Page 143 of Cursebreaker

“Grendwin,” Rainai says with a wink, ushering him toward the doorway.

More Nightweavers follow, and as they step through, as the light engulfs them, I see the moment their wings sprout from their backs in a blur of feathers—wings the Nightweavers were stripped of when they were first banished from Elysia. A handful of humans choose to go as well—citizens of Ember who take their entire families with them.

Less than half of our soldiers step through the door.

Those that remain kneel, their heads bowed. It’s faint, at first, but I see their lips moving, and I realize…

The people are singing.

It’s the same familiar lullaby Mother and Father used to sing as we’d fall asleep, rocked by the waves. The melody that played from Mother’s favorite music box when I was a child. The tune I once heard Titus humming. It’s been so long since I’ve heard it, I almost forgot what it sounded like. But now I recognize it. It’s the song of my heart. The song of the sea.

Rainai turns to Will once more. He crouches, touching Will’s shoulder.

Will gasps as golden light spills from the wound in his chest, hindering the outflow of blood.

“Your wound is cursed.” Rainai frowns, his brows nettled. “If you remain in this realm, you will die.”

Will’s eyes twinkle with humor even as he groans in pain. “Wouldn’t be the first time.”

They share a knowing look I can’t begin to understand.

“I cannot let you back into Elysia,” Rainai says, “but I can send you beyond—back to where I first found you.”

Will nods slowly. “Not many people there who’d be pleased to know I’ve returned.”

Rainai smiles at that, and there’s a glimmer of mischief in his eyes. “No, I don’t suppose so,” he says. “But this is your opportunity to change that.”

Will’s jaw tightens. “You’re giving me a second chance?”

Rainai nods, considering as he looks out over the waves toward the horizon. “Perhaps this time, you can choose to be someone other than who Chaos forced you to become.”

Will’s eyes darken, if only for a moment. But when his gaze slides to me, his expression softens. “I want a new name.”

A flicker of surprise on Rainai’s kind face. “And what is that?”

Will looks to the sky, as if he were gazing at the stars, a private smile playing on his lips. “Astrophel.”

Rainai grins. “He who loves the star,” he muses, stepping back toward the open doorway. “Whenever you’re ready, then, Astrophel.”

Will gets to his feet, his hand still pressed to his chest, and when he stumbles forward a step, Titus’s hand darts out to steady him.

He and Will lock eyes, and I fight the urge to step between them.

But Titus’s mouth works, his brow furrowed, as if there’s a decision he can’t seem to make as his hand slips from Will’s arm, his fist clenching at his side.

“I know you can’t forgive me for what I’ve done,” Will says, his voice ragged. “I won’t ask you to. But… please, know that if it weren’t for you, I might have been truly lost.” He looks at me, his green eyes sparkling in the sunlight. “For the first time in my long, wretched existence, you made me want to choose to be more than a monster. You—both of you—showed me what love is. You… you set me free. I… am truly sorry.” A tear slips onto his cheek. “I wish you all the best.”

Pain stitches across my heart.

He killed Owen.

He saved me.

I don’t know how to feel—what to say. But when Titus shakes Will’s outstretched hand, a small cry escapes my lips.

Will turns to me, but just as his lips part on a breath, Lady Isabelle approaches.

I’m not sure what I expect, but there’s a collective gasp of shock as she draws Will into her arms.