His horse challenged fate as it raced over the path, until they faded from view. We were so close, but Fyn raced ahead. It could only mean one thing.
We were losing him.
I couldn’t breathe. “Veylar, we need to get to him,” I cried.
Despite Veylar’s exhaustion, despite mine, we raced on. I held onto the sliver of hope that he could be saved.
Shifting winds propelled us forward. With each jolt, we grew closer.
The castle grew larger, the trees more massive as we stopped before it.
I jumped down from Veylar onto the pebbled path. Fyn’s horse stood still. Several fae lifted Lioran from Fyn’s horse. His body was lifeless, his hands dangled.
Lioran’s chest heaved as they lay him out on a cloth draped frame. I cradled Lioran’s clammy hands in mine.
Breathless sobs escaped me.
Fyn's arms wrapped around me. He pulled me back from Lioran.
“We’ve done what we can. The healer has him now.”
A woman in a plain brown gown ran her hands over him. Tears pooled in her eyes as she nodded to the fae around her.
“It’s…my fault.” My chest tightened. “He can’t…”
Fyn spun me to face him. “Lioran chose to do what he did.”
A woman ran down the stone stairs of the castle, her copper hair glowing in the emerging moonlight. She darted to his side, cupping his hand in hers. Her body crumpled over him as she wailed—her cries so deep they echoed through the Heart.
Fyn didn’t pull her back—not the way he did with me.
“I need to…” I murmured, then collapsed into Fyn.
“There’s nothing you can do.” His voice cracked.
“Take him inside, to the infirmary.” The healerturned toward us, her head bowed to Fyn before she followed behind him.
They lifted the carrying frame and darted inside. The red-headed woman spun toward us. “How?”
“We were intercepted this morning before we got to Othryl. Lioran did his best to protect—” His voice trailed off.
“You should have—” she said.
“Stopped him?” Fyn’s eyes narrowed. “You know him better than that, Cora. When he has his mind made up on something…”
Only then did her eyes meet mine—fury boiled behind her emerald glare.
Cora ran back into the castle. I stayed at Fyn’s side. It wasn’t my place to follow Lioran, but maybe it was hers.
I looked to the stars; they glimmered in the darkness as if they didn’t know what would be lost if he didn’t make it. Could they even hear me?
“There’s nothing we can do out here,” Fyn said quietly.
Fyn parted with me only for a moment. “Juniper will guide you to your room, my lady.” He returned with a slender younger fae woman.
“Here?” Our voices carried through the entrance of Lioran’s castle.
“I promised I would look after you.” Streaks of red ran through Fyn’s eyes. He exhaled. “He wanted you here.”
