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“I’m not leaving Rathyn,” Everest says. “There are people I love on Earth, but he is my VySytheh.”

I swallow heavily. “We all must make sacrifices.” I turn to Vyrian. “You understand what coming to Earth means, yes? You will not be able to return here for a long time. Possibly ever.”

He nods, his fingers twisting together. “I understand. People think I’m not capable, but I am. I know what it means. And I’m not afraid of my brothers, but I want to be with Quilliyn. He thinks I will be happier there.”

“He may be right,” I tell him, and he smiles at me.

Turning my head, I notice that Luca is now sitting up, staring at us, so I quickly relay everything to him through our connection. He takes it all in, then stands up and walks over to where Lucie is and holds out his arms.

I hadn’t been paying close enough attention, but I see tears on Lucie’s face, and he signs, ‘He left me,’ before he drops into Luca’s tight grasp. They linger that way for a moment, and when Luca signs again, I can’t see what he tells him, but Lucie’s face loses some of its pain.

“We are wasting too much time,” Xamydos says. “I do not want to risk the portal shutting down as everyone is passing through.”

The Vorthex Commander is right. We can’t linger. I pull Luca close, then open our connection again as I turn to Rathyn.

“You know the plan.”

“I do.”

“Then I will see you soon.” I feel an ache deep inside me as we touch foreheads.

“Kori survived,” he murmurs. “I am going to hunt him down.”

“Allow him to live. But do not allow him freedom,” I whisper.

Rathyn nods before pulling away, and the ache in my chest grows deeper as Everest throws himself into my arms for a strong hug.

The goodbyes are long, and by the time we have formed the line to exit this world, Xamydos has the portal open. I can sense Earth just beyond, and my hearts give a flutter. I have missed it terribly, but knowing I will not be back here for an indeterminable amount of time is hard.

I glance over at Sabik. “The gods’ blessing upon your battles ahead.”

He nods and presses his fist to his chest. “The gods’ blessing upon your heads for patience.”

I press my fist to my chest and then turn as I gesture for Luca to go ahead of me. He takes a last look around, then steps through. Vyrian is next. Then Lucie. And then that just leaves me. I take a breath, but before I step through, I hear a noise in the distance.

“Go,” Rathyn urges with some panic.

Just as my foot crosses the barrier, I look back one last time and see that it is not a Vyastilian guard there on behalf of Jyrion. It’s Dhoryn. And the final look I have of Erethar is his devastated face.

The world around me spins, and the next thing I know, I’m in my second home.

thirty-six

LUCA

It’s night when we fall through the portal, the stars and moon hidden behind the dark gray clouds threatening a storm.

Eissa is trembling, his tail wrapped around his waist protectively, his eyes flitting back and forth as if expecting someone to come after us through the portal. But according to the Vorthex commander, the portals will soon be shut down, and on this lonely, dark street near my house there’s no one here except Eissa and me, and Vyrian and Lucie.

I hope Dhoryn keeps his word and delivers Gerald to us. I can’t imagine my life without him.

To my right, I see Lucie swiping at his wet cheeks, his shoulders slumped forward, his arms wrapped around his chest. Vyrian on my left is glancing around, his eyes almost owlish, his ears fluttering in excitement. Such polar opposite reactions to what we just went through.

‘This is magnificent,’ Vyrian signs, looking up at the night sky just as a raindrop falls on his face.

He gasps and meets my gaze.

‘Rain,’ I reply with my hands. ‘Water from the sky.’