The shock of seeing the barren land without its creepy mist left me breathless.
I’d seen the dead grey earth when we crossed the void before, but for some reason my mind made me believe it was the mist making it so desolate. Staring at the lifeless stretch of land made me sick.
“It’s so much worse than before,” I murmured.
Storm grunted his agreement. “It’s as if Thames destroyed it even more once he broke free.”
I shivered, the wind caressing me as if urging me through the dead land back to where nature thrived in Brookmere. Nature had always spoke to me, and I wondered if that would only grow in my role as queen. The thought sobered my already anxious mind.
We forged across the mistless void, eyes on the skies and ears open for the terrifying creatures that lurked inside.
“I wonder where the voidlings went?” Jax asked, unable to hide the strain in his voice.
“Scared?” I smirked in his direction.
“Of beasts confined to deadlands for a thousand years? Absolutely I am.”
I laughed at his confession as we ushered the horses forward.
The moment Onyx’s hooves touched Brookmere, the wind pushed at our backs, urging us away from the void and completely onto Brookmere’s soil. My eyes widened.
Storm shook his head. “That’s quite a welcome.”
I blew out a breath. Emotion welled in my throat as we continued ahead into my home. Not just my home, but my kingdom. A kingdom that needed me to be strong even as the pain of what I’d endured suffocated me.
As the Knotted Willow came into view an hour later, my heart leapt with the unfettered joy of being back with those I loved most.
Almost all of them.Almost.
Raya slipped in and out of consciousness our entire journey from the void, making us all anxious to find her a healer once we returned. Whatever evil still lurked inside of her refused to let go.
The leaves of the willow tree next to the inn swayed in the gentle morning breeze. A picturesque moment despite our uneasiness.
We cantered toward the stables and Corbin appeared from around the corner, ready for us. A profound sense of relief appeared across his face as he waved us toward him.
Corbin assisted me off Onyx and grabbed the reins as he bowed his head. “Welcome back, Your Majesty.”
I rolled my eyes, and he chuckled, knowing his unwillingness to address me by anything other than my royal title would always get under my skin. “It’s good to see you, Corbin.” I pulled him into a hug. “We need a healer—Raya is not doing well.”
Jax dismounted, holding Raya in his arms as Storm grabbed the reins of his horse. “Go, I’ll help Corbin with the horses while you get her inside.”
Raya murmured incoherently, trying to push out of Jax’s arms and stand on her own.
“Stop being stubborn,” Jax insisted, assisting her despite her protests.
“Go,” Corbin urged, taking the reins from Storm. “She needs you. I have others who can help me with this.” Corbin took control of all three horses as he called for a young stable boy to assist him so we could get Raya inside.
“Thank you.”
Corbin nodded in return before leaving with all the horses in tow, the stable boy running to meet him.
Upon entering the inn, Jax quickly sat Raya down at one of the tables and went to find a glass of water. Storm sat by her side as she held her head in her hands.
“Raya, I am going to find William and get you a healer,” I told her. “Just hang on a little longer.”
“Thank you, Lana,” she whispered as her head nodded forward. “I felt fine earlier. I’m not sure what happened. It’s like the moment I think I’m back to normal, something grabs ahold of me and brings me back down.”
“You fought well today.” Storm rubbed her back. “But you shouldn’t have had to. We need to get you rested and ready for what is to come.”
