“Thank you, my lady.”
She turned back towards the hallway where she had entered, then paused.Iyana actually had no idea how she had gotten here, or how she was going to get back.The stars may have been able to teleport, but she had never learned, nor tried to learn, that ability.Panic gripped her, hot and fierce, thinking she’d be stuck within the sleeping gods’ realm for the rest of her life.She’d be slowly forgotten by everyone she knew and loved.
Emmeric wouldn’t remember her.The absence of the bond within her chest suddenly hit her hard.It had been easy to ignore while she figured out where she was, but now…was she going to spend the rest of her life without his always steady presence?Iyana had gotten used to having him near, knowing he’d always be there for her.Suddenly, she realized she never wanted to go another day without him in her life.
“Come here, Aztia,” Ciri said gently.“Your Kanaliza worries for you.You should return to him.”
The goddess cupped Iyana’s face in her warm hands and placed a kiss on her brow.Ciri’s glow increased until Iyana had to close her eyes against the light.From one second to another, Iyana went from a sweltering heat to a biting cold.Opening her eyes, she saw she was back in front of the large mystical tree, kneeling in the snow.A shiver overtook her body.
Iyana!She heard her name called in the distance; somewhere in the trees, but also within her mind.Iyana drew her cloak around her for warmth, happy she’d thought to hold on to it.
“Em,” she croaked.Her voice was weak, but she tugged against their restored bond thrumming within her to let him know she was back.Emmeric burst out of the tree line, his blue eyes wide and wild, finding her immediately.
He ran to her, sliding to a stop on his knees.Cradling her face in his hands, he looked deep into her gaze, then checked her body for any injuries.
“I’m okay,” she whispered.
“Gods, Mouse, you scared me so bad,” he said.Emmeric took in a shuddering breath and let it out slowly.She could feel his panic abating now that she had returned.
“Sorry.”
“What have I told you about touching magical things?”
Iyana’s lips twitched into a smile.“Next time a mind-altering mist takes over my body, I’ll make sure to remember your words of wisdom.”
“You infuriating woman,” Emmeric murmured.Then his lips were on hers, kissing her hard.Iyana kissed him back just as fiercely.They both needed the reminder that they were where they belonged—together.
Chapter 47
Altair
Althoughhewassearchingthrough the forest for her, Altair sensed Iyana’s return as a small sense of relief filled him.Sullane crashing through the forest to return to the clearing only confirmed that his intuition was correct.Altair sprinted back to the giant, magical tree in time to see Sullane crash his lips against his astalle’s.It was Altair’s first time actually seeing them together, and he had to hold himself back from ripping the other man off of her.
Of course, he’d long ago realized they had been fucking, and he’d seen it in Iyana’s eyes that she was attached to Sullane as more than just her Kanaliza.Altair had expected the anger, but he hadn’t anticipated how hurt and sad he would be when he finally saw it right in front of him.She was supposed to behis.His astalle.The love of his life.
But Altair could finally acknowledge that he had fucked up their relationship beyond repair.And loving somebody meant wanting them to be happy, even if it wasn’t with him.So Altair turned and allowed them to have their moment—instead of murdering Sullane like he desperately wanted to.
“Altair,” Iyana called to him.He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, relishing the sound of his name on her lips, not knowing many more times he’d have the privilege of hearing her say it.After a second, he turned and strode towards the couple.Sullane was cradling Iyana to his chest and carrying her out of the clearing.Altair realized the reason was because she wasn’t wearing shoes again and her toes had turned a bright red after being exposed to the snow for so long.The woman was a menace when it came to being barefoot.
“We need to find the others,” she continued.“There are things we need to discuss.”
Altair nodded curtly and led the way back to the cave.The sun was just beginning to rise, and the last vestiges of the strange fog were dissipating.
They found Kaz and Okab sitting next to each other at the mouth of the cave.Their bodies sagged with the remnants of whatever the mist had done to all of them, and their eyes were tired.Kaz scrambled to her feet as they approached.She appeared more concerned than Altair had ever seen her.Usually the shifter was carefree and without worries.
“Are you okay?”she asked.“When we woke up, and you were all gone, we thought…” Kaz trailed off.
“We thought the gods had taken you,” Okab finished.
Iyana nodded towards the cave entrance.“We have some things to talk about.”
Everyone entered ahead of him, and Altair took a deep breath before following them into the cave.The opening was small, and he was larger than Okab and Sullane.For a fraction of a second, he thought he was going to get stuck, and he almost panicked.But then he was through, and he could breathe marginally easier.The ceiling and walls were still far too close, in his opinion.
They started a fire to warm the space while Iyana told them about her encounter with Ciri, ending with the need to enter the Everlands to talk to the original Aztia and Kanaliza.When she was done, they all sat in silence for several seconds.
“Was Yrza there?”Kaz finally asked.
Iyana gave her friend a soft smile.“She was sleeping.She’s okay.”
