“I don’t know,” Rosalina whispers. “Maybe she carried it away with her thorns. I don’t see how she could have gotten the token.”
“We’ll get it,” I whisper and pull her against my chest. “You’re safe. That’s all that matters.”
“What now?”
“Now, we secure the Sun Colosseum. Tomorrow, we retake the realm.” I look out at the arena, then to her. “But tonight? Tonight, we seal our bond.”
CHAPTER 86
Keldarion
George lets out a heart’s cry.
I stagger up, barely able to see clearly through my blurred vision.
Did I believe we’d truly find her? I was willing to take George into the unknown, willing to risk my own life, but that was because I knew he would never stop until we’d searched every corner of the Vale. Had I actually thought we’d find Aurelia here?
Not Aurelia, not to George.
This is his Anya.
He nearly falls over his own feet as he runs toward the glowing green cage. “Anya,” he sobs.
She appears just as any other fae woman, her back against the glowing wall. Her features haven’t changed much from George’s memory, but she’s more beleaguered. I wonder if in the sunlight, her hair would still have the slight hint of red as it did when she sailed down the river near the stone triangles.
Though Anya appeared as a human to George, she now looks fae. But I know better. The Queen is the closest thing to godhood the Vale has ever seen. She created our homes, our way of life. She saved the last pieces of the Gardens of Ithilias.
She bore the Golden Rose.
I want to fall back to my knees before her, to prick my hands and make vows in blood. I want to beg for her forgiveness and to tell her I understand now why she cursed me.
I never once believed in any of the centuries of my life that I would have this opportunity. But George has been waiting every second of his.
Keldarion, the cursed High Prince, can wait and so too can Kel, Rosalina’s mate. My thoughts immediately turn to patrol, to guarding the single way in and out and observing for traps.
For this moment, I am here for George.
He stumbles forward, jaw trembling as if he’s forgotten any word except her name. “Anya … my Anya.”
The Queen slowly raises her head from her chest. Her shoulders are hunched forward, dirty feet splayed before her. She wears a white dress that seems clean enough, but dark circles rim her eyes.
“Anya!” George’s voice cracks, tears streaming down his cheeks.
Anya blinks at him. Her eyes seem faded, faraway. A soft smile graces her chapped lips. “Hello, darling.”
Her name claws out of his throat again, and George collapses to the ground before the translucent wall. He pounds on it with his fist, tries to tear it down. But we’re too early. Farron and Caspian haven’t destroyed the crystals yet.
Thank the seven realms,I think. If we had been too late, Sira would have imprisoned her some other way.
Anya’s face hardens as she looks at George. She blinks once. Twice. Then looks around, as if expecting to see someone else.
Who? Sira? Does she assume this is all a trick?
“Anya?” George says quietly.
“Get it away from me,” Anya snarls, voice harsh. “What is this?”
“It’s me, Annie. I’ve come for you,” George says.
