Once the wound was wrapped, she stilled her fingers and lifted her eyes to his. He stared down at her with a thoughtful expression. One that made her breath hitch. She realized now that they hadn’t been this close since he’d tricked her with a kiss. Nor had they exchanged a word since then either. When she’d seen him fighting Morkai, her only thoughts had been to save him, protect him, defend him. Their last meeting hadn’t mattered, nor had his betrayal or their kiss or any of the other conflicting emotions she felt around him. But now…
Her cheeks warmed as she noticed her hand was still pressed to his chest. Over the other side of his ribs. Beneath his heart. She was about to lift her palm when his hand closed over hers.
“Thank you,” he said, his voice a quavering whisper. He ran his thumb over the back of her hand, his touch so soft it almost made her shudder.
“Teryn,” a male voice called out from nearby.
Cora slid her hand from under his and took a step back.
Teryn slowly angled his body to face the figure that ran toward them. Cora recognized the man from his presence at the negotiation. His resemblance to Teryn made it easy to guess who he was.
“Larylis,” Teryn said, voice heavy with relief. The two embraced with the affection of brothers. Cora, feeling like an interloper, took another step back. She stifled a cry as her heel caught on something in the grass. Shifting her weight more evenly over her uninjured leg, she glanced down at what had nearly caused her fall. There, almost hidden amongst the overturned earth and muddy grass, was a long, slender blade. An amber crystal lay beside it, broken off from the hilt. She bent down and gingerly lifted the crystal. Her palm thrummed against its cold facets. A murky energy pounded against her hand, turning her stomach. She nearly dropped it when she noticed red dripping from the bottom of it.
Blood.
Was the crystal where Morkai had stored the blood he’d stolen?
Swallowing down the bile that rose in her throat, she prepared to throw the crystal into the pile of ash. Then something caught her attention. Some swirling movement behind the amber facets. Her palm thrummed again, this time sensing a new energy. It wasn’t dark or murky but…different.
A hand fell softly on her shoulder. She bit back a gasp and shoved the crystal into an inner pocket of her cloak. Teryn gave her a sad smile. “Larylis, this is Cora.”
Larylis gave her a solemn nod. “Lex told me about you.”
Teryn furrowed his brow. “What do you mean, Lex told you?”
“He came to Dermaine to warn us about the duke’s true intentions, then joined our entourage when we left for Centerpointe Rock. He fought with our forces.”
Cora and Teryn exchanged a befuddled glance. The last time they’d seen Lex, he’d taken Morkai’s deal.
“He’s apparently a master of deception,” Larylis said. He gave a humorless laugh, one in contrast with the sorrow in his eyes.
It reflected her own sorrow as she looked past the two men to the field beyond, where bodies lay strewn about. Horns bellowed from the east, signaling Khero’s retreat. Morkai’s death couldn’t be widespread yet, but it was clear the tide had turned. The duke’s magic had been severed.
It’s over. She felt Valorre’s words. Glancing around, she sought sight of him to no avail.
It is, she conveyed.Where are you?
Close. Your people flee back to the hillside. Will you go with them?
She turned toward the hill where the Forest People had hidden the last few days, but the haze was still too thick to make out any retreating forms. Extending her senses, she felt them near. The survivors at least. Salinda had made it. Roije too, although she sensed him only faintly. Her chest tightened at the knowledge that some of the Forest People had died today and more still could from injuries. Because of her.
Because we had to do what was right, she reminded herself.
She imagined how the battle would have gone without the Forest People’s aid. The wraiths would have overpowered Selay’s and Menah’s forces if not for the roots and vines that tore through the specters with ease.
“What is it?” Teryn asked, his fingertips lightly brushing against hers.
She met his eyes and felt as if her heart were suddenly torn in two. Valorre’s question echoed through her mind.
Your people…will you go with them?
The Forest People had fought at her side. They’d intervened with royal affairs in the name of protecting fae magic. But were they trulyherpeople? Or were the citizens of Khero—
A dreadful realization sent her heart skittering.
“Dimetreus!” She whirled toward where she’d seen him last. There were too many bodies. Too many figures still darting across the field, some in retreat, some in combat. Finally, she spotted the dead stallion. Not far from it, a cluster of soldiers stood. She began limping in that direction. An arm caught hers and helped her forward. She flushed as she glanced to the side, expecting to find Teryn.
Instead, it was Larylis. “Let me help you.”
