My chest convulsed. The air was too heavy to breathe.
“It’s thriving off fear, uncertainty…We need to keep calm,” Cora warned.
“What if that’s what it wants?” I asked.
My breath stilled—what if it only wants us to questionwhat’s real and what isn’t? If we grew confident that each threat would resolve without harm, then it could break us with something unexpected—something we wouldn’t defend ourselves from.
“We need to keep going.” Lioran’s voice quaked.
“We have to trust what we know to be true—trust ourselves. Nothing else matters.” Cora’s voice shook with each word she spoke.
Veylar fell back beside Gaia. Lioran’s eyes met mine. His hand gripped mine, bringing them to his lip. “We will make it through this. We’re going home.”
After all I had seen, I didn’t know if I could believe it. Each of the Grove’s threats were cruel—they made my fear run deeper. It wouldn’t have to try much harder to break me.
I was already cracking.
I mirrored Lioran’s breath, trying to keep steady on Gaia—so I wouldn’t faint. I couldn’t speak. Couldn’t find the words for the threat looming over me. His hand tightened on mine.
“I’ve got you, my love.” He knew. My words weren’t needed, Lioran sensed whenever I was fading—when I couldn’t control each breath.
“Breathe, Aelira. Just breathe.”
My chest rose slowly. I quaked as I exhaled.
“What if we don’t even make it to the tree?” I asked.
“Aelira, look at me,” he commanded. “Remember when you told me you were picturing our future?” He struggled to say the words. “Keep picturing it. That is what we are fighting for. Someday we will have it…all of it, but I need you to hold on. No matter what happens. So you can live it with me.”
I nodded, as the tears fell. He leaned in his saddle toward me, wiping them away.
“I’m here with you. Until the end. And even then, Iwill find you again.” He spun the ring on my finger until the emerald faced me.
It took everything in me to will each breath. To not choke. To not let the tears drown me.
His promise gave my heart strength in the darkness—it was everything I needed. The Grove had taken my strength, almost taken my will to continue, but in this moment my heart felt free. Sadness tugged at his lips, but I was desperate to see him smile.
“Our children better not all look like you…” I muttered.
His eyes watered and a weary grin formed. “You’d like it if they did.”
He was right, I would.
I needed to hold that joy, even if only for a moment longer.
“I think I remember this from my vision. We should scout ahead.” Cora pointed to a twisted black tree marking a fork in the path.
“Which way?” he asked.
“I don’t know.” Cora tightened her grip on her reins.
“We will go to the left and you and Lady Cora can go to the right,” Lord Mavik said. Lord Orion and Lord Mavik proceeded without us.
“Fyn, stay with Aelira. Do not leave her,” Lioran pleaded.
Fyn nodded.
Lioran and Cora rode their horses further in the fog until only darkness loomed. My eyes scanned leafless brush as I led Gaia forward. No signs of them remained.
