Two arms circled her waist.Vi dropped the sword, startled. A yelp became laughter that echoed off the soaring ceiling of the Caverns as Taavin leaned back and lifted her feet off the ground to spin her in place.
“Put me down!” Vi managed through bursts of laughter. Her sides hurt, though she didn’t know if it was from his crushing grip or from laughing more than she had in what felt like years.
“You did it!” Taavin’s voice bounced off every crystal as he spun her once more before setting her down. He grabbed her face with both hands and brought his lips to hers. Vi savored the feeling of his breath, hot on her cheeks, and the warmth of his palms, even if it was all over too quickly. “You did it.”
“You helped a bit, along the way,” she said breathlessly when they broke apart.
“Just a bit though.” She couldn’t tell if he was being sincere or if he realized he’d been a monumental part of her success. Perhaps he was playing along with her jest. He continued, “It’s time for you to return yourself to the world and begin enacting this plan in earnest.”
“I know.” She’d known for years it was coming. But somehow part of her was still terrified. The truth was, she might never feel ready despite all her convictions. Perhaps that’s how it was when the fate of the world hung in the balance. “Walk back with me?” Vi asked, sheathing the new sword and starting for the entrance to the Caverns. “Deneya will need to hear our next steps, too—and she’s probably been back from Mosant for at least an hour.”
“You could always summon me when you return?” Taavin asked, though his footsteps matched hers. “It’s not as though you can’t summon me there.”
“I know.” She had usednarro hathat the cabin two years ago. That night, she and Deneya had returned from Mosant, where they’d found a bottle of the same spiced liquor they drank together in Norin. Taavin had laughed and reminisced with them. He’d regaled them with tales of Vi’s former selves and worlds that were both similar and different.
But he couldn’t partake in the festivities, not really. He couldn’t drink with them. He couldn’t take her to bed as Vi had discovered she’d wanted.
Vi had never allowed herself to summon him there again. The torture of seeing him, wanting him, but not having him, was something she couldn’t regularly bear.
“Is it so much to ask to stroll with you?” she asked, pushing away the ache the thoughts left in her.
“I suppose not,” he said with a soft chuckle.
They emerged into the sunlight and magic instantly shimmered around Taavin’s shoulders. That magic was a reminder of what he really was. In the Caverns, he seemed like any other man. But he was consciousness tethered to a watch and held together by a goddess’s words.
Even still, when he offered her his elbow, she took it and ignored the sensation of a thin barrier between them. She ignored that his feet didn’t leave footprints in the snow. Vi pulled him close, and savored what already felt like one of the last peaceful moments they were going to have for a long time.
Someday soon… I’ll make you real, Vi wanted to say, but the words remained a vow on her heart rather than lips.
She looked down at her hand, feeling the tingle of magic still underneath her fingers. Yargen had remade her body between worlds. The goddess’s power was within her—it sought her out. It was the same power that allowed Vi to manipulate the crystals. She was determined to continue exploring the seemingly endless possibilities of the magic. What kind of last-chance-to-save-the-world Champion would she be if she didn’t at least try to push the boundaries?
It took about an hour to walk back to the cabin. The late afternoon sun hung low in the sky. They didn’t say much, though they didn’t need to—just being together was enough.
Deneya was outside, just finishing covering their cart with a tarp to keep the snow off.
“About tim—oh, you’re here too.” Her eyes settled on Taavin. “Is that a good sign or a bad one?”
“I’ll let you decide,” he quipped in return.
“I had a breakthrough.”
“Did you do it? Did you transfer the power in full?” Deneya set down her axe. Vi nodded. “By Yargen’s flame, you actually did it!” The handle of the axe had barely fallen into the snow and Deneya was clapping Vi over the shoulders. “Well, this calls for a celebration. It’s a good thing I got the roast hare.”
“Thanks to Yargen for that.” Vi’s stomach growled as if on command.
“Come, tell me everything over food.” Deneya headed right for the cabin door, holding it open for Taavin. What Vi considered a feast was already set out on the table.
“You set the table,” she observed.
“And you say I never do anything nice for you.”
“You let the food get cold is what you did.” Vi grinned at Deneya as they sat across from each other. Taavin took his place at the foot of Vi’s bed.
“Oh, I’m so sorry,princess. Let me save you from your portion.” Deneya reached over to take her plate.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you. I’m armed.” Vi brandished the knife that was set out by her fork.
“Not the mighty Champion and her terrifying, blunt-as-a-butter-knife dagger.” Deneya gasped. Vi gave a mock snarl, playfully jabbing the air in Deneya’s direction until the woman let go of her plate. “Mercy, I’m unarmed.”
