Page 139 of The Reaping Rose

Rior’s step doesn’t falter as we walk into the room, but my ears perk at the slight click of his teeth when Celeste’s dark-brown eyes move from me to him.

“Beautiful as ever, Celeste.” I approach, hands in my pockets.

Her dark eyes flick to me. “Flattery will only get you so far, Wilder. Especially if you plan on stretching my people thin.”

“We are all the people of Vaelier, are we not?” I challenge.

Her face remains completely passive.

“Maybe she forgot,” Rior snaps, stopping to lean against the wall with a generous distance between them. “After all, we know how easy it is for her to cut things off the moment they’re gone. Maybe she’s too busy ruling my brother’s territory to notice the rest of the realm is suffering.”

I should have known better than to bring Rior in here. Hurt bleeds through the venom in his words. The pain fresh even after many decades.

Celeste’s eyes narrow, flitting to Rior. “It’s for your brother that I will protect my territory to my dying breath. Which is more than can be said for you when you’ve all but abandoned your people.”

“Roane didn’t want me there anymore.” Rior’s eyes drag over her. “Perhaps he felt threatened.”

“How dare you—” Celeste steps forward, and I shift between them.

“This isn’t the battle we need to be fighting right now,” I remind them, the mountain groaning around us as Rior’s irritation threatens the ground we stand on. “I called this meeting to bring us together, not tear us apart.”

Celeste lifts her chin. “Says the king who has yet to bring us together with his own crown.”

The truth of her words pierces through. She’s right. I have yet to bring them together because of my own reservations. I’ve let them suffer as I battled my mistakes. And instead of healing my realm, I’ve left them to continue this fight without truly joining them, even after my return.

“You’re right,” I say.

Celeste pulls back, surprised I’ve admitted as much when it’s rare. Or maybe it’s that my mother never would have.

“Don’t repeat my mistakes.” I step toward her. “I have no doubt what your armies are up against in Zealeh. If it’s anything like what I saw on the beaches of Andare today, we’re running out of time. There is only one way we can continue standing, and that’s together. Darvel needs your help.”

Her jaw shifts, her glare softening the slightest. “What is he asking of my people?”

Her question is the slightest concession, so I take it. “He needs you to move your army farther south to apply pressure at Everquell.”

“There is no fighting what spills from that vein.”

“I know. All we can do is hold it as long as we can.”

“And how long will that be?”

“I don’t know,” I answer her honestly. “But I’m doing all I can to change the tide in this. I need you to trust me, Celeste. You did once. Will you help?”

Her face softens as she considers me. Finally, she nods. “I will do what I can without sacrificing my territory.”

“That’s all I ask.”

Celeste glances around the room, avoiding Rior’s gaze, which hasn’t left her. “It’s quieter here than I remember. I wondered if I’d meet your mate on my trip. Rumors follow your half-human as far north as the islands.”

“She has a way of drawing attention.” I smirk, raking my hair back. “But she’s away right now looking for something that might help us.”

I glance at Rior, neither of us stating exactly where Elorie went. If Celeste finds out we managed to open the Arch to the Mortal Realm, she’ll demand we try and open the Arch to Sarrow in search of Roane. I know Rior must have thought it the moment this worked, but he’s held back saying anything, understanding the risk.

The Arch to Sarrow is not the same as the one to the Mortal Realm. Just like visiting Sarrow is not the same as stepping into any other realm. Should the fates decide, a soul passing through an Arch to Sarrow may never see the other side. Instead, they might fall into the seven strata, lost in the After.

Even if Roane survived and made it through, Rior and I were there when the Arch to Sarrow closed. We saw what came of the other side. Roane stepped into darkness to hold back what surged from the After. Even if we could reopen that door, I doubt he’s still there.

“Well, let’s hope your mate finds whatever it is she’s after,” Celeste says, her gaze drifting.