Epilogue
FOX
After four days of flying, they’d almost made it to the deadlands where Bruta lived. It was just Fox, Sofia, and Chalia, though Eha had almost come. But she’d been too afraid to bring Zuni along, and no one could blame her for not wanting to leave him.
Aurelia had told them there was no guarantee that Bruta was still among the living.
She’d left the tribe intending to spend her last days in contemplation, but that had been over forty sun cycles ago.
It had been Fox who had assured them that Bruta was still alive—he felt it in his bones for no reason he could articulate.
He didn’t know if they believed him—and he didn’t know if he believed himself—but they must have seen something in his face because no one argued.
The sun was just peeking over the horizon, the sky turning the snowy slopes a pale pink.
They’d left earlier that morning than usual, but Chalia had said they were getting close.
They should make it to Bruta before midday.
Sofia was sitting in front of Fox, her head resting on his chest. He looked down to see her eyes closed, her breathing soft and constant. She’d fallen back asleep.
He didn’t wake her, savoring the moment to simply watch her breathing. Her freckles stood out against her dark golden skin, a dusting across her nose. He wanted to trace them each with his fingers, but he was too afraid to wake her.
She must have sensed something because a moment later she was opening her eyes. She smiled.
“You’re staring.”
“Yup,” he said, his smile soft.
She rolled her eyes but didn’t move, letting her head rest against his chest. Fox ran a hand over her hair, brushing the few strands back from her face.
“The sunrise is beautiful,” she said.
He gave a small hum of agreement but didn’t tear his gaze from her.
The pink of the sky was just barely reflected in her eyes.
She let out a gasp, and he looked up, heart spiking.
They’d only run into a little trouble on their journey, but Fox was realizing it would take a while before he felt safe again and didn’t reach for his weapon at the smallest sound.
Sofia still hadn’t slept through the night without at least one nightmare, though he was always there to wake her.
But when he looked up, his hand on the dagger at his waist, his jaw fell open.
The mountains on the horizon had parted, just barely, and beyond them, the eastern sea sparkled like gems in the sunlight.
Fox had seen the sea a thousand times in his life, but it had never looked like this—pink and glittering between snowcapped mountains.
“Someday I want to take you to Falais,” he said, the words murmured against her temple. “I always remember thinking that the sunrise over Mist Falls was the most beautiful thing I’d ever see.”
She pressed back into him. “I want to see the giant haloed cats. Like the tattoo on your back. Where do they live?”
“Lions?” Fox asked. “I hear they live in the grasslands of Aregria and Gwaland across the greater ocean. I don’t know anyone who’s actually traveled that far.”
“Then it sounds perfect.”
Fox smiled even as a ripple of pain shot up his back. It had been happening more and more lately, but given what his body had gone through, he couldn’t complain. He ignored the dull ache and leaned forward, his mouth against Sofia’s ear.
“I’m going to give you the entire world. It is no more than you deserve.”
She reached out, placing a hand along his cheek. “And you, as well.”
A sharp breeze broke off his next thought and he smelled the sea, the sharp tang of salt, and something flitted across his mind.
“She’s nearby,” Chalia said, before he could chase after it.
“Nearby?” Sofia said, sitting up.
Fox only made the smallest sound of protest, the icy wind whistling between their bodies.
“She just sensed me,” Chalia said.
Silence followed, and they both held their breath, waiting for what happened next.
Aurelia had said that no one had visited Bruta since she’d left for the deadlands.
Over the sun cycles, when a dragon died and their bones were brought here, they’d get confirmation she was nearby, but it had been ten sun cycles since the last time.
And there was still no guarantee she wanted to see them.
She’d left to be alone—who were they to interrupt that?
But Fox also had a strange feeling that this was exactly where they needed to be.
So, when he heard her voice in their minds—low and rough—he wasn’t surprised.
“Quelia told me you’d come.”
Quelia.
Fox felt his stomach swoop, a sense of falling and flying all at once. And he remembered. He remembered the glowing pink dragon in the black nothingness. He remembered the sensation of dying—of death.
She told him they were crying for him. She’d brought him back.
“Fox?” Sofia asked, neck craned as she studied him with concern.
“I’m okay,” he said quickly, blinking and trying to get his breathing back under control. “I just—I think I need to tell you something later. After this.”
She frowned, her eyebrows knitting together, but she didn’t push him. Her curls whipped in the wind as she nodded, turning back ahead.
“We have questions that you might be able to answer,” Sofia sent.
“I’m sending Chalia the directions. I’ll be waiting.”
Fox blew out his breath, his shoulder relaxing. Before either of them could say anything, Chalia was turning, flying up toward one of the higher peaks.
It wasn’t until they were close that Fox saw the crevice along the eastern edge, a tear in the rocks. There was just enough ledge for Chalia to come to rest outside the cavern, balanced perfectly along the edge.
They were slow in dismounting, the drop of the mountain on their left side making Fox’s chest squeeze tight.
Only once he’d backed up a few yards away from the stone ledge did he feel like he could breathe.
Sofia looked less nervous, though she was still quick to sidle away from the edge where Chalia was perched.
When Fox was sure she wouldn’t go tumbling off the side of the mountain, he turned and peered into the cavern opening. It was dark—the shadows in the center were deep, even with the sun shining from behind them.
“She’s in there?” he asked Chalia, trying to see through the darkness.
“Down the tunnel and to the left, she said.” Chalia had moved away from the edge and was looking into the cavern over Fox’s shoulder. “Are we going?”
Fox glanced at Sofia, waiting for her approval. She was standing, staring into the cave with wide eyes. And then she straightened her shoulders and nodded.
He moved forward, taking her hand and interlacing their fingers.
The war wasn’t over. It had likely just begun. He wasn’t going to run away again—not from her and not from what was right. And he wasn’t afraid of what that might mean. Because he had her.
Fox leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
“You with me?” she asked.
He squeezed her hand. “Always. With my life, my captor.”
They stepped forward together, Chalia at their backs.