They waited expectantly as he gathered his thoughts, but nothing came to him. Finally, all he could do was blurt it out.
“I can’t leave the Summer Court,” he said quickly, looking down at his hands. “Since I chose to come back when I... when I was there with her. Since I took her place, the same old magicwill keep me here, too. She said I would be... bound to the Summer Court.”
Despite his efforts, Florian couldn’t stop the tears from rolling down his face as he said it. The others were silent for a long moment until finally Kade reached for his hands again and interlaced their fingers.
“Maybe there’s something we can do,” he said softly. “We’ll bring Elodie to you, and maybe she can figure out how to fix it. She knows old magic. I bet she could help.”
Florian’s lips trembled, but he smiled. From how sure Soleil had sounded, he doubted there was a way out of this; but it couldn’t hurt to have Elodie help him. Surely he would want the company, eventually.
“Yeah,” he said softly, nodding. “Maybe Elodie can help. But...”
He looked at each of them in turn, and understanding dawned in their eyes.
“I think I can still send you guys back to your homes,” he said. “But I’ll have to stay here. Someone will need to... to go tell Tatiana. And then...”
Florian trailed off. He didn’t know what would happen then. He could send them away, but it wasn’t like he could bring them back. Once he sent them to Tatiana, everything would be completely out of his hands, and he would be here, alone.
Kade squeezed his hands again. “We’ll figure something out,” he said again, the words less shaky now. “We always do. We’ll be okay. You’ll be okay.”
Florian nodded, and when he met Kade’s eyes, the wolf shifter smiled.
“You’realive, Florian,” he said, his voice full of wonder. “That’s all that matters.”
“Elodie seemed like she knew how to do anything,” Rune said firmly, standing up from where she had been sitting besideFlorian. She started to pace, obviously thinking aloud. “You don’t need to send me home right away. Send me straight to Elodie, and I’ll make sure she comes to you. Hell, if you can teleport, I bet she can, too.”
“And I can go to the Winter Court,” Koji offered. “I’ll go straight there, too, so your aunt knows you’re okay.”
“Are you sure?” Florian asked, brows furrowed. “Your families will be worried about you if the Blight is gone, but you’re not back.”
Rune and Koji glanced at each other, then Rune shrugged.
“They’ll live,” she said. “This is more important. And maybe Elodie can get a message out to them at least.”
“Doesn’t the Winter Court have a way of communicating with the wolf kingdom?” Koji added. “If Tatiana can tell Kade’s family, then the wolf shifters can contact the kraken shifters. And I’m sure from there someone will alert the dragon kingdom.”
Florian’s eyes watered, but this time his tears were from gratitude. How could he have ever wanted to give this up?
“W-What about you?” he asked, turning to Kade again.
“I’m staying with you,” Kade affirmed, with no hint of indecision or worry in his eyes. “If you’re here, then so am I. The Summer Court is our home now.”
“But the wolf kingdom—” Florian started to protest, and Kade shook his head.
“We’ll figure it out, Florian,” he repeated. “Right now, all that matters is this.You.I love you. I’m not leaving you alone.”
It was as if Kade had somehow spoken the magic words that washed away every hint of worry and self-doubt that Florian had ever felt. He wouldn’t be alone. Even if he had to be here forever, he wouldn’t be alone.
He was crying again, he realized, though he wasn’t entirely sure if he had ever really stopped.
“Thank you,” Florian choked out, not trying to stop his tears now. “I love you, too. All of you, thank you.”
Kade leaned forward, crashing their lips together in a wild, desperate kiss. He was warm and solid, his steadfast anchor, his sentinel against the storm.
“You’ll never be alone,” Kade murmured when they finally parted. “No matter what. You won’t be alone.”
“He’s right. We’re a team,” Koji said. Florian saw he was still half-looking away, though a slight flush had risen in his cheeks. He grinned, but he couldn’t bring himself to be embarrassed now.
“I know,” Florian said softly, smiling at him. “Thank you. For everything.”
