“Matea, please,” the spy said softly, his voice huskyas ever.
Everything about him pissed me off, but deep down, I knew he was right. It would be stupid to return afterwe’djust barely escaped with our lives.
“I can’t just leave her there,” I said, my voice cracking pathetically.
“We’ll get her back.” Rayven gently rested a hand against the back of my head, cradling me against his chest.
I took a moment to allow myself to find comfort in his act of kindness. It was a privilege I rarely allowed myself.
“Maybe sooner than you realize,” he added, his grip on me loosening as he lifted an arm, pointing toward the shorelinewe’djust left.
And running full speed out of the tunnelwe’dexited moments before was the same femaleI’djust been crying over.
She’d made it out.
I watched, stunned, as Viva helped water wield the ocean below toallow forher to make it to the ship.
As she boarded the ship, I fell to my knees.
After decades, my mother had finally, at long last, returned to me.
