Page 167 of A Legacy of the Light

I shrug and look down at my feet, not knowing what to do with myself. Finneus rises from his seat and walks over to me, his footsteps muffled on the faded red rug that lines the entry to the library. His black boots stop at the edge of my vision.

“I’m going to miss you, Elsie,” he says.

I look up at him. His soft blue eyes are shimmering.

“Had I been blessed with another daughter, I imagine she would have been a lot like you.” He takes a step closer to me. “I’m glad I had the chance to know you.”

My bottom lip quivers. “I can’t even begin to describe what you have done for me, Finneus. You have been a light in a very dark time. And I will never forget you.”

The first tear that falls to his cheek has me stepping forward to wrap my arms around my friend.

“Promise me you will be careful, Elsie?”

“I will,” I reply.

“And if you do see your grandmother again, tell her . . .” he clears his throat and steps back, placing two hands on my shoulders. “Tell her that I miss her, and I am happy she found some peace.”

I nod, and he wipes the tears from my face.

“Now, you simply cannot squander your final day in Elfayne with me in the library. You must go. Explore as much as you can.”

“Final day?” a female voice repeats from the archway.

I turn and find Reyne watching us.

“Yes. That’s what the king wanted us for. The barrier is opening between realms. I leave in the morning,” I tell her, with the same knot in my throat as when I told Finneus.

Saying goodbye to Reyne is going to be harder than I ever imagined.

Her features remain blank as she stares at me.

“Reyne?” I ask.

“You’re leaving?” she finally whispers.

I nod, and a sob escapes her throat as she barrels toward me. I open my arms for her and she almost tackles me to the ground.

“I’m not ready for you to leave!” she cries into me.

“I’m not ready to go either,” I confess.

Guilt pulls on my heart and my mind. I should be at least a little happy to be going home; to see Grandpa and Rach and to return to my normal life. But I know this is supposed to be my life. I am supposed to be here with other Seelie. The last five months have become the new normal for me. The thought of leaving this place, the people I’ve met here, my connection to my family, creates a new hole in my still bruised and healing soul.

“I’ll come with you to Claver,” she snuffles.

“You don’t have to,” I reply.

“Please let me?” she asks, looking up at me with deep blue eyes swimming in tears. “Please? I can’t say goodbye to you. Not yet.”

I smile weakly at her. “I would be honored to have your company, Miss Macleod.”

Reyne nods once, steps out of my arms, and scrubs her face on the sleeve of her white shirt, leaving tear stains on her forearm.

“Meet me at the bonfire at six?” she says with sudden surety.

“What for?” I ask, wiping my own face.

“Just meet me there, okay?”