She had someone she was desperate to see.
I stepped through the air beneath a sky smeared with pink. We stood in the courtyard and Fraleigh had joined us, happy to see Astrid healed.
“Is he coming?” Astrid asked from Daigen’s arms.
I pulled on my bond. “Soon, Astrid.”
With a crunching footstep in the grass, we looked up. Riyan stepped out from behind the shadows of the tower, a bouquet of purple and white flowers in his hand.
His shoulders curved forward and he gave her a soft smile. “Mother, I—”
“Put me down!” Astrid cried as she pushed off Daigen’s chest. Daigen gently dropped her legs and held onto her hand. I grabbed her other hand to keep her steady. She hissed out a determined breath and took her first step in the grass.
Her heartbeat pulsed in her wrist as she took another. She yanked her hands out of ours and sprinted for only a heartbeat before her knees buckled and she tumbled down.
Riyan ran for her. Daigen and I both lurched forward to help her, but Astrid snarled out a breath and crawled on her trembling forearms through the grass.
“Riyan!” She pulled forward as her body shook. “My baby!Baby!”
He dropped to his knees and pulled his mother into an embrace, pressing his cheek against hers. Astrid’s trembling arms could not raise all the way, but a smile spread across her face as her fingers wrapped around Riyan’s arm.
Shefinallyheld her baby.
I could not stop the tears that escaped. I looked over my shoulder for Daigen, but he was no longer in the courtyard.
The master of illusions had disappeared and he took Fraleigh with him.
Free at last.
I stood against the wall as everyone danced—the ideal place to be. Evereon played his violin. Calder strummed the lute. Alastar the Conqueror’s armor stood in the center of the feasting table. Annalisa and Astrid had painted a giant blue “B” in the center of the breastplate, surrounding it with thumbprint flower petals.
Mead poured freely as the new Baron of Bloodstone danced with every woman that he could get his hands on, as well as a few men.
I smiled as Endre picked Astrid up out of her wheeled chair as the music swelled. Astrid laughed as he held her in his arms and spun.
The door next to me clicked open and Annalisa stepped out. She brushed a tear from her eyes and folded her arms. “He did not take it well.”
I leaned toward her so she could hear me over the music. “You are not leaving him, not really.”
“That is what I told him—a dozen times.” She pulled a familiar gleam of bronze from a belt around her waist. “Promising to keep this on me calmed him down.”
The sight of the Hyton dagger in her hand warmed my heart.
“Love and protection?” I asked.
She smiled. “Something like that.”
Annalisa looked out onto the crowd. Mother sat in Father’s lap as they drank merrily. Erik stood with his shoulders against the opposite wall.
She sneered. “Do I have to stay with Bird Brain?”
I laughed. “Go find my mother—she always knows what to do.” My eyes flicked to the closed door. “I will handle him.”
Annalisa wrapped me into a hug as Endre bounded over.
“I have danced with most of your sisters already.” He flashed Annalisa a charming smile and held out his hand. “I saved the best one for last.”
Annalisa rolled her eyes, but accepted his hand as he pulled her into a dance. I turned around and let out a breath before I opened the door.
