They exited the front door into the late afternoon light. Her face tipped up toward the sky, and she took a deep breath. “Home.”
“After you fought so hard to get to Earth, I half expected you to want to stay there,” he teased.
Kezari snorted. “No. I wanted to save the planet, not live on it.”
“Fair enough.” Aris fell silent as they walked, but he couldn’t contain the question for long. “What of our link? Once a full moon cycle has passed, I imagine you will wish to be rid of me. Our task is complete, and I can only bind you here when you could roam free.”
She halted, staring at him with head tilted. “You have decided to end our bond?”
A few days before, he would have answered yes to that. Not anymore. “I do not wish to. However, I’m not certain how this works. Do you link only for a specific goal?”
“Some do. Others do not.” Kezari lifted a shoulder. “I have grown to like you despite your odd ways. You are quite pleasant when you are sane, and your mate and youngling amuse me.”
Aris chuckled. Leave it to Kezari to be so blunt. “Then linked we shall stay. I am considering moving from the observation tower, though, to keep a closer eye on said youngling.”
“A solid plan,” she said. “I believe it safe for me to sleep in my cave now. In fact, I will likely not emerge for several days while I recover.”
“You deserve the rest.”
Her lips curled up in an almost-elven smile. “We both do.”
He wished her well, then watched as she shifted. Experienced now, he gathered his hair firmly behind his head when she lifted her wings and took off, a gale sweeping around her with the motion. A few green and brown strands still ended up across his face, but they were easy enough to push away.
He had a wife to return to—and a great deal of time to make up for.
Epilogue
Selia and Aris wound their way along the garden path, the soft sound of a flute lilting on the chilly air. She leaned into his side, and he wrapped his arm around her shoulders as they paused to watch the omree about to perform. Earlier, they’d cheered on Arlyn at the archery competition, and although her student had only placed fourth, Selia was proud. In a few more years, Arlyn would likely win despite her youth.
Selia had never been to such a large autumn festival, and she could now understand why many traveled from smaller estates to attend. Even Kai’s half-brother Moren had joined them for a few marks that morning, a tense event since Moren hadn’t met Kai’s real father, Naomh, before. Kai had walked around looking confounded for a solid mark after his relatives had departed.
Iren shuffled beside them, a slight pout on his face at the proximity he was required to maintain. When the omree’s song was over, Selia took pity on him and headed toward the tournament field for the sword-fighting competition. The renowned Kerel Liere nai Ebaia would be performing later, anyway, and Selia would far rather see her than anything else. Being at the Myern’s estate while the heir to the throne was in residence had its benefits, for it was rare for Lady Kerel to stray far from the palace itself. According to rumor, she hoped to gain a permanent position as Ralan’s lead omree once his new home was complete.
As they neared the field, they stumbled upon Ralan, Cora, and Eri. The children exchanged excited greetings and roamed over to the side to chatter. Cora smiled pleasantly, but Ralan frowned as he met Selia’s gaze.
“Good day, Lady Selia,” the prince said.
She exchanged a look with Aris at the stilted, formal words. “Is something wrong?” she asked.
Ralan winced, clearly growing uncomfortable. “I’ve been meaning to speak with you.”
“But?” she asked, her heart pounding in her ears.
It was rarely a good thing when a seer wanted a word—and then delayed.
“I can’t stop thinking about what happened. With the children.” Was it her imagination, or had his face reddened? “That Iren encouraged Eri in this scheme makes me worry that playing with him increases her natural recklessness.”
“Wait a moment.” Selia stalked toward Ralan, sudden anger straightening her spine. “Are you suggesting that Iren was to blame? Eri acts on her own more often than not.”
This time, there was no mistaking the prince’s flush. “True. But I would expect Iren to resist her plans. He is older. I thought… Perhaps it is best that they don’t spend as much time together.”
“Don’t be an ass,” Selia snapped.
Her hand went immediately to her mouth as Aris made a choked sound beside her, but she refused to take the words back. She might have had a similar thought about separating the children when she’d found them in the cave, but that had been in the heat of the moment. No one else would criticize her son so casually.
“Selia,” Ralan began.
She didn’t give him the chance to finish whatever fool thing he was about to say. “You know as well as I do that Iren wasn’t to blame. I am thankful they disobeyed. Both of them. I may not want a repeat, but without their actions, that wall would have shattered before we could get Aris down the fissure. Thousands would have died from the poison.”
Unexpectedly, Cora laughed. “Told you.”
Ralan’s shoulders slumped, and he shoved at the long fall of his black hair. “You’re right. But the thought of losing her…”
The anger drained out of Selia at his stark words. “That I understand.”
“Thank you.” A reluctant smile crossed his lips. “Glad to see you’ve joined the others in insulting me. I was beginning to think you didn’t like me.”
“Oh, I did,” she said. He lifted his brows. “I do. Your comment about Iren notwithstanding.”
Ralan chuckled. “Fair enough. I’ll bid you good day, Selia. Enjoy the festival.”
Selia shook her head as the prince walked away, his hand around Cora’s. Eri waved at Iren and darted after them, and at the sight of the girl, Selia had to admit that she didn’t envy Ralan and Cora for having to keep up with her. She wouldn’t allow him to insult her child, but she had sympathy aplenty.
Aris settled his hands on Selia’s waist and pulled her close. Smiling, she leaned up to kiss the slight cleft in his chin. “This celebration must seem tame after everything that has happened.”
He grinned. “Not after seeing you tell off a prince. I’m proud of you.”
“Shut up and kiss me,” Selia said.
Aris bent down and captured her lips with his. Her heart soared, and in that moment, the past fell away.
Her world was right once more.
Other Books in Series
Book 1: Soulbound
Book 2: Sundered
Book 3: Exiled (Novella)
Book 4: Seared
Book 5: Abyss
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