Page 151 of Aryn

Thulga drops her face to her lap at the promise, fat tears sliding down her cheeks before she composes herself once more.

When they describe the problems they’ve faced with the Viskari, Ailynor has her guards take notes and even pulls out a large map to mark troublesome spots. By the end of the meal, they’ve come up with a plan for Ailynor’s agents to use the farm as a central point while they address issues in the area.

Thulga tries hard to insist we stay the night, and the idea is tempting. We could reclaim the bed where Cato and I first discovered we were mates and give it a proper breaking in. But as eager as I am for a few minutes of privacy, we’re all anxious to continue with the mission.

When we prepare to leave, Thulga finds things to press into everyone’s hands. Cato and I are loaded up with smoked meats and bags of vark, while Taryn receives a gemstone pendant on a leather cord. Thulga wraps a homemade shawl around Cameron’s neck, and the others get food and small trinkets from around the house. Despite Thulga’s insistence they couldn’t stand the constant noise of the cities, something tells me she gets lonely out here.

It’s another casualty of the worlds falling apart. Maybe if we can fix this, people will move further south again.

Maybe it won’t be so isolated.

Grimhild and Mezie shake our hands, while Thulga makes her rounds with more hugs. “Safe travels,” she says, still with a touch of awe in her eyes as they linger on Ailynor. “May the Fates watch over you.”

We’re warm and refreshed as we hit the road again, bellies full and spirits high despite the frigid night beginning to descend. The days it took us to travel this distance on foot are eaten up by the sylvaren’s pace, and we reach the rift the following morning.

The air is charged as we dismount, buzzing with faint static you’d miss if you didn’t know it was there. The group falls quiet, everyone taking a moment to look around and soak in the morning light. The snow is undisturbed here, the trees still, and the sky a pale dusty orange with the rising sun.

Ailynor and her guards circle the location, swiping hands through empty space as if they might will the rift to open. Her expression is pensive but intense as she holds quiet conversations with her advisors. They move into discussions of logistics, and as the talk moves to the temporary camp that will be set up here, I tune out.

Cato comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my middle, resting his chin on my shoulder. He presses a kiss to my cheek with a sigh. “I’m going to miss this place.”

“You said you want to come back,” I say carefully. “Did you mean it?”

He takes a deep breath and squeezes me tighter. “You know, my whole life I never really felt like I belonged. I had my family when I was a kid, and I loved them, but even then I knew there was something more out there. I chased that feeling my entire life… searching for the part of me that was missing. Turns out, it was here all along.” He kisses me again, trailing his lips along my jaw. “It was here, and it was with you.”

“Getting romantic on me, are you?”

“Always, darlin’. You just can’t tell anyone.”

“Think they’d believe me if I did?” I ask with a small grin.

He huffs a laugh. “Ah, probably not. They’re going to have a hard enough time believing that I’ve been tied down, much less that I’m a fuckin’ sap about it.”

“Your secret is safe with me,” I promise as I turn my head to meet his eyes. The orange morning sun shines through his copper strands, turning him as wild as the flames he carries inside him.

His smile falters as he leans in and presses a kiss to my lips. “I love you,” he whispers against my mouth. “In this world, and every other.”

The rift heeds our command much more easily this time. I don’t know if the magic between Cato and me has added to its potency, or simply because we’ve done this once before. Hells, maybe we’re all so ready to be home that the pull between the worlds actually hears our pleas.

Sovran said it was about intention, after all.

A ripple forms that spreads into a shimmering line. The opening widens into a doorway large enough for us to step through side by side. Cato lets out a relieved laugh at the sight of blue skies waiting beyond, and Cameron smiles with watery eyes.

Ailynor hisses at the blast of hot air that blows through, her tails alert and twitching behind her. She bares her fangs as she takes a cautious step closer, ignoring her guards while she reaches a hand through the opening and then yanks it back.

“Told you it’s hot,” Cameron drawls with a grin.

Ailynor is wide-eyed as she stares at him, then at Ronan, as if verifying it’s safe. He nods in understanding. “The heat is unlike anything you've ever experienced, but it won’t hurt you.”

“Speak for yourself,” Cameron mutters.

Ronan shoots him a fondly annoyed glance before focusing on his mother again. “It is uncomfortable, yes. There’s a real risk of dehydration and overheating if you aren’t used to it, but we’ll manage. These extra layers will need to come off as soon as we’re through, or everyone will be miserable.”

“Why don’t we go first?” I offer, gesturing between Cato and myself. “We’ll make sure the other side is clear before the rest of you step through, but we need to hurry.”

Ronan nods in agreement. “It’s easier to hold open this time, but it’s draining my energy.”

After one final wary glance at her advisors, Ailynor squares her shoulders and addresses the guards at the back of the group. “The two of them will pass first, and the rest of us will follow. Remain here for a short time to ensure you aren’t needed, then start the preparations for camp. We don’t know how long we’ll be.”