He stepped closer, his voice quiet. “Then I’ll wait at the edge until you come back. No matter how long it takes.”
I looked up at him, that old magnetic pull between us flaring again.
“You’re very irritating, you know that?”
He smiled. “Yeah. But you like that about me.”
I sighed dramatically. “Unfortunately.”
Then, after a beat, I added, “Thank you.”
“For being irritating?”
“For being here.”
His expression softened. “Always.”
And with that, we stepped outside together. The late winter air fought with the timid spring winds, and a shiver ran through me, but we both knew it had nothing to do with the temperature.
We passed through the grounds with the hush of dew underfoot and the scent of rosemary and turned earth curling in the air. Birds called lazily from the hedge tops, not urgent, just present, and I couldn’t help but smile when I thought about what Twobble told me.
Birds weren’t singing, they were gossiping.
But today, even nature seemed to be holding its breath.
Keegan walked beside me, close enough that our arms brushed every few steps. We didn’t speak now. The time for talking had passed because what waited ahead didn’t need more words.
As we rounded the final bend in the garden, the path rose into view, and with it, the two figures stationed at its threshold.
Lady Limora stood with her usual impeccable posture, her cloak draped like a spill of midnight ink down her back. Opal was beside her, cloak drawn but eyes bright, the long braid down her back catching hints of sunlight with every small shift of her shoulders.
The calling path pulsed behind them, and it was still beautiful and still waiting.
They both turned as we approached.
“Well,” Opal said, her voice pitched low but full of interest. “We weren’t expecting you both.”
Lady Limora’s gaze slid to Keegan and then back to me, her expression unreadable. “Are you sure it’s time?”
I drew in a breath, steadying myself. “Yes. The path has waited long enough.”
Limora stepped aside with slow grace. “Then it will welcome you. For however long you’re meant to walk it.”
“And him?” Opal asked, tilting her head at Keegan with amusement in her eyes.
Keegan didn’t answer. He just looked at me.
“I’m not going alone,” I said simply.
There was a moment’s pause, and then Lady Limora nodded. “It may not let him stay, but he may begin with you. Such paths honor intent.”
Opal stepped back with a smirk. “He looks like he has plenty of that.”
Keegan gave her a wink.
I tried not to laugh, nerves knotting tighter in my stomach.
The path shimmered again, brighter now, almost aware, and somehow… patient.
