Epilogue
Weeks later, sunlight slanted across the university courtyard.
Síofra blinked awake in the sunlight of an ordinary classroom.
Chalk dust hung in the air, pages rustled, and Professor Halvorsen droned on about Proto-Indo-European root structures.
She scribbled notes with trembling hands, the strangeness of the Undercroft lingering at the edges of her mind like a dream that hadn’t let her go.
She still went into realms unknown as she was just getting acclimated to her powers.
Ashmedia tutored her relentlessly. Once ,when asleep in their giant bed for three, he had held her close and muttered about not being able to find her.
When class ended, Rand fell into step beside her, chatting easily about an assignment. She smiled distractedly, her thoughts elsewhere.
She stepped out of her linguistics class with Rand at her side, his hands moving animatedly as he spoke. She laughed at something he said-until an all too familiar shadow loomed.
Morgan.
Morgan stood waiting, arms folded, eyes glinting gold even in daylight. He caught her hand possessively the moment she stepped out and inserted himself neatly between her and Rand, tugging her against his chest with casual dominance. His gaze flicked to Rand in warning.
Rand lifted his hands, wide-eyed, muttering something about catching her later, and beat a hasty retreat.
Síofra swatted Morgan’s arm, but he only grinned, bending to murmur at her ear. “I have to share you with grandpa already. I will not share you with the nerd..”
Her cheeks heated. “Shut up.”
Ash’s voice purred from inside him, smug as ever. “Glowing indeed. Twins, perhaps. The wolf’s and the king’s. How… poetic.”
Síofra froze mid-step, colour draining from her face. “What did he just say?”
Morgan coughed into his fist. “Uh… nothing important.”
Ash’s laughter rumbled, low and wicked.
And Síofra realized with horror and a tiny, traitorous thrill that their story had only begun.
*