“Take care of him,” she murmured, looking at Talon.The two best friends appeared to be holding back tears as they said goodbye.
“You know I will,” Zane answered.“Be safe, Iyana.All of you.”She nodded, then Kaz was launching herself at Zane for her own hug, making him stumble back a step.Talon chuckled.
“Get in here, Red.”The shifter’s voice was muffled in Zane’s neck as he awkwardly hugged her back.
“Nah, I’m good,” Talon said with a smile on his face.Instead, he swept Iyana up and twirled her around, the same way he had when they’d first met and she had cured his hangover.
“I’m going to miss you so much,” Iyana said into his shirt, a few tears slipping free.
“I’ll miss you too, Smalls.Watch out for our guy, okay?”
“I will,” she whispered.A featherlight touch to her back pulled her out of Talon’s embrace.
Emmeric’s face looked like it was about to crumple.“It’s time to go,” he said.
More goodbyes were said as they tried to put off the inevitable for another moment, but eventually they climbed onto their horses—Emmeric and Iyana atop Pryn, who whinnied sadly when his brother was left in the stall, and Kaz upon her own horse.They turned to wave three times, Zane and Talon becoming smaller and smaller, until Iyana couldn’t see them at all.Then she cried in earnest.
Strong arms wrapped around her waist.“We’ll see them again.”
Iyana said nothing, because they both recognized that for the empty promise that it was.
As Istoria dwindled behind them and the desert sun dried Iyana’s tears, she steeled herself for an arduous journey full of unknowns.And, just as she was thinking that, two riders on horses appeared out of thin air.Silver magic crackled at her fingertips, and Emmeric’s sword was already in his hand before they recognized Altair.Kaz had been halfway off her horse in anticipation of the need to shift.The other star with him was one they hadn’t met before.
“What are you doing?”Iyana snapped at him.
“You’re going to need all the help you can get if you’re going to try to find the gods.”
“How—” She shook her head.“Never mind.Who is this?”
Altair actually appeared slightly uncomfortable and hesitated before answering.“This is my brother, Okab.”
“Brother?”He’d never really spoken of his family to her, only in generalized terms.Iyana hadn’t realized Altair had any siblings.But now, glancing between the two, it was obvious.They had the same hair and eyes, although Okab was smaller.
“His twin, actually,” Okab said.“You never told her about me?”Genuine hurt was in his voice.
“It didn’t seem important at the time,” Altair grumbled.
“Does she know about Tarazed?”
Iyana frowned.“Who is Tarazed?”Altair had promised her that he didn’t have a wife or girlfriend when they went to the sky.If that had been another lie…
“Our sister,” Okab said, glowering at his brother.Iyana couldn’t help the relief that flowed through her.She had never wanted to be the other woman, even if her relationship with Altair was over.
“Any chance we could convince you to leave us alone?”Emmeric asked.
Altair glared pointedly at the areas where Iyana’s body was pressed against Em’s before looking forward again.
“No.”
“Fantastic,” Emmeric muttered.
Iyana suppressed a groan.Dealing with Altair and Emmeric together during a long, lonely trip was not going to be fun for any of them.
Chapter 40
Zane
Handinhand,Zaneand Talon watched their family leave until they were only specks against the horizon.Zane hadn’t expected to be so emotional about separating, but it hadn’t been until that morning that he realized exactly what these people had become to him—family.They’d walked through the nine hells together, and come out on the other side battered and bruised, but stronger for it.
