Page 148 of Ecliptic

“Don’t go soft on me now, Damascus. Just promise me you’ll both come to visit,” she said, her dark eyes darting between me and my soul flame.

“We will, I prom—” Before I could finish the sentence, Dyani pulled me into a fierce embrace. I hugged her back, not wanting to let go of the warrior who once hated me but was now my dearest friend. “I knew you wouldn’t have to battle the world alone,” I whispered in her ear, remembering the words she had spoken to me on our first mission with the Ever-burn blades. She squeezed me tighter before releasing me and quickly wiped her eyes.

“We both have so much to rebuild,” I said to the queen. “But we don’t have to do it alone. Let us help and be there for each other. Let’s not repeat the mistakes of the rulers before us.”

“Spoken like a true lady and the bearer of the Alcreon Light,” Rayal replied as she squeezed my hand. Boisterous laughter caught her attention, and her eyes snapped to Thaydril and Leer. “I couldn’t agree more, but now we must go before my cousin scars that young man.”

We shared a final laugh and finished our goodbyes. And I watched as the queen and her warrior walked away hand in hand, their joined silhouettes disappearing into the crowd.

With a smile on my face, my gaze darted back to the birds dancing in the sky.

Erovos had nearly driven the starwings to extinction, along with countless other species, leaving wounds that might never heal. The devastation he caused would be felt for generations, but the first steps to healing the vibrant world of Luneth had only just begun.

50

I stared out at the ocean as Rowen rubbed my back in comforting circles. I couldn’t bring myself to leave. I wanted to stay until every last luminorb disappeared.

My slate-grey dress and hair billowed in the wind, and Rowen tucked a flyaway curl behind my pointed ear. “Have I ever told you how much I love your silver freckles?”

“Not today,” I replied, tucking under his arm as dawn hugged the horizon. We’d been here all night, and somehow, I still wasn’t ready to say goodbye.

He leaned down and pressed a kiss to the sensitive skin below my ear. “I could spend an eternity counting them and recounting them.”

“We have the time,” I replied, relishing every moment in Rowen’s arms.

Someone cleared their throat behind us, and we turned to see Callum. Takoda healed most of his wounds, but a bandage remained on his eye. “Beautiful ceremony,” he said, joining us at the lapping waves.

“You’re up late,” Rowen remarked as I noted the faint bruises on his neck. Pia and Xala must have shown him a good time.

“And you’re married,” he replied, noting the ring on his finger. He clasped him on the shoulder with a wide, even-toothed grin. “When do you plan to take your bride back to Viltarran?”

“In a few days,” Rowen replied. “Once everything here has settled.”

Callum shifted on his feet, his contagious smile fading. “There is something I’ve been meaning to tell you. I hate to ruin your wedded bliss, but you need to know.”

“What is it?” Rowen asked, his hand wrapping protectively around my middle.

“There have been sightings of a red-headed man and a woman with raven hair wandering the ruins of Viltarran.”

My muscles tensed. “Caeryn and Aliphoura,” I said, my eyes locking with Rowen’s. I shuddered to think of how the red-headed man kidnapped me and broke my bones; nearly broke my spirit. Rowen had healed my body with noxlily petals, but the shimmering scars all over my body would always remind me of my time in the Crypts. “We never found Fou’s body, and Caeryn hasn’t been seen since.”

Rowen scanned my face. “We watched Caeryn break her neck. He was devoted. Perhaps he carries her corpse?”

“Maybe,” Callum said with an unconvinced look in his eye. “The reports have been of them rifling through the ruins. It’s as if they are searching for something.”

“Lord Leones’ will,” I gasped, my gut dropping. “If Fou’s still alive, she would be searching for that. It’s the only thing keeping her from reclaiming her title. If she ever found it, she could come for the throne.”

Rowen’s eyes darkened with the ghosts of his past. “Keep a close watch and let me know if there are any more sightings. We can’t be too careful.”

“Of course.” Callum nodded. “Thaydril offered to portal meand the warriors back today. We’ll prepare what we can for your return.”

“Thank you, but be sure to get some rest,” Rowen said, patting his friend on the back. “We have a long road ahead of us. Nearly every building has been torn down. Only half the castle and a few neighborhoods stand.”

Callum’s blue gaze darted between me and Rowen. “We’re ready. And I don’t just speak for myself when I say I look forward to seeing what you two will do for Viltarran.”

“We have some ideas,” I said, wrapping my arms around Rowen. Unspoken words flashed between us as we recalled our shared dream.

“It will be good to see love and laughter return to the halls,” Callum replied with one last look to the horizon. “Well, I best be off. My lord. My lady.” He bowed at the waist and excused himself.

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