She accepted it, welcomed it, chose to face it head-on rather than let me keep it locked away forever.
How does she do this? How does she see the darkest parts of me and find them worth loving?
I don't understand it. But I'm grateful beyond words.
The eclipse's red light has faded completely now, leaving only normal moonlight streaming through the cave entrance. Dawn must be approaching.
A soft sound draws my attention. Rhianelle is stirring, not quite awake but no longer deeply asleep. Her face scrunches with worry. She makes a small, distressed noise that goes straight to my heart.
I move immediately to gather her against me. "Shh, little fawn. You're safe."
Her eyes open fully, focusing on me with visible effort. The worry doesn't leave her expression. "Did the warnings go through?"
"All delivered." I stroke her hair soothingly. "Coinneach found Aelfric and Garrett as soon as I sent him. Your war generals know everything you learned. The capital is fortifying the walls. Völundr is preparing their harbor defenses. The intelligence you gathered will save thousands of lives."
"But people will still die." Her voice breaks slightly. "Because I'm not strong enough to stop this war."
"This war isn't your fault, Rhianelle." I turn her face to look at me. "You're not responsible for Eirik's madness or the Aeonian's ambition or any of this. You did more than anyone could have asked. You risked your life to get that intelligence."
"We don't have enough allies," she whispers, and I can hear the weight of the world in those words.
It's true.
"We have each other." I pull her closer, needing to feel her heartbeat against mine. "That counts for more than you think."
Her hand finds mine, gripping tightly. "They're going to attack soon, aren't they?"
"Yes."
She swallows hard and I can see her mind working through the logistics of war.
"Kheirall and Ragnar might have let me escape, but one of the fae commanders saw my face." She won't meet my eyes. "They know I was there and they know we have intelligence about their plans. What if they advance their timeline or change targets entirely? All that intelligence could be worthless."
The weight of that possibility is crushing. She risked everything for information that might already be obsolete. If shewould only let me see the bastard’s face, I could mark him. My beasts would hunt. Though it would change nothing. By now he has surely carried word to the Fae king.
"Armies that size don't pivot easily," I say into the top of her head. "The seadragons are already positioned at Völundr. Shifting them north would take weeks—weeks they don't have if they want to use the eclipse's effects."
"Can we win?" The question is small and afraid. It breaks my fucking heart.
I consider lying, offering false comfort. But she deserves truth.
"Eirik has been planning this for a long time." I press my lips to her temple. "The alliances he's built, the forces he's gathered are massive. But we have a chance now. Because of you."
She closes her eyes and I can see her trying to hold back tears. They come slowly, tracking down her face.
"What is it?" I ask.
She shakes her head and keeps crying, small, exhausted tears.
"I lost my wedding ring."
The admission comes out broken and ashamed. For a moment I can only stare at her. I catch her shaking hands in mine and still them. She won’t look at me.
I can't help it. I chuckle.
“No,” I murmur, brushing my forehead to hers. “You didn’t lose it.”
Her eyes snapopen in confusion. "What?"
