“She’s an acquired taste, there’s no denying that,” Lutyn agrees, and Neith slaps his stomach with an affronted gasp.
“Don’t make me pull you apart limb from limb,” she teases him, and this timeIsmile.
“You’re such a monster,” I purr at her, and she rolls her eyes.
“Anyone else coming?” Curio asks as the last of the bodies is thrown into place.
Neith shakes her head and glances mournfully down at her village. The fae that she fought for are reeling from everything that happened and everything they learned afterward. It’s going to take time and a lot of work to fix what the corrupt few fucked up. She seems up for the task though. Better her than me. Although anything will be an improvement on Faline and her fanatics.
The sun is starting to set, and the hills beyond glow and preen under its warm watch. Pinks and purples streak the sky. There’s a small line of red slashing through the colors in one place, like someone took a dagger to the blue and made it bleed. Tarek flicks his hand at the pyre, and a strong flame flies from his palm to the wood, catching with a powerful woosh. Flames quickly consume the guilty, and I spit on the blossoming pyre for good measure, cursing the dead as they’re scorched to ash.
I walk away. Finally done with all of it. Those who deserved to suffer did. I finally have the answers I’ve always wanted, and all that’s left is to put it all behind me and never look back again. Neith follows me, and we both sit in companionable silence as we stare down at the village that’s nestled between two towering hills below.
“What now?” I ask, unsure if the question is for her or for me.
She sighs, and in that moment I feel just as tired as she sounds.
“I don’t know, stop hiding maybe. Try to right what wrongs I can.”
I look over at her, a hollow laugh slipping out of my mouth. “You’re going to cause trouble for me, aren’t you?” I accuse with a cocked eyebrow, but there’s no real bite in my tone. “That’s quite audacious for someone who’s wearing my face and tied to my life,” I point out. “Still bound and determined to take on the kings after all this?”
Her smile is small, but the fire in her gaze is blazing. “Fuck the kings, they can rot for all I care. I don’t want to rule, but I also don’t want to stand by and watch fae suffer. I don’t know where those two things collide or how they balance. I guess we’ll find out.”
Surprisingly, I understand exactly what she means. When I first left the ludere, I wanted to purge the realms of masters, suffering, the powerful preying on the weak. Then I realized just how pervasive and impossible something like that was. It felt hopeless and unobtainable, and then I hunted with Eacon for the first time. It was only one injustice satisfied, but one was something. It was infinitely better than nothing, and it got me thinking. Maybe all any of us can do is offer justice when we can. We can attempt to right the wrongs that fall into our path. Nothing more, nothing less.
“For what it’s worth, I’m sorry for what was done to you, Auset. I wish I could reclaim what I really look like and who I am, and then give you back your face…and your life. I would if I could,” Neith offers, her gaze fervent and genuine.
I nod solemnly as I look out over the rolling hills and the thick forest. “I’m keeping your name,” I announce. “It doesn’t make us even or anything; I just thought you should know since no one can remember what mine used to be.”
“I think you’ve more than earned it,” she agrees as a grin slowly spreads across her face. “Suits you better than it ever suited me anyway.”
We’re both quiet as we watch the sun dip lower in the sky.
“Can I count on you, if I need help or anything?” she asks simply.
I shrug. “It’ll depend on what it is, and if I’m busy washing my hair or napping, you know, the important things.”
“Naturally,” she replies with a smooth chuckle. “Same,” she proffers, and then she turns to me. “I suppose this is goodbye, Auset.”
We stare at each other, faces so similar and yet so different. Two lives tied together against their will. Time will tell what’s to come of that. Maybe it’s for the better, or maybe it’s just another fucked-up thing to happen that no one can do anything about.
“I hope the moon watches over you and you find everything you deserve in this life.” Her voice cracks, but she quickly clears her throat and straightens her spine.
My eyes flit over to where the Scorpions are talking to Lutyn. I smile as I watch them for a moment, and then I look back at Neith.
“I already have,” I admit, and her smile morphs from sad to radiant.
She wipes at a tear that slips down her cheek and nods approvingly. “I’m glad.”
I grin back at her and then collect myself. “Toughen up, princess,” I playfully chastise, and she huffs out a laugh and shakes her head at my antics. “I guess if you need anything, stab yourself or something,” I tell her as I move toward the Scorpions. “That can be our signal,” I call back over my shoulder.
“Or we could just send a missive,” she suggests alternatively.
“Where would be the fun in that?”
“You’re a monster,” Neith teases with a laugh.
“Says the bigger monster,” I goad, and then I step into Curio’s open arms and burrow into his chest.
