“I know,” he murmured. “I just wanted a few more seconds under this tree with you before we rejoin the world.”
But Raine wanted more. He longed to scoop her up and take her back to the castle. To clean the blood and dirt from her soft skin, then keep her in his bed for hours, worshiping every inch of her body. Wanted her gasps and moans and whimpers. Wanted her laughs and tears. Her darkest secrets and greatest fears. To hold her and never let go.
But they were exhausted and there was much work to be done.
“You have no idea how happy I am to have met you, Maeryn,” he said.
“Me too. I am glad to have a friend such as you.”
“Friend?” Raine took a step forward, her back hitting the tree. Placing a hand on the side of her neck, his thumb brushed her jaw. She leaned into the touch. “I don’t want to be your friend, Firefly,” he said, the nickname slipping from his lips before he realized what he’d said.
“Firefly?” she asked, a hand sliding up his chest.
He leaned in, lips brushing hers. The air between them filled with tension.
“Why do you call me this?” she asked in between shallow breaths.
“I’ll explain another time,” Raine murmured against her lips.
A breathy sigh escaped her. It was all the permission he needed.
His lips met hers. Soft, tentative. Her fingers clutched his chest piece, pulling him closer. It was slow, restrained, as if they were holding back. But it was a quiet affirmation. An intimate exchange. The way her soft lips moved against his own.
With considerable effort, Raine pulled back. Maeryn gaped at him, chest heaving, eyes bright with surprise and desire.
“So,” she whispered, a shy grin playing over her lips. “What now?”
Raine took her hand. “We help with clean up. And then we’ll figure this out.”
57
Ava stood in the meadow where it all began. Where she was dropped into the realm of Eorhan after being thrown through the portal on her farm. The white-barked trees stood tall, their rounded golden leaves rustling in the breeze. Flowers glimmered among the emerald grass, while a tawny rabbit hopped by, disappearing into the forest.
The cleanup after the final battle took weeks. Disposing of their enemies’ corpses and burying their own people had been a physically and emotionally exhausting endeavor.
The other fae had at last left for their respective kingdoms and Ava already missed them. Fortunately, they’d been invited to an upcoming celebration hosted by Astrid and Soren and she was already looking forward to spending time with the queens and seeing Imsel again. She’d grown to like the quiet captain who had been such a help in the desert and a reckoning force in battle.
Thalia was back in Igneothenia, learning to rule through her grief without her husband by her side. She had clutched Ava and cried when she told her about seeing Aelerion in the afterlife, reassured he hadn’t lost his exuberant disposition.
Maeryn had also left. And though she and Raine agreed to visit each other, Ava could see the heartbreak in his eyes at her being so far away. He hadn’t told her they were soulbonds, stating he was waiting for the right moment. But Ava knew he was still scared and struggling with his guilt. It would take time to move forward and she promised to be a listening ear for him…just like he always was for her.
Frosthaven was still in upheaval after Valeria’s secret had been revealed and their general killed her. With no heirs to speak of, their council was scrambling to appoint a new ruler. Thorne was still nervous about that kingdom; it would take many years to mend what had been broken among the ice fae.
Jareth returned to Caelestia and they hadn’t heard a word from him. Not that Ava expected to. It’s not like they were suddenly friends after he saved her life. Twice. But she was still curious about his plans for Orion and how that might affect the rest of Eorhan in the future.
Mosshaven was still recovering from the attack on the town and the farms, but Raine’s father had taken charge over the farmers, helping them till the available fields and increase production as they waited for the burned soil to recover.
And now there was one last thing Ava had to do.
Casimir stood beside her, his hand clutching hers tightly. The others were present. Raine, Quinn, Thorne, Jorrar and Luna. All there to support the final closure she knew she needed.
Ava stood before the archway lined in symbols, assaulted by memories. Memories of shadows and purple fire and daemon soldiers. Memories of prison wagons and shackles and the smell of blood.
She shivered. Casimir squeezed her hand before releasing it.
Cutting her palm, she pressed it against the stone archway,calling her magic forth. The symbols glowed blue, lining the swirling black center.
“Ready?” she asked.
