Bayne’s lashes fluttered, yet a muscle in his jaw ticked as his lips drew a line.
“You needed the power,” I continued, turning my head and surveying him. “Needed the unity. But now that Dark King Daimos is dead… Bayne, I canundoit for you.” An unwavering determination slid into my words. “It could be dangerous, but?—”
I paused as he looked up, pity and doubt flashing across his eyes for the briefest moment before they disappeared, replacedwith a half-smile. But that pity… I wilted beneath that small part of Bayne that always seemed to find the naivety within me.
I swallowed the pain that came with it, pulling myself back to where we stood. I blinked and stepped away, scanning the valley of blood surrounding us in the evening light.
Carina had arrived, Kresida by her side, with Vander and a small group of bloodied, Rising soldiers bringing up the rear.
Nerissa knelt among the changed ashen, the gaunt elves and humans, either sitting in shock, staring out at nothing, or weeping, unsure where they were and why.
Tiberius’s wave of wariness washed over me, and I caught his gaze from a distance as it landed on the back of Bayne’s head. I heaved a breath before spotting Isla, still sitting on the ground, and I rushed toward her.
“Isla,” I croaked, my knees crashing to the gray mix of snow and ash.
Her amber eyes were dull, deep black shadows beneath them as she stared at the forest. I scanned her body. She’d been healed, but…
“Isla,” I said, gently this time, moving to put my arms around her.
She flinched at the touch, her wide eyes snapping to mine.
Fear.
And pain.
Of whatever memories reliving those injuries had brought forth. Whatever trauma she had endured for the second time. My stomach churned remembering the dark bruises that had formed on her neck and the blood. So much blood…
“Breathe,” I whispered. “You are safe. You are with friends.”
I repeated those words to her, the affirmations I needed to hear on theEvectaafter surviving my own trauma. This would take time to heal. I scanned the rest of the valley, the rest ofthose healed, and noted the same haunted look in everyone’s faces.
“Their fleet has retreated to Nivis. They’re heading up the coast,” Kresida said, her gaze shooting toward the Lotrennian soldiers filtering in from the woods.
“Go to them,” I said.
She gave me a curt nod before trotting off.
Bayne stepped forward and clasped a hand on Carina’s shoulder. His eyes scanned her bloodied body, as if seeing her for the first time. His small, bookish cousin turned warrior.
“Sobraen,” he said, squeezing his hand and nodding his head. “Thank you.”
I paused mid-stride, staring at the two of them speaking quietly as I processed that word.Sobraen. An elven word. One I’d heard used twice before. Between Nerissa and Carina. And in my room at the Crystal Castle… With Eira…
“Good to see you in one piece,Bonder,” Vander said, pulling me into a bloody embrace.
“Van!” Aeriden cried as he stumbled down the hill.
Vander’s head whipped around, finding Aeriden’s bloodied smile from across the valley, mouth falling open in shock and disbelief.
“Aeriden?” he gasped, releasing me and stumbling toward my brother.
My lips slid into a soft smile as I looked at the bodies on the side of the hill. The ashen, cured,transformedback into their true nature. The Transcindiel’s hopeful song echoed between the rivers of darkness that lined my arms, moving freely, shining, and ready.
