Rhodes nodded, cracking his knuckles as he fiddled with his hands. He moved toward the door but stopped just short, turning back with a serious look. “Take care out there.”
Then I was alone in my hut again. I shook off the creeping apprehension of what was to come and lifted the bow and quiver into the light. The bow was made of dark wood—so deep it was nearly black. Its strength and design were unlike anything I’d ever seen. Either Balveer had upped his game or—
My eyes caught on the deep purple gems embedded along the curve. I ran my fingers over them, awestruck by the craftsmanship. The quiver matched in color, its leather smooth and sturdy, with small gems glinting along the outer rim. It was full of freshly crafted arrows, and nestled among them, something wrapped in linen caught my eye.
I sat on the edge of my bed, resting the bow and quiver against the chest of drawers. With careful fingers, I unraveled the linen wrap. The last corner fell away, revealing a small folded note inside. I opened it slowly.
For when you need to remember who you are.
The note slipped from my fingers, drifting to the floor, forgotten the moment I saw what lay beneath it. My hands trembled as I reached for it.
It was the wolf mask Shayde had crafted for me—altered now, transformed. No longer the full, imposing piece it once was, but a delicate sliver of its former self, about an inch wide. The intricate metalwork still wove through its surface, and I gently traced the spots where the metal had been reforged, smoothed over like healed scars.
The original ribbon ties had been replaced with a sturdy strip of leather. I held it up to the light spilling through my window, watching the surviving purple gems catch and reflect the glow. The curve of its shape beckoned me, and I found myself leaping from the bed, heart fluttering as I crossed to the mirror.
I placed it at the crown of my head, just behind my hairline. It sat perfectly, as if it had always been meant to rest there. I reached back to tie the leather strap, threading it through my hair, braiding the strands before twisting them into a low bun at the nape of my neck.
In the reflection, I barely recognized the smile that bloomed across my face. The mask was no longer a mask. It was something new—reborn. A headpiece. A flattened tiara. Subtle, yet powerful.
Crafted for the moments I forget who I am.
“Aqueen,” I whispered.
The earth element buzzed with joy around us, despite the dead winter foliage. Still, I felt a spark of life stir in me as we crossed the plains. I rode just behind Father, with Nash at my side. His steed kept pace with River’s powerful stride, both animals clad in armor.
Nearly every soldier from Hollow Summit was now en route to Mageia, save for the forces Arrow ordered to stay behind after Tyria’s latest attack on our borders.
River and I moved closer to Nash so I could speak low. “I’ve been meaning to apologize.”
The surprise on his face made my stomach twist. I frowned.
“About?” he asked.
“Using you. That wasn’t fair.”
We rode in silence for a few paces before he finally broke it and said, “Ah. I’m fine with it, Fitzroy.”
His voice was flat, not the usual teasing warmth I’d come to expect. There was something hollow beneath the words, something I couldn’t ignore. I opened my mouth to respond, but nothing came out.
“The love of my life was taken from me years ago,” he added quietly. “Since then, I’ve decided… being with someone again just isn’t in the cards. So if you’re in need of someone to use, I’m open to it.”
His words hit me like a punch to the gut.
“You lost someone?” I asked softly.
Nash nodded, jaw set, his features carved in quiet resolve. “It happened during a collision with Tyria. One moment she was in my arms. The next…” His voice dropped. “Her head was rolling at my feet.”
“I—I’m—” I stammered.
“Don’t,” he said. “Justice will come, inall its glory.”
His eyes—so hollow I could see straight into his soul—held mine. His entire face changed when he spoke of her, like grief had permanently carved itself into his expression.
“I can presume Shayde Wylder is the one you’re using me for,” he added, voice calmer now. His gaze flicked to the headpiece on my brow. “The one who gave you that. And the new bow.”
I didn’t deny it. Not after everything he’d just shared. “How’d you know?” I asked, staring down at my hands clenched tightly around River’s reins.
“Well, for one element—the way he looks at you. Like no one else on this planet exists. And the other? He kinda threatened me.”
