“I know.” Julia softly patted my arm, tracing over my champion mark with the three stars now shaded crimson. “Not all of us have the strength in our hearts to do what must be done, Skylar.”
“Gods, the High Fae,” I stammered with a wave of sorrow crashing into me. “Even our ancestors…”
“Yes.” Julia nodded, her lips pressed into a thin line and a narrowed brow. Herseriousface, Neera and I named it from our childhood. “Our ancestors did not flee the Inner Kingdom. Our alpha sent us away to lead the fight against the corrupt human forces on the mainland. We were divided when the Heart was stolen. The veil was created by shifter and fae magic, but the memories of our elders were not spared in Minaeve’s scheme.”
“I can’t even imagine how lost they were, how confused and defenseless—”
“Skylar,” Julia interrupted. “Shiftersare never defenseless. We are the guardians of the Heart of Valdor. Strong, dependable, and above all, brave. Our alpha, your direct ancestor, overcame Minaeve’s magic with the help of his animal and then bravely sacrificed his own life to ensure it was locked away.”
“Until a shifter—”
“Until a shifter clever enough, strong enough, and brave enough was able to find it.”
I sat in silence, allowing the trickling sounds of the river to help me sift through my winding thoughts.
“Thankfully,” Julia added, “not all humans are cursed with such evil in their hearts.” My aunt beamedand stretched to cup my cheek. “Your mother Dawn, is one example of the truth in this.”
“My, my—” I frantically spun around, searching. I’d never known her name.
“She’s across the river,” Julia said, motioning toward the opposing side. “Once your mother passed, Emery was here waiting for her, and then, they crossed over together.”
Knowing that my father waited for my mother confirmed my suspicion that they were a mated pair, bringing warmth to my heart.
“All right, so this side of the river is some type of staging area? We aren’t in the afterlife yet?”
“More or less,” Julia answered. “It’s a place for those not yet ready to cross over. A place where we can wait.”
I swallowed heavily as my eyes threatened to release another stream of tears. I knew why Julia was here. She was waiting for Magnus. “How long?”
“As long as it takes,” Julia said with a kind smile. “It’s beautiful here, and we can watch over all those we love. It’s not absolute peace, but…” Julia paused as she adjusted her knees beneath her. “Without your uncle, I’ll never truly be at peace. A part of me will always be searching for him.”
I cast my gaze away, tears stinging the backs of my eyes at the depth of love my aunt and uncle shared.
“Then I’ll be waiting with you.”
“Oh really?” Julia chuckled, covering her mouth. “You don’t say?” she teased, lightly grasping my shoulder. “Daxton.”
I nodded, my entire body trembling at the thought of my mate and how desperately I wanted to see him, hear his laugh, or feel the touch of his hand on my cheek—just one more time.
“That doesn’t surprise me, Skylar,” Julia said with an all-too-knowing grin. “He may be immortal, but I could see it. I told Magnus as such the day he brought you back to Solace. Daxton fell for you long before you even thought a pairing between you could be a reality.”
“Was it that obvious?”
“Yes.” Julia laughed.
The cracks that formed in my heart since hearing about her death began stitching back together.
“What?”
“I missed you,” I replied, hugging her tightly. “That’s all.”
“Magnus isn’t the only reason I’m here, Sky,” Julia said, taking me aback. “One sip from the river doesn’t give you all the answers.” She chuckled lightly, rising to her feet.
The snow-feathered owl swooped past our heads and landed atop a nearby branch, fluttering its wings and giving us its undivided attention.
“Hello, Stark,” Julia said.
“A friend of yours?”
