I was left alone, with only the softness of her cool bark beneath my glowing palms. Leaning in, I rested a cheek on the trunk and closed my eyes.
“Thank you,” I whispered, and a tear slowly rolled down my face.
And like someone sitting with a loved one after they’d passed, I lingered until I was certain she was no longer there.
When our bond broke, the shimmering dome released its grip, depositing me back into my own reality.
Eventually, I stepped back and pressed my lips upon my fingers, then touched her bark one last time in a silent goodbye.
I turned to find Endymion only steps away, unbridled reverence and awe staring back at me at what he’d witnessed.
Looking down, I flipped my hands over, then back, mesmerized by the faint glow still emanating from me—it was breathtaking.
Catching his gaze, Endymion regarded me as if cataloguing each feature for the first time.
“What is it?” I asked, my voice sounding distant.
He continued to take me in, unable to form words.
We stood in silence for what felt like an eternity before he finally whispered, “You’re fae.”
Epilogue: Endymion
The fog was heavy enough that the countless layers of discarded leaves underfoot had softened from its weight, granting me the stealth I required. The cool mist settling on the coarse hairs of my arms wasn’t unusual this close to the human border—but without access to my magic, every sense strained to detect any threats, even phantom ones.
I rolled my shoulders, cranked my neck left, then right, eliciting a familiarpopas I shook off the edge. I’d stayed in the human realm too long to findherand understood the steep toll the Mother would exact. But knowing a cost isn’t the same as living it.
“What a fucken mess,” I sighed, pushing away a branch as I passed through a heavy patch of frost-covered thicket.
I’d lost count of how many times I prayed to the Gods for Nyleeria’s safety while scouring every inch of that forsaken land. It’d taken longer than expected to detect any trace of her, and my fae senses combined with centuries of tracking were the only reasons I’d been able to find her lush scent at all. But then it vanished—which was either frustratingly impressive, or a massive complication.
I wouldn’t put it past Nyleeria to be a phenomenal counter-tracker, but I couldn’t dismiss the distinct possibility that someone had valenned her away. My teeth clenched at the thought and a strange emptiness washed over me when my power failed to mirror my emotions, grating on me like an undisciplined parry. I’d knowingly sacrificed it for her, and I’d do it again—but that didn’t mean it didn’t piss me off.
A noise. My hand was already on the hilt of my sword when my head snapped right. A whinny pierced the fog, and I stilled—fully coiled. A heartbeat later, hooves spurred by fear thundered in retreat.
“What in the…” I breathed, re-scanning the surrounding mist.
Shit. I bolted forward, realizing what I’d overlooked. A na’li. This close to the border. And I’d missed it.
I moved fast, but every unsure step and almost-tumble boiled my blood. It was nearly impossible to see through the fog, but I was born in the Autumn Court—blindfolded, I’d still find footing in mist. But godsdamnit if being fully tapped wasn’t like missing a fucken limb.
Forcing myself to bite down my frustration, I strained to listen through the sound of the brush scraping against my leathers as I pushed through the tangled mess.
“Yessssssah.” The word slithered down my spine, cold and wet. The thickening fog trembled around me, signaling that the na’li had found its victim—I was running out of time. If it fully materialized, I’d have to face it without my magic, which wasn’t preferable.
Another shudder rippled through the mist, stronger this time—I was close. Halting, I waited, needing to know exactly where the vile thing was before I approached.
Out of the corner of my eye, a green light flickered. Slowly, I drew my sword and stepped toward it. As I strained to see past the na’li’s fog barrier, a blinding halo appeared, forcing me to shield my eyes as it lit the mist in an endless cacophony of colors, as if a rainbow had erupted.
I stared, transfixed by the magic swirling before me. It felt...familiar—like a hymn my soul seemed to recognize.
As my vision cleared, I lowered my arm and locked my focus on the massive beast now silhouetted by the colorful prism being siphoned from its victim. Stars, I’d never seen a na’li caporalize that fast.
Its pleasured wail scraped through me, clawing for magic it wouldn’t find, and spurring me into motion.
Three long strides. One exacting swing. Silence.
As the color drained from the mist, the acrid stench of the na’li’s blood filled my nostrils. A heartbeat later, its head hit the leaves with a muffled thud, followed by its victim.
