled. "I'm very much alive."

"How?" Colin asked, pulling back and blushing at his impropriety.

"Answer for an answer?" She offered. Colin agreed readily.

"What's so special about your brother's necklace?" She asked, this time Colin didn't mind answering. He'd come to trust Nyx and Freddie. He didn't know why or how exactly but he had.

"My brother is sick and the necklace has healing properties. When he wears it, he's not so sick. I'll have to send it to him with a messenger, that way it'll get home before I do." Nyx nodded. Her expression turned into one of regret.

"I'm sorry I took it then." Nyx smiled at him. "Now for my answer; King Mish has been de-throned and will be facing punishment for crimes consisting of tyrannical ruling, murdering of innocents and many others. Prince Travis will now be King Travis and will be working to make Seagon a fair and thriving kingdom again. Plus I told Freddie to meet me here if anything bad were to happen." She paused and beamed at the two boys. "I think that takes care of everything."

Colin nodded. He was sure all of his questions had been answered.

Freddie cleared his throat, calling Colin's and Nyx's attention to him.

"And what of this?" Freddie held the ring that had caused so much trouble, into the air.

"Come on, I have a place for that." Nyx beckoned the boys to follow her.

With Nyx in the lead the three had made their way to the cliff outside of the small town they were in. They stood watching the waves crash below them. Nyx held the ring aloft. The three watched it glint in the light from the sunrise. It was small and seemed so harmless. It seemed impossible that such a small thing could've caused so much turmoil across a whole kingdom.

Nyx's arm went back and then thrust forward. The ring sailed from her hand. It flipped and disappeared into the water. Swallowed by the waves, never to be seen again.

"So that's it?" Colin asked.

"For now." Freddie nodded.

"I heard that there is a Lord in Eamon with an unnatural ability of killing any who face him. He's said to wear a rather feminine bracelet." Nyx commented offhandedly.

"You know I've always wanted to visit Eamon around this time of year." Colin grinned.

"Heard it's supposed to be lovely." Nyx nodded.

"Enchanting even." Freddie added.

The End.

winterprincess: is she really one step ahead, or does she just make it all up as she goes along? haha. Well thanks for your reviews! I updated very soon, just like you asked

TheProductivePurplePrincess: glad you liked it! Thank you for the review

That's right, this is the end! Hope you all enjoyed this story. Thank you all so much for coming through this journey with me. I hope you'll check out other stories I've posted. Thanks again for all the reviews and favorites and follows. You all mean the world to me!

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Jenn