Page 82 of The Crowned Queen

Finn studied Loren for a moment, his expression unreadable. “Back to Eluneth,” he repeated slowly. “All the way across the Shadowed Sea.”

“Yes,” Loren said. “She’ll be safer there.”

“And you?” Finn asked.

“I have to stay,” Loren answered. He’d started something in Farhallow. The fae there needed all the help they could get, and he had a duty to see it through. But Araya—she’d sacrificed enough. She deserved to be safe. Eluneth might not have the Shadowed Veil protecting it anymore, but Eloria would protect his mate with her life. Jaxon Shaw wouldn’t get to her again. Not there.

Finn raised his eyebrows. “And is Araya in agreement with your plan?”

“I haven’t told her yet.” He would—as soon as she was strong enough. Not yet.

“I see.” Finn blew out a long breath. “Look, she’s your mate, Loren. But if I tried to send Serafina away while I stayed to fight? She’d gut me like a fish and sew me back together so she could tell me what an idiot I was.”

Loren’s shadows rippled, muttering something he didn’t quite catch. Loren ignored them. He’d been over it again and again in his head, lying awake with her broken body cradled in his arms. This was the only way to keep her safe. Araya would understand—eventually.

A sharp crack split the quiet, making all three of them jump. Finn’s hand dropped to his sword, his eyes scanning the forest for any sign of movement.

“Just an animal,” Kai said after a moment.

“Maybe,” Finn murmured. He stared into the trees, his brow furrowed. “Don’t you think it’s odd that we’ve been here for over a week and haven’t seen any more signs of the wild magic here?”

Loren frowned. “Maybe it realized we aren’t the enemy here.” Or maybe they weren’t as safe here as everyone seemed to think they were.

“I don’t know,” Finn glanced away, his hand still resting on the hilt of his sword. “We should get back to camp,” he said. “If you’re serious about marching back to Aetheris, there are things we’ll need to prepare.”

Loren stopped by the cook fire first, filling a bowl with a generous helping of thick porridge studded with the berries Brynn and Naeva had gathered that morning.

“It’s good that she’s hungry,” Caela said, glancing up from where she was mending a strap on one of the packs. “How is she feeling?”

“Better,” Loren said. “You know—it takes time.”

Caela nodded knowingly. “Physically and mentally,” she said, her expression softening. “Let us know if there’s anything we can do to help.”

“I will,” Loren said.

He nodded to the others, the hum of conversation already rising again behind him as he cut across the clearing. The cottage door loomed in front of him, somehow almost as intimidating as the door to his cell had been. Finn was right. Araya would be angry—at first. But she’d understand eventually.

She had to.

Serafina sat by the hearth, her sleeves rolled up to the elbow and a bucket of washing clamped between her feet. But Araya⁠—

Loren’s heart lurched. Araya was nowhere.

“She’s just sleeping, Loren.” Serafina said without looking up from her task. “It was an exhausting morning.”

Of course. Loren set the bowl down on the table, his hands shaking. He knew that—could feel her through the bond once he took a breath and focused. She was resting peacefully, her breathing soft and even. Goddess only knew, she needed it.

It broke his heart that she couldn’t feel that anymore. That she couldn’t just know he was doing the best he could to protect her—even if he had failed before.

“I brought her something to eat,” he said. “Did you give her something to help her rest?”

Serafina’s hands stopped moving. “No. She’s repeatedly declined sedatives. I would never drug her against her will.”

“That’s not what I—” Loren trailed off, his gaze catching on the rigid line of Serafina’s shoulders. “Is something wrong?”

Serafina wrung out the linen and laid it over the edge of the bucket. “I suggested she start joining the others in the mornings,” she said. “She needs to rebuild her stamina—and stretching will help preserve mobility in her back.”

Loren frowned. “I’m not sure⁠—”