Page 13 of Prisoner of Steel and Shadow

It also had the added benefit of ensuring word didn’t reach the Night Stalkers’ assailants—whoever or wherever they were—that their days were numbered.

“But who is even worthy of such a post?” Timmins argued.

“Kael,” Effie answered, referring to the third Guardian who protected the Keepers alongside her and Lucian. The certainty in her voice left little doubt in Ronan’s mind that this must have been part of her vision.

“Can you spare him?” Helena asked.

“Lucian and I are more than capable of carrying out the Triumvirate’s duties on our own, but perhaps it is time for a new Guardian to join our ranks.”

“Making decisions on behalf of all of us now, are you fledgling?” Lucian asked, amusement quirking his lips.

“Someone has to,” she said with a slight shrug. “Might as well be the woman blessed with knowledge of the future by the Mother.”

“Convenient excuse,” Lucian murmured, making the others in the room chuckle.

“I’ll leave the Guardian matters up to the two of you,” Helena said, biting back her own smile. “As for my interim Shield, it shall be as Effie says. So long as he is not opposed, Kael will take over in Ronan’s absence.” Her smile faded, and her gaze returned to him. “When do you leave?”

“Now.”

The slight tremor of her hand was the only hint as to what the knowledge did to her. “I...wewill miss you.”

Ronan couldn’t quite find the words to tell her it would be the same for him.

Von saved him the trouble, stepping forward to collect his daughter. “Happy hunting, brother.” They exchanged dark smiles before Von’s voice dipped low. “And when you find the fuckers who took her, make it hurt.”

“You know I will.”

They shared another long look before Von stepped away. Helena was in Ronan’s arms almost immediately. “Safe travels, Ro.”

“Be well, Hellion. You’ve earned your happiness.”

Her answering chuckle was watery. “If any of us deserves to find happiness, it’s you. I hope you find whatever it is you’ve been searching for all these years.”

He pulled back to look at her. “You know what I’ve been searching for. Or rather who I’ve been searching for.”

Helena shook her head. “Reyna is only part of the puzzle. You were restless long before she was taken.”

Ronan wasn’t sure what to do with that truth, so he gave her a soft kiss on the cheek. “Take care of him for me.”

She pressed a palm to her chest. “With my life.”

Unable to draw this out any longer, Ronan turned and gave Effie a slight nod. Her eyes glimmered with power as she summoned the portal that would take him to Reyna. His eyes fluttered closed as another wave of relief crashed over him.

Finally.

“Where’s he going?” Timmins whispered.

Home. Ronan wasn’t sure where the thought came from, but before he could dwell on it, Lucian provided the others with his actual destination.

“Empyria.”

Stunned silence met the revelation. Empyria was a place of legend. A fabled land whispered about but never seen. A place of monsters and magic and dreams.

And soon, Ronan vowed, a reckoning.

Pausing only long enough to glance over his shoulder, Ronan drank in the sight of his friends. It may be the last time he ever saw them. He wanted to make it count. As he stood there, poised between his past and his future, Kragen offered a wave, Timmins a nod. Helena’s lips wobbled, and Effie took her hand. Von helped Stella blow him a kiss, and Joquil simply stared.

That’s when Ronan remembered the Master shared Reyna’s homeland.

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