Oro
Even though he had been brave for centuries, his heart had turned to ice over the years. He had given up hope that the curses would ever be broken.
His mother had always told him to find his fire. He had. She was his fire—the reminder in his heart to always keep fighting for light even in endless darkness.
He refused to believe that she was gone. A fire like hers couldn’t simply be extinguished.
For a moment, he almost saw his old friend in that look. A friend he would have wanted to comfort, in the middle of this pain.
Oro gripped his arms and hauled him to his feet. “If she was dead, you would be too,” he said. Grim had bound his life to hers in order to save her.
Grim shook his head. “You don’t know that, I could—”
Oro slapped him again. Grim’s head lurched to the side. This time, when the Nightshade faced him again, there was the hint of aggravation in his expression.
“You’re right. I don’t know for certain,” Oro said.
“But what I do know is that Cronan will find her, if he hasn’t already.
I know that there is a war coming that will most certainly kill us all.
Kill you, if you don’t pull yourself together enough to face what’s coming.
And I know you mostly just care about her, so let me make this clear.
If she’s alright—which I have to believe she is—then your death will kill her. ”
Grim looked to the ground. He took a ragged breath. “You’re—”
Oro made to slap him again, but Grim’s hand shot up and gripped his wrist. The Nightshade slowly slid his gaze up to meet Oro’s. “Touch me again, and I’ll eliminate the need for my wife to make a choice that fulfills this prophecy.” He tightened his grip nearly hard enough to shatter bone.
“There you are,” Oro said, the side of his mouth twitching. That was the Grim that he needed if they were going to save Isla.
Grim scowled, released his hand—and they turned toward Azul, who had the good sense to stay quiet throughout their whole exchange.
Oro knew he had to be the strong one right now.
But inside, he was pure devastation. What if she was gone for good?
What would he do? He would never love again, that was certain.
His heart would harden. He would be forced to do what he had for the last few months, ever since Isla left him to end the war—exist like a ghost in their memories, reliving the best parts of his life knowing that they’d never be together again.
He would sit alone on that beach on Sun Isle, staring at the sea the color of her eyes.
Never in his long life had he hoped to every god that Grim would stay alive.
He had to believe she was still out there. I love you, he thought, willing it to reach her, wherever she was. Even with a universe separating us, I love you. Even on my enemy’s lands, I love you. Even if you never want to be with me again, I love you.
He clung to those words as he closed his eyes and called upon the sea. He had never been the strongest Moonling, as Cleo had often reminded him, but he had to be strong for Isla, so he simply was. He summoned every shred of his ability—
And changed the tides themselves.
Water rushed in, smearing the beach in salt and foam. Azul swept them up on a wind, and from this height, they watched all the pools fill, until one glowed a strange shade of blue.
That was it. It had to be. They landed upon a remaining crust of sand and walked toward it.
This was their portal.
Without a moment’s hesitation, Grim jumped in the water. The current raged around him, waves splashing in and out, but he walked steadfast toward its center. His shadows spilled after him, turning it dark as ink, and Oro could almost see his flair working to form a portal.
Grim’s eyes were closed in concentration. Sweat spilled down his temples.
Please work, Oro begged the universe. He offered up everything that was in his power to give. Please.
But minutes later, nothing had happened.
Grim roared in frustration, his shadows shooting in all directions, spearing ash through the sea.
Azul’s husband had been right. Grim’s flair and the pool itself weren’t enough.
Oro wished he could allow himself to drown in his sadness. But Isla needed him to keep his head above water.
She needed him to find a way to make this pool into a portal.