“I’m fine.” I rise to my feet, steadying myself.
“Are you still going to leave?” she asks.
“You know I have to do this,” I say, the admission heavy in my voice.
She searches my face for a long moment. Then her shoulders slump in defeat.
“I hate this,” she whispers.
“I know.”
“If you go...” She takes a shaky breath. “Promise me you’ll come back.”
“I promise.” The vow settles into my bones. “I’ll come back to you. Always.”
She studies my face for another heartbeat, searching for some argument that might change my mind. But we both understand what must be done, however much we wish circumstances allowed for different choices.
She rises on her toes and kisses me once more. The kiss is soft and brief. When she pulls back, her eyes are wet.
“How long?” she asks.
“As long as it takes to make you safe.”
Rhianelle doesn’t speak. She just turns and walks to the wyvern, wrapping her arms around Coral’s neck like the creature is the only real thing left in the world. “Be good, Coral. We’ll visit you again soon.”
I watch her for a moment, memorizing the way the sunlight catches in her silver hair. The way Coral rumbles soothingly beneath her touch.
Then I move to create the portal home.
Coinneach responds immediately. The shadow peels away and forms the familiar archway of darkness.
“Ready?” I extend my hand.
Rhianelle nods. She takes my hand. Together we step toward the portal.
“Coral, no—” Rhianelle starts, but it’s too late.
The ridiculous creature has already launched herself at the closing portal. Her pale white scales catch the last sunlight as she barrels through like an oversized bat. The portal warps around her bulk. I have to quickly adjust the shadows to accommodate her unexpected passage.
We tumble through into Rhianelle’s bedchamber. My wife comes out gracefully while I maintain the portal’s stability. Coralcrashes through with all the elegance of a drunken bear. The wyvern knocks over a side table and sends a vase rolling across the floor. She somehow manages to get her tail tangled in the curtains before finally coming to a stop.
“Coral!” Rhianelle whispers sharply, her lilac eyes wide with worry. She rushes to untangle the creature from her curtains.
The wyvern looks immensely pleased with herself. That peculiar expression she gets when she thinks she’s done something clever. Her tongue lolls out slightly as she pants from the exertion.
“You can’t be here. You’re a fae creature. If anyone sees you in the queen’s private chambers…” Rhianelle’s delicate hands work to free Coral’s tail while simultaneously trying to assess what damage has been done to her room.
The wyvern, oblivious to the concern she’s causing, nuzzles against Rhianelle’s shoulder with enough force to nearly knock her over.
“Perhaps it’s not such a terrible thing,” I say, moving to right the overturned table.
Rhianelle turns to me. “Svenn, she’s a fae wyvern. In the elven queen’s bedchamber. During a war with the fae.”
“I’m leaving soon to reclaim those fortresses.” I keep my voice steady despite the way my chest tightens at the thought. “You’ll need protection while I’m gone. Who better than a creature that adores you?”
Coral, as if understanding she’s being discussed, waddles over to Rhianelle’s bed and attempts to climb onto it. The frame creaks ominously under her weight.
“She’ll cause trouble…” Rhianelle protests weakly. Though I can see her resolve wavering as Coral’s large eyes turn to her with that pitiful expression the beast has mastered.
