You might think I'm being nice, but I don't know when the next time I'll update will be. AND THIS IS THE LAST CHAPTER FOR IRON OUTCAST. Keep a lookout for the sequel, Iron Fugitive! For now, I own none of the original.

Kierran's POV

Because it was clear that no one wanted to deal with the wayward Iron Prince, I shifted uncomfortably from my place by the door. Even though Harmony had called the monarchs to the original Nightshade manor, she refused to let them inside, and they were having a heated discussion in the front yard. Behind me, watching carefully from the windows, were Ethan, Kenzie, and Annwyl.

After what had happened, Puck refused to be left out of this, so he was doing his best to ward off questions that would annoy Harmony. Like me, he'd sensed her growing anger around the Forgotten Queen, especially after the incident with her "family." Neither of us completely trusted her not to explode. From his place at Meghan's side, Ash seemed to be keeping an eye on his old friend, as well. I liked how my father was more concerned about this than my mother, who was the true ruler of the Iron Kingdom.

But I guessed that Father had more practice at being worried.

"They're not going to accomplish anything like that," Ethan muttered under his breath. "Not to mention, how many half-breeds do you think Oberon, Titania, and Mab made over the years? Besides my sister, of course."

"Why are you thinking in such a way?" I asked, falling back into my slightly old-world tongue. I shook my head to clear it. "What's up, Ethan? You're scheming something."

My uncle's eyes gleamed with mischief. "You and I both know that their princes are much smarter than they think. Anyway, if Meghan is Oberon's daughter and there are countless other half-breeds that have to hash it out somewhere in either of our worlds, there should be more to claim the royal heritage. Plus, I know there are more humans with the Sight than just me, Kenzie, and Celeste. We can build our own army. An invasion party of sorts, to back up the faery knights and everything else, made up of beings like that, would be greatly underestimated by the Forgotten."

"That… could work," I agreed reluctantly. "How are we going to get the others to listen to us?" I gestured at the arguments going on just a few feet away.

Annwyl glared at Ethan. "The other half-breeds would want to be a part of this, too, you know," she snapped.

I was quicker than he was. "Of course we'd include them. We need everyone we can get. He just means that we need royals for stronger glamour, to attract the Forgotten and also destroy them once and for all." I was aware of Kenzie's gaze on my back. If she thought I was still going to go through with my plan after Puck had almost died and Harmony had almost lost her mind at last, she could be added to the list of those going insane. There was no way I would help those bastards.

"Titania would never admit to creating hybrids," Ethan commented, as much to the rest of us as to himself. "And Mab… well, we don't know if Rowan, Sage, and Ash even had the same father. Royals would be hard to track down. We could use changelings, too, because the humans that they replace almost always have the Sight when they escape the Nevernever. And then there are the natural-born Seers and those who traded something. I think the humans will be easier to find than those with faery blood."

"They would be," I confirmed. "I think it would be doable, though."

Harmony appeared suddenly at my side. "What are you guys conspiring?" she inquired, looking at us with an expert mix of suspicion and amusement.

"How are you over here without them noticing?" Annwyl asked, her eyes wide.

My semi-sister grinned wickedly. "You'll find I have more tricks up my sleeve than the Hunters themselves."

Ethan caught her up to speed on our plan. Toward the end of it, she was nodding along as though she had her own thoughts to add already. I nudged her when I noticed the argument's crescendo; suddenly it was a screaming match. Ash and Puck both hung back, their expressions betraying their discomfort. Oberon was going at it with Mab while heat rose between Titania and Meghan.

"Boys," she whispered. Her two old friends turned toward us. Even from this distance, and with the feuding Erlking and Queens between us, I could feel the expectance in their gazes. "Come here. We have a plan. I kind of want to watch the fight a little more, too."

They made their way over to us without being noticed by the other four. Ash's silver eyes were bright. "I forgot how much your plans frighten me," he remarked to Harmony.

"Nah, it's not mine." She smiled in that same devilish way only she seemed capable of. "You can thank Ethan and Kierran for this one."

Puck snorted sarcastically. "Well, you're best friends with both of them. They're both also related to Meghan. So this has got to be good."

"Hey!" Ash exclaimed, but he was smirking. I smiled, too, at the fact that they were better friends now than they ever were.

Once Harmony explained to them what we talked about, with Ethan jumping in merely twice to elaborate on something she left vague or incorrect, Goodfellow and my father had twin expressions of trouble on their faces. That was enough invitation for Harmony, who disappeared. We all turned to the fight, and she reappeared, startling the monarchs into silence.

"Kenzie, Annwyl, go back to Harmony's dimension. We need to get all the weapons together before we do anything. And you'll get on Harmony's good side for another decade or so if you help out before she asks." I smiled at them. Puck drew the symbol. They vanished to go back home. "Alright. Looks like we should go help her out."

Our group of five was a strange one, but one that made a huge stand against the four rulers. I knew Meghan was on board before we even started talking because Ash, Puck, Ethan, and I all backed up Harmony. No matter what was once said about her being evil was put to rest when the Iron Queen's family supported her one-hundred percent. It took a lot of explaining to even convince Titania, Mab, and Oberon to listen to us. Fortunately, although Mab considered him dead to her, Ash was still favored by the Winter Queen.

With only the Summer Court representatives against us, Puck remarked, "You know, I could trick enough of the Court to join me. It hasn't been the first time they supported me against the two of you." He smirked in that dangerous way of his, proving he was dead serious.

"Come on, Father," Meghan pleaded with Oberon when it was clear he was not moving an inch either way. "You know this is the only sane plan we have. We do not know what the Forgotten are capable of, but if they can drain faeries' magic… we need all the help we can find."

Oberon's eyes flashed like lightning in a storm. I saw everyone, myself included, shiver almost imperceptibly at it. Harmony seemed to be the only one impervious to his temper. "Let's go, old man. Puck and I have work to do if you're choosing against us."

"You do not talk to the Erlking like that!" Titania hissed.

Her own eyes flashed. "Try me, bitch," she retorted, unafraid.

"Enough," Oberon intervened before Titania could completely attack Harmony. "We are on Nightshade territory, and therefore she can turn your glamour against you." He fixed his omniscient gaze on Harmony, who straightened up at his attention defiantly. "We will join you."

They all left to send out search parties. Relief rained down on all of us when they were gone. Ash had joined Meghan, saying he would be better off helping her and Glitch. I stayed behind.

With her best friend, her boyfriend, and her brother at her side, Harmony seemed more comfortable than myself or Covah had ever seen her. And that meant that the plan would go smoothly – so far.

And thus, Iron Outcast is finished. Like I said, keep an eye out for Iron Fugitive to see if they can beat the Forgotten. And if you want to see some old friends again, as well.