Page 102 of Court of Wolves

“Az!” she screamed, already running towards the drake making a careful landing. “Jaro!” There were two figures that, even distant, were as familiar to Maia as her own mates. It wasn’t only Isak who’d flown into the clearing. Zamanya and Evrille were with them too. All her pain, every injury, every weakness and fear, swept away as Maia ran.

The figures disembarked by awkwardly sliding down the drake’s back. Aphra—Velius’s mate—let out what sounded like a war cry, but judging by the way Maia’s new friend fluttered his ivory wings, it was akin to a love letter. The fluttering matchedboth the ripple in her stomach and her chest. Velius told her everything Isak had done since they left him at the saints' circle. He told her that he’d crossed kingdoms to find a way to save them, that he’d fought thieves and murderers during his travels, that he’d crossed the Silver Sea into Sainsa, all in search of a way to end the dark saints and free Maia and her mates.

She chewed her lip as she ran the rest of the way, Azrail managing to race ahead of her despite his many injuries. He was still bleeding, but Ark promised he’d heal him the moment he was strong enough. Jaro was right alongside her, too, panting and running lopsidedly, harbouring an injury she hadn’t felt through the bond.

Zamanya was the first to slam her boots into the grass and come running towards them. She dropped to her knees, armour creaking, and threw her arms around Jaro. Evrille propelled herself across the clearing and slammed into her brother so hard they both groaned, and panic made Maia pause, but then Isak was sliding down Aphra’s side and landing—er, falling to the ground.

He slumped into the grass with a cross between a whine and a growl, his walking stick rolling through the grass to rest at Maia’s feet when she paused, her heart slamming hard against her chest. He had two swords—one strapped to his back, one gripped in a white-knuckled hand.

“Very graceful,” she teased, unable to resist.

He just groaned again and flopped onto his back. “Don’t let alone land on top of me.”

Maia scooped up his stick and used the wooden end to prod his forehead, the one place she was certain wasn’t injured. “This is new.”

He peered up at her, going cross-eyed as he looked at the stick. “Stole it from a dead librarian. A lying bastard, it turns out.”

Maia shifted the stick into her other hand and held one out to him. “Come on, you can’t stay in the grass forever.”

Isak gripped her hand and pushed off the ground, getting unsteadily to his feet. “You’re being nice to me.”

“I would say don’t get used to it, but did you just spend weeks looking for a way to save us?”

“I might have done,” he agreed, accepting his stick and leaning heavily on it. “Don’t think too highly of me, I royally fucked it up in the end. Apparently, this thing was supposed to stay broken forever.” He held up the sword.

“I know,” she murmured. “A drake told me. That one.” She pointed across the clearing where Velius and his mate were brushing up against each other like affectionate housecats. “He’s the only reason we got out.”

“Of where?”

“Long story,” she sighed. “How sturdy are you on that leg?”

“Depends.” Humour rippled through his eyes. “Do you mean the good one or the fucked one?”

“Yes.”

“Fine.” He gave her a suspicious look. “Why?”

“I’m hugging you now.”

Shock slackened his face, making him look much younger in the moment before Maia threw her arms around him. “I know what it’s like to do everything right and still have everything go to shit. You tried to save us. Velius told me you’ve been trying to get us freedom all this time, since the moment we were shoved through the broken stone.”

He was going to be flippant; she could sense it. But then he sighed and deflated, one arm coming around her, holding the sword away from her body. “I couldn’t let them torture my family. But I was too late, wasn’t I?” He drew back to look at her, to look at Jaro where he, Zamanya, Ev, and Az had made acuddle pile in the grass, everyone else milling around them. “I can feel the darkness in the air. Who did they get to?”

Maia swallowed and dropped her head, letting it rest on Isak’s shoulder. Her mate, who was kind of a dick but who’d risked his life to save her, who hadn’t stopped fighting for their freedom this whole time. “Az and Vawn for sure. I’m not sure about the others, but I can feel it—the poison oozing in their soul.”

Isak sighed heavily. “I can help them. I can’t cure them, I don’t think that’s even possible, but…I can help.”

“Who the fuck is that guy?” Vawn muttered, not nearly quietly enough to stop his voice carrying.

“Isak,” Bryon replied at the same volume. “Entitled, moody little prick. Jaro’s brother. Maia’s mate.”

“Hey, I didn’t tell you that,” Maia called across to him.

He gave her an annoying smirk. “I told you. I pay attention.”

Isak snorted, his breath ruffling hair at the back of her neck, and it hit her. They were all here, all together. Only Siofra was missing. But Maia’s mates were finally together, her soul bursting with relief and light and… power. Huh. There was a certain power in them all being in one place, finally united.

“And who are those lot?” Vawn asked her, as if Maia had any clue who the three men and one very surly woman were. Two were in uniform, either soldiers or guards, one was silver-haired and in full military regalia—ranked higher than the others—and the final man was older, with a hardened face, fierce eyes, and a stance that told Maia he was ready for war. He didn’t wear military clothes, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t a warrior.

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