Three words. I whispered them too late, after he fell asleep, after the world began to slip through my fingers again.
And now he was gone.
They all were.
Light pooled at the edges of the tower’s familiar room. My limbs ached as I sat up slowly. I scrubbed my eyes with the heel of my hand and swung my legs to the floor.
That was when I saw him.
A man stood in the corner.
A stranger.
His skin was deep umber; thick braids hung to his shoulders,bound with golden clasps. His coat was a rich emerald, tailored in a style I had never seen.
I gasped and stumbled back against the headboard. “Who are you?” My voice came hoarse, splintered with disuse and fear. “What do you want?”
He lifted his hands. “Easy,” he said. “Everything is well.”
It did not feel well.
Not until I heard the other voice.
“He’s with me, princess.”
My head snapped toward the sound.
Leaning against the far wall, arms crossed, smile wide as the open sky.
“Mav?”
His name shattered on my lips with a sob. He looked different, perhaps a bit older. A few strands of silver threaded his chestnut hair, and fine lines had begun to form at the corners of his hazel eyes. But he was still him. Still mine.
I jumped to my feet, swaying. His smile deepened as he stepped forward, catching me before my legs could fail entirely. I fell into his arms. My fingers clutched his shoulders, demanding proof under my hands.
“I do not understand,” I choked. “It has been a century, how are you alive?”
“Well, it hasn’t been a hundred years,” he murmured, cradling the back of my head. “Only seven.”
My breath broke.
He drew back and framed my face with his hands. “I found someone who could help,” he said. “The man there, Xabracles, he’s a Time.”
“A Time,” I echoed, tears spilling. “Then that means?—”
“You’re free, Quinn.” He smiled and brushed away a tear with his thumb. “We’re free.”
Free.
I launched into Mav and kissed him with tears at the corners of my mouth. He kissed me back as if he would never let me go. When we parted, I was shaking. He guided me to the edge of the creaking bed.
Lifting my eyes toward the door where Xabracles stood, I whispered, “Thank you.”
Xabracles bowed his head and slipped out of the room.
“Tell me everything,” I said, eyes tracing every detail of Mav’s face.
His thumb drew slow circles on the back of my hand. “It took six years to find him,” he said softly. “Six months to convince him to cross the world with me, and another six months to make the journey.”
