It never crossed my mind that…
I turned back toward Honor and his … dad. Whoa. Now that I looked closer, the man sitting next to my friend was the spitting image of him and all the Midnight princes, albeit a little older. Maybe … twenty-eight? Rage had been a few years old when he lost his dad, so they’d never gotten to know each other.
Was my mom here?
I wanted to spin around and look for her, but we were on limited time. What did we have, four more minutes? Three? Then the Keeper would zap us away, and that would be it.
Rage stumbled toward his father in shock, but my eyes were glued on Honor. Something wasn’t right. He wasn’t looking at us excitedly or anything. He looked dead—all the light and love inside my friend was gone.
“Son?” Rage’s dad stood, mouth unhinged. “You’re alive?”
When Rage tried to embrace his father, the two of them stumbled … and Rage walked right through his dad.
Oh … wow.
I had about a million questions, but … I knelt at Honor’s side, ignoring Rage and his father’s brief—and awkward—reunion.
“Honor?” I hesitated to even try to touch him after witnessing how well that went over for Rage. It’s me, Nai.”
Honor looked at me, frowned, and then turned back to look at the lake. “You’re not real.”
I drew back in surprise and then looked up at Rage’s dad for answers.
He frowned, looking down at me. “A shocking and painful death has … repercussions.”
Oh mage. A sob formed in my throat.
“What do you mean? Is he okay?” Rage asked his father.
The man gazed down at his son, who stared out over the lake.
“I hope so.” The elder Midnight’s voice was distraught. “I’m working with him, and all we have is time… Eventually, he should be fine.”
Ihopeso? Eventually?Shouldbe?
Oh no. No, no, no. I couldn’t have sweet Honor be a depressed shell of his former self.
Sucking in a sharp breath, I reached out and rested my hand on Honor’s shoulder. As solid as when he’d helped me train.
He met my gaze, and tears filled his eyes.
“Don’t you dare get comfortable, Honor,” I said, pulling him in for a hug. Then I stood, knowing our time was short: “We’re bringing you back to the mortal world. You’ll live again, I swear it. I’m not letting you go. Not like that, you hear?”
Honor swallowed … and then turned to look back over the lake once more.
His dad frowned. “I’m sorry, but … who are you?”
Rage cleared his throat. “Dad, this is Nai Crescent … my fated-mate and an alpha heir. She’s also a high mage heir with the master element of spirit. Nai, this is my dad, Valor Midnight.”
Whoa. Hearing that out loud, from Rage no less… I straightened, trying to find a way to wear all of those titles and still be comfortable. While meeting my mate’s dead father—whose name was Valor.
Awkward.
His dad’s eyebrows hit his hairline, green eyes widening. “Oh.” He stared at me, his jaw moving but no sound coming out for several painful heartbeats. Then, he shook himself and extended his hand. “Nai, it’s so lovely to meet you.”
“Same,” I replied, taking his hand. Just like with Honor, Valor’s grip was solid in mine despite his spectral appearance.
His gaze went over my head briefly then returned to mine, and he grinned. “I think there is someone you should meet.”
