Chapter Thirty-Four
The sun had just kissed the horizon when Rayven and I paused our hastening just outside of Castle Avyer’s grounds. Slipping back into our physical forms, I tried to read the spy, to understand how he was feeling, but he’d slipped his brooding mask back into place.
It nearly looked like the past hour or two hadn’t even happened.
Nearly.
“Do you need a moment?” I asked him, though I knew we both saw the Valwain and Rividian family exiting the castle as I spoke.
There wasn’t any more time. But if Rayven needed it, especially after what he’d just experienced, I’d make time.
“We don’t have time.” Rayven shook his head, then held out his hand.
Withholding a sigh, I placed my hand in his, and in the blink of an eye we were hastened, appearing a wingbeat later behind our group.
Our family.
“About time you made an appearance,” Queen Rividian said, announcing our presence and forcing all heads to swivel our way.
“Apologies for my tardiness, though I believe my husband is more than capable of bidding you farewell for the both of us,” I said as I weaved through the members of the Valwain—all of whom were present and packed, ready to go home—to stand next to Byn. Rayven, I could feel, was hot on my heels.
“It’s my fault we’re late,” Rayven said, dipping his head toward the queen, then to her husband next to her.
Queen Rividian gave Rayven a long, hard look that was almost a glare before turning back to face me.
“King Thorntier filled me in a bit more. If King Horace’s son now has zirilium, I’m not sure even the star stones could help you win now. But I wish to the Stars that they’ll be with you as you try. It’s honorable, your efforts.”
Much more honorable than closing our borders and hiding, I thought to myself.
“You know of the star stones? Are they not simply a legend of old?” I questioned after realizing what she’d just let slip.
The Queen looked annoyed at my questions, rolling her eyes, but she answered anyway. “Every legend and myth has a beginning, a seed of truth to it. Don’t forget it, et monlya.”
A chill ran down my spine at the title.
“Do you know more about them? Like where they can be found—if at all?” I pressed.
“I do not. If anybody were to know, it’d be the humans on the Levast Isles. But nobody has heard from them in centuries. We aren’t even sure they’re still alive.” The queen sighed. “Now, be on your way, before you miss your ship back to the continent.”
“Our fae will hasten you back to Regis,” King Rividian said, waving toward the castle doors. Having been a signal of sorts, a group of guards exited the castle and began pairing up again with members of the Valwain.
“Callum will be meeting with our navy and prepping them to set sail first thing tomorrow, while Caelia will stay with you all. The navy should arrive in Kyrish shortly after you all make it back to Cairnyl. The seas and winds have been kind to us as of late,” the queen told us, motioning to Callum at her husband’s side when mentioned.
Glancing at Callum, I couldn’t help but notice—not for the first time—how different he seemed when he was around his parents.
Hopefully leading the navy would keep his mind occupied.
As we said our final goodbyes and expressed our gratitude, I couldn’t help but catch Callum peering over at Teagan. She hadn’t spared him a glance as she fussed over Margo, but Callum appeared extremely conflicted.
I wondered if they’d gotten to talk about their new arrangement, though I doubted they’d had the chance—or privacy.
As we turned away from the Rividian rulers and toward our group, I smiled at Byn as he expressed his excitement at being reunited with Atlas again. Then, I placed my hand in a female guard’s and held on tightly as we crossed the Isle in a matter of moments.
Though even the beauty of the Isle couldn’t dislodge the pit of nerves beginning to form in my gut at the thought of going to battle again so soon.
Unfortunately, though, there wasn’t another option.
We wouldn’t rest until the entire continent and beyond knew what peace tasted like.
***
It had taken a little over eight days to get back to Cairnyl after leaving Fallaine. The fae there had wanted us to stay, but we’d had to turn them down in favor of returning home. We let them down gently, saying we’d be back to celebrate once the war was over.
They seemed skeptical, but I couldn’t blame them. The war seemed endless, as though it didn’t follow the rules of time.
To them, the war would never end.
Our sense of urgency had motivated us to ride faster than before. Now, we had not only our own army at our fingertips, but the Ocrein Isle navy, too.
We couldn’t mess up now.
We would free the fae trapped outside of Neokell.
Even if it was the last thing we did.
We’d arrived back to The Haven the night before last, promptly fell asleep, and were up at dawn with Giles at our door, requesting our presence for a day of back-to-back meetings. We’d explained, with Teagan’s help, the agreement we’d come to with the Ocrein Isles.
Our advisors had not taken it well, to say the least.
But what we’d done had been done. All we could do now was move forward and make the most of what we had.
I hadn’t seen Aurora since we’d returned, though, and I planned to change that today.
Knocking on her chamber door, I steeled myself for the sting of rejection I was almost certain she’d cast upon me.
Yet when the door swung open, her body almost slumped in relief. “Viva! You had me worried sick. It’s been weeks!” she exclaimed as she looked over my form, as if making sure I was all in one piece still.
Stunned, I was silent for a moment before explaining. “I’m sorry, I should’ve told you we were leaving for a little while. We had some… business to attend to in the Ocrein Isles.”
My friend’s eyebrows furrowed. “Aren’t their borders closed? How did you…” she trailed off, obviously confused.
“We took our chances, and it paid off. That’s all,” I shrugged.
Not wanting to burden her with too much unnecessary information, I carried on to why I was there.
“But I wanted to see if you’d like to spend some time with me today.
I’ve asked for some small dishes to be brought to one of the lounge rooms for us—if you’d join me. ”
Aurora’s lips pursed as though she was going to say no, so I was surprised when she nodded instead. “I’d like that.”
I grinned at her response, then motioned for her to join me out in the corridor. But as we neared one of the lounge rooms, Byn, Rayven, and Quinn all exited from it, joining us in the hallway.
“Avi,” Byn said affectionately once he caught sight of me. Stepping forward, he cupped the back of my neck, tilting my head up as he planted a soft kiss against my lips. I smiled against him, my gaze full of heat when he finally pulled back.
Once he stepped to the side, I peered at Rayven, then Quinn, who was shutting the door behind them. “Is that the lounge where the snacks are that I asked for? I hope you three didn’t eat them all.”
“No, definitely not. There’s a lot of other…” Quinn’s eyes flicked toward Aurora, and I realized she was censoring herself in front of the winged female, “stuff in there, though, that we can go over with you later.”
I frowned slightly, but after what had happened with Ezra, I couldn’t exactly blame the general for being overly cautious.
“That’d be great, thank you.” I nodded. “We’ll check out the other lounge, then. Come on, Aurora.”
I grabbed Byn’s hand and squeezed briefly before heading down the corridor to the second lounge room in the Valwain’s wing of the castle.
I could smell the sweet, buttery scent of baked goods upon entering the room, letting me know we were in the right place that time.
Aurora and I let the door fall shut behind us as we made our way over to the small table by the orange stained-glass window. It had a lovely depiction of a tree making up the pattern of the glass, and I found myself feeling a spark of joy when looking at it.
As we sat before the handful of plates, I smiled at the dishes we’d been served, full of different pastries, breads, cheeses, and fruit.
Safe foods that the Southerners I was closest to had learned I liked. And therefore, Aurora should, too. Maybe Byn had overheard me requesting the snacks and had recommended these foods specifically. I wouldn’t have been surprised.
“You’re grinning like you’ve gone mad,” Aurora said as she placed a flaky bread on her plate.
“Sorry,” I said, clearing my throat. “I was just thinking. Please, help yourself.”
Aurora observed me in a way that let me know she had thoughts of her own to share. Though, I didn’t push. If she wanted to talk about whatever it was, she’d say something.
She groaned in satisfaction as the flaky bread—that she’d topped with a cream-colored cheese—hit her tongue. I lifted the side of my mouth up in a sly smile, happy that she was enjoying something of the South’s at long last.
After a moment of us devouring some of the treats in front of us, Aurora paused and simply watched me again in a thoughtful manner.
I quirked an eyebrow at her, letting her know I’d listen if she wanted to speak. Taking that as an opening, she placed down the piece of fruit she’d been holding and had a curious look on her face as she asked, “You truly love him, don’t you?”
Realizing she must have been watching me and Byn in the hallway moments ago, I smiled softly. “With everything that I was, that I am, and that I will become.”
I watched as my oldest friend’s eyes softened a fraction at my response. It was like I was finally getting through to her—the real her—not the shell of herself she’d been for the past couple of months.
“I’m glad you found your place, Viva,” Aurora said gently before taking another bite of the fruit she’d set down.
“Your place could be here too, you know. If you’d let it be,” I spoke tentatively, keeping my expression open and my gaze soft. I wanted her to know I really meant it. That she was welcome there.