“What is it?” he asks, craning his neck to check my hands for something he might’ve missed.
I grin at his curiosity and reach into my pocket. When I pull my hand out, I’m holding a small silver band, hammered to mirror the one on my finger.
“I thought we should match.”
“Xen,” he whispers as he stares.
I hold the ring up and twist it, watching the light glint off the angles. “Every time I look in the mirror and see how my mark has changed, I hate that it will never be the same as yours.”
“That doesn’t matter,” he insists in a rush.
I stop his argument when I take his hand with a smile. “It doesn’t, but the world needs to know you belong to me, and I want to claim you in every possible way I can.”
I search his face for permission, and he nods as he spreads his fingers. The silver is a stunning contrast against his complexion.
He holds his hand up once it’s on. “Where…?”
“Sprocket helped me.” I glance to where she sits with Ego, watching the fight.
“It’s beautiful,” he whispers, still staring at his hand.
“It’s the least I could offer the man who’s given me everything.”
He smiles as he pulls me in for a kiss, and as I’m wondering if we can slip into these woods for a few private minutes, a twig snaps in the distance.
My ears perk up, straining to listen.
I separate myself from Bash, and he goes still as he recognizes how alert I’ve become. I hold a finger up to my lips, and he nods as we sneak down the pathway toward the sound, dodging sticks and leaves that might make noise.
We don’t get far before a shape forms in the shadows, and I draw on the magic pooled in my belly.
“Show yourself,” I command, but my power doesn’t react.
A body steps forward, and when the sun hits a familiar head of golden curls, my guard drops.
“Sovran!” Bash says with a smile.
“Is everything all right?” I ask, on alert as I glance behind him.
“It is only me,” he says, “and yes, all is well.”
I relax as I nod, releasing my hold on my magic. “This is a surprise. We’re certainly happy to see you, though I have to ask…”
“Why I’m here?” His lips tilt into one of those stoic half smiles as he nods toward the village. “There are many things we must discuss.”
We weave through the trees, Bash and I in the lead with Sovran following closely behind us. The others’ attention is focused on the fight in front of them as we step closer, and Lillith pins Ronan to a round of cheers. He’s nearly rabid, teeth bared as he tries to buck her off him.
When his eyes move in our direction, the sound that leaves him is strained, and he tosses Lillith from his back as he rises.
To my shock, he lands on his knees, head bowed.
Confusion sweeps the group, their attention turning to us one by one. Most are perplexed, but when Elas finds us, he kneels as well.
Aryn follows suit, bowing and kneeling as the rest glance around in utter confusion.
“I did not know any of your kind roamed this world,” Aryn says, head low.
I turn to find Sovran with mild amusement on his face, but it’s what’s beyond him that takes my breath. Golden wings spread in a breathtaking arc, veined with gold and shimmering as if spun with threads of sunlight into the feathers.
