“And I you,” she replied, voice trembling.
He slowly stepped down from the mounting block, feeling colder with every inch of space he placed between him and the two people he loved most. From the corner of his eye, he saw Cora step out of Teryn’s arms, caught Teryn swiping a hand over his cheeks. Berol launched from Teryn’s shoulder and landed on the saddle’s pommel.
“There’s one last thing to do,” Cora said, tone wary. “We need to remove the collar. Otherwise, it could interfere with my abilities.”
Larylis’ heart leaped into his throat. “Is that safe?”
Cora angled her head toward him. “The dragons might sense her magic, but we’ll be gone before they can locate her here. And when we get to where we’re going, I can put it back on.”
Mareleau’s expression sagged as if she dreaded both having it removed and replaced. “Do it,” she said through her teeth. “Let’s get this over with.”
Cora climbed the mounting block and reached for the collar with both hands. The cuff opened on its hinge. Larylis’ gaze locked on the twin lines of blood that trailed down his wife’s neck, but Cora wrapped a strip of gauze loosely around where the collar had been. He had to grit his teeth to keep from interfering, to stop himself from begging her to stay.
He was half in a daze as Cora pocketed the collar, stepped down from the mounting block, and placed her hand on Valorre’s flank.
Larylis watched, hardly breathing, not daring to blink.
One second.
Two.
Cora took a subtle step forward.
Then they were gone.
Gone.
And Larylis felt as if all the warmth and light had been leached from the world.
25
Cora planted her feet on the lakeshore. Opening her eyes, she saw the lake blanketed in night, a crescent moon reflected on its surface. She shifted her gaze to Valorre’s back and released a slow exhale as she found all her companions intact upon the saddle—Mareleau, Noah, and a mildly flustered Berol, who flapped her wings before readjusting her position on the saddle’s pommel.
Mareleau blinked at their new surroundings, though Cora couldn’t be sure she wasn’t blinking tears from her eyes. This couldn’t be easy for her. It wasn’t even easy for Cora, and she was somewhat used to the jarring effect of instantaneous travel by now. Neither of them could be expected to get used to leaving the people they loved.
I told you it would be easy to get here. Valorre’s boastful voice interrupted her thoughts.I am incredibly helpful.
You are, Cora replied. His arrogance wasn’t unfounded; because of him, it had been much easier to reach the lake this time than the first, even with her extra travelers. Since both she and Valorre had the image of their destination in mind, she hadn’t needed to focus quite as hard. Instead, Valorre had held the image while she’d sensed her companions.
Mareleau sniffled, drawing Cora’s attention back to her.
“Are you all right?” Cora asked.
“Fine,” she bit out, but her shoulders were visibly shaking. She looked pale too, though it was hard to tell for certain in the moonlight.
Cora glanced at the gauze around Mareleau’s throat. There were two dark spots on each side, but the material wasn’t soaked through. That gave Cora some semblance of relief. If her friend was pale, at least it wasn’t from blood loss. Her relief was short-lived, for she knew what she had to do next. She reached inside her cloak pocket until her fingertips brushed the sleek tines of the collar.
“Don’t.” Mareleau’s voice trembled as she spoke the word, her eyes locked on Cora’s pocket. “Please don’t replace it just yet. I know it’s selfish of me to ask—”
“I understand.” Cora withdrew her hand and left the collar where it was. She was half relieved, for she wasn’t sure she had the strength of will to exacerbate her friend’s wounds if she could help it. “Perhaps we can reach the Forest People and get aid before the dragons sense you.”
“Thank you,” Mareleau said, her expression easing. “If we hear a single wingbeat…do what must be done.”
Cora nodded.
“Where are we?” Mareleau rushed to ask, as if eager to change the subject.
“We’re in southwest Khero. I believe this is Lake Sarrolin, which means the nearest village is Brekan. Now I need to find out which direction the Forest People are.”
