“You can hear me,” I breathe, astounded by the occurrence yet again.
That gorgeous smile kicks up on one side, before he speaks in a low rumble, “Oh, I can hear you, Duskae.” His palm spreads across my abdomen, sliding slowly downward, grazing my thigh teasingly. “Even before I could hear you, I couldfeelyou... everywhere,” he breathes the words like a prayer to the Stars themselves.
My breath hitches, and before I can speak, his voice caresses the boundaries of my mind.You have no idea of the ways I will worship you when we get home, Duskae.His hand trails back up my inner thigh towards my center, and I gasp.
“Kael—,” I murmur weakly, though I don’t mean it in the slightest.
“For fuckin’ Stars' sake, spare an old man’s eyes, will ya?” Merrik grumbles, though amusement sparks behind his exasperation. “I’m too old for this shit.”
“And they say I’m the grumpy one,” Therion quips, a small smile breaking through.
“Did Therion just make a joke?” Ronyn quips, jaw open wide in mock surprise. “I thought the biggest revelation would be this Zerynthian paradise, not that Therion actually has a sense of humor!”
Daelen’s laughter explodes out of him, and even Jax grins widely.
Kael chuckles quietly behind me, his chest vibrating with quiet laughter. He leans closer, voice soft, seductive and meant only for me. “We'll pick this up later, El.”
Heat flushes my cheeks, anticipation and embarrassment tangled together. But the moment of levity is fleeting as Kael straightens, suddenly alert, his hand tightening on the reins.
“Quiet,” Zakarius murmurs sharply, and Therion has already raised his fist to halt the group. Instantly, every warrior tenses, weapons quietly drawn, laughter dying on their lips.
The jungle falls silent, unnaturally so. The hairs on my arms rise, a shiver racing down my spine. Even the fireflies seem to still, the pulsing bioluminescence of the trees dimming slightly, as if holding their breath.
Kael’s voice cuts low through the stillness, a blade of sound slicing the silence. “Something’s near.”
I reach instinctively for my dagger, pulse quickening. A subtle rustle, a whisper of movement through foliage, and I feel Kael’s muscles tense behind me, coiled and ready.
Then Merrik’s voice comes steady and certain from my left, “Relax. They’re ours.”
Shadows detach from the trees ahead—figures dressed in rich leathers dyed deep greens and browns, adorned with subtle streaks of silver and sapphire, blending seamlessly with the jungle.
“Commander,” one man says, stepping forward, inclining his head respectfully to Kael, forming the same inverted triangle symbol with his hands that Finn showed me in Galreth. “We’ve been expecting you.”
Kael nods, relief easing the tension in his posture. “It’s good to see you, Varian.”
Varian glances briefly at me, curiosity glinting in his amber eyes,but he says nothing, turning back to Kael. “The gates are open. Thornewood awaits.”
Kael nudges Nyx forward, guiding us beneath a thickening canopy of leaves. My breath catches as the trees part, unveiling Thornewood.
It rises before me—a city crafted into nature itself. Massive trees cradle homes and structures seamlessly woven into the forest, lit by glowing lanterns and delicate bioluminescence. Wooden bridges arch gracefully through the air, interlacing between platforms built into branches thicker than palace walls.
My breath leaves in a quiet exhale.
I’ve lived my whole life believing there were only two kinds of places in Aevryn: those that devoured you, and those that demanded your soul to survive. But this...
Thornewood is neither.
This isn’t just a hidden paradise. This is a civilization thriving within it.
Kael leans in close once more, voice warm against my ear. “Welcome home, Elyssara.”
CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO
ELYSSARA
Varianand two other men walk ahead, guiding us deeper into the verdant heart of Thornewood—Kael’s home. Small children peek out from homes built seamlessly into the trees, their wide eyes sparkling at the sight of Kael, their commander. Pride shines in their innocent gazes, mirroring the respect radiating from the men and women lining the natural pathways formed by massive, twisting roots.
My astonishment deepens into awe, and something more profound—something akin to yearning—tightens in my chest as I absorb the civilization Kael and his companions have built here. Beyond the city in the trees, veils of water cascade down jagged cliffs, catching the sunlight like liquid jewels before pooling into clear lakes. The constant, soothing rhythm of the waterfalls fills the air with misty coolness, blending harmoniously with the calls of vibrant birds and the rustling leaves.
