I waited for a long moment, my eyes frantically looking for any sign of him to reappear, only he didn’t.
Then, I was falling.
I jolted awake, finding myself draped over Endymion’s chest. Sitting up, my breaths came in heavy as I tried to rein in my spiraling thoughts. It was no use. Unable to contain my warring emotions, a guttural scream of pure frustration and anger tore from my lungs. Needing to feel his presence, I pressed my palms against the ornate leathers protecting him—unfortunately, there was no armor in existence that could save him from whatever had him in its clutches, which terrified me more than Wymond.
Throat raw, chest still heaving, I forced myself to focus on what Endymion said.
One thing was certain—if I’d truly only managed to distance us from the palace by measly hours, then he was right. Even if Lady Time was gracious enough to hold things still until we’d reached safety, valenning was the only option for us to survive if we both continued to decline.
Ignoring how weak I felt emotionally and physically, I sat back on my heels and took in long, slow breaths to center myself.
The truth was, I knew a grand total of six things about valenning.
One, a fae can only valen two others at a time.
Two, a High Lord can sense the power when a foreigner uses it close, or within their borders.
Three, the valenner has to be in contact with the valennee.
Four, that the valenner has to know the place they are going.
Five, wards cannot be crossed.
Last—and most importantly—six, I had no fucken clue how to do it.
Closing my eyes, I focused on Endymion’s instructions and slipped back to the memory of Tarrin face down in a bed of discarded leaves, barely clinging to life.
The tang of blood.
The instant panic when I realized who it was.
Luca’s desperate whinnies on the summer side.
The chill air.
Every vivid detail assaulted my senses, my instincts clawing at me to banish the memory. Anchoring myself deeper despite my quivering body, I tilted my head back and bathed in the details at least a dozen time before I gained control over the memory.
Once grounded, I erased any trace of Tarrin from the memory, like a wave washing away a footprint.
Now able to focus clearly, I took in my surroundings.
The sky was gray, threatening rain—the same rain I’d ultimately leveraged to keep Tarrin alive. Shaking that thought as the image of him tried to flicker back to life, I noted the soft, squishy feeling of moss underfoot. Slowly, I turned in a circle. The scent. The colors. The cool air. The soft breeze. The rustling creatures. I cataloged every detail, even the mirage of the Autumn Court that looked as if it continued past the border.
Staying there, I searched through the threads of elemental power asif there’d be one for valenning, only I couldn’t find it. I’d thought it would work similar conjuring water, but instead of pulling millions of microscopic droplets together, I’d pull the thread between the two places.
I was wrong.
It could’ve been minutes or hours that passed as I held firm to the image of where I wanted to go. I’d tried taking my shoes off to ground to the Mother. Had pulled at all the threads—which was not my best idea. I’d even resorted to systematically plucking individual strands.
Nothing.
All I’d managed to do was expend what little energy I’d had to begin with until I could no longer stay upright. Giving in, I rested my head on Endymion’s chest and closed my eyes. I’d prayed to every divine force I knew, which eventually devolved into me continually whisperingplease,until sleep finally claimed me.
I noted the deep ache of my body before the light wind rustled the leaves as if in greeting. I smiled, allowing the familiar soft clatter to wash over me. Though, while I sank into the familiar sound, something in the back of my mind prickled.
The cool air of nightfall plucked at my exposed skin, pulling a shiver from me.
Wait.
