A Kingdom Without Chains
The Underworld hadn't seen sunlight in centuries.
But that morning — yes, morning, because apparently I broke time too — light filtered through the shattered dome of the Great Hall.
It didn't burn. It warmed.
"You made this happen," Yeonjun said behind me, watching the light brush my face.
I turned, staring at the boy — no, the vampire — who risked everything.
"For someone who wanted nothing to do with destiny," I murmured, "you became mine."
"Don't get soft now, Amelia."
"Oh? Why not? Scared you'll cry?"
"I don't cry," he said.
His eyes glistened.
2. Goodbyes in Velvet
We were leaving Nightshade.
The old headmaster had retired (read: fled in terror), the Vampire Council had melted into their own shadows, and the monsters… well, most of them decided to go to therapy and form a band. Not kidding. The banshee has pipes.
We stood at the school gates, duffel bags packed, weird bat-creature perched on my shoulder.
"I thought you liked the chaos," I said, tugging at Yeonjun's sleeve.
"I like you more."
I blinked. "Did you just—?"
He cleared his throat. "I said I like chaos, yeah."
Liar. But a cute one.
3. The Almost Ending
Outside the gates, the Mortal Realm shimmered like a dream.
No haunted hallways. No glowing curses. Just wind and trees and the taste of freedom.
"So what now?" I asked. "We open a smoothie bar for monsters?"
"Maybe. Or travel. Or just… be."
"Together?"
He didn't answer. Just leaned down and kissed me.
Not the urgent, cursed kind. Not even the romantic, poetic type.
It was soft. Honest. Eternal.
"I'm not a prince anymore," he whispered against my lips.
I smiled. "You're mine. That's better."
4. A Letter Left Behind
In the ruins of the throne room, tucked beneath the broken altar, a letter fluttered.
It read:
To the next girl who wakes up dead in this school…
Run fast. Kiss hard. Curse louder.
And if a boy with fangs tells you not to trust him — do it anyway.
Love, Amelia.
5. The Real Ending (Because Life is Messy)
We didn't save the world.
But we changed it.
I still had nightmares. He still flinched at thunder.
But we danced in the rain. Drank terrible coffee. Adopted three ghost kittens.
We lived.
And in a world where the dead don't always stay buried — that's kind of a miracle.
THE END