Page 162 of The Reaping Rose

Greer’s eyebrows scrunch. “He did?”

“He said my room was on the way, but I think he was worried about me. He has a big heart.”

Greer clears her throat, not responding to that. She didn’t want to go on the mission with him, but my Fae senses scented him on her when I hugged her yesterday. Something happened she refuses to tell me about, and it takes everything in me not to push.

“Traveling with him was fine” is all she says.

“Speaking of Perame.” I stand, changing the subject for Greer’s sake. “I should go see how she’s doing. What the overlord did to her was—” I shiver, not able to finish that sentence.

Greer’s teeth clench. “I can’t believe they still have instruments like bleeding blades over there. It’s a miracle she survived.”

“She wouldn’t have without Esen.” None of us would have.

Letia yawns, leaning back against the bed frame, and I frown. Her eyes flutter as exhaustion hangs heavy.

“Let me know if you need anything.”

She smiles, her gaze hooded. “I will. And I’ll be there tonight, even if the guards have to drag me away when I fall asleep on the dance floor.”

“You don’t have to go.”

“And miss your mate becoming king?” Her smile widens. “I wouldn’t miss it for anything. Wilder has welcomed us here. He treats you well, and he’s been kind to me. I’m so happy you found him, Elorie. You deserve love like that.”

Love wasn’t something I thought I needed. Letia was the romantic one of the two of us. The one who held out hope for true love that could fight through anything. I wonder if she feels the same now. She didn’t love Benjamin, no matter how many times she said it. But she cared for him. She planned to build a life with him. Now he’s gone.

Does she still believe in love? Will the fates grant her that? Or are these golden veins, brighter than the sun, proof of something else woven for her?

When we leave Letia to her nap, Greer heads toward the training ring, and I find my way toward Perame’s room. Esen is walking out when I reach it.

“How is she?” I ask, pausing at the doorway.

“She just fell asleep.”

I nod, following Esen’s gaze as she glances out a window at the other side of the hallway. “How are you doing?”

“I’m…” Her eyebrows pinch as if she’s not used to being asked such a question. “I don’t know that I’ve thought about it.”

She swallows hard, staring out at the lush forest. Birds chirp, fluttering through the branches. A warm breeze drifts through the hallway, and Esen closes her eyes, breathing deeply.

“I’ve never seen a place like this.” Her eyes open. “I’ve never been anywhere with such…”

“Life?”

“Hope.” Her voice is wistful. “The way you look after each other—care for each other—it’s not anything I’ve known. I see why you fight for this, Elorie.”

“I fight for you too, Esen.” I reach out, squeezing her hand. “The realm can be more than this. We will heal it, make it whole. And then I hope you find what it is you’re looking for. A life worth living.”

“I already have.” She sighs, squeezing my hand in return. “Thank you.”

“You did this, not me. You got us back here. I promise I’ll repay you.”

“You owe me nothing.”

“You deserve everything either way.”

She gives me a tight smile, glancing at the fractured aeraliss ring in my other hand. I collected it from Letia’s room, since Wilder wants to have his alchemist run some tests on it.

“Aeraliss?” Esen’s eyebrows pinch, her face slightly pale.