Isla didn’t want revenge, though. She would always choose love. But it was the result of that love, of what it would do to the world, thatreflected on her. That made her either the one to save the universe...or end it.
She could sit here and scream at her friend for hours. She could ask her a thousand questions, could demand explanations and apologies.
But she didn’t have time for that. And now that she had explored her past, she was ready to fix the future.
“Cronan is alive,” Isla said. “Do you have any idea how I can kill him?”
If Aurora was surprised by the revelation, she didn’t show it. Aurora was more familiar with the founders of the island than she had originally realized. Isla had found the feather that could communicate with Lark hidden in her room after her death.
Aurora was still for several minutes, her gaze on the heatless flames as if hypnotized. Eventually, she said, “The founders transferred parts of their power to an object. It was an ancient practice, long forgotten by now, that would amplify their abilities and give them access to more power than a single person could ever hold within them.”
“Like the feather,” Isla said.
Aurora nodded. “That was Lark’s. Cronan likely has one as well. If destroyed, it would weaken him. He would be vulnerable.”
Isla wasn’t sure what Cronan’s object was, but she felt a surge of hope. Aurora had given her a chance...
“Thank you,” Isla said. She turned to leave.
Aurora’s voice stopped her. “It wasn’t all pretend, you know,” she said softly.
Isla swallowed the knot in her throat. She remembered the hundreds of times they had sat in this room before the hearth, laughing and braiding hair and making oaths. Tears pricked her eyes. “I know,” she said, before she walked out the door.
ORO
Oro found her waiting for him in his dream that night.
And for a second, everything went still. His problems simply disappeared with the sea-foam. His world became only green eyes and dark hair and red lips and a smile that never failed to force him to mirror it.
He was king of Lightlark. He wasn’t supposed to want anything, but damn him, he wanted her. Hestillwanted her.
Because he could not forget the months they fought, and bared their teeth at each other, and bared their souls, going through dangers that sanded down their edges and broke down their walls, and forced themselves to face each other without fear or armor.
She had seen him weak and vulnerable and strong. And he had seen her covered in her own vomit and sobbing and triumphant.
They had seen each other’s scars, and made new ones, but in the process, somehow, they had also healed themselves—and each other.
Life was cruel and hard and as edged as a blade, but she made him want to live it. Together. There was no one else he would rather face the end of the universe with.
He just wanted her back. Even if she chose Grim again, even if nothing had changed, he just wanted to be in a world with her in it.
They had everything Horus said they needed to build the portal. The tide pool. Cinder’s energy. The ring, with a shred of something alive from Skyshade. The name of the place itself.
Now...all they needed was Isla. She would finish the bridge between them.
She stood as he walked over, reaching for his hands. He held them tightly, as if he could hold on to her forever. His gaze swept over her, memorizing her every detail like it might be the last time he could.
“You’re still coming for me,” she said, her green eyes piercing his.
“Always.”
She sighed, looking out at the emerald green sea. “I wish this place was somewhere I could close my eyes and return to whenever I’m sad. Like I could keep it in my pocket.”
Oro smiled and squeezed her hands. “You can come here whenever you want. It’s yours.”
She turned to him with a sly smile. “No, it’syours. Or did you forget that you’re king?”
He took a step closer until they were a breath apart and she had to tilt her head up to meet his gaze. Just like he did at the end of the Centennial, he took the crown from his head and placed it atop hers. “Everything I have is yours,” he said.
