My head snapped around. “You what?”
“Lied.” He smirked. “I wanted you to ride with me, so I lied to Ryder.”
“Amalee didn’t even correct you!” I laughed.
“Nope. No matter how ridiculous the lie. I extend the same courtesy to her.” He shrugged.
The wyvern dropped back, allowing the gryphon to gain altitude and resume at a casual pace. We began gliding down to Rynholm, and my stomach fell. My body tensed, bracing perhaps for both the landing and seeing my father’s lifeless body.
“He belongs with my mother,” I whispered, unsure if my voice would carry over the wind.
“Where is she?”
I exhaled. “Near the northern border with Kam.”
We had buried Kamden near a large aspen tree in the mountains in the northwestern area of Rivale. It was near a place our parents took us as children, so isolated the likelihood of being discovered was slim.
“What if we created a space for all of them in Kuroden? We could move them there when you’re ready if you’d like. In the meantime, we can bury your father here or take him straight through, it’s up to you.”
“I saw them, you know?” I fidgeted with his fingers on my abdomen for several minutes, and he stayed quiet as he let medecide just how much I wanted to share. “In the prison.” I shook my head. “It was probably a hallucination from the fumes, but?—”
“I believe you,” he breathed.
“They were at peace. And for a moment, I couldn’t see anything other than being with them.” Tears streaked my cheeks. “Everything felt hopeless.” Zalzre dipped lower, and I leaned back, adjusting for the angle. “I knew my father would’ve been happy in Kuroden with you. He would’ve loved it there, even if I didn’t make it. I knew you’d keep him with you.”
“I wish I had the chance to know him,” Col whispered.
I exhaled. “Me too.”
“Will you tell me about him? About each of the members of your family?” His voice was soft. “When you’re ready.”
I nodded and wiped the tears from my cheeks. Col’s fingers traced over the same watery lines just before he turned my head and made gentle kisses over them.
Zalzre made one last dive, and my stomach tilted. Burying the last member of my family wasn’t something I’d expected to do, but in their absence, maybe Col, Sky, and Amalee, could hold their place. With Jaspar and Benton remaining in Rivale, at least for now, I’d need to depend on those around me more than ever.
Maybe Draven could teach me how to cook something using herbs from a garden I’d happily help build. Roark and I could finally share more than a few words in the corridor, however awkward they may end up being. And I’d commit to getting to know the dozens of others who’d stepped in and exposed themselves so valiantly. Not because they had to, but because they chose to.
Though none of the people from Jaspar’s chapter left with us, I’d pledged to help them from a distance. Col exchanged information with Jaspar and agreed to discuss the logistics of getting the gems to him in Rivale. And I’d given him my ring asmy first payment toward the life debt I owed to the group and given Jaspar my home to do with as he saw fit.
As for Maris, she couldn’t return home without her family’s safety being put at risk. She rolled her eyes when she said she was going with us, but I think she secretly wanted to go. I could already see the shenanigans Micah and she would get up to.
Zalzre’s claws hit the ground, and Col leaned into me, dipping his chin over my shoulder. “Give me one more moment before I let you leave my arms?”
I nodded.
“There’s no pressure,” Col breathed, “but do you think you can sleep next to me tonight?”
“Will you be getting me a fish sandwich in return?”
“Fish sandwiches for everyone,” he whispered.
He squeezed in around me and sat quietly as I gathered myself. And off in the distance, a single white stag strolled out from behind a tree. The animal lifted its head and held my stare.
39
COLGRAVE
Watching Audryn work the land was something I would never tire of. She pushed to continue despite my asking her to take time to grieve. When she said the land was her way of connecting with her family, I never mentioned taking a break again. I had to trust her just as she was going to need to trust me.
