“My sister wrote me,” he says before finishing off his chocolate-covered strawberry.
“Oh, yeah?” I lay down on the blanket but prop myself up with my elbow. “What did she say?”
“Mostly the normal stuff.” He lays down to match me. “But she did say she wants to spend more time with you when we’re able to. She said that you lived up to the hype of my previous letters to her.”
I can’t stop the smile from spreading from cheek to cheek. I’m not usually one to care about having other’s approval, but hers matters to me. Mostly because I know it’s important to Damien.
“I look forward to spending more time with her, too! Would you ever want to live in the Infinite Sea Territories? To be closer to her and your mother?”
Damien looks off into the distance. “I hadn’t really thought about it. I mean, I just had assumed I would be assigned to a military unit in the realms. I suppose things may be different after all of this is said and done.” He draws his gaze back to me. “What about you? Where do you see your home being?”
I hadn’t given it much thought either, I guess. “I suppose for me, home is wherever my people are. That’s really all that matters to me.”
“Yeah, I can’t really picture you and Amaya living in separate lands. That just wouldn’t be right.” There’s a moment of hesitation like he’s about to say something else but doesn’t.
“What?”
He runs his hand through his thick, chocolate brown hair. “I didn’t really want to bring it up tonight, but there’s something I need to run by you.”
My heart immediately sinks. “Okay…”
“Ryder asked me to go visit the Southern Territories to see if they’ll fight with us.”
I sit up. “No.” It comes out as a whine. “I just got you back.”
He gently pushes my hair behind my ear. “I know. But Ryder is needed here, and my father was an emissary. I know the ropes which makes me the best guy for the job.” My head drops. “I won’t go if you don’t want me to. Just say the word and I’ll tell Ryder to send someone else.”
It’s a tempting offer.
“No, you have to go,” I sigh. “As much as I hate it, it’s the right thing. We’re in no shape to face off against the king and we’re running out of time.”
“Are you sure?”
“I am,” I exhale. “This is starting to feel like Second Year all over again. I hate that we have to keep saying goodbye.”
He reaches over and laces his fingers through mine.
“No matter how many times I leave, I will always come back home to you.” I lean in, kissing him deeply, but when I lean away, he can tell something is up. “What is it?”
“I need to run something by you, too.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Ryder and I have plans to go back to the Dread Woods to see about making a deal with some of the creatures there.”
“You, what?” He tenses and waits for an explanation.
“I know it sounds crazy, but I need you to trust that I know what I’m doing.”
He’s silent for what feels like forever.
“Okay.”
“Okay?”
He kisses the top of my hand. “I trust you.”
“Looks like both of us will be off trying to convince others to join our fight.”
