Back to my work and my friends and my family and…now a new potential child.
Perhaps.
If everything goes right and I do not lose this one as well.
My hand moves from my belly to my chest, finding only emptiness beneath my skin.
Mrath looks at me. “You are lucky, allies.”
After so many years of trying, after the heartbreak and humiliation and sadness, I think I agree. But not for the reasons she says now.
Mrath looks at Vann and Liana. “I don’t think you require any more of my services for the time being, but tell your king to expect a letter from me soon.”
Vann frowns. “Queen Mrath?—”
She waves him off. “Don’t argue. You’ve earned your way out, and frankly, I’m done watching you bleed on my floors.” Then her mouth quirks into a crooked smile. “Besides, you’ve got an annoying visitor waiting outside.”
My brows draw together. “Visitor?”
Mrath’s waves us away. “You’ll see. Try not to faint this time.”
Before we move, I hesitate. I shouldn’t ask. I know it could cause problems, but I have to know. “And Thorne?”
The air changes. For a second, even the shadows seem to pause.
Mrath’s expression hardens—no humor now, only steel. “Thorne will be…handled.” Her tone turns colder, unreadable. “Leave him to me.”
“Very well,” Liana says, gathering her satchel, glancing uneasily between Mrath and Vann, and gestures for me to rise.
Vesilane watches us both with quiet fascination, as if cataloging how mortals bruise and heal. She seems younger than she did when she was serving me. Together, we leave the throne room.
Vann wraps his arm around me, helping me to hobble away and down the walkway.
I suck in deep breaths the second I am truly free.
Free to return home. Already, I can practically taste the cave bear meat and smell the scents of the under mountain.
I nod to Vesilane. “I know our time together was short, but thank you for your kindness with the others. It was appreciated.”
She smiles. “I’m just happy to help my father. He did a brilliant job in keeping everything together during a coup. I enjoyed my time with Liana as well.”
“Oh, that is kind,” Liana says. “To be honest, it was nice to be back in Shvathemar, if only for a little while.”
Vesilane watches her carefully. “You could stay with father and I again, like you did before. Your talents are wasted reading crystals in that cavern.”
Wait. Like before? I look between the three of them, confused.
Liana smiles. “Perhaps. But after a lifetime of chaos, I like it well enough.”
“Then maybe father will let me come stay with you for a while .” Vesilane looks at Lord Castien.
He tilts his head to the side, then says, “I think we will take Liana home, my flower. She wouldn’t fit on the mode of transportation our esteemed Arlet seems so fond of using.”
Confused, I catch a glimpse of golden scales out the window and excitement floods through me.
Seraph.
She survived the chaos.