Page 117 of The Enemy's Daughter

So Liamis okay, and he’s nowSaraf. The people didn’t revolt. They accepted him. There’s tremendous relief that at least this one thing came out right. And also a sadness at the thought of never seeing him again, after all we’ve been through together. “T-t-teach him,” I fight to say. Liam has a good heart; he just needs to learn a better way. Now that Vador’s replaced Tristan as acting mayor, a mentorship of sorts could go a long way in navigating this path to peace between our peoples, both now and long-term if Vador is elected mayor.

Vador squeezes my hand and nods. He takes a step to leave but another urgent question comes to my mind. “Enola?”

“She says hello.”

My other eye pops open. My body is coming back to me. “I—I didn’t—”

“We know.”

They do?

“She woke up and reported that she saw Annette following her before she was attacked. She also heard some of what they said to you before Annette tried to force you to the fence, which means Isaw it, too, through our connection. There will be a trial for what those nurses did to both of you.”

A trial. Does that mean I don’t have to clear my name? If I could smile, I would.

“Samuel also heard snippets after he awoke. It was enough for him to understand what had transpired. Now I should go.” He bounces his head in goodbye and leaves before I can say another word.

Mum immediately sets about changing the bandage on my neck, then makes me choke back a disgusting concoction of tea. Slowly, I gain back control of my body, not that I’ve had a need for it. There’s too much going on in my head.

Where is Tristan? What happens now? With the clans thinking I’m dead, returning to Kingsland is my only option, but is it safe for me there? Annette and Caro weren’t the only ones upset by my presence.

And after I hurt Tristan by nearly taking my life, does he even want me there with him?

Mum rustles a bag of herbs. Her face is tight, like she’s holding back a mountain of sorrow. How inconsiderate of me. I’m not the only one who’s had a life-changing day. “Are you okay?” I ask.

She nods without looking at me, but it’s too quick.

“You went to Vador to set Tristan free.”

Her thin lips press together in a grim smile. “I found a Kingsland soldier and did what I had to do for my daughter.”

That’s not all she did. She also went against Father—for me. “You must really love me.”

She snorts, then her eyes close and her face collapses in silent tears. Her shoulders shake as she cries.

I reach for her as she did for me last night, and she buries her face in my hair. “Thank you.” I may not ever understand her choices, but I’ll never again doubt her love.

Eventually, I warm up enough to drift off to sleep, and when I wake, it’s to Mum’s voice telling someone she’ll wait outside. Footsteps brush the ground of the cave, but before I even see him, I feel him. The connection effortlessly spirals into place.

He lies down beside me, pressing against my side. The scent of balsam trees and fresh soap and something distinctly Tristan engulfs me, and only after I’ve hugged him to me do I feel like myself again.

Whole.

We hold each other without saying a word. His relief is what sets me most at ease, melting the anxiety that’s eaten away at me for hours. I haven’t lost him.

Pulling away to meet his eyes, I whisper, “I missed you.”

“Yeah?” His lips pull into a crooked smile that sends my heart racing. Then he does that thing where it feels like he brushes against a secret place in my mind. I melt with a sigh.

It was only a distraction. Before I can form a coherent thought, he calls for my arrow wounds and takes them on.

My eyes snap open. “Don’t.”

He tenses.

“You shouldn’t have to suffer,” I say.

His brows crease. “But that’s how this works. We share sickness. We share health.”

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