“I believe we’ll be in the outskirts of Orofine soon. I think we should move you into the center of the caravan, just in case we meet resistance from the loyalists.”
Savine shook his head. “Let them see me first. I’ve been fighting this war at the front for decades. I’m not going to hide amongst the ranks now. Inform the back of the procession to have Jasper’s body on display for those who wish to view their former king. I want no doubts about the legitimacy of the crown.”
Garnel grunted, rolling his eyes.
“You’re a stubborn ass, but you’re right,” Garnel choked out. “But don’t think you’re fooling me into believing that you’re notanxious about this. I may not be an empath, but I know you well enough to see you’re about to shut us out.”
Savine gave his friend a hard glare, then softened, thinking about how this man was his brother, even before he’d become Kyla’s soulmate. “It’s—It’s complicated coming back here after all that has happened. I knew the day would eventually come if I survived the war, but it doesn’t make it any easier.”
“I feel the same way. You’re never alone, Savine. Try as you might to have kept yourself isolated all these years. I’ve always been waiting for you to let me back in,” Garnel said.
Abyss damn him! Where was this emotional speech coming from? Savine felt like he was speaking to his sister, not Garnel.
“Yes, well. Thank you, Garnel,” Savine said, charging Jari forward to put himself back at the front of the group.
They rode in silence until they reached the small communities outside the great wooden walls of Orofine. The walls were built through the sacrifice of trees that rose up and rooted themselves into place at the forming of the city, thousands of years ago. The king at that time had wielded such a powerful essence that the trees had willingly set down their lives in exchange for being imbued with some of the king’s essence, keeping their trunks and branches in a permanent stasis. Even the palace was made from these trees, creating a baffling network of connecting stairways and bridges across and around massive trunks.
As they entered the first outlying community, Savine and his warriors were met with a throng of cries and shouts. Alarmed, Savine reached for his sword at his side before he eased, the tension in his body releasing as crowds of cheering folk parted ahead of him. Cries of “Long live King Savine” echoed through the narrow valley and up the steep peaks that protected the capital city. Savine waved and Jari let out a piercing bugle as the crowd grew tighter.
Then Savine heard the sound of bells. The bells of the nearby temples were ringing incessantly, bringing even more folk into the crowded streets. By the time Savine reached the cedar walls of Orofine, thousands of folk had filled the streets, chanting their welcome.
He never thought this would happen, never imagined that he would ride into Orofine as a triumphant king. He’d always assumed he’d have to take it by force, winning over the city bit by bit. But thanks to Rylo’s trick, he didn’t have to sack the city or force his way in like the brutal fae rebel he’d tried to portray himself as. No, he was riding into his city—hishome—with a hero’s welcome.
The only thing that could make this moment any sweeter would be to have Avery’s small body pressed between his thighs, celebrating this victory with him.
As he neared the palace, Savine felt a prickle of nervousness in Jari, like the elk was preparing to enter the battlefield. Then, a powerful blast of wind struck Savine and knocked him to the ground. Only one fae could hit him with such a strike. Davian, his father’s Sage.
Avery
Avery had slept later than she’d meant to. Savine had been gonefor nearly a week, and she’d felt slightly adrift as she adapted to life in Aeritis without the threat of death at the hands of Jasper, Rylo, or some other awful fae. Add in Morgan’s obsession with returning home, and Avery needed some time to herself. So she’d gone to Kyla that evening after supper. Avery hadn’t planned on drinking with Savine’s sister, but it seemed that they both needed a few too many glasses of wine.
Kyla had confessed to Avery how hurt she was to be left out of the return to Orofine with Savine and Garnel, and admitted that she’d resented Avery’s decision to stay with her sister over Savine.
Avery understood how Kyla could feel this way. If anything, their evening together had brought them closer than she’d expected. She learned more about Orofine and the longing Kyla had struggled with, being away for so long. Kyla wanted to return. She wanted to help reconstruct Latiah, but now she had been excluded from that process.
Avery noticed Morgan’s absence from the bed as soon as she stretched her arms across the soft linens. Most likely, Morgan was fine. She’d been making a deeper connection with Susan over the past few days, and was probably having breakfast with her. Regardless, Avery hurried to slide on something appropriate for the halls of Rylo’s royal residence and headed to the breakfast room they shared with the other guests.
When she walked into the room, she immediately smelled the scent of eggs, tea, and oatcakes. Rue cracked a smile at Avery’s disheveled appearance. “You look like you just got out of bed.”
Avery frowned, pushing herself farther into the room. “Have you seen Morgan this morning?”
Both women shook their heads as Susan replied, “I haven’t seen her since yesterday.”
Avery tried to keep her beating heart from racing. Most likely, Morgan went to Kyla. Avery knew that her sister’s woundswere hurting her, her pain medication gone. Kyla’s fae salve had provided Morgan with temporary relief, but Morgan was growing increasingly restless with each passing day. Avery didn’t know what to do to give her sister relief, or to help her find her place in Aeritis. She had even asked if she and Morgan could visit Rylo’s library, but he’d emphatically refused to let them explore his books. She’d tried to help Morgan tap into her magic, but other than angry, dark shadows that seemed to uncontrollably fill a room, Morgan could do nothing.
Avery knocked on Kyla’s door, and she could hear the bells and beads in Kyla’s hair clink together as she walked to the door. “Have you seen Morgan?” Avery asked Kyla.
Kyla shook her head. “Not since yesterday afternoon.”
A wave of fear crashed through Avery. Her chest tightened and an icy chill swept over her.
There was only one place that her sister wouldwantto go on her own.
Sapphire Falls.
Avery rushed out of Kyla’s room, but she chased after her. “Wait, Avery! I’m coming with you!” Kyla said.
“She’s gone to the falls!” Avery tried to shout, but her voice came out hoarse and panicked. “She’s going to jump!”
