Alarik’s breath caught. She felt it—the stillness that seized him, the sharp hitch of air between them—as she slowly lowered herself back to the ground.
Their faces remained close, the heat of him brushing her skin.
“You asked where the woman who kissed your cheek went,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. “This is my answer to you—I’m still here. Just waiting.”
For a moment, he didn’t move, didn’t speak—only looked at her, as if memorizing the shape of her words and the truth they carried.
She took Ember’s reins from his hand and turned away, leaving him with the weight of her promise—and the distance between them his to cross, whenever he chose to.
Chapter Thirty-Four
REIYANA
The sun melted into the horizon, streaking the sky in hues of amethyst and gold. Their caravan descended into Vey’tar Oasis, cradled at the bottom of a vast, shallow basin where the dunes curved like a bowl’s rim. The waters shimmered in the fading light, a mirror of twilight’s shifting colours. Encircling the oasis, tents of every shade and pattern stood in clusters, their canopies rippling in the evening breeze. Between them, fire pits flickered, their flames licking at the cool desert air.
Reiya took it all in, her gaze sweeping over the lively encampment. The desert, so unforgiving by day, had softened into something almost ethereal at dusk.
Kaelen let out a low whistle. “It’s something, isn’t it?”
She turned to find his grin already waiting. “It’s beautiful. Even you seem impressed.”
“It certainly leaves a mark,” he admitted. “For Lark and I to return.”
Beside her, Mei Mei clapped her hands. “I want to find the drums! Last year, they let me play during the fire dances.”
Reiya smiled. “Ah, that’s right. You’ve been here many times, haven’t you?”
“Every year for the past eight,” Mei Mei said proudly. “You’re going to love it, Yara! It’s like the desert throws a party for everyone who stumbles through it!”
Reiya inhaled deeply, letting the crisp evening air soothe the lingering heat of the day. The taste of damp earth replaced the dry desert wind, wrapping around her in a way that felt alive—as if the oasis itself was breathing.
As they entered the encampment, familiar voices called out greetings. The Xians set out to assemble their tents, the rhythmic sounds of hammering stakes and unrolling fabric blending seamlessly into the hum of reunion.
Reiya and Mei Mei worked side by side, smoothing out cushions and layering blankets in their shared tent. Outside, the soft murmur of conversations wove through the camp, laughter punctuating the air like the first notes of a song.
Stepping back outside, she took in the scene. “This place is incredible.”
“For us, it’s more than a festival,” Su Lian said, joining her. “It’s a homecoming. A time to reconnect—with each other and the desert.”
Kaelen approached. “Did anyone tell you the Talharen legend of Vey’tar Oasis?”
“No. Is it as exaggerated as your stories of Alpha warriors slaying beasts thrice their size?”
He feigned offence, pressing a hand to his chest. “My stories are rich with historical nuance. I’m quite certain Mei Mei finds them highly educational.”
Alarik scoffed. “Rich with embellishment, maybe.”
Kaelen chuckled, turning back to her. “The legend begins with a man named Talhar, the first wanderer of the desert. He wasn’t searching for a place to stay—he was searching for the freedom to roam. They say he was born restless, always looking to the horizon for what lay beyond. One night, after years of wandering, he looked up and saw a pattern in the stars, stretching across the sky like a path. Believing the gods were speaking to him, he followed their light.”
She lifted her gaze, tracing the faint constellations above. “And the stars led him here?”
“Yes, but not just to water or shelter. The desert tested him, stripped away his fears and false hopes until only his truest self remained. And when he reached Vey’tar, he found not just an oasis—but another wanderer. A woman who had followed the stars, her path mirroring his own.”
Her chest squeezed. “Two people, searching for the same thing?”
“Not a thing, Yara. Atruth. They say Talhar and his bond-mate recognized each other instantly—not through words, but through the shared solitude of their journeys. Together, they built a life not rooted in one place, but in the knowledge that the desert itself was their home. Vey’tar became their meeting ground—a place where paths converged and began again.”
Su Lian, listening nearby, added, “That’s why the Talharen return here each year. It’s not just for rest; it’s for renewal. To remind us that the desert’s trials can lead to beauty, connection, and truth.” She chuckled, eyes twinkling. “It’s also where young ones, when they come of age, return in hopes of finding their life partner.”
