The idea of someone needing me the way I did them made something crack inside my chest, filling me with sweet warmth. Before I could respond, someone shouted my name, and I turned to see Chaz wheeling Lark toward us along the boarded path.
“You just had to make us get up at the crack of dawn, didn’t you?” Chaz said, chuckling. When he reached us, he came out from behind the wheelchair to envelop me in a one-armed hug. “If you ever get tired of life on the go with broody over here, I’ll tag in anytime.”
I snorted. “It’s good to see nothing has changed, Chaz.”
When he pulled away, his lighthearted demeanor slipped slightly. “Some things have.” His dark eyes slid to the side, as if searching for someone no longer there. Cords wrapped around my heart and tugged, the memory of Horace’s last moments branded into my mind.
“You’ll be alright,” Chaz continued, offering a small smile. “You’re good for each other. Just don’t forget about us while you’re off saving the world, yes?”
“We’ll do our best,” Leo responded with a smirk, smacking his friend on the back.
As Leo said his goodbyes to Rissa and Chaz, Lark cleared her throat. “I knew I chose well after Ragnar’s incident. From the very beginning, I had a feeling about you. You have this fire that can’t be quenched, even against all odds.” She gave me a thin-lipped smile and wheeled herself to the rail. I followed, taking in the sling around her arm and the fading bruises still visible on her dark skin.
“Thank you for taking a chance on me,” I said, and she looked back at me in slight surprise. “Things haven’t always been the smoothest between us, but for all the loss this month has brought, I wouldn’t take any of it back.” Out of the corner of my eye, my gaze lingered on Leo. “My time here…it taught me things about myself. Both goodandbad. It was twisted and terrible at times, but it made me capable. And in the end, we got what we’ve been working for, didn’t we? A better future.”
“A better future,” she repeated wistfully, then gave me a once-over. “You two stay safe. We may be heading toward that better future, but we’re not there yet. Be careful and watch out for one another.”
I reached down and squeezed her hand as Leo approached myside. “The captain wants to leave soon,” he said, then guided me away from the railing. “We only have a few more minutes.”
Turning on my heel, I saw Ragnar, Morgana, and Beau walking toward us.
My heart clenched. They were leaving soon after me to head back to Feywood and I wasn’t sure when I’d see them again. With a hand at my back, Leo led me to them, stopping far enough away to give us space.
My aunt clutched a handkerchief, her face red and eyes puffy. Beau kept running his fingers through his newly cut hair—he looked so much older without the locks covering his eyes. Flashes of that little gangly boy I used to chase around the gardens crossed my mind, now a vibrant young man with such a soft, tender spirit.
“Don’t you dare start crying,” he said in warning as I drew closer.
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” I laughed as I pulled him into a tight hug. “Take care of the shop for me while I’m gone, alright?” I moved back and straightened his collar. “And remember where the foxglove is in case you come across any more Madelines. I won’t be there to fend them off,” I said, shooting him a wink.
“You’ll be back with us in no time, just wait and see.” He ruffled my hair the way I always did to him. “Love you, Rosie. I’m gonna miss having my big sister around.”
“I thought you told me not to cry!” I exclaimed, my vision blurry with tears threatening to spill. “You can’t go saying stuff like that, Beau Beau.”
“Well, you can cry with me,” my aunt said, hastily suffocating me in her embrace. “Oh, I’m so proud of you, Rose. And I know your parents would be, too. I just wish you didn’t have to go.” She dabbed at her cheeks, smiling encouragingly through her own sadness. “You are so brave, my dear girl. So strong. The two of you have been our greatest blessings,” she added, grabbing her son’s hand.
“She’s notdying, Ana. We’ll see her again soon,” Ragnar said with a grin, and my aunt swatted his arm.
I looked between the two of them, unsure if I’d be able to get my next words out. Ragnar was right; Iwouldsee them again, but we had no idea how long this journey around the provinces would take or what dangers we might face. And afterward…well, I no longer knew for certain that my future lay in Feywood. Emotion clogged my throat, a blend of overpowering love and gratitude and heartache that paralyzed me.
“I—I’ve never been one to show how much you mean to me.” I breathed out slowly. “I’m not good at this, atfeelings”—Ragnar chortled at that—“but I would havenothingwithout you. You took me in without a second thought. You raised me as your own and showed me what love looked like in a world that—that didn’t want to love me.” My voice broke off. Silent tears streamed down my aunt’s face.
I collected myself, instinctively reaching my hand behind me. In an instant, Leo was there, giving me his strength.
“And I don’t think I’ve ever thanked you for that,” I continued. “So thank you. For everything.”
“Youareour own,” Ragnar responded gruffly. He leaned forward to cup the back of my neck and pull me into his chest. “You may not be my blood, but you’re ourdaughter.”
Drops of wetness stained his shirt as I leaned back and he said, “Until we see you again, Rose. Bring hope back to this broken world. Have your adventures. Find your freedom. Remember how loved you are.” He met Leo’s eyes over my shoulder and nodded. “That’s the greatest future I could hope for either one of my children.”
Morgana and Beau gathered around us. Beau slung an arm across my shoulder while my aunt leaned into Ragnar’s side, the four of us sharing one last moment.
For now.
Above us, a horn blew, signaling the ship’s imminent departure. The world picked up speed as deckhands began to usher other passengers to the gangplank, leading them up to the maindeck. As I waved goodbye to my family, I couldn’t help but look over their shoulders for one last person.
“Do you need something?” Leo asked, putting a hand at the small of my back.
I shook my head. “I guess I thought Nox might come, but he’s probably heading to Drakorum soon. It’s fine.” I hadn’t seen him or Arowyn since I woke up. Arowyn had evidently journeyed back to Celestria shortly after Gayl’s death, and Nox had been in deep discussions with Rissa and her council on behalf of Drakorum, who had never made an appearance in the capital.
