Orion kneels to kiss Maxwell’s forehead, his lips lingering on his son’s soft hair. Then he straightens and pulls Maya into his arms. He kisses her long and hard, and the sight of it sends adull ache through me. That kind of love. That kind of certainty. I wonder if I’ll ever have it.
Orion climbs aboard Delphine.
“Hold on,” he calls over his shoulder.
Just before he gives the signal, I look back at the cabin.
Sebastian is standing on the porch, and I can’t help but think that he is the most beautiful man I have ever seen. His dark hair ruffles a little in the breeze, and those eyes that have haunted me since the first moment I saw him.
Right now, they look tortured.
He smiles at me through his obvious pain. Then he lifts a hand and waves.
I wave back.
A tear slips down my cheek, and I wipe it away quickly.
Then I face forward, looking up at the sky.
Delphine’s wings beat once, twice, and we lift off the ground. The cabin grows smaller beneath us. The mountains rise on either side, and then we are soaring over them, headed south for the Shifter Court.
The flight is long. I bury myself deeper into my cloak and hold tight to the spike on Delphine’s spine. Below us, the deadlands stretch out endlessly. Then, gradually, the landscape begins to change. Trees appear. Rivers glint like silver threads. The air grows warmer.
We are nearing the border.
As we descend, I see a party of shifterfae gathered in a clearing at the edge of the forest. Some are in their fae form. Others are still in their animal forms. They all react as we approach, heads turning, bodies tensing at the sight of the dragon.
Terra stands apart from the others, her lean form unmistakable. I wave, and she lifts a hand in greeting.
Delphine lands with a heavy thud, her wings folding against her sides.
I slide down from the dragon’s back. Terra walks toward us, her stride confident and unhurried.
She is smiling warmly.
Orion jumps down, walking to us.
“Hi, Terra. It is good to see you.” We share a hug.
“You too, Isla.”
I pull back. “This is Orion, the Beastfae King and my friend. Orion, this is my friend Terra.”
Orion dips his head in acknowledgment. “It is good to meet you, Terra. Isla speaks highly of you and your species.”
Terra studies him with open curiosity. “Your dragon is magnificent,” she says. “I look forward to getting to know you and the others. The Drakar – although not yet back from her search for Salvorne – is eager to meet you, as well.” She glances toward the assembled shifterfae. “I am sure that Drakar Kilara will extend an invitation as soon as she is back.”
Orion inclines his head. “I appreciate that. We’ll be in touch soon. Let us know when your Drakar returns. We will come as soon as we are invited.”
“I will certainly do that,” Terra tells him. “We look forward to sharing a meal and our home with you.”
“And making plans to end Snow’s rule,” he says.
“That goes without saying.” Terra nods.
Orion turns to me and clasps my shoulder briefly. “Take care of yourself, Isla. We’ll see each other again before long.”
“Thank you, Orion. For everything.”
