Page 84 of Tale of the Heart Queen

Either way, we must get it back.

“Back to Aphelion again,” I say.

Hopefully, not for the last time.

CHAPTER 32

NADIR

Once Lor and I dress in our borrowed clothing, we head back downstairs. I still don’t have any way to pay the innkeeper, but I’m hoping I can convince her money is coming her way. I’ll make up for our imposition later.

We brush past the bar and head for the door.

“Where are you—” the innkeeper asks, but I raise a hand.

“As I said, you will be compensated for our presence.”

She plants her hands on her hips and gives me a dubious look.

“Just not today,” I say with a smile. “But you will.”

She looks towards a man in the corner who watches us both, his eyes shadowed by a hood. Some goon she hires to pummel anyone skipping out on their bill.

“Your friend there doesn’t stand a chance against me,” I say, and the innkeeper raises an eyebrow. “This would be much less messy if you’d just believe me.”

“Please,” Lor says. “We will send you something. I swear it. We’ve run into some trouble and lost our things, but I promise we’re good for it.”

Whatever she sees in Lor’s face causes the woman’s expression to soften.

“Fine, then,” the innkeeper says. “May you be cursed if you’re lying.”

Lor gives her a smile. “Absolutely. Get in line.”

The woman’s eyebrows scrunch together, and Lor’s face stretches into a grin. The woman waves us off, and if we had more time, I’m pretty sure Lor would convince her to pay us instead.

We stumble into the street and look around to find our bearings. The innkeeper revealed we aren’t far from Aphelion, but it will take us a few days to get there on foot.

We’ll need some provisions for our trip back. I don’t think I should fly us. I’m worried . . . I say to her through our bond.

My eyes cast upwards towards the heavens. As long as we don’t call for her, she shouldn’t be able to summon or see us, but hovering in the sky feels a little too close to her dominion. I don’t really know if that’s how it works, but caution is probably wise. However, I was relieved to find I could use my magic again and that she doesn’t have that kind of sway over me on the surface.

I have a feeling she’ll try to get me back up there somehow, I add with a shudder.

Lor comes up and places a hand on my chest. You understand that no one is taking you from me either. I’ll destroy her if she so much as touches another hair on your head.

I clasp my hand over hers and then wrap my arm around her waist.

You make my knees weak when you talk like that.

She snorts a laugh. I mean it.

I know you do, Lightning Bug. I mean it too.

She has no idea just how much I mean it. I thought I lost her when I was stuck up in that prison in the sky. I thought she hated me. I thought it was the end, and I never want to know that feeling again. I love her with every piece of my heart and will do anything to protect her.

“Lor!” comes a voice that has us both spinning around, instantly on edge. A familiar figure runs towards us, and the sight is so incongruent that it takes a moment for my brain to catch up.

“Willow!” Lor screams, and then she starts running too. They clash in the middle of the street, wrapping their arms around one another.