And she meant it—even if she wasn’t sure how they could ever be together. He was a king. He had the weight of a nation on his back, and she had been a carefree girl looking for her next big adventure, with no plans of starting a relationship or looking for stability. Meeting Savine had transformed her life, and she wasn’t willing to give up on sharing that life with him, even if all these feelings were terrifying. That was the reason why she hadn’t said “I love you” yet. It felt too big and too final to say, and she wasn’t ready yet. It was a relief that Savine hadn’t asked her to reciprocate those words.
She wanted a life with him, but the barriers to get there felt insurmountable. Avery wasn’t a queen, and despite what Savine said, she wasn’t sure if she could give him what he needed.
Savine sat Avery down on the ground once they were outside the Tower of the Moon, and Avery realized that this was her first time outside since she arrived in Nephel. It had been the longest time she’d ever been inside, and the ground beneath her seemed to pulse in greeting.
All the Latian fae were assembled, and Avery saw Jay and Gaelyn in action, organizing the elk and gear. Savine squeezed Avery’s hand before he let go of her, walking over to Kyla.
Instead of following him, she walked over to Jay as he saddled Jari, Savine’s war bull elk. Jari gave a grunt as Avery stroked his black furred neck. “Jay, are you ready to finally go home?” Avery asked.
Jay gave her a friendly smile, “Anywhere I’m with the elk and Raikin, I’m at home. Orofine will bring its own challenges, but I’m not going there right away. Gaelyn and I are traveling back to Bayberry to move the warriors who stayed behind and any others over the pass before the snow falls.”
“And Raikin?” Avery asked.
“He and Garnel will be at Savine’s side when they enter Orofine. He needs them there, with the warriors to make a show of strength as he takes his throne. Also, I suspect my mate will soon be made Sage.”
Avery paused, touching Jari’s soft muzzle. “What is the Sage again? I think Rylo said something about it once.”
Jay rubbed Jari’s neck. “The Sage is the King’s second in command, often the voice of the king when he’s not available.”
“Is that what you want?”
Jay’s lip twitched, but that was the only thing that gave away his apprehension. “I want Raikin to be happy. When we accepted our soulmate bond, I knew that being bonded to someone as ambitious as Raikin would mean some sacrifice on my end. But, I’ve found my place and I support him in his. He will make a good Sage. I can’t think of anyone better, and I don’t say that just because he is my mate. Raikin has a way of making Savine see reason when Savine allows his demons to overshadow himself.”
Avery nodded. She understood exactly what he meant. Savine had been so focused and determined to keep his people safe, to serve their needs over his own, that he had lost himself inthe process. She could only imagine that there had been many moments when he needed Raikin’s cool sense of convincing to get Savine to make difficult decisions. Even now, Raikin had been on Avery’s side that she should stay in Nephel for a month.
Kyla and Savine approached her. They both looked tense, and Kyla’s eyes were rimmed red. Kyla leaned in and gently touched Jari’s head. “So, I’m to stay with you, Avery. My brother helped me understand the importance of my presence here.”
Savine gave his sister a demanding look. “Your service here will be most helpful, sister.”
“Yes,” Kyla snapped. Avery hadn’t heard Kyla speak so harshly before, not even to Savine. She turned and began walking to where Avery could see Garnel, laughing with a group of warriors.
“I guess that didn’t go well?” Avery asked.
Savine shook his head. “You need her more than I do. She sees that now, but she wants to return home.”
Avery sighed. She would never get used to how difficult decisions and actions were here. Life was simpler at home, when the biggest concern was figuring out how to make rent. She almost wanted to laugh at herself for how stressed she’d been when she asked Morgan if she could live with her.
“And you’re about to leave?” Avery asked.
Savine nodded. The devastation on his face made Avery’s heart ache.
“Avery, I can’t—”
“Don’t, Savine. Let’s just say ‘see you soon,’ okay?” Avery tried to put on a smile, but it was strained. Damn, why did this goodbye have to hurt so much?
“Your face reveals what you really think, but alright. We’ll say your human goodbye,” Savine said, tilting her face up toward his.
Avery flung her arms around Savine as he bent down, kissing her. He pulled back sooner than she wanted and she had to keepherself from wrapping her arms around him tightly and refusing to let go.
“See you soon, old man,” she said as a few tears escaped down her cheek.
Savine gently wiped them with a scrape of his calloused hands. “See you soon, Little Flower.”
Chapter 9
Kyla
It stung, seeing Garnel and Savine leave her behind. She understood why Savine wanted her to stay. She could protect Avery and the others while they stayed behind in Nephel. Yet, it didn’t make her feel any better to know that her brother and soulmate would be entering Orofine in triumph without her.
